The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 23 : Clashing

Inchoate • [in-koh-it]
Recently started but not fully formed yet; just begun; only elementary or immature; chaotic, disordered, confused; also, incoherent, rambling.

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I strike another set of punches into the makeshift punching bag, built to look like an opponent. Every drive of my fists shoots lightning up the nerves of my arms, encouraging me to continue until they give out. It's not until my arms grow weary from the short barrage when they finally do.

Finishing the series, I take a moment to catch my breath, stepping back from the dummy as I place my hands on my hips. The sun has especially decided to blaze the earth today, but I'll admit it's a relief to not be surrounded by winter's wrath. To be outside, enjoying the change in weather.

Sweat dribbles down my forehead and the sides of my face as I peer up at the bright blue sky, soaking in the warmth of the air.

"That was good," Lilith says, approaching from where she was observing at the corner of the sparring ring. "Your form is a little off, but otherwise I'm pretty impressed with your progress for this being your first week."

"I already told you, I have experience from my training in Mylithia," I say, inhaling and exhaling heavy breaths as I wipe the sweat away with my shirt. "Most of this stuff isn't that new to me."

"I know, but you've still got a long way to go until you've mastered everything," she says, walking off again to retrieve our waters.

"Do you think there's a chance my powers are more...extensive?" I blurt out.

Lilith turns back with a perplexed look, handing me my drink as she asks, "Can you elaborate?"

"I mean, we know about the strange strength thing—"

"Which is pretty common amongst werewolves," she cuts in.

I frown, but continue, "And then there's the problem with my hands..."

"That, we're still trying to figure out."

I swig down some of the cool liquid before saying, "You still have no clue where my abilities originated from?"

"Well, from what I've pieced together so far, it all has something to do with Maddox's bloodline since they're connected to your wolf. I've never met your father, but the rumor is that his ancestry began in another dominant pack. He was raised to become one of the greatest generals of our kind. Like he was practically built for war."

I throw my bottle to the grass, tension already building back up in my body as I prepare to deliver more punches to the dummy once my arms regain their strength. "Yet he's been cowering in whatever hellhole he sends his mercenaries out of," I spit. My fists hit the hard-cushioned material.

"Eira's been trying to sort through that."

I pause halfway through delivering the blows to turn to her. "Huh?"

"Eira, the woman you met at your—"

"I know who she is," I interrupt. "Just...What are you talking about?"

"Samuel gave her permission to begin searching for wherever your father might be hiding," Lilith explains, crossing her toned arms, water still in hand.

"Isn't her job to maintain the frontlines?" I question.

"Yes, but with this war dragging on and both sides shedding blood every day, making amends might take much longer than any of us planned for."