Chapter 378 The training intensifies 1

Chapter 378: Chapter 378 The training intensifies 1

Talia’s POV

The morning after I told the pack my decision, I woke before the sun.

I had not slept much, but I did not feel tired. I felt alive, and I felt ready. The fear was still there, but it was quieter now, buried beneath the determination that had taken root in my chest. The pack had cheered for me, and their faith had lit a fire inside me that I could not put out.

I had never felt anything like it before. Their voices had wrapped around me like armor, and I had carried that feeling with me into sleep. Even now, in the quiet of the morning, I could still hear them. They believed in me. And I would not let them down.

Kaelen was already awake beside me. He did not speak. He just looked at me, and I saw the understanding in his gray eyes.

"Ready?" Kaelen asked.

I nodded, and I climbed out of bed. "Ready."

We walked to the training yard together, and I felt the morning air on my face. The sun was just beginning to rise, and the mist was still clinging to the ground. The yard was empty, and I could hear the birds singing in the trees.

"This time," Kaelen said, and he handed me a sword. "We do not stop until you cannot lift your arms."

I took the sword, and I felt the weight of it in my hand. "Then we will be here for a long time."

Kaelen smiled, and he raised his own sword. "I am counting on it."

He lunged without warning, and I barely had time to raise my blade. The clash of steel echoed through the yard, and I felt the impact shudder through my arms.

"You are distracted," Kaelen said.

I shook my head. "I am focused."

"Then prove it," Kaelen said, and he attacked again.

We trained for hours.

I swung the sword until my arms burned, and I blocked until my hands ached. Kaelen pushed me harder than he ever had before, and I did not complain. I did not stop.

"Faster," Kaelen said, and his voice was steady. "You are still hesitating."

I gritted my teeth, and I attacked harder. The clash of our swords echoed through the yard, and I felt the vibrations travel up my arms.

"Good," Kaelen said. "Again."

We trained until the sun was high in the sky, and I felt the sweat dripping down my face. My muscles were screaming, and my lungs were burning. But I did not stop.

"Enough," Kaelen said, and he lowered his sword. "You need to rest."

I shook my head. "I cannot rest. There is too much to do."

Kaelen walked to me, and he put his hand on my shoulder. "You will be no good to anyone if you collapse, Talia."

I looked at him, and I felt the frustration building in my chest. "I know, Kaelen. I know."

Kaelen walked me to the dining hall, and he sat with me while I ate. He did not say much, but I felt the weight of his presence. He was watching me, and I knew he was worried.

"You do not have to watch me every second," I said.

Kaelen looked at me, and I saw the love in his gray eyes. "I know. But I want to."

After a brief rest and a quick meal, I found Cain in the private training yard.

He was standing in the center of the yard, his arms crossed and his eyes watchful. He did not speak. He never did. He just waited.

"I need to train," I said. "Hand to hand."

Cain nodded once. "Then we train."

He lunged without warning, and I barely had time to block. His fist connected with my forearm, and I felt the impact jar through my bones. I stumbled back, and he followed.

"Keep your guard up, Luna," Cain said. "You are leaving yourself open."

I gritted my teeth, and I attacked. I swung my fist, and he blocked. I kicked, and he sidestepped. I punched again, and he caught my wrist.

"Again," Cain said.

We trained until my body was screaming, and I felt the sweat dripping down my face. My knuckles were raw, and my muscles were aching. But I did not stop.

"Enough," Cain said, and I saw the approval in his eyes. "You are improving, Luna."

I saw the flicker of pride in his eyes before it disappeared behind his usual mask of indifference. It was a rare thing, that flicker, and I treasured it.

I nodded, and I felt the exhaustion pulling at me. "Thank you, Cain."

He nodded once, and he walked away.

I found my mother in her room, and I saw her sitting by the window. The afternoon light was filtering through the glass, and I could see the tiredness in her eyes.

"Mother," I said. "I need to practice my voice magic."

She looked at me, and I saw the concern in her eyes. "You have been training all day, Talia."

"I cannot rest," I said. "There is too much at stake."

She stood, and she walked to me. She took my hands in hers. "Then I will help you. But today, we are not going to practice the words you already know. Today, I am going to teach you something new."

I looked at her, and I felt the curiosity rising in my chest. "What are you going to teach me?"

My mother smiled, and I saw the fire in her tired eyes. "The Song of Storms. It is one of the most powerful spells in the Silvertongue arsenal. It can summon lightning, and it can call down thunder. It is dangerous, and it is difficult. But if you can master it, you will be able to command the very sky."

She stepped back and began to trace patterns in the air with her fingers. Her lips moved, and the words she spoke were unlike anything I had heard before. They were sharp and electric, and they made the hair on my arms stand up.

"Vas’kala thun’ros," she chanted. "Mor’eth kala’shi. Ven’eth thor’ak!"

I watched as a small spark of light flickered between her palms. It grew brighter and brighter until it crackled with energy. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she sent it into the hearth. The fire erupted, and the flames danced higher than I had ever seen them.

"Your turn," my mother said.

I took a breath and raised my hands. I copied her movements, tracing the same patterns in the air.

"Vas’kala thun’ros," I said. "Mor’eth kala’shi. Ven’eth thor’ak!"

Nothing happened. The air was still and silent.

"Again," my mother said. "But this time, do not just speak the words. Feel them. Feel the storm inside you. Feel the lightning in your veins."

I closed my eyes, and I let myself feel. I thought about the war that was coming. I thought about the anger I felt toward Malachai. I thought about the determination that had taken root in my chest. And I felt the power building inside me.

"Vas’kala thun’ros! Mor’eth kala’shi! Ven’eth thor’ak!" I shouted.

The air around me crackled, and I felt the electricity building in my hands. I opened my eyes, and I saw the sparks dancing between my fingers. I threw my hands forward, and the sparks shot across the room like miniature lightning bolts. They hit the wall and left scorch marks on the stone.

My mother stared at the marks on the wall, and then at me. Her eyes were wide with wonder.

"You did it," my mother whispered. "On your first try."

I looked at my hands, and I felt the power still humming beneath my skin. "What else can you teach me?"

My mother smiled, and I saw the pride in her eyes. "So much more, Talia. So much more."

We practiced until my throat was raw and my voice was cracking. I learned the Whisper of Shadows, a spell that could cloak me in darkness. I learned the Call of the Wild, a spell that could summon nearby animals to my aid.

The Call of the Wild was different from the others. It was softer, and gentler. I reached out with my voice, and I felt the animals of the forest respond. A rabbit hopped out of the underbrush, and a bird landed on the windowsill. They looked at me, and I saw something that looked like understanding in their eyes.

"It is a spell of connection," my mother said. "It reminds us that we are not separate from the world around us. We are part of it."

And I learned the Song of Storms, which I practiced until I could summon lightning without even speaking the words aloud.

"Enough," my mother said, and I saw the exhaustion on her face. "You are ready, Talia. You are more than ready."

I nodded, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "Thank you, Mother."

She pulled me into her arms, and I felt her warmth against me. "You are stronger than you know, Talia. Stronger than you ever imagined."

Later that evening, I stood in the training yard alone. The moon was rising, and the stars were beginning to appear.

The yard was empty, and the only light came from the moon and the stars. I could feel the magic humming beneath my skin, waiting to be released.

I raised my hand, and I focused on the magic inside me.

I thought about the storm, and the lightning, and the power that flowed through my veins.

"Vas’kala thun’ros," I whispered.

The sky above me crackled, and I saw a flash of lightning in the distance.

The bolt split the sky, and for a moment, the world was as bright as day. I watched it fade, and I felt the thunder rumble through my chest. It was beautiful, and it was terrifying, and it was mine.

I smiled, and I felt the power surging through me.

I could command ten wolves at once now. And soon, I would command armies.