The Lost World Of Victa

Chapter 34: Eyes of Storm

We walk for a little bit longer, until the sun sets over the horizon. Zayns stops walking in the middle of a forested clearing of trees. He sets his pack down, and I set mine near his. We each grab our weapons, and walk away from our packs, starting our training for the night.

He's moving faster, a lot fast than he normally does, and scratches are starting to liter my body. I can feel the anger radiating off of him, the anger seeping through all his movements. Sword-fighting is an outlet for him, and it allows him to work through the turmoil of his emotions.

I block a slash of his, my body moving faster and faster to match his speed. I grit my teeth, struggling against his strength.

"You're improving splendidly Lillian. You're starting to fight like a Nyghtski," he remarks, attacking my open right side.

I throw up a shield with my magic instinctively, using my psychic magic to create a magical barrier.

Zayn clicks his tongue, looking at me disapprovingly, "I thought we said we weren't sparring with magic. Do you want to face one of the most accomplished blood mages in the worlds?"

I drop the shield, angling my body to protect my right side.

"I didn't mean to use a shield. It was just instinct. I apologize," I say, feeling bad for breaking the rules.

Since we're both mages, after that first initial match, we agreed not to use magic during our nightly training sessions. When the sun sets, our skills are only defined by our blade. And right now, I'm getting my ass handed to me.

"You should work on controlling your instincts more. You say and do a lot of hurtful things, because your instincts told you to. You'll never be able to beat Laverna if you let your instincts guide you so," Zayn says, cutting my arm after maneuvering around me with a feint.

"My instincts have gotten me this far," I say, arcing forward to get a hit on Zayn.

"Laverna specializes in fooling one's instincts. She knows how to make a person believe in and follow her. She's able to alter one's subconscious state. That's how she's gotten Lunasila to stay by her side all these years. If Laverna finds you, she won't torture or kill you, she'll just fool you into never leaving or betraying her. Laverna will make you yearn to please her. You have to be prepared for an unfair fight," Zayn says darkly, his mind clearing remembering something unpleasant.

"That's valuable information. Does the resistance know that? Do you think Trace is prepared for that kind of fight?" I ask, suddenly worried about my friends' plans. Have they accounted for their minds to be altered.

"They don't have to be. None of them are valuable enough for Laverna to want. Any rebel she captures, she'll hand over to Sarren or I, to placate our desire for pain and torture. They don't warrant her unique abilities. But the child of the prophecy, and the daughter of Skecelia Nyghtski...? Laverna would most definitely want that weapon in her repertoire."

I freeze, and Zayn cuts my neck, drawing blood--not enough to be fatal, but enough to fucking hurt.

I curse, glaring at Zayn, "Jeez, can't you give me a breather? You keep reminding me how terrifying the path I'm trying to walk is, while relentlessly attacking me and increasing your speed."

"Lillian, if you want to win on your own, you need to be strong. You need to be able to beat me."

"I've been training with you for less than two weeks. You've been wielding a sword for centuries. How am I supposed to beat you?"

"Laverna's been fighting for just as long as I have, princess. If you can't beat me, you'll have no chance of beating her. And that's not taking into account any magic the two of you might throw at each other."