Arcane Dominion: The Rise of Shadows

"Special Training Part-2"

Nerina's POV-
The third day began with a sense of unease. The air was heavier, the sky clouded in muted grays. Lyriana stood at the edge of our small camp, her back to me as she stared out at the horizon. Her presence, as always, felt commanding, but there was something different about her today—a tension that made my chest tighten.

“Nerina,” she called, her voice carrying over the wind without effort.

I hurried to her side, my muscles still sore from the previous day’s trials. “What are we doing today?” I asked, trying to sound confident, though the lingering ache in my body made it hard to mask my weariness.

Lyriana turned to me, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. “Today, we test your endurance,” she said. “And your trust.”

“Trust?” I repeated, my brow furrowing.

She didn’t elaborate. Instead, she gestured for me to follow her, and we descended the plateau into a narrow ravine. The jagged cliffs loomed high on either side, and the ground beneath us was uneven and littered with sharp stones. The deeper we went, the darker it became, the sun obscured by the cliffs above.

As we walked, Lyriana spoke. “Control is important. But without endurance, even the most precise magic will fail when you need it most. And without trust—” she paused, glancing back at me, “—you won’t survive what lies ahead.”

Her words sent a chill through me. “What exactly are we doing?”

Instead of answering, she stopped abruptly and turned to face me. “We’re going to spar.”

My stomach dropped. “Spar? Here?”

“Yes,” she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You’ll need to defend yourself. I’ll be using magic against you, and you’ll use everything I’ve taught you to withstand it.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in her eyes silenced me. She wasn’t going to hold back.

---

The first spell came without warning—a burst of wind that sent me stumbling backward. I barely managed to keep my footing, raising a shield of fire to counter the next attack. But Lyriana was relentless, her spells precise and unyielding.

“Focus!” she barked as I narrowly dodged a shard of ice that shattered against the cliff behind me.

I gritted my teeth, the sting of her magic biting at my skin. My heart raced as I summoned another flame, directing it toward her with all the strength I could muster. She deflected it effortlessly, her expression unreadable.

“Again!” she commanded, her voice echoing through the ravine.

I fought back, pushing myself harder with each spell. My limbs ached, and my chest burned with exertion, but I refused to back down. The wind howled around us, carrying the sound of our magic clashing like thunder.

“Good,” Lyriana said after what felt like hours. Her voice was calmer now, though still laced with authority. “You’re improving. But you’re holding back.”

“I’m not,” I protested, wiping sweat from my brow.

Her eyes narrowed. “You are.” She stepped closer, her gaze boring into mine. “You’re afraid of hurting me.”

I swallowed hard, unable to meet her eyes. “You’re my teacher,” I said softly. “I don’t want—”

“To harm me?” she finished, her tone sharp. “You think your power could harm me?” She reached out, her fingers brushing against my chin as she tilted my face up to meet her gaze. The touch was electric, and my breath hitched.