The days before the Academy officially opened its doors were a blur of sweat, exhaustion, and relentless training. I woke early each morning, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, and found myself on the training grounds. Cassandra was always there, waiting, prepared to push me harder than I thought I could go.
Despite everything that had happened, I was beginning to see the merit in her approach. She didn't coddle me, nor did she offer false assurances. It was simple: if I wanted to survive the Academy, to prove I was more than the villain they had branded me, I had to fight. Not just with a sword—but with myself.
---
"Focus," Cassandra said, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Your mind is still wandering."
I gritted my teeth and refocused. The sword in my hand felt heavier with each passing day. Not because of its weight, but because of the force behind it. The power that pulsed through me was constant now, a low hum in my veins. At times, it felt like it was vibrating just beneath the surface, threatening to break free. I had to learn to control it—or it would control me.
I swung the wooden sword at the training dummy, the crack of the wood reverberating through the courtyard. But the blow was weak, a mere flick compared to the power I had once felt wielding Excalibur. It was a far cry from the blade that once hummed with divine energy.
"You're still holding back," Cassandra said, her eyes sharp. "You know how to swing a sword. But this isn't about swinging. It's about feeling the sword become part of you."
I narrowed my eyes. That was the problem, wasn't it? The sword didn't feel like part of me. It didn't have the same connection I had felt when I first held Excalibur. This was just a wooden training weapon, and no matter how many times I swung it, it still felt foreign.
Cassandra approached, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's not the weapon that needs to be in sync. It's you."
I scowled, frustrated with her cryptic words. "What do you mean by that?"
"You need to trust yourself more," she said, her voice unwavering. "You keep trying to force control, to force the power into submission. But true strength doesn't come from trying to force your will on the world. It comes from aligning with it."
I stood still for a moment, digesting her words. My grip tightened around the sword, my frustration rising. Why couldn't I just do this? I was supposed to be the son of Duke Astralis, the heir to a bloodline of power, cursed or not. I had the ability to wield Excalibur—why was this so difficult?
Cassandra seemed to read my thoughts. "You think too much, Caelum," she said, stepping back. "Stop thinking. Start feeling."
I closed my eyes, just for a moment. The world around me fell away—the courtyard, the training dummies, Cassandra's sharp gaze. There was only the sword in my hands. I could feel the grip, the balance, the weight, even though it was so much lighter than Excalibur. I could feel the air around me, the way it moved with each swing, how my body flowed with the rhythm of the motion.
And then, something clicked. It wasn't the sword that felt like part of me—it was the motion itself. The power inside me surged as I struck again, and this time, the blow landed with purpose. It wasn't just a cut through the air—it was an extension of myself, a reflection of my intent.
Cassandra stood silent for a moment, watching. Her eyes softened slightly. "There it is," she said, her voice tinged with approval. "That's what I've been trying to tell you."
I lowered the sword, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. It felt… right. It felt like I was no longer fighting the sword or the power within me, but rather working with it. My body and the sword had become one.
---
The next few weeks passed quickly, each day blurring into the next as Cassandra continued to push me. The training had become more than just about swordplay—it was about understanding my body, my limits, my power. I had learned to harness my inner strength, and slowly, I began to feel the power that had once felt alien within me becoming more natural.
"Good," Cassandra said one afternoon, watching as I completed a set of rigorous drills. "Now, we work on control."
"Control?" I raised an eyebrow, wiping sweat from my brow. My body ached from the constant training, but there was no stopping now.
"Yes," she said. "Power is nothing without control. You can feel it building inside you, can't you? That energy, waiting to burst free?"
I nodded, my chest tightening just thinking about it. The power, the ancient force that had awakened within me, was always there. It was like a beast caged inside, constantly growling, clawing at the bars. At times, I felt like it was just a breath away from breaking free, from consuming me. The thought of losing control, of letting that power run wild, was terrifying.
"You're afraid," Cassandra said, as though reading my mind. "But fear will get you nowhere. You need to understand the power, not fight it. You need to learn to control it, or it will control you."
I exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing in determination. She was right. Fear wouldn't help me. But I had no idea where to even start with controlling it.
"Try this," Cassandra said, holding up her hand. "Channel that energy, focus it into your blade."
I hesitated. But then, I remembered her words. "Stop thinking. Start feeling." I took a deep breath and concentrated, closing my eyes. The power inside me stirred, but I kept it at bay, just enough to feel it without letting it consume me.
The sword in my hand seemed to hum faintly, as though it could sense the change. I exhaled and swung it, but this time, there was no wild slash. It was measured, focused. The blade cut the air with precision, its movement smooth, controlled. I felt the power, but it was restrained, held in check by my will.
I opened my eyes, surprised by the success. "I did it," I muttered, more to myself than to Cassandra.
"Yes," she said softly, her voice almost approving. "You've taken the first step toward mastering the power inside you. But don't get cocky. The real test will come soon enough."
I nodded, already feeling the weight of her words. This was just the beginning. But for the first time in a long while, I felt confident. The Academy would be my next challenge. But I was ready. Ready to face whatever came next, armed with both my skills and my determination to control my own fate.
---
As the days passed and the Academy drew closer, my training intensified. I spent every waking moment refining my swordplay, focusing on controlling the power within me, and preparing myself for the harsh realities I knew awaited inside the Academy. But the path ahead was clear now. I had control—or at least, I was beginning to.
The real test was about to begin. And this time, I would not let anyone—or anything—decide my fate for me.
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