Chereads / Petals: Multiverse of Chaos / Chapter 34 - The Awakening of Power: Kai and Lila's Magical Discovery

Chapter 34 - The Awakening of Power: Kai and Lila's Magical Discovery

The air crackled with the last sparks of magic as Kai lowered his sword. His chest heaved with each breath, sweat trickling down his face. Around him, the guards lay on the ground, groaning but alive. Kai had been careful not to hurt them badly. He knew they were just doing their job.

"That was close," Kai muttered to himself, looking at the dented blade in his hand. He hadn't wanted to use his full powers. The oath he'd taken long ago still held him back.

"No magic against people," he reminded himself. It made fights like this harder, but he wouldn't break his word.

As the dust settled, Kai's eyes darted around, searching for Lila. He spotted her a few yards away, her clothes dirty and torn. Worry gripped his heart. With a quick wave of his hand, Kai cast a spell to clean himself up. Then he ran to Lila, his feet pounding on the hard ground.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked, his voice filled with concern. He knelt beside her, his hands hovering over her, unsure where to start. Seeing the dirt and small cuts on her skin, he didn't wait for an answer. His fingers moved in a familiar pattern as he cast a healing spell.

A soft blue light washed over Lila. Kai watched as the cuts on her arms closed up, leaving behind smooth skin. The bruise on her cheek faded away like a distant memory.

"Thanks," Lila said softly. She looked up at Kai, a small smile on her face. The night they'd spent training together had changed things between them. She felt more at ease with him now, like she could trust him.

From far away, someone watching might think they were brother and sister. Or maybe something more. The way Kai fussed over Lila, the gentle way she accepted his help – it spoke of a bond growing stronger by the minute.

As Kai helped Lila to her feet, they noticed a crowd gathering around them. The people from the outcast settlement had come out to see what all the fuss was about. Their eyes were wide with wonder and a bit of fear.

"Did you see that?" one man whispered to his neighbor. "The way she used those runes... I've never seen anything like it!"

"But how?" a woman asked, her voice a mix of awe and doubt.

"She's from a poor bloodline. She shouldn't be able to do that!"

Lila heard their words. She felt their stares. Some looked at her with thanks in their eyes. Others... well, she could see the jealousy there too. It made her stomach twist into knots. She'd been through this before. First comes the awe, then the questions, and finally... being pushed away. Again.

Kai noticed Lila's discomfort.

He put a gentle hand on her back, guiding her towards her home. "Come on," he said softly. "Let's get you inside."

As they walked, Lila leaned on Kai for support. Her body felt heavy, like she'd been carrying a mountain on her shoulders. Kai helped her sit on the wooden floor of her small house, right next to where her younger siblings were huddled together, watching with big, curious eyes.

Kai stepped back, giving Lila and her family some space. But his mind was racing. Why hadn't the other guards stepped in to help? Something wasn't adding up.

As if reading his thoughts, Lila spoke up. "It was bloodline suppression," she said, her voice tired but clear.

Kai blinked in surprise. "What?" He hadn't said anything out loud. How did she know what he was thinking?

Lila gave a weak chuckle. "Your face betrays your thoughts," she explained. She shifted, trying to get comfortable, and let out a small grunt of pain. The healing spell had fixed her wounds, but she still felt drained. "Fighting against the suppression... it takes a lot out of you."

Kai couldn't help but smile. His student was learning fast. Just one night of training, and already she was picking up on the little things.

"You did good out there," he said, his voice warm with pride.

"Thanks," Lila replied, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Kai's smile faded as he thought about what Lila had said.

"This bloodline suppression," he began, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Is that something special to your people? I've never heard of it before."

Lila nodded, understanding his confusion. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "It's... complicated," she started. "You see, in our world, everything is about bloodlines. Especially for us dragons."

Kai leaned in, listening closely. This was all new to him.

"We demi-dragons," Lila continued, "we're born when a human and a dragon have a child together. Nobody really knows how it all started, but that's how it is now." She paused, making sure Kai was following along. "We take up about half of the world's land. Humans have about a third, and the pure dragons – they're the ones in charge – they have the rest."

Kai's eyebrows shot up. "You divide the whole world like that?" he asked, sounding a bit overwhelmed.

Lila saw his expression and decided to get to the point. "The important thing is this: the purer your dragon blood, the more power you have over those with weaker bloodlines. That's what bloodline suppression is."

Suddenly, things started to click in Kai's mind. "Is that why everyone looked so shocked when you fought those guards? Because they have stronger bloodlines than you, but you still won?"

"Exactly," Lila nodded. She held out her hand, palm up. Kai watched in fascination as a soft orange glow appeared. Little sparks danced in the air, and then a small flame flickered to life in Lila's palm. Her younger siblings giggled and clapped at the display. "Somehow," Lila said, her voice filled with wonder, "I was able to push back against their suppression."

Kai watched the flame dance in Lila's hand. His mind was working overtime, trying to put all the pieces together. "But why can't runes do that?" he wondered out loud.

Without thinking, Kai held out his own hand. He focused, calling up the same kind of flame Lila had made. But as he did, he closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses in a way he'd never done before. He wanted to see how the magic worked, how it changed the world around him.

What he saw shocked him. Instead of pulling energy from the air like he usually did with spells, he saw a white mist forming right in his hand. It came from inside him, not from the world outside. "Soul magic," he whispered, his eyes flying open in surprise.

Lila nodded, excitement clear on her face. "Yes! That's what I felt when I fought off the suppression. It was like... like a strength coming from deep inside me."

Kai's mind was reeling. All this time, he'd wondered why his magic felt different from others'. Why he had to push it out from inside instead of pulling it in from outside. Now he knew. "Runes use the energy around us," he said slowly, working it out as he spoke. "But this... this comes from within. It's part of us."

As Kai and Lila sat there, surrounded by the curious faces of Lila's siblings, they both felt like they were on the edge of something big. Something that could change everything they thought they knew about magic and themselves.

Lila broke the silence first. "So... what does this mean?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and uncertainty. "For us, I mean."

Kai looked at her, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "It means we have a lot to learn," he said. "And I think we're just getting started."

Just then, a loud knock at the door made everyone jump. Kai was on his feet in an instant, moving to stand between Lila and the door. "Who's there?" he called out, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Open up!" a gruff voice answered. "By order of the cheif, we're here for the girl!"

Kai and Lila exchanged a worried look. Their discovery had not gone unnoticed, and now it seemed they were in for another fight. 

The door began to rattle on its hinges as someone pounded on it from outside. Kai took a deep breath, centering himself. He looked back at Lila, who nodded, a determined expression on her face. Whatever happened next, their journey into the mysteries of soul magic and bloodlines was far from over. In fact, it was just beginning.