The Elven King's Consort

Chapter 49: Soulmate

Sweat trickled down the side of my face, tickling and itching my skin the entire time until it dripped off my eyebrow, landing on the dying grass under my feet. I've been at it for three days now. Constantly coming here in this lush green hilly flat plain, the target now partially burned and destroyed, hung by its last leg. Sighing and shutting my eyes, I was on my last leg. I took to this very spot each time and now engraved my footing, spoiling the life, unable to regrow and fill in the gaps.

My body ached, and I was exhausted. Soon, I wouldn't be able to take too much of this. Magic was a fleet I had not expected to be so difficult to grasp. My aim was off. The elements do not show up upon command but take time to build up simply because my sense of concentration is terrible. Not to mention, Demetri is impatient and ruthless with practice; he doesn't take any of my whining or bantering seriously and pushes me until I practically faint. Although the beast irked me to death, I forced myself to endure. They were doing me a saving grace training and practicing out of the busy, chaotic work they themselves must do to prepare. Cestiel has gone many times afterward to strengthen himself alongside Demetri, Theron, and Nasyrn, so I can't keep falling behind.

"Again!" He roared loudly next to me, but I had become used to it, no longer jumping each time. When he first inflicted the strict regime, I winced and shrank, my ear rang, and my head throbbed painfully, becoming irritable and short. Now, I was unphased and on autopilot. The arrows gripped and pulled back one after the other, each holding one of the elements I concentrated on.

Red meant fire; it took everything it hit with it, leaving nothing but black soot and ash in its track. Blue was water, aiming it right where the last arrow scarred and stained the ground, still scolding hot, releasing it, landing on top of a thick cloud of steam that sizzled and spat. I smiled proudly.

"Don't celebrate yet," Demetri sneered. He'd lost all patience after enduring more than thirty hours of training with me. However, I took no offense nor cared, becoming used to his personality. Glaring at the spot, he continued," You've only barely mastered two of the five elements. It's still lacking, but it'll do. Let's focus on what you can do now."

I nodded, staring at the area where the steam had disappeared entirely; regardless of how he felt, I was proud that I had finally achieved something after so long. Cesteil came and stood next to me, smiling wide, and I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face.

"You've done well."

I came closer to him and took the bow and arrow off my aching, sore, and raw shoulder, rubbing it after setting them down, then stretching, saying," Thank you. Although I wished I could have learned at least one or two more elements," now frowning, "I suppose this will do."

"It's better than none, princess," Demetri cut in, and I side-eyed him. My eyebrow twitched, annoyed that he couldn't read the room; Cesteil chuckled. How much longer is he going to stick around us? I hadn't had a private moment with Cesteil in days, even the nights he was stolen away by the ancient wolf.

"It'll do for now. We can't postpone any further. Things have started to get worse in the Elven Kingdom. A report came in last night while Demetri and I sat and looked over the map, scooping out the sections where the guards were at their heaviest, and it was said that Václav had begun to suspect one of the kingdoms was assisting us. I'm afraid a rat is running amock within your lot, Demetri."

"Hmm," he nodded, agreeing and crossing his strong, large, muscular arms across his chest. Yes, I've sent some of my men to look for the culprit, but until then, make sure you two stay out of sight and don't use too much magic, Nadalia. Unfortunately, this is part of the reason why you haven't greatly improved. He can sense it."

I nodded, becoming serious and understanding. Václav can sense anyone using magic, how we don't know yet, but when a large amount is used outside his domain, he tracks it down, thinking it is Cesteil's because only he can come close to matching; he's part fairy.