Chapter 12: Power Without Control
1070 Words
The training ground was empty.
Too empty.
No soldiers.
No guards.
No witnesses.
Just stone walls…
open sky…
and silence.
Alina stood at the center of it, arms folded tightly across her chest.
“This feels like a bad idea,” she muttered.
Kael stood a few steps away from her.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Watching.
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“It is,” he replied.
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Alina blinked.
“You’re not even going to pretend otherwise?”
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“No.”
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That didn’t help.
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At all.
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A cold wind swept through the open training yard, carrying the faint scent of iron and ash from the battlefield.
The war hadn’t gone far.
It was still close.
Waiting.
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“Then why are we doing this?” she asked.
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Kael’s gaze didn’t leave her.
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“Because next time,” he said quietly,
“…you may not get lucky.”
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That shut her up.
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Silence stretched between them.
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Then—
He stepped forward.
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“Show me,” he said.
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Alina frowned.
“Show you what?”
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“That power.”
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Her stomach tightened.
“I don’t know how to use it.”
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“I know.”
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“Then how am I supposed to—”
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“Try.”
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The single word cut through everything.
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Alina exhaled slowly.
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“Okay… fine.”
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She closed her eyes.
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Nothing.
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Just the sound of her breathing.
The wind.
The faint echo of distant war.
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“Focus,” Kael said.
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“I am focusing.”
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“Not enough.”
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Her eyes snapped open.
“Then you do it!”
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Wrong answer.
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Kael moved instantly.
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Too fast.
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One second he was standing in front of her—
The next—
He was behind her.
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His hand caught her wrist.
Pulling her off balance.
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Alina gasped.
“What are you doing?!”
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“Teaching you.”
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His voice was calm.
But his grip wasn’t.
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“Your power reacts to danger,” he continued.
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Then—
He twisted her arm slightly.
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Pain shot through her shoulder.
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“Hey—!”
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“Feel it,” he said.
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Her breath hitched.
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The mark.
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It burned.
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Faint at first.
Then stronger.
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“I feel it!” she snapped.
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“Not enough.”
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Kael pushed her forward.
Hard enough that she stumbled.
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Her heart started racing.
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Fear crept in.
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Not overwhelming.
But there.
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Waiting.
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“Again,” he said.
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“I said I feel it!”
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“Then prove it.”
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Something in his tone—
challenged her.
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And that—
That made something inside her snap.
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“Fine!”
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The word echoed sharply.
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Alina turned—
Fast.
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Too fast.
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The moment she did—
The mark flared.
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Heat exploded through her body.
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Stronger than before.
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Her vision flickered—
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Silver light burst around her.
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BOOM.
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A shockwave exploded outward.
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Kael didn’t move.
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Didn’t even flinch.
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The energy crashed against him—
and split around his body like it hit a wall.
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But the ground beneath them cracked.
Stone fractured.
Dust rose into the air.
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Alina staggered back.
Breathing hard.
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“I—I didn’t mean to—”
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Kael stepped forward again.
Unaffected.
Unshaken.
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“Again.”
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Her eyes widened.
“Are you serious?!”
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“You’re holding back.”
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“I’m trying not to blow up your castle!”
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“You won’t.”
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“How do you know?!”
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“Because I’m here.”
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That confidence—
It irritated her.
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“No,” she snapped.
“You’re just reckless.”
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“And you’re afraid.”
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The words hit.
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Hard.
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Alina froze.
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“I’m not afraid.”
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Kael stepped closer.
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“Yes,” he said quietly.
“You are.”
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Silence.
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Heavy.
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Uncomfortable.
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Because he wasn’t wrong.
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She was afraid.
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Not of him.
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Not of the war.
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But of herself.
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“What if I can’t control it?” she asked.
Her voice softer now.
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“What if I hurt someone?”
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Kael didn’t answer immediately.
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Then—
“Then you learn faster.”
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That wasn’t comforting.
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At all.
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Before she could respond—
The wind changed.
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Suddenly.
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Sharp.
Cold.
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Wrong.
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Kael’s expression shifted instantly.
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He turned toward the mountains.
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Alina felt it too.
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The mark flared—
violently.
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Pain shot through her chest.
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She gasped.
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“What is that—?!”
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Her voice broke.
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Because this wasn’t her power.
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This was something else.
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Something darker.
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Older.
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Watching.
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The air grew heavy.
Hard to breathe.
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And then—
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She saw it.
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Not clearly.
Not fully.
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But enough.
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A shadow.
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Massive.
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Moving beneath the mountains.
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Eyes.
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Not golden.
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Not red.
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Something worse.
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Ancient.
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Hungry.
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Alina stumbled back.
“No…”
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The vision snapped.
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She was back in the training ground.
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But the fear stayed.
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Kael was already in front of her.
“What did you see?”
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Her breath came fast.
Unsteady.
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“It’s not Magnus…”
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Her voice trembled.
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“It’s something else.”
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Kael’s jaw tightened.
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“I know.”
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That made her freeze.
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“You know?”
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He didn’t look away from the mountains.
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“I felt it the moment the battle ended.”
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Silence.
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Then—
He finally looked back at her.
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And for the first time—
There was something new in his eyes.
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Not anger.
Not control.
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Concern.
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“Whatever is coming…”
he said quietly,
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“…it’s stronger than anything this kingdom has faced before.”
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Alina swallowed.
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“And it’s coming for me, isn’t it?”
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Kael didn’t answer.
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He didn’t need to.
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Because deep down—
She already knew.
- Writer
