It began with a shift in the wind.
The day had started like any other. Sword drills with Sir Dorian. Lessons with my tutor.
But by late afternoon, the air grew tense. The halls of the manor were quieter than usual. Servants whispered in passing, and the familiar atmosphere of the manor was gone.
Something was wrong.
I was in the eastern corridor when I saw Sir Dorian striding toward the war room, his expression grim. Two knights were following behind him, their armor was half-fastened and they were bolting through the halls.
Moments later, Cassian passed by me. He was already wearing his armor and walking with a boy that looked like a messenger.
Cassian had just returned a few days ago, and now he was preparing to go out again.
I didn't need to hear what they were saying. I already suspected it.
A village was attacked.
I waited for them to pass around the corner and followed. I was keeping my footsteps, no one stopped me, and no one even noticed me. They were too busy to bother with me.
As I approached the war room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. There was an alcove nearby, and I managed to slip in there unnoticed.
"A messenger from the outpost confirmed the attack," one of the knights said. "The attack happened at midnight. There were many casualties and the survivors that managed to escape were wounded."
Cassian's voice was silent. "Did we send the healers?"
"Yes, the closest settlements responded. They're on their way." Dorian's voice could be heard.
Cassian's voice was steady. "What about Father?"
"He's already notified and will meet you at the outpost," Dorian answered.
"He wants this handled before they attack another village."
"And the casualties?"
"High, the the scene was.... devastating."
There was a pause.
Cassian's tone hardened. "Ready the squad. We leave within the hour."
I stepped back as they exited, and hid myself as much as I could. My heart pounded.
This was the first demon raid in five years—the first one I was too young to even remember.
That night, I stood by the window in my room, watching the flickering lights of the departing riders disappear as they got further away from the mansion. Cassian and Sir Dorian were among them.
Father would be meeting them at the halfway point.
The manor felt colder after they left. On edge, this was the first time I could remember the people of the manor behaving this way. I could see it on Mother's face, even if she tried to hide it. I could feel it in the silence that hung in the halls, the kind that made even the sound of footsteps feel too loud.
...
The next few days passed, and for the first time, I trained my mana alone, without Sir Dorian's guidance.
I felt more connected to my mana, more in control. The mana core I've been nurturing for the past month has grown larger. If I were to compare it, the first week it was no bigger than a grain of sand. Now, it was the size of one of the larger grapes.
I could feel myself getting closer to awakening it and unlocking my first power. From the feeling I got, I was a session or two away.
...
After the attack, things around the manor shifted. Lucian, in particular, seemed more driven than ever. Our sparring sessions became almost daily, a constant rhythm that kept us both on edge. At first, I'd always struggled to keep up with him, but lately, something was changing.
I was able to predict more of his moves. My speed and strength grew stronger every day, and I suspected it was connected to my awakening.
Every time he saw that I was catching up, he became more unpredictable, faster, and stronger.
That was when I noticed it, he was pushing me to my limits. He was trying to help me grow stronger and awaken.
At first, I thought it was just rivalry. But as the days went on, I began to realize it was something more. He always kept just a little bit ahead of me. His speed, his strength, always just beyond my reach. It was as if he knew exactly how much to hold back, just enough to push me without overwhelming me completely.
Each time his sword connected, it felt like a jolt, forcing me to move quicker and think faster. It wasn't just the physical blows; it was the way he challenged me, constantly testing my limits.
And then it hit me. This wasn't just about competition. He was trying to help me awaken faster.
As the days went by, I could feel a shift within me. Something was changing. I sensed my speed and power increasing. I wasn't just reacting anymore; I was predicting his movements. I was beginning to tap into something, and the more I trained, the closer I felt to unlocking it.
My mana was responding, growing more powerful, more alive with each strike.
...
At first, there was a full five days between each mana training session. Then it dropped to four. Now, after more than a month, I could train every third day.
My last mana training was two days ago. Tomorrow, all of my mana should be replenished, and I have a feeling that it will be the day I awaken.
I couldn't shake the sense that it was coming, so I decided to seek out Lucian. I needed his guidance, to help me through with what was about to happen.
...
I found Lucian in the training area, leaning on the wall. He looked up when I approached, and without a word, he straightened, eyes flicking to me with a knowing glance.
"You feel it, too, don't you?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
I nodded, a weight pressing in on my chest. "It's... close. I feel the power building. I'm on the edge of breaking through. I can feel the power building like it's on the edge of breaking through."
Lucian studied me for a moment, the usual teasing glint in his eyes replaced with something far more serious. " The process itself is simple. You'll instinctively know what to do once it starts. But don't mistake that for ease. It's painful. If you lose control... if you let it slip from your grasp... it can shatter your core."
I froze, the weight of his words settling in.
I knew what happened to those who shattered their cores. I'd heard the stories—those who lost control and were left broken, their power forever sealed. The consequences weren't just physical. The damage could be irreversible, leaving me crippled, or worse.
My stomach churned, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "I .. know"
Lucian stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Just... remember to stay grounded. Don't let the power control you."
Before I could respond, I felt it. The air around us shifted, crackling with an almost tangible energy. My pulse quickened as I glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source.
Lucian's eyes widened, and his hand fell from my shoulder, and took a few steps back. "It's starting... now?"
I could feel it—an intense pressure building inside me. It demanded to be released. I tried to take a deep breath to calm myself, but it felt like the air around me had thickened.
My heart was pounding in my chest, the pressure surging within me like a tidal wave on the brink of crashing.
My vision blurred as the mana around me surged, sending a sensation rippling through my body. I felt it in my bones, in my blood, in the very marrow of my being. It wasn't just power; it was raw, untamed energy—a force that could either ignite me or tear me apart.
I could feel the bond between me and the power tightening, like a noose around my throat. It was too much. I couldn't hold it. I had to release it.
But then, Sir Dorian's words echoed in my mind.
"Focus, Feel the mana, Take control of the mana"
As I had done so many times with Sir Dorian, I took control of the mana.
And then, without warning, the sharp, sudden pain erupted through my chest, splitting through me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.
The pain was unbearable. But within that pressure, I could sense it—the first spark of my power, pushing through, carving its way to the surface. It was mine, unmistakably, a part of me that had been waiting to awaken.
And in that moment, I knew. It had begun.