The next few days passed in a blur of training, words, and visions. Olivia barely slept, her mind too consumed with the weight of her new reality. Every moment with Kael and Elara felt like a small step toward a truth she wasn't ready to face. Yet, despite the unease clawing at her insides, there was a strange sense of purpose she couldn't ignore.
Aiden had been by her side, as always. But there were times, in the quiet moments after their training, when she could sense the uncertainty in him. He was there for her—he always had been—but this new version of Olivia, the one who was learning to wield magic, to control a fire that threatened to consume her, was something he hadn't expected. She wasn't sure she was ready for it either. But she had no choice.
Kael's voice broke through her thoughts as they stood in the courtyard, a cold wind sweeping through the tall trees around them.
"You're holding back," he said, his gaze sharp. "Why?"
Olivia clenched her fists, the heat of the fire inside her pulsing, almost demanding release. "I don't know how to control it. It feels like it could burn everything down."
"And it will, if you keep fighting it." Kael's tone was calm, but there was a sharpness beneath it. "You're afraid. That fear is making the fire wild. It's not about control, Olivia. It's about acceptance. You need to let it burn, let it consume the parts of you that aren't needed anymore."
"I can't just let it take over," she said, her voice low.
"You don't let it take over," he corrected her. "You guide it. You are the flame, not the other way around. The more you resist, the stronger it becomes. But if you embrace it, learn to live with it, then it will bend to your will. Like any weapon, it must be mastered."
Olivia stared at him, her mind racing. "And what if I don't want to be a weapon?"
Kael's eyes softened, though there was still a hardness to his expression. "You're already one. You just have to decide what kind of weapon you will be."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. It felt like there was no way out. Not anymore. The fire inside her was a part of her, as much as her blood, as much as the memories of the life she once led. She had been running from it, trying to bury it deep inside, but it wouldn't stay hidden.
"Let's try again," Kael said, breaking her thoughts. He stepped back, his eyes locking onto hers. "Focus on the heat. Feel it. Let it come, but don't let it control you."
Olivia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She had done this before. She had called the fire, let it rush through her veins, felt the burn of it against her skin. But she had never allowed it to take its full form. She had always been afraid of what might happen.
But now… now she had no choice.
She let the heat rise, felt the fire unfurling like a dangerous lover, wrapping around her heart and her mind. It was there, just beneath the surface, always waiting for her to acknowledge it. The warmth spread through her, and this time, instead of fighting it, Olivia let it bloom.
The air crackled, and she felt her energy shift. It wasn't just the fire. It was her. It was the part of her that had been hidden, the part that had always known the truth. She wasn't a passive participant in her life. She was meant to be the one who controlled it, the one who shaped it.
The ground beneath her feet began to tremble, and she opened her eyes to see the dirt and grass around her beginning to burn. The flames danced in front of her, but they didn't consume her. They followed her command, curling and twisting in the air like ribbons of heat.
Kael's gaze hardened. "Good. Now, control it. Guide it."
She reached out with her mind, directing the flames away from the trees, keeping them in place, letting them swirl in the air like a controlled storm. The fire responded, following her every thought. It was exhilarating. Powerful. She felt invincible.
But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the flames faltered. They sputtered out, leaving behind only smoke and ash. Olivia's breath was ragged, and she dropped to her knees, exhausted. Her heart was pounding in her chest, the fire still simmering inside her, but it felt like it was just out of reach.
"You did well," Kael said, his voice steady but with a hint of pride. "But you're not done. The key to this power is balance. And right now, you're teetering on the edge."
Olivia took a shaky breath, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I don't know if I can do this."
"You can," Kael said firmly. "You have to. For yourself. For the world."
Before she could respond, a voice rang out from the gate, sharp and urgent.
"Elara!" Kael turned sharply, his expression hardening. "What is it?"
Elara appeared at the gate, her face drawn, her eyes filled with a quiet urgency. "It's Seraphina. She's made her move. She's crossed the Veil."
Olivia's heart stopped. "What does that mean?"
"It means she's closer than we thought," Elara said, stepping forward. "She's coming for you, Olivia. She'll stop at nothing to claim the power that's inside you. We don't have much time."
Kael's expression darkened. "We need to prepare. Now."
Olivia stood up, wiping her hands on her trousers. "I'm not ready. I'm still learning."
Elara looked at her, her expression unreadable. "Then you'd better hurry."
As they made their way back toward the castle, the weight of the words hung heavily in Olivia's chest. Seraphina was coming. And everything she had feared, everything she had tried to deny, was finally here.
She wasn't ready. Not by a long shot.
But there was no turning back now.