The Dawn

Chapter Twenty Six.

Her.

Elara paced the study, her fingers idly tracing the edges of the old, tattered pages spread out before her. The morning sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows across the floor, but her thoughts were far from the warmth and light outside.

She had woken up with a sense of determination, ready to continue the arduous journey of uncovering her powers. Kaelith had been there with her, his presence as demanding and intense as always, but something had changed. He'd seemed distracted, his usual sharp focus wavering, and then, without warning, he had left.

No explanation, no parting words, just a quick exit, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the strange, unfamiliar sensations that had been gnawing at her since the night before. Elara wondered where he had gone, why he had left so abruptly, but she quickly pushed the thoughts aside.

She couldn't allow herself to get caught up in his strange moods. There were more important things at stake, like mastering the powers that still felt foreign and elusive.

Elara's fingers danced over the ancient symbols and spells that littered the parchment before her. She had spent hours poring over them, trying to understand the complex weavings of magic that seemed to pulse with life. The power within her was growing stronger, more insistent, and she knew that she had to learn to control it. But every time she tried, it slipped through her fingers like sand, taunting her with its unpredictability.

She let out a frustrated sigh, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she refocused on the task at hand. Kaelith's absence was a distraction she couldn't afford, especially not now, when she was so close to uncovering the truth about her abilities. The memories of their recent encounters, the heated arguments, and the strange, unsettling intimacy that had grown between them, all threatened to derail her focus. But she couldn't allow herself to get lost in those thoughts, not when the answers she sought were within reach.

Closing her eyes, Elara took a deep breath and let the energy within her rise to the surface. She could feel it, like a storm gathering just beneath her skin, crackling with potential and danger. It was wild, untamed, but it was hers, and she needed to learn how to control it.

She concentrated, feeling the magic pulse through her veins, urging her to let it loose. But she couldn't. Not yet. She needed to understand it first, to bend it to her will, to make it a part of her rather than a force that threatened to consume her.

The candles in the room flickered as the power within her surged, the flames dancing as if in response to her growing command. Elara's eyes snapped open, and she watched as the light twisted and curled, bending to her will, following the silent commands she issued with her mind.

For a moment, a thrill of excitement shot through her, this was progress. But just as quickly as the feeling came, it vanished, replaced by a familiar pang of uncertainty. Kaelith wasn't here to see this, to witness the strides she was making, and she found herself wondering if that was for the best. His presence was... intense, overwhelming at times, and she didn't know if she could maintain her focus with him hovering over her shoulder.

No, she needed to do this alone.

Elara steeled herself, pushing aside the thoughts of the Dark Prince and the turmoil he brought with him. She had to stay focused, to keep her mind sharp, and to embrace the power that was slowly becoming a part of her. Kaelith might have left her alone, but she didn't need him to figure this out. She could do it on her own, she had to.

And when she did, she would finally have the answers she sought. Answers about her past, about who she truly was, and about the power that had been hidden within her for so long.

Elara's resolve hardened. She would not be distracted, not by Kaelith, not by anything. She was stronger than that, and she would prove it, not just to him, but to herself.