Catherine( The Chosen One)

Chapter 10: Strength in Unity

Catherine's Pov-
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The morning after breakfast, I found myself standing once again in the familiar yet imposing Hall of Magic. The alpha-level students were already assembled, the air filled with a quiet buzz of expectation. I stood off to the side, feeling the weight of the day ahead, still reflecting on the strangeness of the previous day. Just as I wondered when Lady Owen would make her entrance, the doors opened, and instead, Lilibet walked in. Her presence felt slightly less overwhelming than Lady Owen's, but she still held the same authoritative energy.“Good morning, everyone,” she said, her voice strong and clear. “Today, we’re taking a different approach. Instead of honing your magical skills, we’ll be focusing on something just as essential—physical fitness.”Physical fitness? I thought, trying to hide my surprise. It wasn’t what I expected, but I’d learned quickly not to let my feelings show. Lilibet continued, “A strong body is crucial for the control and flow of magic. Without physical endurance, no amount of magical prowess will be enough.”I glanced across the room and met Edward’s gaze for a brief second before looking away. I had a feeling that today wasn’t going to be as straightforward as it seemed.“You will each be paired with a partner for today’s training,” Lilibet went on, “but you won’t be choosing your partners. I will.” Her eyes seemed to gleam with a secret plan as she began calling out names.“Catherine, you’ll be partnered with Lady Arabella.”Of course. I wasn’t surprised, though I couldn’t help but feel a bit wary. Arabella made her way over to me with a confident smile, clearly thrilled with the arrangement. “It seems fate continues to put us together,” she said lightly, though there was something sharp beneath her words. I simply nodded. I knew better than to take her at face value.“Prince Edward, you’ll be paired with Princess Eleanor.”I looked over just in time to see Eleanor blush a deep shade of pink. She had been avoiding Edward’s gaze all morning, and now that they were paired, I could almost feel her nervousness from across the room. Edward, always calm and kind, smiled at her, and I could see her visibly relax under his reassuring presence. The other students were quickly paired off:Lord Frederick with Lord HenryLady Isabella with Lord TheodorePrincess Beatrice with Lord SebastianAfter Lilibet finished, she gave a satisfied nod. “Now, we’ll move to the training field. Follow me.”

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  The field stretched out before us as we arrived, and it was clear today’s session wasn’t going to be easy. Lilibet laid out the tasks: magical weights that responded to energy, obstacle courses, and endurance challenges designed to push us to our limits. Arabella wasted no time taking control. “I’ll lead,” she said sharply as we approached the magical weights. I let her take the reins for now, though I quickly found my rhythm. The weights, sensing our energy, were heavy in my hands, but I focused on balancing the flow between us. Arabella’s frustration grew as she realized I wasn’t following her lead as closely as she expected. “Not bad,” she said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t pleased. I smiled slightly but kept my thoughts to myself. Arabella clearly wanted more than just cooperation—she wanted control. I could see Edward and Eleanor working through their obstacle course, though it seemed like Eleanor was having more difficulty than expected. At one point, she stumbled, but Edward was right there to catch her. He smiled at her, calming her nerves, and together they completed the course with surprising speed. The rest of the students faced their own challenges. Lord Frederick and Lord Henry seemed to be in a silent competition, pushing each other harder with every task. Isabella and Theodore worked smoothly together, while Beatrice and Sebastian seemed to struggle with synchronization. As the morning wore on, I could feel the exhaustion creeping in. My muscles ached from the physical strain, though I didn’t let it show. Beside me, Arabella seemed determined not to falter either, though I could tell the training was wearing on her as well. Lilibet finally clapped her hands, calling us to attention. “Well done, everyone. Physical training may seem tedious, but it is vital to your magical growth. You’ve all made progress today.”Just as I thought we were finished, Lady Owen appeared. Her presence was commanding as always. “You’ve done well,” she said, her voice cutting through the air. “But tomorrow, we return to the Hall of Magic for something more... demanding.”
 
  As we began to disperse, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that the physical training was over. Arabella lingered beside me for a moment before speaking, “We make a good team, don’t you think?” Her words were friendly enough, but the weight behind them was unmistakable—she was demanding more than just cooperation; she wanted an alliance, and she wasn’t going to stop until she got it. I offered a noncommittal smile, unsure of how to respond. Edward, as always, seemed to be handling his responsibilities effortlessly. He gave Eleanor a kind nod before turning his attention to me. There was a silent understanding between us, though I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. By the time we made it back to our dorms, I was ready to collapse. Tomorrow promised to be another challenge, but for now, I just needed to rest and prepare for whatever Lady Owen had planned for us next.