Food was harder to find than enemies.

  Kaelis learned quickly that regions saturated with lingering energy changed everything. Plants grew twisted, animals avoided certain areas, and even water carried an odd metallic taste. The land itself felt… hungry.

  When he tried to draw too much energy at once, the sigil resisted. Not painfully—firmly. A warning.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  So Kaelis adjusted. He rationed power the same way he rationed food. Small bursts. Efficient use. No waste.

  That night, he encountered creatures drawn not to flesh, but to energy. They circled his camp just beyond sight, testing, probing. Kaelis stayed still, suppressing his presence until they lost interest.

  Only then did he sleep.

  The world, he realized, didn’t just challenge strength. It punished excess. Survival wasn’t about having more—it was about needing less.