Reverence is a dark academia romantasy, a tale of all consuming love, gut-wrenching betrayal, unbreakable bonds and unspoken truths.
Nineteen year old Josephine Carmine was orphaned at five and passed around to multiple foster families, three of wh...
The Kraven training grounds were shrouded in an eerie silence just before dawn. The morning mist clung to Josie's clothes and nipped at her nose, making her shiver. Her breath puffed out in visible clouds as she awaited Corbyn's arrival, a mix of anticipation and nerves twisting in her stomach. Every shadow seemed alive in the dim pre-dawn light, adding to the sense of otherworldliness that pervaded the grounds. Corbyn appeared out of the mist, her white hair almost glowing in the faint light. She greeted Josie with a warm smile that did little to calm the butterflies in Josie's stomach. "Are you ready?" she asked, her voice soft but encouraging. Josie nodded, trying to ignore the tremor in her hands. "Yes, I'm ready."
"Good," Corbyn said, guiding her to a spot in the center of the grounds. "Close your eyes and try to focus. Feel for that spark within you. Try to draw it out." Josie closed her eyes, her breath coming in slow, deep deliberate pulls. She searched inward, reaching for the elusive spark of magic she knew was there. She concentrated with all her might, but nothing happened. Frustration built up inside her like a storm, and she cursed under her breath, feeling the familiar sting of failure. Corbyn placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Josie. This isn't easy. Sometimes, our magic needs a stronger push to come out. Let's try something different."
"What do you mean?" Josie asked, opening her eyes to look at Corbyn.
"Magic can often be a fight or flight response," Corbyn explained. "For some, it only reacts to strong emotions like anger, sorrow, or revenge. I want you to dig deep and find an emotion that makes you feel powerful. Anger or rage is often the most effective." Josie hesitated, her mind racing through her memories. She thought back to her past foster family, to the night her foster father tried to defile her. The raw anger and fear surged within her, and she focused on those feelings, letting them consume her. She closed her eyes again, surrendering to the memories. The anger and fear bubbled up, and she could feel the well of her magic starting to crack open. It was as if her entire body was buzzing with energy, her fingertips tingling with power.
"By the gods..." Corbyn whispered, her voice filled with awe. Josie opened her eyes to see a white glow dancing around her, the light crackling with energy. Her magic had finally surfaced, responding to her emotions. Corbyn took a few steps back, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and admiration. "Josie, stop. Stop it." Confused, Josie quickly recollected herself, the glow fading from her fingertips. "What? Did you see, Corbyn? It happened, that has never happened before, I've never been able to summon my power freely." A sense of accomplishment filled her as she turned to Corbyn, grabbing her by the arms in glee. "I did it! Finally, by will." Corbyn's expression remained serious, her eyes locked onto Josie's. "We have to go see Headmistress Ashgrove immediately."
"Why?" Josie asked in a puzzled tone. "Because, Josephine, you're a light wielder, first of your kind since the curse. There have been no records of light wielders that I have read, and I have read a lot." Josie stood there for a moment in silence, utterly confused and in disbelief. She knew magic was unique to each person, but through bloodlines, magic is sometimes passed down through generations. That must mean... her ancestors were light wielders, and she is the first to possess this gift in five hundred years. Confused but trusting Corbyn, Josie nodded, knowing that whatever came next, she wouldn't face it alone. As they walked through the misty grounds towards the castle, Josie's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, from relief and pride to a new sense of foreboding. This was only the beginning, she could feel an intense well of power within her that had no bounds, it had no bottom, it had no cracks, and was dying to be let out in unforgivable ways. On the walk back to the castle, Josie broke the silence between her and Corbyn, and said "Are you going to tell anyone?" The gentle girl with the moon hair gave Josie a reassuring smile before saying "And make an enemy of the first light wielder in five centuries? No way." Corbyn huffed a small laugh. "They will all eventually find out, Josie, best to get it over and done with. Do you really expect to finish your first year whilst you keep your magic a secret?" Josie began chewing on her lip and wind swept at her raven coloured hair. "I'm afraid." She said. "If I'm the only one who has this power, how is anyone possibly going to teach me how to use it? Nobody knows anything about it, nobody has met a light wielder before." Josie felt tears starting to prick her eyes and Corbyn stopped in her tracks with her arms folded, Josie hadn't seen Corbyn so serious. "Since I was young, I have always known this: Life damages us, every one. We can't escape that damage. But now, I am also learning this: We can be mended. We mend each other." Corbyn said with unnerving certainty in her voice. "You are a light wielder, Josie, that is what you are. Learn to accept it, embrace it, master it, and use it as a weapon." Corbyn took Josie's hand in hers and said "Don't be afraid, Josie," Corbyn said firmly, "You have friends with you, and we're in this together, no matter what."
ꕥ
The grand dining hall of Blackmore Castle was filled with the warm glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. Students from both Blackmore University for Girls and Kraven Academy for Boys were seated at long wooden tables, their laughter and casual chatter creating a lively atmosphere. Josie sat next to Jane, feeling the rare camaraderie of the mingling schools, encouraged to engage and maintain their alliance. Across from Josie and Jane sat two boys from Kraven, one with tight dark curls and olive skin, and the other redheaded and also olive skinned, their manners slightly more relaxed in the informal setting. The redheaded student directly across from Jane had a playful glint in his eyes as he started a conversation. "So, Jane, still swinging that practice sword around like it's a feather?" Jane rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "No Jasper, At least I can swing it without tripping over my own feet, unlike some people."
The boy laughed, a genuine sound that cut through the usual posturing. "Touché. Maybe you could give me some pointers." He said with a smile. As Jane and the boy continued their banter, Josie let her gaze wander around the hall. The teachers were gathered at a separate table, their laughter and animated discussions adding to the room's warmth. It was rare to see them so relaxed, their usual stern expressions softened by the evening's lightheartedness. Josie's eyes moved across the room, taking in the sight of students from both schools interacting, breaking down the usual barriers. Her attention was suddenly caught dead by a pair of intense blue eyes already fixed on her. Creed Rasmussen, the leader of the Kraven trio, was staring at her from a few tables away. Creed's gaze was unwavering, and as he took a sip from his cup, the corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been a smirk. Josie felt a shiver run down her spine, a mix of intrigue and unease. His presence was magnetic, and she couldn't look away. The spell was broken by a sharp elbow jab from Jane. "Josie, are you listening?" Jane's voice pulled her back to the present.
Josie blinked, tearing her eyes away from Creed's. "Sorry, what were you saying?" Jane gave her a knowing look but didn't press further. "I was just saying that maybe we should show these boys a thing or two about real sparring techniques." The boy across from Jane laughed again. "Oh, we'd love to see that. Maybe you can put us in our place." Josie tried to refocus on the conversation, but she couldn't shake the feeling of Creed's eyes on her. It was as if he could see right through her, and it made her both curious and wary. As the dinner continued, she found herself glancing back at him, wondering what lay behind those piercing blue eyes and why he seemed so interested in her.
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