starfall. [ Rhysand ]

XI

the betrayal.

"Focus. Close your eyes. What do you see?" It had been two days since the revelation, and Kiara was utterly drained. Not in a physical sense, as her training primarily involved sitting on the floor with closed eyes, but mentally. Tamlin and Lucien's stress levels seemed to increase by the hour, and they expected her to practice in the patio from dawn till dusk.
She was fatigued, and they had granted her no time to sort through her emotions. She had been bottling everything up, striving to remain composed for their sakes. She understood the pressure they were under due to the looming threat of Amarantha. Despite her own sleep deprivation and anxiety, she put in her best effort.

"I can't seem to find a way out" she exclaimed in frustration, squeezing her eyes shut again, attempting to penetrate her own mind.

Tamlin and Lucien had been using books about Daemati, faeries with the power of mind-reading and defense, to instruct her. In the initial phases of training, they had encouraged her to delve into her mind by closing her eyes, relaxing, and connecting with her inner consciousness. But Kiara was struggling, her mind anything but calm or relaxed. She felt like she was on the brink of madness with the constant barrage of commands and the accompanying headaches.

Just yesterday, she had managed to penetrate her mind with intense focus, but she encountered formidable barriers, making entry almost impossible. It was like a labyrinth, complex and daunting.
Now, as she sat cross-legged on the chilly tiles once more, eyes shut, she confronted it again. The mere sight of it sent shivers down her spine; it was surrounded by dense, towering bushes. She felt small in front of it, just as she felt small in front of her own latent powers. Of course, she was was used to feeling smaller than anyone else as she was quite short.

"Deep down, you possess the knowledge, you just need to acquaint yourself with your own mind" Lucien's words reached her ears, his voice distant as if she were in a dream. However, he was probably only a meter away from her in that moment. She sighed, wishing that the process were as simple as he made it sound.

Entering, the path twisted and turned, leaving her disoriented. Whenever she thought she had glimpsed an exit, a potential route to her mind and abilities, it shifted. The atmosphere was thick with unease, as rustling leaves and faint whispers contributed to the disconcerting feeling. It was an unnerving experience, testing her courage and determination to their limits.
She struggled and pushed herself, but despite her determination, the more she tried to find the correct path, the more elusive it became.

"I can't do it" she yelled in frustration, opening her eyes again. She lowered herself onto the tiles, her head resting on the cold surface, seeking solace from the pounding headache. Alas, it provided no relief.

"You have the capacity" Lucien's half-hearted encouragement didn't offer much comfort. It made her feel like a disappointment, as if her attempts were in vain. She hoped that Tamlin would say something reassuring, but he remained distant, his gaze fixed on the window, lost in thought. His solemn demeanor made her feel like her lack of progress was what was weighing on him.

"It's almost midnight" he finally spoke, his voice detached.

"We'll resume tomorrow" Lucien added. Their lack of smiles, a stark contrast from the jovial atmosphere before Rhysand's visit, left a painful ache in Kiara's heart. She yearned for the days when laughter was easy, when the challenges they faced hadn't seemed insurmountable.

So, she retreated to her room, her chest heavy with guilt for not being good enough. Alongside her exhaustion, the dark circles under her eyes, and her pale face, she tried to find a comfortable position on her bed, closing her eyes and finding her self in from of that labyrinth.