The First Test
917 Words
The ground beneath Aeloria’s feet trembled as Thalen lifted his staff, the weight of unseen forces shifting in the air.
Aeloria’s heart pounded. She knew this was coming—knew she had to learn how to fight with her magic. But now, standing in the circle of stones, with Thalen watching her like a hawk and Kaelen standing just beyond the edge of the clearing, she felt like she was teetering on the edge of something far greater than she was prepared for.
Thalen’s gaze sharpened. “Magic is more than calling roots and raising leaves, girl. You need to learn how to wield it like a weapon—before someone else wields it against you.”
Aeloria swallowed hard. “And if I can’t?”
Thalen’s expression didn’t soften. “Then you’ll die.”
Silence stretched over the clearing, thick and heavy.
Aeloria forced down the instinctive flash of fear. She had spent too long running, too long hiding from what she was. If she was to survive this war, she had to be more than she had ever been before.
Kaelen took a step forward, concern flickering in his golden eyes. “Thalen, she’s just begun. Pushing her too fast could—”
“She doesn’t have time to be gentle with this,” Thalen snapped, cutting him off. His sharp eyes never left Aeloria. “If she wants to live, she learns now.”
Aeloria clenched her fists, her pulse hammering in her ears.
“Then show me.”
Thalen nodded once, approving. He planted his staff firmly in the ground and lifted his other hand. The air crackled around him.
“Defend yourself,” he ordered.
Before she could react, the world moved.
The ground shuddered as twisting vines erupted from the soil, lashing toward her like striking serpents.
Aeloria’s breath caught. She barely had time to dive sideways, rolling to her feet as the vines slammed into the earth where she had just stood.
Think, Aeloria. Feel.
She reached for the magic inside her—felt it, thrumming just beneath the surface. This time, she didn’t force it. She let it rise, let it breathe.
The roots surging toward her hesitated.
Aeloria exhaled, then thrust her hands forward, willing the earth to shift beneath them.
The vines twisted—then turned. Instead of attacking her, they snapped back toward Thalen, aiming for his legs.
Thalen lifted his staff, and with a flick of his wrist, the roots crumbled to dust.
His eyes gleamed. “Good. But not enough.”
Before she could react, he lashed out with a pulse of energy, invisible but felt. It struck her square in the chest, sending her stumbling backward.
Kaelen surged forward, his sword half-drawn. “That’s enough.”
Aeloria coughed, pushing herself upright. “No,” she rasped. “I can do this.”
She lifted her gaze to Thalen, her hands trembling but her heart burning. “Again.”
Thalen’s lips twitched in approval. He lifted his staff once more.
The next attack came faster. Stones levitated from the earth, spinning violently before shooting toward her.
Aeloria moved.
The magic inside her pulsed, instinct taking over. Instead of running, she reached for the wind, for the very air around her—
And it answered.
A gust swept through the clearing, knocking the stones off course.
But Thalen was relentless. The wind hadn’t stopped him. He stepped forward, sweeping his staff in an arc.
Aeloria felt it before she saw it—an unseen force pulling at her, wrapping around her limbs, locking her in place.
Panic rose in her chest.
No.
She closed her eyes, reached deeper.
The earth. The trees. The wind.
They answered.
A sudden pulse of power exploded outward from her, shattering the binding spell.
The energy struck Thalen hard enough that he staggered, his boots skidding against the dirt.
For the first time, he looked surprised.
Aeloria gasped, staring at her hands. She could still feel the magic flowing, untamed, electric.
Elira gave a low whistle from the sidelines. “Well. That’s something.”
Kaelen was at her side in an instant, gripping her shoulders. “Are you alright?”
Aeloria nodded, breathless. “I think so.”
Thalen straightened, watching her with new calculation. “That,” he said finally, “was power.”
Aeloria shuddered. She had felt it, raw and wild, tearing through her veins like a storm.
But beneath the exhilaration, a shadow lingered.
Power always comes with a price.
Thalen seemed to read the thought in her eyes. “You’re stronger than I expected. But strength alone isn’t enough. You need control.”
Aeloria’s hands curled into fists. “Then teach me.”
Thalen nodded once. “Rest now. We train again at first light.”
She let out a slow breath, her body still thrumming with energy. She had barely begun, and already, she could feel the weight of what lay ahead.
As she turned away, Kaelen caught her hand.
She looked up at him, surprised by the flicker of something unreadable in his gaze.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked quietly.
Aeloria met his gaze and squeezed his hand just once.
“I have to be.”
Kaelen exhaled, then gave a faint, wry smile. “Then I guess we’d better prepare for war.”
Aeloria looked back toward the forest, the wind stirring the leaves in a whisper she could almost understand.
War was coming.
And she would be ready.
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