The Unseen Power
It had been a restless night, sleep eluding her as her thoughts spun endlessly.
She still couldn't shake the feeling that something deep inside her was waiting to come out. But what was it? What power was buried within her? And why couldn't she control it?
Kain had promised that he would help her figure it out. But so far, that promise felt more like a shadow than a reassurance. She hadn't felt anything in the brief training session from the day before. Nothing that even remotely resembled the power Kain had described.
Footsteps crunched against the gravel, pulling Lucia out of her thoughts. She turned to see Kain walking toward her, his face unreadable as usual. But there was something in his eyes—something like determination.
Behind him, there was another figure. A woman. Tall, dressed in a dark cloak that flowed like liquid shadows. Her hair was as dark as midnight, and her eyes? Those eyes were impossible to read—like a mirror reflecting nothing but the unknown.
Lucia's stomach twisted into a knot. This must be Astrid Thorn—the witch Kain had spoken of.
"She's here to help you," Kain said, his voice steady. "Her name is Astrid. She's... a witch. And she's the best at what she does."
Astrid's lips quirked upward in a smile, but it was sharp, as if hiding something beneath it. Her gaze swept over Lucia, the look almost predatory.
"No need to look so nervous," Astrid said, her voice smooth like honey, but with an edge. "I don't bite. Not unless I'm asked to."
Lucia swallowed, her throat dry. "I'm… not nervous," she muttered, but the words came out half-hearted.
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because you're going to need a lot of strength for what's ahead."
Kain turned toward the clearing just beyond the house, the grass swaying gently in the wind. "We'll start there," he said. "Astrid, you can begin with her."
Lucia followed Astrid, her heart thumping in her chest. She wanted to believe that something would happen today—that something inside her would finally unlock. But deep down, she was afraid. What if it didn't happen? What if there was nothing inside her at all?
Astrid didn't waste any time. She stood with her feet planted firmly in the ground, her arms held out as she began to chant in a language Lucia didn't recognize. The words were strange and ancient, wrapping themselves around the air like invisible threads. There was power in the way Astrid spoke, a quiet but undeniable strength.
Lucia's mind buzzed as she tried to focus. She closed her eyes, blocking out the rustling leaves, the distant chirping of birds. She tried to reach deep within herself, to feel something—anything.
But there was nothing.
Her heart sank.
Astrid's chant faded, and she opened her eyes to see the witch watching her with a faint, almost knowing smile. "Nothing yet?" she asked, her tone gentle, but there was a flicker of something else there too—something almost... amused.
"I... I don't feel anything," Lucia said, the words heavy with disappointment.
Astrid nodded slowly, as though this was an expected outcome. "It's not unusual. Powers like yours are often hidden. They don't always respond right away."
Lucia's hands curled into fists at her sides, frustration bubbling up inside her. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but this wasn't it. She wanted something. She wanted answers. And yet, nothing was happening.
Astrid stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied Lucia closely. "You're trying too hard," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Relax. Stop thinking about what you want to happen. Your power won't show up that way."
Lucia blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Astrid tilted her head, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. "Trust yourself. Trust the power inside you. It's not about forcing it—it's about letting it be."
Kain stood silently at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed. His gaze was fixed on Lucia, but his expression was unreadable. Lucia didn't know if she wanted him to watch or not. But she had no choice but to try again.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to calm her mind. She let the thoughts fade into the background, focusing only on the sensation of her feet against the ground, the wind against her skin. She let go of her expectations and simply felt.
Still, nothing came.
Minutes passed. She could feel Astrid's gaze on her, waiting, patient. But it felt like hours. How long would she have to stand here, doing nothing, before something happened?
Lucia opened her eyes, her frustration growing. "This isn't working."
Astrid was silent for a long moment, studying her. Then, she spoke quietly. "It will happen when it happens. Powers like yours are often unlocked by... triggers. You can't rush it. You'll know when it's time."
Lucia looked at her, trying to understand. "A trigger?" she repeated, as if testing the word. "What kind of trigger?"
Astrid's smile deepened, but there was something inscrutable in her gaze. "You'll know it when it happens."
Lucia wanted to argue, to demand something more concrete. But Astrid didn't offer any more answers. Instead, she stepped back, giving Lucia space.
The air hung heavy between them, charged with the unsaid.
Lucia was about to speak when, without warning, a sudden rush of wind stirred the trees around them. She heard a faint sound—a whistling—and before she could register what was happening, something shot through the air.
An arrow.
It moved fast, too fast for her to process at first. Her eyes locked onto it just as it was about to strike Kain, aimed directly for his heart.
In a flash, everything inside Lucia seemed to snap into focus.
Without thinking, her hands shot out in front of her. Her body moved of its own accord. She wasn't sure what happened next, but suddenly, the arrow was in her hands. The cold, sharp steel of the shaft trembled against her fingers.
The arrow.
The wolfsbane-tipped arrow.
She stared at it, her heart racing. It had been meant for Kain. The poison gleamed darkly on the tip. Her breath caught in her throat, and she couldn't look away from it.
Kain stood frozen, eyes wide. He looked between the arrow and her, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Astrid, too, was staring, her eyes narrowing with an unreadable expression. But there was something in them now—curiosity.
Lucia slowly lowered her hand, the arrow slipping from her fingers and clattering to the ground. She stood still for a long moment, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Did you—" Kain's voice was rough, his words failing him. "Did you just—?"
"I... I don't know," Lucia whispered, her voice shaky. She could feel the weight of the arrow in her hands even though it was gone now. "I didn't think. It just—happened."
Kain's jaw clenched, his gaze never leaving her. "How?"
Astrid stepped forward, her expression now one of mild intrigue. "Interesting," she murmured, almost to herself. "Your power doesn't seem to be about controlling elements. It's about reaction. You protect. You stop danger before it happens."
Lucia swallowed, still shaking. "I didn't mean to..."
"You didn't need to," Astrid said. "The power responds when it matters most. When you're protecting someone."
Kain didn't take his eyes off Lucia, but there was something darker behind his gaze now. A question, an understanding that hadn't been there before.
"Maybe this wasn't all a mistake after all," Kain murmured.
Lucia looked down at her hands, her mind still reeling. Her power had shown itself—unpredictably, but undeniably. And now she had to face the reality of what that meant.
But for now, at least she knew one thing: she wasn't completely powerless.
But her mind was still racing, the weight of what had just happened settling over her. She wasn't powerless. Her power had come out of nowhere, but it was real. That much she knew. But before she could process it any further, something caught her attention.
A figure. Moving quickly through the trees, just beyond her line of sight.
Her heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, she bolted after him.
Her body surged with energy, and she moved faster than she ever had before. The wind whipped through her hair, her feet barely touching the ground as she darted between the trees. Her breath came in quick, sharp gasps, but she pushed herself harder, driven by instinct.
Behind her, Kain's voice rang out, urgent and strained. "Lucia, wait! Don't—"
But she didn't hear him. She couldn't stop now. The figure was getting closer, and she was determined to catch him.
The distance between them closed quickly. With one final burst of speed, she leaped forward and slammed into the man, sending him crashing to the ground.
He groaned, struggling beneath her, but Lucia didn't let up. She pinned him down, her hands pressed firmly against his chest. Her breath was heavy, her heart still racing, but her eyes burned with fury.
"Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice low and intense.
The man gasped for air, wincing under her hold. For a moment, he didn't speak, but then a bitter smile curled on his lips. "Dante," he coughed. "Dante sent me. I'm from his pack. I was supposed to eliminate Kain.