Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

22

Evangeline awoke to the soft rustling of leaves and the distant call of birds in the forest. The remnants of the night before still lingered in her mind—the heavy conversation, the warmth of Rian's jacket, and the unexpected connection that had begun to form between them. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of something resembling peace, as if the weight she carried had lightened, if only slightly.

But as the morning light filtered through the trees, reality quickly set back in. Today would be grueling. They had a mission to complete, and she had to be ready for anything. Pushing herself to her feet, she stretched, rolling her shoulders and preparing her mind for the day ahead.

Rian was already awake, crouched by the fire as he prepared a simple breakfast. The cold, detached demeanor he often wore was back in place, but after last night, Evangeline could see past it, even if just a little. The man was a fortress, but he had cracks, and through those cracks, she'd glimpsed the depth of his pain and his humanity.

"Morning," she said softly, not wanting to disrupt the fragile understanding they'd reached.

"Morning," he replied, his voice even, though there was a hint of something else—perhaps a remnant of their conversation. He handed her a piece of bread and some dried meat, which she took gratefully.

They ate in silence, both of them seemingly lost in thought, but it wasn't the uncomfortable silence that had characterized their earlier interactions. It was the kind that came from a mutual respect, one that didn't require constant chatter to fill the space.

After they finished, Rian stood and wiped his hands on his pants. "We should train before we head out," he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. "You need to get your head in the game, and I need to know you can handle yourself out there."

Evangeline nodded, understanding his reasoning. The mission ahead was dangerous, and they couldn't afford any distractions—especially not the kind that had plagued her lately. She followed him to a small clearing a short distance from their camp, where the ground was flat and the trees provided a natural barrier.

Rian turned to face her, his expression serious. "Before we start, there's something you need to understand," he said, his gaze intense. "You've been letting your emotions cloud your judgment. You can't afford that in a fight. It'll get you killed, and it'll get me killed too. You need to focus on the present—on what's happening right in front of you. Nothing else matters."

Evangeline swallowed, feeling a surge of defensiveness rise up inside her. But she knew he was right. Her head had been a mess lately, and it had affected her performance. She'd been too caught up in her past, in the fear and anger that had resurfaced, and it had made her reckless.

"How do I do that?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "How do I just... shut it all off?"

Rian's gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "It's not about shutting it off. It's about channeling it. You use that energy, that emotion, and you focus it on the task at hand. You let it drive you, but you don't let it control you."

He moved into a fighting stance, gesturing for her to do the same. "Come at me," he instructed, his voice commanding. "But this time, don't think. Just act."

Evangeline took a deep breath and stepped into her stance, trying to clear her mind. She focused on Rian, on his movements, on the way he shifted his weight. And then she moved—quick, precise, striking out at him with the intent to land a blow.

But Rian was faster, deflecting her attack with ease. "Again," he ordered, his voice calm but demanding.

She attacked again, her frustration growing with each failed attempt. No matter what she did, Rian was always one step ahead, countering her moves as if he could predict her every action.