Lila stood at the center of the training courtyard, a circle of ancient stone etched with runes glowing faintly beneath her feet. The sky above was pale with dawn, the first light of day washing the palace grounds in a soft golden hue. She inhaled deeply, feeling the spirits stir within her, warmth from the Fire King, cool breath from the Wind King, the solid presence of Earth, and the gentle rhythm of Water. All four coursed through her veins now.
"Again," said Isolde, her voice crisp but patient. "Focus. Don't push it. Let it flow."
Lila closed her eyes and extended her hand. A sphere of water formed above her palm, shimmering in the sunlight. She could feel the pulse of its essence, responding to her thoughts. But as her concentration wavered, the sphere collapsed into a splash.
"Too much doubt," Isolde said gently. "Your powers are tied to emotion. They reflect your heart."
Lila wiped her hand and nodded. It had been three days since the spirits had blessed her with their blood, and she was still struggling to balance them. Fire flared with her anger, water surged with sorrow, and wind raced with fear. It wasn't about controlling them. It was about understanding them.
And right now, her heart was a storm.
She glanced to the edge of the courtyard, where Cassian sat beneath a shaded awning, his face turned slightly toward her. Though his eyes were clouded and cursed, his presence was sharp and still as a blade. He said nothing. He never did. But she could feel the weight of his silence.
Lila took another breath. This wasn't just about magic. It was about him, too.
Later that evening, she found herself drawn to the healing garden, where soft blue flowers glowed faintly in the moonlight. A stream trickled through the center, and it was here she found Cassian again.
He sat beside the water, his fingers brushing over the cool surface. He turned his head slightly as she approached.
"You walk heavily," he murmured. "You must be frustrated."
"Only with myself," she replied, sitting beside him. "And maybe you. A little."
A smirk played at the corner of his lips. "Is that so?"
She studied his face. Even in silence, Cassian was beautiful and untouchable, a man wrapped in shadows. But something in her heart pulled toward him, the way water flows to low ground.
"I want to help you," she said softly. "Not just because of the curse. I want you to trust me."
He was quiet for a long time. "Why?"
"Because I think... I think you're carrying something too heavy for one person. And maybe, if I help lift it, you won't have to fall."
His breath hitched. He turned his face slightly, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.
So she acted instead.
Lila reached out and gently touched his face. Her palm hovered just beneath his eyes. The spirits within her stirred, particularly Water. She called to it with quiet intent, and it answered. A soft blue light spread from her hand, washing over Cassian's eyes. For a moment, she could see it: the darkness veined around his pupils like frost, pulsing with an ancient curse.
"There it is," she whispered. "I can see it. The curse. It's like ice and shadow tangled together."
Cassian stiffened, but he didn't pull away.
"No one's touched it before," he said. "It burns when they try."
"Not to me," she replied. "The water calms it. It listens."
The curse shifted, resisting her, but she focused, her magic weaving like a current. Not to break it, not yet. But to understand it. To show Cassian she wasn't afraid of what bound him.
When she pulled her hand away, a single tear traced down his cheek.
He didn't say anything.
But he didn't move away.
End of chapter 22