THE STARLIT PROMISE

CHAPTER 3 : FATE'S UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL

The soft light of dawn had just begun to break through the trees when Alina and Kael began their training. The air was crisp, and the earthy scent of the forest wrapped around them as they stood in the clearing by the old oak. The excitement and tension of the previous day still lingered in Alina’s mind, but now there was something else—a stirring deep within her, like the pull of something far beyond her understanding.

Kael stood a few feet away, arms crossed, his expression one of calm determination. He had insisted they start early, before anyone in the village could notice their absence. Alina had agreed, eager to begin mastering the powers that had remained dormant for so long.

“Today, we’re going to test your control,” Kael said, his voice firm but encouraging. “We’ll start small, just to see how you can focus and channel your abilities.”

Alina nodded, her fingers twitching nervously at her sides. Her abilities had always been tied to healing, to the quiet, unseen magic that surged when she reached out to help someone in need. She had never consciously tried to control it, let alone call upon it at will. Now, with Kael watching, she felt a weight of expectation pressing down on her.

“Focus on the tree,” Kael instructed, gesturing toward the old oak that stood tall behind them. “Feel its energy, its life force. Imagine your power as a thread connecting you to it.”

Alina took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing herself to focus on the sounds around her—the rustling leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the whisper of the wind. She could feel the hum of life in the earth beneath her feet, the pulse of the tree’s ancient roots as they stretched deep into the ground.

Slowly, she extended her hands, palms facing the oak. She imagined her energy reaching out, like invisible threads weaving their way toward the tree. At first, there was nothing—just the steady beat of her heart and the quiet of the forest. But then, gradually, she felt it—a faint warmth blooming in her chest, a connection forming between her and the ancient oak.

“I can feel it,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe.

Kael stepped closer, his gaze intense. “Good. Now, try to channel that energy. Focus it.”

Alina furrowed her brow, concentrating on the warmth spreading through her. She tried to guide it, willing it to move through her arms, toward her fingertips. But as she pushed, the energy wavered, slipping away from her control. She gasped, her eyes flying open as a sudden surge of power rippled through her.

The tree shuddered, its branches swaying violently as if caught in a storm. A gust of wind rushed through the clearing, swirling around them in a whirlwind of leaves and dust. Alina stumbled back, her breath catching in her throat as she struggled to regain control.

“Alina!” Kael’s voice cut through the chaos, firm but calm. “Breathe. You’re pushing too hard. Let the energy flow naturally.”

Panting, Alina closed her eyes again, trying to steady herself. The power within her was wild, like a river threatening to burst its banks. But she could feel Kael’s presence beside her, grounding her. She focused on his calm energy, using it to guide her own.

Slowly, the wind began to die down, the leaves settling once more. The tree stopped shaking, its branches returning to their gentle sway. Alina exhaled, her body trembling with the effort of holding back the surge of power.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice small. “I—I couldn’t control it.”

Kael shook his head, stepping closer until he stood right beside her. “Don’t apologize. This is why we’re here. You’re not going to master it in a day, Alina. It takes time.”

Alina nodded, though doubt still lingered in her mind. What if she couldn’t control it? What if her power was too dangerous?

Before she could dwell on the thought, a sudden rustling in the bushes caught her attention. Kael stiffened, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of the sword strapped to his back. They both turned toward the sound, alert.

A figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees, their face hidden beneath a dark hooded cloak. Alina’s heart leapt in her chest as she took a step back, her pulse quickening. The figure moved with a fluid grace, their movements unnervingly silent.

“Who are you?” Kael demanded, his voice low and dangerous as he moved protectively in front of Alina.

The stranger said nothing at first, merely tilting their head as they regarded the pair. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, they pulled back their hood, revealing a face that was both familiar and utterly unexpected.

Alina gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “Mother?”

The woman standing before them was none other than Leora, Alina’s mother—the very same woman who had vanished from their village years ago, presumed dead. But here she stood, alive and very much changed. Her once soft features were now sharp, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light that sent a shiver down Alina’s spine.

“I didn’t expect to find you here, Alina,” Leora said, her voice a strange mix of warmth and coldness. “But it seems fate has brought us together again.”

Alina’s mind raced, struggling to comprehend what she was seeing. Her mother had always been gentle, kind. But this woman—this version of her mother—felt like a stranger. There was something dark and dangerous about her, something that sent a chill through Alina’s blood.

Kael stepped forward, his hand still hovering over his sword. “What do you want?”

Leora’s gaze flicked to Kael, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ve come to warn you. Dark forces are gathering, forces that seek to destroy everything you hold dear. And Alina—” she paused, her voice softening as she turned her gaze back to her daughter, “—you are at the center of it all.”

Alina swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her ears. “What are you talking about? Why are you here?”

Leora’s expression softened, and for a moment, the woman Alina had once known seemed to resurface. “There are things you don’t understand, Alina. Things about your power, your destiny. I left to protect you, but now… now there’s no time left. The darkness is coming, and you need to be ready.”

Alina’s mind swirled with confusion and fear. Her mother’s sudden return, the ominous warning—it all felt too surreal, too sudden. But as she looked into Leora’s eyes, she knew one thing for certain: her life had just been irrevocably changed. Fate had arrived, and it would not be ignored.