The night after the tea party, Alessa returned to the withered rose bush in the garden. With the house quiet and everyone asleep, it was the perfect time to continue her training.
She knelt before the bush, placing her hands on the soil once more.
In her previous life, she had relied too heavily on the priests to guide her use of divine power. They had kept her ignorant of its full potential, limiting her abilities to basic healing and minor blessings. Now, she was determined to unlock the depths of her gift on her own.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and focused.
The warmth she had felt before began to build in her palms, stronger this time. She pictured the entire rose bush blooming, its leaves green and vibrant.
But the moment she pushed the energy outward, a sharp pain shot through her chest, breaking her concentration. She gasped, clutching her chest as she fell back.
The rose bush remained unchanged.
What am I doing wrong? she wondered, frustrated. She had followed the instructions in the book, but something was missing.
"Trying to summon life back into dead plants, are you?"
Alessa froze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned to see Damian Caldir leaning casually against a nearby tree, his arms crossed.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, rising to her feet.
"I might ask you the same question," he said, smirking. "It's not every night I catch someone whispering to dead plants under the moonlight."
Alessa's mind raced. She hadn't expected anyone to find her here, least of all Damian.
"It's none of your concern," she said, brushing past him.
But he caught her wrist, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "You're hiding something, Lady Alessa. And I don't believe for a second that it's innocent."
She pulled her hand free, meeting his gaze. "You can believe whatever you like, Lord Damian. But I suggest you keep your assumptions to yourself."
With that, she walked away, her heart pounding.
As she reached the safety of her room, she clenched her fists. Damian's curiosity could become a problem if she didn't handle it carefully. But for now, she needed to focus on her training.
Chapter 8: A Breakthrough
The next night, Alessa returned to the garden, determined to succeed. This time, she recalled a line from the book she had overlooked before: The saintess's power is strongest when driven by pure intent.
She realized her frustration and impatience had been clouding her focus. She needed to approach her gift with clarity, not force.
Kneeling before the rose bush, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She let her emotions flow freely—her love for her family, her determination to protect them, and her desire to rewrite her fate.
Warmth surged through her hands, stronger and steadier than before.
When she opened her eyes, the entire rose bush was in full bloom, its petals glowing faintly in the moonlight.
A smile spread across her face. She had done it.
But her triumph was short-lived. She heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her and turned quickly, her heart sinking.
Standing at the edge of the garden was Damian, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive," he said softly. "Now, are you going to tell me what's really going on, or should I start asking questions elsewhere?"
Alessa's mind raced. Damian had seen too much. She couldn't let him expose her before she was ready.
But as she met his gaze, an idea began to form. Perhaps Damian didn't need to be silenced. Perhaps he could be useful.