Chapter 50
Power Has a Cost
Riona woke early for her second day with the Keep’s Circle, determined to make a good impression.
She certainly couldn’t show up late; it would give the illusion that her father’s rank and title made her privileged.
It would make life a living hell if they saw her as special; they would never accept her, and any aspirations of becoming part of the unit would end just as fast as they started.
She made sure to eat, bathe, and dress quickly, grabbing a black set of leathers and a long-sleeved white shirt that swirled with frosty patterns along the arms. Pulling on her riding boots, she quickly headed out the door, taking in the quiet before the sounds of the Keep surrounded her.
The Keep was loud: harsh yells from blacksmiths, the ringing clash of hammers and anvils striking steel as coals were thrown into roaring fires, and the crackling of flames whipping the cold air into misty clouds.
Officers, cadets, and leaders of all kinds gathered supplies and food, their voices mingling in the streets with the clang of metal.
The air was heavy with an overwhelming blend of smells: the metallic tang of steel and iron, so strong it clung to her tongue like blood; the acrid stench of sweat lingering in every corner; and the warm, earthy spices wafting from food carts.
The scents collided, thick and pungent, making her stomach churn with nausea.
It was a sensory assault she hadn’t expected, another reminder that she was far from Lumora and everything familiar.
Walking into the large stone building that loomed over the Keep, it stood at its center like a heart, keeping this place alive and beating.
It wasn’t quiet in these early hours though there were no sounds of nature here.
Instead, the air was filled with the rhythmic pounding of feet hitting the hard ground in a relentless run, commands being shouted over groans, and the occasional retching of someone pushed past their limits.
The voices were unyielding, stripped of any warmth.
This place felt intimidating, almost oppressive, but in a way that mirrored her father in every sense.
She was beginning to understand the man he truly was.
The one who commanded this place with the same stern authority it demanded.
She shook the thoughts aside. The idea of giving her father any sympathy for the cruel man he was ignited a fire in the pit of her stomach, one that burned so fiercely it climbed into her heart, demanding to be extinguished.
She had another day of training ahead of her, and this time it would be with Zara.
She made her way through the halls, passing classrooms until she found herself standing at the center of a massive room.
It wasn’t a room. It was something else entirely, looming and sprawling, stretching so high it felt as though the very sky itself had been invited inside.
Skylights towered overhead, their glass panes open wide, allowing the crisp air to rush in.
The warmth of the sun streaming through, casting a golden glow across the space.
Riona stepped forward, her eyes sweeping over the area in front of her.
The space was unlike anything she’d ever seen.
Trees stood scattered across the room, their placement seemingly random yet somehow intentional, their roots twisting through patches of dirt and moss covered stones.
At its center a large pond shimmered and on either side of the room were wide sandpits, their edges uneven and lined with rough, jagged rocks.
Between the trees and sandpits, logs were haphazardly laid out, some balanced precariously on others, while above, narrow rope bridges and suspended platforms crisscrossed the open air like a web.
Every detail of the room felt alive, untamed, as if it had been plucked straight from the wilderness and brought here.
The enormity of the space was dizzying. Riona tilted her head back, feeling small under the sheer scale of it all. The skylights stretched so far upward that it felt as though the room didn’t end, open to the elements and breathing with life.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. She jumped, spinning around, blood rushing to her ears.
“Gods, you scared the shit out of me!” Riona gasped, clutching at her chest as she turned to see Zara standing calmly behind her. “I didn’t even hear you!” she added, her voice still shaky, her eyes wide.
Zara’s lips curved into a faint smile, “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice as soft as her demeanor. “Light footwork is something of a habit.”
Riona chuckled nervously and nodded. “I can see that,” she said, trying to compose herself.
Zara stepped further into the room, her back turned to Riona as she spoke.
“Are you ready for today? We’re going to work on elemental casting.
I’m not sure how much you’ve learned in your studies, but it’s an essential skill.
Magic isn’t something we can afford to neglect, it’s as important as breathing.
The more you wield it, the more it becomes part of you.
And the more magic you master, the higher your rank. ”
She turned, her gaze locking onto Riona, who shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it. Zara’s presence made her feel small, as if every move, every word, was being measured.
“I’ve learned some,” Riona said finally, keeping her voice steady despite her nerves. “Mostly with rune stones… I don’t have many elemental runes.”
Zara nodded slowly, taking in the response. “I see.
Well, we have a lot of work to do, then.” Her tone was matter of fact, but there was no cruelty in it, only an expectation. “I’ll be speaking with Kael. You’ll need more than just a day with me.”
Riona stayed silent, listening intently. “Alright,” Zara continued, “we’ll start with the
basics of casting. When you joined the ranks, you were imbued with magic, though learning to wield it is another matter entirely. Magic is tied to the nature around us, to the balance of all things.” She turned to Riona, asking, “Are you still following along?”
Riona shook her head. “I’m still following…”
Zara turned back and started walking toward the center of the training room. “It will respond to you but only if you listen, focus, and channel your thoughts and emotions into it. Let nature guide you; don’t try to control it, but work with it.”
Zara moved with a practiced ease, her hands flowing in deliberate patterns as she spoke words that Riona couldn’t quite make out.
The air around her started to shift, and suddenly, stones from the ground began to rise.
One by one, they aligned, forming a walkway that stretched upward into the sky.
Zara stepped onto the first stone, then the next, climbing higher and higher as if the very earth had bent to her will.
Riona stared, wide eyed, unable to look away as Zara reached the top. And then, without warning, Zara jumped.
“Zara!” Riona gasped, instinctively starting to run toward the pond below. But before she could take another step, the water surged upward, cradling Zara gently as if it had reached up to catch her. The water rippled, as it lowered Zara back to the ground with impossible grace.
Riona froze in place, her breath catching in her throat. She stared, awe struck, as Zara stepped forward, her composure unshaken.
For a moment, Riona could only watch, unable to speak or move, as Zara continued her lesson.
“You’ll notice this training room is unlike any other,” Zara said as she smoothed her tunic. “The reason is that, here, you’ll learn to use elemental magic in a controlled setting.”
Her hands moved quickly, fluid and precise, while she whispered.
Suddenly, the sand began to rise, twisting into a swirling tornado that roared to life.
In the blink of an eye, it shifted, transforming into the shape of a lion.
The creature looked alive, its mane billowing, its powerful roar reverberating through the room as it charged straight toward Riona.
Riona held her ground, refusing to flinch or retreat.
The lion dissolved mid stride, collapsing into a cascade of sand that fell in a soft pile at her feet.
Before she could speak, Zara raised her head to the skylights.
The wind in the room began to howl, building with relentless force.
It whipped and tore through the air, lashing at Riona’s face and pushing her backward.
She struggled to stay on her feet, but the wind was too strong.
It drove her across the room until she was pinned against the far wall.
She fought against it, every muscle straining, but it was like pushing against an unstoppable tide.
It wasn’t until Zara lowered her hands and the wind abruptly stilled that Riona collapsed to her knees, her hands catching her fall.
Her voice came hoarse but steady as she lifted her gaze to meet Zara’s.
“Teach me.” The hours passed as Riona and Zara worked tirelessly, focusing on attuning Riona to the world around her.
They meditated, trained, and worked through the obstacle course, with Zara pushing Riona to refine her footwork while attempting to conjure the elements.
Riona fell, slipped, and collided with nearly everything in her path.
She struggled to balance both tasks seamlessly, it was far harder than Zara made it look, and for that, Riona cursed her over and over again under her breath.