Uldryn's air was crisp, filled with the distant hum of village life and the faint rustling of leaves as a soft breeze blew through the trees. Despite the serenity of the scene, Celest felt the weight of her newfound dagger pulling at her waist like a dark anchor. The nightmares had been relentless, twisting her sleep into visions of burning skies, desolate lands, and the piercing cries of shadowy figures. She was tired, worn by the dagger's constant pull, and desperate for control over its chaotic power.

Ylira, the mysterious Merfolk who had taken Celest under her wing, observed her with an intense but calm gaze. The sun glistened off Ylira's crimson hair, and her turquoise eyes seemed to sparkle with an otherworldly understanding. Her presence was soothing, like the ocean's embrace, but beneath that calm exterior was the strength of a thousand storms.

"Today, Celest," Ylira began, her voice soft but commanding, "we will face the darkness within you."

Celest swallowed, her hands trembling slightly. "I don't know if I can. It feels like it's too much—too strong."

Ylira took a step forward, placing a hand gently on Celest's shoulder. "The dagger's power is vast, yes. But it is not stronger than you. You hold it, Celest, and it only has as much control as you allow it. Remember, it chose you."

The words gave Celest a small flicker of hope, but the weight of her nightmares remained. "But I don't know how to stop it. I don't even know where to start."

Ylira gave a small nod. "You've been trying to push the darkness away, haven't you? To resist it. But that is not the path. The dagger's power is rooted in chaos and destruction, but it can be turned. You must learn not to fight it—but to shape it."

"How?" Celest asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Close your eyes," Ylira instructed, stepping back to give her space. "And feel the energy of the dagger."

Celest hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest, before slowly closing her eyes. She felt the cool pulse of the dagger's energy, dark and foreboding. It washed over her like a wave of shadow, pulling her into a place of darkness—where everything crumbled into dust, the skies bled red, and shadowy figures lurked in the distance, waiting for her to fall.

"I see it," Celest whispered, her voice trembling. "The darkness... it's all around me."

"Good," Ylira's voice was steady, guiding her through the vision. "Now, don't fight it. Let it flow through you. Feel its power."

The shadows pressed in closer, filling Celest with dread. But she did as Ylira said and allowed the energy to flow through her like a river. Slowly, the suffocating pressure of the darkness began to lessen. The shadowy figures stopped advancing, and for the first time, Celest felt something beneath the waves of chaos—something faint, yet unmistakable: light.

"There," Ylira's voice was gentle but firm. "Do you feel it?"

Celest's breath hitched. "Yes... it's... it's faint, but it's there."

"The light is always there, hidden beneath the dark," Ylira continued. "It is not the absence of the dagger's power—it is one of its powers. The darkness and light are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other. Now, you must draw on that light and shape it into something you can use."

Celest focused, her mind reaching for that glimmer of light buried deep within the chaos. It resisted at first, as if it was a living thing—wild and untamed. But she held steady, pulling it closer, shaping it in her mind. And slowly, the darkness around her began to fade. The red skies turned to gold, the barren earth bloomed with vibrant green, and the shadowy figures disintegrated into mist.

When Celest opened her eyes, her chest was heaving, but she felt... lighter. The overwhelming dread was still there, but it no longer controlled her.

"You did it," Ylira said, her voice filled with approval. "You shaped the dagger's power. You turned its darkness into light."

Celest let out a shaky breath, still processing the experience. "I... I didn't think it was possible."

"It's not easy," Ylira admitted. "But you are stronger than you know. Remember, the power of the dagger isn't inherently evil—it is what you make of it."

"This is your task," Ylira continued. "To find that light and nurture it, to turn the dagger's corruption into something pure. You will not master it today, or tomorrow, but every day that you try, you will grow stronger."

As the relief began to settle over her, Celest glanced down at the dagger. It still thrummed with energy, but there was something different now—a sense of balance she hadn't felt before. "But... the Black Phoenix," she murmured. "What about it? Can I use that power?"

Ylira's face grew serious, and she shook her head. "No, Celest. You are not yet ready for the Black Phoenix."

"Not ready?" Celest frowned. "I thought that's what you were training me for."

Ylira stepped closer, her eyes locking onto Celest's. "It is not that the Phoenix isn't ready for you—the problem is that you are not ready for the Phoenix. The Black Phoenix is a manifestation of destruction and rebirth, of death and life intertwined. It is a force that can consume you as easily as it can aid you."

Celest's heart sank, but Ylira's next words caught her off guard.

"The Phoenix is bound to you, and one day, you will call on its power. But you must understand it before you can wield it, or it will devour you from within." Ylira's gaze softened slightly. "You need to grow stronger—more attuned to the balance of light and dark. When the time is right, I will teach you to summon the Black Phoenix, but until then, you must master the control of the dagger itself."

Celest nodded slowly, her fingers brushing the hilt of the Fifth Dagger. The enormity of the task ahead still weighed heavily on her, but for the first time since receiving the blade, she felt a glimmer of hope—hope that one day she might control its immense power and turn it toward something good.

As they continued their training that day, Celest couldn't help but wonder about the true nature of the Black Phoenix. What would it be like to wield such a force? And more importantly, would she ever be ready?