Chereads / Light a Shadows: Eveline's fate / Chapter 12 - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Chapter 12

The days following the confrontation with the hooded figure were marked by an unusual calm. The academy, still recovering from the attack, was beginning to return to its normal rhythm, but the tension in the air was palpable. The shadowy creatures that had invaded the campus left scars not only on the walls but in the minds of all who had witnessed the battle. The truth about Eveline's power now circulated among the students, and she had become a central figure, both admired and distrusted.

 

Despite this, Eveline knew she couldn't afford a break. Alaric's warning about the danger of her power echoed in her mind at every moment. The control she had managed during the confrontation was unstable. She had barely scratched the surface of her ancestral magic, and the risk of losing control was real.

 

The next morning, Eveline stood in the academy courtyard, sword in hand. The rising sun cast long shadows over the training grounds. Her breathing was controlled, her mind focused, but there was something inside her that continued to bubble — the mix of light and darkness that seemed ever-present, always waiting to be unleashed.

 

"You seem ready for a fresh start," Alaric's voice echoed from behind her. He approached, his expression serious, but with a touch of understanding. Since the confrontation, Alaric had become an even closer mentor, insisting that Eveline hone her skills with the same intensity with which she trained her mind.

 

Eveline looked at him and smiled slightly. "I am. But there's so much I still don't understand. I feel this power inside me, but I don't know how to fully control it. It's... chaotic."

 

Alaric stopped beside her, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "Magic of this magnitude is never easy to control. What you carry is ancient and goes beyond the simple definitions of light or darkness. You are not just an ordinary mage, Eveline. Your lineage brings the heritage of a rare, but also dangerous, balance."

 

He paused before continuing. "That's why you will need to train not only with your sword or with simple spells. You will need to learn to listen to the magic within you, to understand its rhythms, its desires. It's alive, and you must treat it as such."

 

Eveline nodded, absorbing every word. "And how do I do that? How do I learn to control something that seems to have a will of its own?"

 

Alaric smiled slightly. "Through patience and focus. I'm going to teach you an ancient technique, a meditation that will help you dive deep into your own magic and create a real connection with it. But it won't be easy. It will require a level of self-awareness that you may not have reached yet."

 

Eveline took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility growing on her shoulders. But she knew this was the only way. If she didn't control her magic, it would end up controlling her.

 

"I'm ready," she said, determined. "If it means learning to master myself, I'll do whatever it takes."

 

Alaric observed her for a moment, as if measuring her determination. Then, he gestured for her to follow him.

 

---

 

They headed to a secluded part of the academy, an area of ancient forests and tranquil lakes. It was a place of meditation, a space where silence and nature reigned. Alaric explained that magic flowed naturally there, which would help Eveline connect with her inner power.

 

"First, you need to understand that the magic inside you is like a river," Alaric began. "If you try to block or control its waters with force, it will overflow and cause destruction. But if you learn to direct the flow, you can use it to nourish the land around you, or even create something new."

 

Eveline sat in the center of a circle of ancient stones, her hands resting on her knees, the sword by her side. The gentle wind blowing through the trees seemed to carry a calm that Eveline hadn't felt in a long time. Closing her eyes, she began to follow Alaric's instructions, trying to visualize her magic as a river flowing within her.

 

For a long time, nothing happened. Her mind wandered, thoughts of the recent confrontation and the uncertain future continued to interfere. But slowly, as she breathed more deeply and tried to detach from the outside world, something changed.

 

Inside her mind, Eveline began to see what Alaric had described. A deep, powerful river flowed, with currents of light and stretches of shadow mixing, creating a spectacle that was both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. But the river wasn't calm. It raged, as if it wanted to explode at any moment.

 

"That's it," Alaric whispered. "You're beginning to see. Now, don't try to control it. Just feel it. Connect with it."

 

Eveline kept her breathing steady and tried to approach the river. As she did, she felt a wave of emotions and memories hit her — memories of her past life, of her loneliness, of pain and isolation. But she also felt the hopes and dreams she secretly nurtured. The magic was part of who she was, a reflection of her own inner self.

 

"I'm not the same anymore," Eveline thought. "But I'm also part of everything I once was."

 

When that understanding settled, the river inside her began to calm. The dark and luminous waters that had once seemed in conflict now intertwined more harmoniously, like two sides of the same coin. Eveline understood at that moment that the power within her wasn't a curse or a separate blessing. It was simply part of her.

 

When she opened her eyes, hours had passed. The sun was already setting on the horizon, and the silence of the surrounding forest was comforting. Eveline felt different — no longer in conflict with her magic, but in delicate balance.

 

"You did it," Alaric said, smiling with satisfaction. "This is only the first step, but it's the most important. Now that you've learned to connect with your magic, we can begin the real training. But remember: this journey will be long and full of challenges."

 

Eveline looked at Alaric, feeling a new sense of purpose inside. "I'm ready for it. I'm ready for any challenge."

 

Alaric nodded. "Then, starting tomorrow, we'll begin a new training. You'll need to face yourself before you face what's coming."

 

Eveline knew he was right. Her greatest enemy so far had always been the fear of her own power. But now, with a new understanding of who she really was, she was determined to master her abilities and protect those she loved. The war against the shadows was far from over, and she would be the one to ensure the balance was restored.

 

The preparation had begun.