Eric and Lucas stood in the dimly lit studio of the training grounds, the large windows covered to keep most of the light out, casting the room in a gentle gloomy darkness. Lucas's gaze was filled with determination and focus as his hand was extended towards the shadows sticking to the wall. With practised ease, he controls the shadows to shift and dance, manipulating them into various shapes — a sword, a hand, and a serpent.
Eric watched the shadows intently, his face tight with determination, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he slowly stretched his hand toward the wall, his fingers trembling slightly as they reached out to the darkness. The shadows responded to his control, swirling and twisting as he strained to shape them into something tangible.
Eric pressed his jaws sharply, as he tried to stop the shadows from grasping from his control. The shadows flicker and wave into formless shapes. With a frustrated sigh, Eric dropped his hand, as he pants slowly at his exhaustion.
"It takes time," Lucas said, noticing Eric's frustrated face. "But that was better than last time."
"I guess," Eric muttered, clearly unsatisfied with his progress. He shook his head, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice. "Why does Gabriel just leave us to practice on our own? Isn't he supposed to be here to help us?"
"I don't know," Lucas replied thoughtfully. "He seems to be busy a lot, with training the guards on these islands."
"Oh right." Eric said with understanding, "Let's take a break at least."
He walked over to the covered window, his movements slow and deliberate. Reaching out, Eric pulled the blinds open, allowing the warm glow of the sun to flood into the room. The garden can be seen from the outside; the flowers and trees are vibrant and calm.
Eric walked towards Lucas, as he sat beside him. Lucas opened a bag beside him, handing Eric a piece of pie.
"Thanks," Eric said, taking the pie and having a bite. "You've been baking and cooking a lot lately."
Lucas shrugged with a casual grin. "Someone has to cook."
Eric chuckled, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Emily's really rubbed off on you, hasn't she? Waking up early to cook for us and all."
Lucas's smile widened a hint of pride in his expression. "She has," he admitted.
Eric's curiosity got the better of him as he continued to watch Lucas, who was slowly chewing his food. "What was in the letter you sent to her? Did you confess?"
"Confess?" Lucas's face flushed a deep red. "Confess about what? I was just sending a friendly letter to her."
Eric sighed in irritation; his tone exasperated. "Confess about your feelings to her. You made it pretty obvious. Thalia probably knows already."
Lucas looked away; his cheeks still tinged with colour. "Confessing right now isn't appropriate," he said with a sigh.
"You didn't deny that you love her," Eric said with a teasing grin.
Lucas chuckled nervously, his gaze turning thoughtful as he stared into the distance. "I haven't thought about it that way," he admitted quietly. "But I do like the thought of being with her."
Eric noticed Lucas's hesitation and how he avoided eye contact. "Well, it sounds like you're not entirely against the idea," he said with a friendly nudge. "I know my mom will accept you into the family."
"Family?!" Lucas said, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Calm down, Eric. We still need to finish these missions and get Emily back from the castle."
"And again, you can't be sure she likes me," Lucas added, his face falling as he looked down, a hint of sadness in his voice.
Eric chuckled internally at Lucas's obliviousness. "I guess you wouldn't know if you don't try," he said, his eyes betraying a hint of disbelief. It was almost amusing how Lucas seemed to miss the clear signs of Emily's affection.
"I suppose," Lucas said, still uncertain. "We have to wait for Emily's letter. At least we know they're treating her right."
"Yes," Eric replied, rolling his eyes. "After that advisor just whisked her away without even acknowledging us."
Lucas chuckled lowly, his mind drifting to Trevon. He couldn't believe that Trevon had become an advisor to a king. What had he been up to all those years when they were apart?
"You called the advisor Trevon," Eric said, noticing Lucas's distracted expression. "Do you know him?"
Lucas's face shifted to sadness slightly, his thoughts interrupted. "Yes," he said, his voice tight. "Trevon and I were childhood friends. We used to travel together with a few other friends."
Eric frowned, processing the information. "His face darkened when he noticed you. He doesn't seem to like you."
"Something happened," Lucas said, his voice carrying a hint of pain. "That led to our separation and his hatred for me."
✨🌙✨
Young Lucas and Trevon were inside a cave, busy packing their belongings. The dim light from their lanterns cast long shadows on the rough walls. Lucas glanced at Trevon, noticing a subtle but concerning shift in his behaviour since the incident.
Trevon caught the lingering gaze and scoffed. "What?"
"Nothing," Lucas said, flinching slightly and returning to his task.
Trevon's eyes narrowed a sharp edge to his voice. "You're scared of me?"
"No," Lucas replied quickly. "I'm just worried."
"Worried about what?" Trevon asked, folding his arms defensively.
"You've been practising your powers," Lucas said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "And you've used them to hurt people."
"I used them to defend us," Trevon said simply, his tone dismissive but with an undercurrent of sadness. "You're not going to tell Clara?"
"No," Lucas sighed, his voice weary. "I don't want to cause more conflict between us."
"Lucas, Trevon, we have to leave!" Levi's voice cut through the stillness.
The two boys, each carrying a small bag, hurriedly emerged from the cave, joining Clara and Levi who were waiting outside. The sun cast its bright light over them, signalling the start of a new journey.
"We need to move," Clara said, urgency in her tone. "We're heading to the East."
Levi glanced at the boys, a note of concern in his voice. "You've got everything?"
Lucas nodded for both of them. "We have."
✨🌙✨
Lucas lay back on the bed, a deep sigh of contentment escaping him. "I've never laid on a real bed before," he said, his voice filled with excitement as he looked over at Trevon, who was sitting on his own bed at the other end of the room.
"It's nice," Trevon agreed with a smile, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window. "I don't know how Clara managed to get the money for this."
"Let's go explore the cabin a bit," Lucas suggested, hopping off his bed.
"I'm a bit tired," Trevon said, trying to settle back down.
Lucas walked over to Trevon's bed, dragging him up with a playful tug. Trevon grumbled in annoyance. "Just go by yourself," he said.
"No," Lucas insisted. "Where I go, you go."
Reluctantly, Trevon climbed off his bed with an annoyed sigh and followed Lucas as they explored the cabin. As they searched every nook and cranny, their anxiety grew with each passing moment—Clara and Levi were nowhere to be found.
"There's a note," Trevon called out, his voice tinged with urgency. He picked up the note carefully and read aloud, "Stay together and keep your powers hidden from everyone."
"Stay together?" Lucas muttered, his face paling with concern. "Did something bad happen?" His voice was shaky.
"Maybe they went out for food," Trevon suggested, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "They might come back tomorrow like they always do."
"I hope you're right," Lucas said, trying to mask his worry.
✨🌙✨
The next morning arrived with a chilling realization: Clara and Levi were nowhere to be found. Lucas and Trevon woke to an unsettling emptiness in the cabin. The sight of Clara and Levi's unoccupied beds heightened their concern.
Lucas glanced at Trevon, who was visibly distressed. Trevon's usual calm demeanour was replaced by a growing anxiety, his mind racing with troubling scenarios.
"We need to do something," Trevon said, his voice tight with worry. "Let's search the village."
Lucas nodded, as the two young boys walked out of the cabin. They faced the sight of men, women and children going about with their daily activities. Cottages and cabins lined the busy streets as they walked and searched with the hope of finding them.
"Yes, they already took them away."
Trevon turned to the voice, his curiosity allowing him to follow the voice with a confused Lucas trailing behind him.
Trevon and Lucas stood by a stand, pretending to browse through the items as they listened intently to the conversation.
"I didn't know they really existed," the young man said, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Of course, they exist," the other man responded, sounding almost dismissive.
"Okay, did they do anything wrong?" the young man asked, his curiosity evident.
"Huh, not really," the man replied nonchalantly. "They were taken to the Lord's house."
"Maybe they did something wrong," the young man suggested, trying to piece together the situation.
"That has to be Clara and Levi," Trevon whispered urgently to Lucas. "Come on, let's go to the Lord's house."
"What?" Lucas said, turning to see Trevon already sprinting away.
Trevon paused to a halt, glancing back at Lucas with a mixture of confusion and determination. "We need to act fast."
Lucas's face was pale with fear. "We'll be killed if we sneak into a Lord's house."
Trevon stopped and approached Lucas, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. "We both have powers. They don't stand a chance against us."
Lucas hesitated, a pained look crossing his face. "I don't like using my powers."
Trevon's expression darkened, frustration mingling with concern. "Your shame towards your heritage is holding us back, Lucas. We don't have time for this. We have to save them!"
"Alright," Lucas said quietly but with determination. "We should go when everyone is asleep."
"Agreed," Trevon said.
✨🌙✨
That night, Lucas and Trevon waited for the village to fall asleep. They moved silently through the dark streets, heading towards the Lord's house. The grand building stood tall, quiet under the moonlight.
"Ready?" Trevon whispered, his gaze determined as they approached a side entrance.
Lucas nodded, though his face betrayed his anxiety. "Let's go."
They slipped inside through a small, unguarded door, making their way through the dimly lit corridors. They approached a dark rotten door, Trevon stood in front of it, his face sharp.
"This must be the room," Trevon said.
Lucas's hand was unsteady as he reached for the handle. "Are you sure this is the right place?" His voice was strained with doubt.
Trevon nodded. "We don't have time for second-guessing. We need to save them."
Trevon opened the door slowly, squinting into the darkness of the room. "Lucas, use your night vision," he whispered.
Lucas entered the room cautiously, scanning the surroundings. His nerves were on edge as he reached out and took Trevon's hand, guiding him through the darkness.
As they approached a staircase, Lucas began to descend carefully, keeping a firm grip on Trevon's hand as they slowly made their way down.
✨🌙✨
Finally, Trevon and Lucas arrived in a room illuminated by a bright lantern, revealing several cage cells. Inside one of them, Clara and Levi lay with their eyes closed.
"They're here," Trevon exclaimed, rushing toward the cage to open it. He tugged at the door but quickly realized, "We need a key," he sighed, frustration evident in his voice.
Lucas approached slowly, his eyes fixed on the sleeping teens. "They look fine," he whispered to himself.
Suddenly, Trevon heard a noise from the far end of the room. His gaze snapped toward the door at the opposite end, his focus sharpening. "Lucas, be quiet. I think someone is here."
Fear gripped Lucas at the thought of being caught. As he instinctively took a step back, he unknowingly bumped into a barrel, causing it to topple over and spill its contents noisily onto the floor.
The clattering of the barrel echoed through the room, the noise cutting through the air. Trevon's heart skipped a beat, and he shot a sharp glance at Lucas, who stood frozen, eyes wide with fear.
"Lucas," Trevon hissed under his breath, urgency dripping from his voice. "Stay calm."
From the far end of the room, the sound of footsteps began to grow louder, steady and deliberate, each step getting closer to the door. Trevon's mind raced as he scanned the room for anything that could help them escape or hide.
Lucas, his breathing quickening, clenched his fists as he tried to steady himself. "What do we do, Trevon?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Trevon picked up a stick from the ground, focusing on the lock as he tried to bypass it. "I need time to open this lock," he said urgently, not looking up. "You have to attack whoever comes."
Trevon frantically worked at the cage's lock, his hands shaking as he tried to free Clara and Levi. "Come on, come on!" he muttered under his breath, willing the lock to open.
But Lucas was lost in fear, unable to think or act. "Trevon, I... I can't," Lucas stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "I can't fight. I'm scared."
The door at the far end of the room creaked open, and the guards stepped in, their cold eyes scanning the room. They immediately spotted Lucas, who stood frozen in fear.
"Lucas, do something!" Trevon yelled his focus on the lock. Lucas remained paralyzed, his gaze watery as the intimidating guards advanced toward him.
Seeing Lucas's inaction, Trevon quickly abandoned the lock. With a surge of adrenaline, he used his levitation power to lift the guard off the ground, his concentration intense. He threw the man hard against the cage, causing the guard to crumple to the floor, unconscious.
"Lucas, try to break the lock," Trevon urged, realizing they needed to switch roles. Lucas, still trembling, grabbed a stick and hurried to the lock.
Trevon's eyes were sharp and angry as he faced the guards. "You're lucky we're not outside," he said bitterly. "I would have dropped you to your death."
The guards advanced, swords drawn, but Trevon used his levitation power to lift and push them away from Lucas, dodging their attacks with practised ease.
Lucas worked on the lock, his face scrunched in concentration as he glanced nervously at Clara and Levi. "How are they still asleep?" he muttered, worried.
His gaze kept flicking to Trevon, who was engaged in a fierce battle with the guards. "I can't unlock this," Lucas shouted over the noise.
"We have to come back later," Lucas said, frustration in his voice.
"We can't," Trevon replied firmly. "Don't worry, just stay back. I'll deal with them."
With that, Trevon lifted a fallen sword from the floor with his power, aiming it at the men. "You should have worn a helmet."
Lucas's eyes widened in fear. 'He wouldn't, would he?' he wondered, watching in horror.
Trevon lifted a fallen sword with his power, aiming it menacingly at the guards. "You should have worn a helmet," he said, his tone bitter. But as the sword hovered in mid-air, dark ropes appeared, restraining it. Trevon's eyes widened in shock and confusion.
"Let it go," Trevon said, his voice tense.
Lucas's trembling hand reached out, allowing the shadowy tendrils to vanish, letting the sword clatter to the ground. He then conjured shadows around the guards, trapping them in a tight, shadowy bind that made them strain and whimper.
"I can't let you kill another person, Trevon," Lucas said firmly. "Go find a key on them."
Trevon's face showed a mix of frustration and annoyance as he looked at Lucas. He moved towards the guards, carefully searching them for a key, his movements deliberate and tense.
"I found it," Trevon said, his tone flat.
Lucas, his focus still on restraining the men, let out a small, relieved smile. But Trevon suddenly burst into loud, mocking laughter. Lucas furrowed his brows in confusion, not understanding what was so funny. He kept his attention fixed on the restrained men.
"You stood frozen when it came to defending your friends, your powers hidden," Trevon said, his voice sharp. "But when it came to me hurting our enemies, you were brave. Your powers were strong."
Trevon's expression turned angry and annoyed. "Where does your loyalty lie, Lucas?" he demanded
Lucas's smile faded at Trevon's words. He struggled to respond, his voice wavering. "You were planning on killing them," he said slowly. "We don't have time for this."
Trevon's eyes narrowed. "How can you be so afraid to fight for those who need you, yet so ready to wield your power against those you see as enemies?" His gaze was piercing. "These are the same people who killed our kind and your parents."
Lucas's face tightened with frustration. "We need to free them, Trevon!" he snapped. "I can't hold onto them for long."
Trevon scoffed at Lucas's words but moved swiftly towards the cage. With a flick of his wrist, he unlocked the cage and lifted Clara and Levi into the air using his powers. He gently lowered them to the ground.
"Use your powers to lift them to the door," Trevon instructed Lucas calmly. "I'll block the door to prevent them from following us."
✨🌙✨
Lucas and Trevon walked through the dimly lit corridors, Clara and Levi floating behind them as Trevon used his powers to guide them through the air.
"They've been asleep this whole time," Lucas said, his concern evident. "Why aren't they awake yet?"
Trevon remained silent, his face a mask of frustration and anger. The tension between them was palpable, and Lucas, sensing the growing animosity, chose to fall silent.
✨🌙✨
Finally, they reached the entrance of the Lord's house. The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver light over them as they emerged into the night.
As Lucas and Trevon navigated the dark streets, guiding Clara and Levi behind them, a patrol guard suddenly appeared from the shadows. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the floating teens. With practised precision, he drew his bow and arrow, aiming it at Clara and Levi.
Trevon noticing the threats, reacted swiftly, he used his powers to lift the guard off the ground. The guard's terrified wails echoed as he dropped his weapons, his struggle intensifying as he floated higher. Trevon's smirk widened as he watched the guard's futile attempts to escape, dropping him dramatically with a chuckle.
Lucas's fear spiked as he saw the guard fall. Acting quickly, he used his shadow manipulation to catch the guard mid-air, lowering him gently to the ground. The guard stared at Lucas in shock, clearly surprised by the intervention.
"Why would you do that?!" Trevon shouted, his frustration palpable.
"Because his screaming will draw attention!" Lucas retorted, his voice rising with panic.
Their argument grew heated, their voices growing louder. The sounds of their heated exchange drew the attention of approaching guards, who began to gather around them, but they failed to notice.
Lucas's frustration was evident. "I don't like it when you go around killing everyone," he said, his voice strained.
Trevon, visibly hurt and angry, shot back, "You think I chose to kill them? You think I like it? I do it to survive! But you act like you're better than everyone."
Lucas, unable to hold back his disdain, scoffed. "You chuckle and laugh when you're about to do it. It seems like you enjoy it."
Trevon's face flushed with anger. "I don't enjoy it! You don't understand what I've been through!"
Just as the argument reached its peak, a group of guards rounded the corner, their eyes widening as they saw Clara and Levi lying on the ground. With quick, practised movements, they seized the unconscious teens, roughly dragging them away.
Lucas and Trevon's heated exchange was abruptly silenced as they both turned to face the guards encircling them. An elderly guard approached with measured steps. His eyes scanned the unconscious teens held tightly by the guards, before locking onto Lucas and Trevon with a chilling indifference.
"Kill them," he ordered, his voice cold and unwavering, devoid of any emotion.
Trevon's eyes flared with anger, his power surging in response to the command, his body glowing in a bright light. With a furious wave of his hand, he lifted all the guards into the air, their startled cries echoing through the night. Lucas stood beside him, his gaze flickering with a mixture of shock and horror as he watched the scene unfold.
But as one of the guards was hoisted into the air, he clung tightly to Clara and Levi, determined to fulfil the order. In a desperate move, the guard pulled out a dagger, his hand trembling only slightly before he drove it into Clara's chest. The blade sliced through the air, piercing her heart with a sickening finality.
Lucas and Trevon's eyes widened in disbelief as they witnessed the horrific act. Blood spilt from the wound, staining Clara's clothes as her body went limp. Levi met the same fate, the guard's knife ending his life just as swiftly.
"No..." Lucas muttered, his voice barely a whisper as tears welled up in his eyes. The shock of what had just happened overwhelmed him, freezing him in place.
Trevon, on the other hand, was consumed by a blinding rage. A scream erupted from his throat as he unleashed his power without restraint. The guards were violently thrown to the ground. The sickening sound of bones snapping and crunching filled the air, followed by agonized cries of pain.
Blood splattered across the cobblestones as the guards' bodies crumpled, broken and lifeless. The once quiet night was now filled with the echoes of terror and despair.
Lucas was in shock, his eyes fixed on the bloody scene before him. The once quiet street was now a bloody mess, bodies led on the cobblestone floor. His gaze shifted to Trevon, who stood motionless, his face downcast, his body still.
Suddenly, Lucas became aware of movement from the corners of his vision. Villagers were peeking through their cottage windows, doors creaking open only to quickly shut again as fear spread through the village. Realizing the danger they were in, Lucas's survival instincts kicked in.
Without a second thought, he grabbed Trevon's hand and started running, pulling him away from the village. Trevon followed silently, his thoughts consumed by the events. Lucas ran as fast as he could, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing with fear and regret.
✨🌙✨
They didn't stop until they reached the edge of a dense forest, far from the village. As they reached the safety of the trees, Lucas finally let go of Trevon's hand. His legs felt weak, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Overwhelmed by the events of the night, he dropped to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes.
"We need to move to a new place," Lucas croaked out, the memory of Levi and Clara's note urging him forward despite the crushing grief.
"No," Trevon replied, his voice low and filled with tension.
"What do you mean, 'no'?" Lucas stood up, walking closer to Trevon, who remained still, his back turned.
"They're dead!" Trevon suddenly screamed, his voice raw with anger and pain. "And it's because of you!"
Lucas's face twisted with a mixture of anger and sadness at the accusation. "I didn't do anything. We were ambushed; we could have been next."
"Exactly," Trevon retorted, his voice trembling as tears streamed down his face. "You did nothing! You just stood there, useless, and all you ever do is get in my way."
Lucas froze, the harshness of Trevon's words cutting deep. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Trevon scoffed loudly, brushing past Lucas as he began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Lucas called out, his voice desperate. "Are you searching for a new village?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Trevon interrupted sharply, not bothering to turn around.
Lucas's eyes widened in shock. "What?! You saw the notes they wrote; we should stay together and hide."
Trevon stopped for a moment, his shoulders tense. "They are dead, Lucas."
The weight of those words hung in the air, suffocating and final. Lucas could feel the desperation clawing at him as he tried to hold onto what little they had left. "I don't want to see you," Trevon spat, his voice dripping with hatred. "You hesitate. You're scared. You're a coward, and I'm so tired of you."
Lucas's heart pounded in his chest, the sting of Trevon's words cutting deep. As Trevon began to walk away, Lucas reached out in pain, grabbing his hand. His eyes were filled with tears, his voice trembling. "Trevon, please. We need each other. I don't want to do this alone."
For a moment, there was silence. Trevon turned to face Lucas, his expression hard. He roughly pulled his hand away from Lucas's grasp. "No, Lucas," Trevon said, his voice now cold and emotionless. "I don't need you. You're just a liability."
With that, Trevon resumed walking, not looking back. His footsteps grew fainter as he disappeared deeper into the forest, leaving Lucas standing alone, tears streaming down his face.
"I have never felt so alone before."
Young Lucas stood, his face streaked with tears, as he slowly made his way to a nearby tree. With a heavy heart, he sank down against its rough bark, his sobs quiet and sorrowful in the quiet of the forest.
"That was the lowest point of my life."
As the sun rose, its warm glow slowly illuminated the forest, casting a gentle light on the sleeping Lucas. He stirred from the cold, hard and dirty ground, his eyes swollen and red. The sun's rays painted the scene with a soft, golden hue, contrasting sharply with his blank, lost expression.
"Everyone I loved, everyone I considered family, was gone in one night."
With great effort, Lucas pushed himself up from the ground, his movements slow and reluctant. He glanced around the forest, the weight of his loss pressing heavy on his mind. Despite the beauty of the dawn, he felt utterly numb, his heart aching with the emptiness left behind.
"In that moment, I understood what Trevon meant."
Lucas began to walk through the forest, his steps slow and steady. As he moved, his gaze fell upon a stream of water. Drawn to it, he approached the stream and looked down at his reflection. His face, streaked with dirt and marked by grief, stared back at him with a vacant expression.
"The painful feeling of losing a family."
Reaching out, he dipped his hand into the cool water. He cupped the water and splashed it on his face, the refreshing touch a fleeting contrast to the pain within.
"I wandered aimlessly through the eastern region, feeling both hungry and thirsty, on the brink of death."
Young Lucas crouched on a fallen log, his face a mask of blank despair. A shadow fell over him, and he looked up to see a young man standing before him, his face filled with pity and sadness. The man extended a hand towards Lucas. Young Lucas hesitated before taking it, a reluctant glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Then, the Lord of Tauris took me in. He didn't exactly raise me as his own child."
The scene shifted to Lucas standing among guards training by the towers. He was dressed in better clothing and appeared physically improved, though his eyes betrayed the mental scars of that fateful night. The Lord of Tauris was instructing the guards, pushing them to practice and train with discipline.
"He raised me to be a protector. To protect those who cannot protect themselves."
✨🌙✨
Eric looked at Lucas with empathy, his eyes softening as he grasped the weight of the pain Lucas and other magic users from the past had endured.
"I'm the head guard of Tauris," Lucas said with a sigh. "I can't just sit back and watch others get hurt. I need to become stronger."
Eric sighed, his thoughts drifting to Trevon. "It seems he's struggling with the loss of your friends too."
"You were both kids. It wasn't either of your faults. You both had your reasons," Eric said, offering Lucas a sympathetic, but forced, smile.
"Well, he's not a kid anymore," Lucas said, his expression blank. "He could be one of our enemies now. I can't let my personal feelings interfere with this mission."
"I have new loved ones to protect and generations of magic users and non-magic users to keep safe," Lucas said, offering a soft smile.
Eric gave him a lopsided smile and stood up from the ground. "Then let's get back to training."
Lucas nodded with a smile, rising from the ground. As they resumed their training, Lucas's thoughts drifted to Trevon, wondering how he was treating Emily at the castle, given their association.
Eric looked at Lucas with empathy, his eyes softening as he grasped the weight of the pain Lucas and other magic users from the past had endured.
"I'm the head guard of Tauris," Lucas said with a sigh. "I can't just sit back and watch others get hurt. I need to become stronger."
Eric sighed, his thoughts drifting to Trevon. "It seems he's struggling with the loss of your friends too."
"You were both kids. It wasn't either of your faults. You both had your reasons," Eric said, offering Lucas a sympathetic, but forced, smile.
"Well, he's not a kid anymore," Lucas said, his expression blank. "He could be one of our enemies now. I can't let my personal feelings interfere with this mission."
"I have new loved ones to protect and generations of magic users and non-magic users to keep safe," Lucas said, offering a soft smile.
Eric gave him a lopsided smile and stood up from the ground. "Then let's get back to training."
Lucas nodded with a smile, rising from the ground. As they resumed their training, Lucas's thoughts drifted to Trevon, wondering how he was treating Emily at the castle, given their association.
Eric looked at Lucas with empathy, his eyes softening as he grasped the weight of the pain Lucas and other magic users from the past had endured.
"I'm the head guard of Tauris," Lucas said with a sigh. "I can't just sit back and watch others get hurt. I need to become stronger."
Eric sighed, his thoughts drifting to Trevon. "It seems he's struggling with the loss of your friends too."
"You were both kids. It wasn't either of your faults. You both had your reasons," Eric said, offering Lucas a sympathetic, but forced, smile.
"Well, he's not a kid anymore," Lucas said, his expression blank. "He could be one of our enemies now. I can't let my personal feelings interfere with this mission."
"I have new loved ones to protect and generations of magic users and non-magic users to keep safe," Lucas said, offering a soft smile.
Eric gave him a lopsided smile and stood up from the ground. "Then let's get back to training."
Lucas nodded with a smile, rising from the ground. As they resumed their training, Lucas's thoughts drifted to Trevon, wondering how he was treating Emily at the castle, given their association.