Shadow Bound Fate

Magic in the Shadows

Lira's POV

I lay flat on the floor, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. Sweat clung to my skin, dripping from my face and soaking my clothes. My body felt heavy, each muscle trembling from exhaustion. Above me, Caius loomed, his silhouette framed by the dim light filtering through the windows.

"Alright, that's enough for today," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. He picked up his sword from the floor, sliding it smoothly into the sheath strapped to his back. "Get cleaned up. You've got an hour before you meet Thalia."

I groaned, sitting up slowly, glaring at him through the haze of exhaustion. My limbs ached from the brutal workout—sparring, followed by an endless series of sit-ups, pushups, and sprints. "It'll help you gain more strength," he'd said, though it felt like he was just enjoying watching me suffer.

He handed me my dagger, and I snatched it from him, still glaring. "Chop, chop, Lira," he teased, clearly unfazed by my scowl.

With a grunt, I pushed myself to my feet, every movement making me wince. My muscles were already screaming in protest, and I had no doubt I'd be sore for days. "Of course, Lord Caius," I snapped back, sarcasm thick in my voice as I sheathed my dagger. I turned on my heel and walked out of the training hall, my steps slow and stiff.

By the time I reached the house, even climbing the stairs felt like a monumental task. My legs wobbled beneath me, and each step was more of a struggle than the last. When I finally made it to my room, I sighed in relief to find that Elara had already drawn a bath. The steam rose gently from the water, and I wasted no time sinking into it.

As soon as the warm water enveloped me, the tension in my muscles began to melt away. I closed my eyes, letting the heat soothe the aches and pains Caius had inflicted on me. He didn't hold back today, and while I understood the need to push myself, it still felt like an insane amount of training for a first day. How was I supposed to get through a magic lesson with Thalia if I could barely walk?

After what felt like hours of soaking and trying to relax, I finally dragged myself out of the bath. Elara had laid out black leggings and an emerald green tunic on the bed, and I smiled at the gesture. At least she hadn't tried to put me in another dress.

I dressed quickly, braiding my damp hair and twisting it into a crown atop my head. My dagger was once again sheathed at my side as I descended the stairs slowly, my legs still weak and trembling. It took longer than usual, but eventually, I made my way to the town hall.

Inside, I found Thalia sitting on the ground in front of a crackling fire. A blanket was spread beneath her, and she stared into the flames with a distant expression. As I approached, she turned to look at me, her blue eyes narrowing slightly as she took in my stiff movements.

"My gods, how hard did he go on you today?" she asked, raising a brow.

I waved her off, trying to hide the wince as I lowered myself onto the blanket with her. Sitting down was its own battle, and I let out a small groan as I finally settled on the ground, my legs stretched out in front of me. "Pretty intense," I admitted, the warmth from the fire seeping into my sore muscles.

Thalia watched me for a moment, then shook her head, muttering something under her breath. "Alright," she said, leaning forward. "Let's get started. What do you know about your powers so far?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Not much," I admitted. "I can wield fire, which I've used the most. I figured out on the journey here that I can summon lightning. And when I was attacked by a Voidborne, smoke came out of my fingertips and wrapped around it before... well, it exploded." I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious under her gaze.