I Need Someone to Stop My Three Brothers

Chapter 8: The Unknown.

The days passed like a blur of constant training, endless questions, and an unrelenting sense of fear and anticipation. There was no rest for me, not really. Even when I lay down at night, exhausted from the day’s work, my mind raced with thoughts of what was coming.

The prophecy. The power. The Demon King.

Those words echoed in my mind every time I closed my eyes. Lucien and Selene had been patient with me, guiding me through each step of learning to control my magic. But no matter how much progress I made, no matter how in sync I became with the flow of power inside me, that creeping fear still lingered.

I couldn’t help but feel that something was coming. Something big.

The Hero’s Guild hadn’t forgotten about me. I knew that much. It wasn’t just a matter of when they’d return but what they would do when they did. I couldn’t keep hiding in the Sanctuary forever. Sooner or later, I'll have to face them. And the thought of it sent chills down my spine.

But today was different. Today, I wasn’t going to let fear control me.

I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. If the Heroes were going to come after me, if the prophecy was going to follow me wherever I went, then I needed to be ready—not just with my magic but with my mind and my heart. I needed to know who I was, and I needed to trust myself.

As I got dressed in the simple, dark robes that had become my daily attire, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My silver eyes stared back at me, glowing faintly in the room's dim light. It was strange, but I was starting to accept the person I saw in the reflection. I wasn’t the scared, confused girl who had woken up in a strange new life. I am stronger now—more determined.

There was still so much I didn’t understand, so much I needed to figure out. But I felt like I was on the right path for the first time.

When I stepped out of my room, the cool air of the Sanctuary greeted me. The ancient stone walls hummed with magic, a constant reminder of the power that flowed through this place. I made my way through the corridors, feeling the familiar weight of the magic in the air, the way it seemed to respond to my presence.

As I entered the training hall, I saw Lucien waiting for me, as usual. He stood near the center of the room, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. His silver eyes gleamed in the low light, and I felt a surge of gratitude for him for a moment. He had been by my side through all of this, never wavering in his belief that I could master my power.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice calm but firm.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

Lucien uncrossed his arms and motioned for me to join him. “Today, we’re going to push you further. You’ve made much progress, but there’s still more to learn. More to master.”

I stepped into the center of the room, taking a deep breath. I could feel the magic already stirring inside me, waiting to be called forth. That steady hum of energy beneath my skin was almost comforting now. It wasn’t something to fear anymore. It was part of me.

Lucien took a step back, giving me space. “We’ll focus on channeling your magic into a single point. You’ve learned how to let the energy flow, but now you must learn precision. Control. The more focused you are, the more powerful your magic will become.”

I nodded, my hands already tingling with anticipation. “Okay. I can do this.”

He raised his hand, and I watched a small, glowing orb of silver light appear in his palm. It pulsed gently, like a heartbeat. “This is the target,” he explained. “You’re going to focus all of your energy on this point. I want you to consider it thread-thin, precise, but strong.”

I nodded again, focusing on the orb. It seemed simple enough, but I knew better than to underestimate the challenge. Magic wasn’t just about power but balance, control, and finesse.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and reached for the magic inside me. It responded immediately, swirling through me like a river of light. I could feel it building, the energy growing stronger with each heartbeat.

But this time, I didn’t let it overwhelm me. I guided and shaped it as Lucien had taught me. I imagined the energy as a thin and focused thread and directed it toward the orb in Lucien’s hand.

At first, it was difficult. The magic wanted to surge, expand, break free, and powerfully fill the room. But I held it back, keeping it steady and focused.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The magic thread was there, glowing faintly in the air between me and the orb. It wasn’t as bright or strong as I had hoped, but it was there. I could feel the connection, the way the magic flowed through me and into the point of light in Lucien’s hand.

He nodded, his expression approving. “Good. Now, hold it. Don’t let it waver.”

I gritted my teeth, focusing harder. The magic trembled slightly, but I managed to keep it steady. The thread of light grew brighter and more solid as I poured more of my energy into it.

But just as I thought I had it under control, a power surge hit me from deep inside. The thread wavered, flickering like a candle in the wind. I tried to hold it, to keep the magic focused, but the surge was too strong. The thread snapped, and the energy exploded out of me in a wild burst of light.

I stumbled back, gasping as the magic flared uncontrollably, filling the room with its chaotic energy. The walls of the Sanctuary seemed to hum louder, reacting to the surge of power. I could feel the magic slipping away from me, spiraling out of control.

But before I could panic, I felt Lucien’s hand on my arm, grounding me.

“Breathe, Estella,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”

I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. The magic began to settle slowly, the wild energy dissipating as I regained control.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was still. The orb in Lucien’s hand was gone, replaced by a faint glow in the air where it had once been.

I looked up at him, feeling a mixture of frustration and disappointment. “I messed up.”

Lucien shook his head, his expression serious but not unkind. “You didn’t mess up. You’re learning. This is part of the process. Magic isn’t something you can master overnight. It takes time, patience, and discipline.”

I nodded, though the frustration still lingered. I wanted to get this right. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it, that I could control this power and make it my own.

Lucien must have sensed my frustration because his expression softened slightly. “You’re doing well, Estella. Better than most would at this stage. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

I sighed, letting the tension in my shoulders relax a little. “I just... I feel like I’m running out of time. The Heroes are still out there, and I can’t shake the feeling that they will come after me again. I need to be ready.”

Lucien’s silver eyes met mine, and momentarily, I saw a flicker of something—concern, maybe, or understanding. “The Heroes won’t stop. That much is true. But you’re not alone in this. You have us—the Silver-born. And you’re stronger than you think. When the time comes, you’ll be ready.”

His words were reassuring, but they didn’t fully ease the anxiety gnawing at me. I knew he was right, but some of me still felt unprepared. I wasn’t just worried about facing the Heroes—I was worried about facing myself. The darkness I had felt during my training, the power that lurked beneath the surface... it scared me.

But I couldn’t let that fear control me.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Alright. Let’s try again.”

Lucien nodded, raising his hand once more. Another orb of light appeared in his palm, glowing softly in the dim room.

This time, I didn’t close my eyes. I focused on the orb, letting the magic build slowly and steadily inside me. I didn’t rush it. I didn’t force it. I let it flow naturally, guiding it with a gentle hand.

The thread of light appeared again, thin and fragile at first but growing stronger as I poured more of my energy into it. I could feel the connection, the way the magic flowed through me and into the orb. It was different this time—more controlled, more focused.

Lucien watched silently, his gaze steady as I worked. I could feel his presence, his silent encouragement, and it gave me the confidence to keep going.

The thread of light grew brighter and more solid as I channeled my energy into it. The magic flowed smoothly now, without the wild surges that had overwhelmed me before. I could feel it— that was what it felt like to be in control.

For a moment, everything was perfect. The magic thread glowed brightly between me and the orb, pulsing steadily. I could feel the power flowing through me, strong but controlled. It was like I had finally found the balance I had been searching for.

But then, something shifted just as I released the spell.

A cold, dark presence brushed against the edge of my mind, like a shadow creeping into the light. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat.

The thread of magic wavered, flickering as the darkness pressed closer. I tried to hold it steady, but the presence grew stronger, pushing its way into my thoughts.

Suddenly, the thread snapped.

The magic surged out of me in a wild burst, filling the room with its chaotic energy. I stumbled back, gasping as the dark presence overwhelmed me, its cold touch wrapping around my mind like a vice.

“Estella!”

Lucien’s voice sounded distant, drowned out by the magic roar in my ears. I tried to fight it, to push the darkness away, but it was too strong. It clawed at me, pulling me deeper into its grip.

No. I won’t let this happen. I won’t lose control.

With a surge of determination, I reached for the light inside me, the magic that was still mine. I focused on it, drew it close, and pushed back against the darkness.

The cold presence wavered for a moment, but then it pushed back, stronger than before. It wasn’t just a shadow—it was something alive, something hungry.

Who are you? The thought came unbidden, but I could feel the presence of the response. It wasn’t just a dark force—it was a voice, a mind. And it was speaking to me.

You know who I am, the voice whispered, its tone cold and mocking. You’ve felt me before. I am the power inside you. I am what you’re destined to become.

My heart pounded in my chest as the truth hit me like a tidal wave. This wasn’t just some stray shadow—it was the darkness I had always feared. The part of me that was tied to the prophecy, to the Demon King.

No, I thought, forcing the words through the haze of fear and magic. I’m not you. I’m not going to become the Demon King.

The voice laughed, a cold, cruel sound. You can’t fight what you are. You’re Silver-born, just like me. You will embrace the darkness eventually, Estella. It’s only a matter of time.

I clenched my fists, the magic inside me flaring wildly. I wasn’t going to let this thing control me. I wasn’t going to let it define who I was.

With a fierce cry, I summoned every ounce of magic I had left and pushed the darkness away. It fought back, resisting, but I didn’t give in. I held my ground, forcing it out of my mind, out of my body.

And then, suddenly, it was gone.

The room fell silent. The magic that had been swirling around me dissipated, leaving only the faint glow of the orb in Lucien’s hand. I stood there, trembling, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath.

Lucien was at my side instantly, his hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, though my legs felt weak beneath me. “Yeah. I... I’m okay.”

But I wasn’t. Not really.

Because I had felt it—the darkness, the voice. And I knew it wasn’t going to go away.

It is part of me now.