Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Liora’s POV

I didn’t sleep.

Well, not really.

I lay on my back, staring at the carved patterns on my ceiling until they started to blur and twist into shapes that weren’t there. Drakyn wings. Fire. Kysen’s stupid, serious face when he said my name like it meant something. Vyrmoth’s presence and his voice, steady and too knowing, constantly echoing in my head.

And the fact that I had just talked back to the queen of Mythgaard… my very own mother.

By the time the faint silver light of morning crept through my curtains, my nerves felt like tightly wound threads ready to snap.

“Get up,” Vyrmoth said firmly.

I groaned and rolled onto my side, pulling the blanket over my head. “Five more minutes.”

“No.”

I sighed dramatically. “You’re very bossy for someone who lives in my head.”

“Are you going to lie there all day?,” Vyrmoth’s voice drifted through my head, “Or are we finally doing this?”

I groaned. “You could sound less pleased about it.”

“You agreed,” he replied calmly. “That alone is progress. So don’t back out now.”

“And if you want control, you start today,” he added.

That did it.

I pushed myself up in bed and rubbed my face.

“Fine. But where exactly am I going? Kysen never told me. Besides, he doesn’t even know I agreed to this. I haven't told him yet” I said.

There was a pause.

“I did.” Vyrmoth said and I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

“You did what?” I asked.

“I told him,” Vyrmoth said. “Through his drakyn. And his drakyn also told me where you should meet him.”

My head snapped up. “You talked to his drakyn?”

“Yes.” he said, without missing a beat.

“Without telling me?”

“I do what I want. Besides, you were busy overthinking and pacing holes into your floor,” he replied dryly.

Ugh, whatever.

I sighed and swung my legs out of bed. “So where am I supposed to go?”

“The eastern cliffs. There’s a training ground carved into the stone, near the cave. He’ll be waiting.” he informed me.

The room always felt different in the morning. Quieter. Like the castle itself was holding its breath. I dragged myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and braided my hair into something practical instead of pretty. No flowing dresses today. I pulled on fitted trousers, a tunic, and my boots. Training clothes. Real ones.

I stared at my reflection for a second longer than necessary.

“You look scared,” I muttered to myself.

“You are scared,” Vyrmoth replied.

“Helpful.” I stated, blankly.

“But you are also ready. So, don't shrink” he added.

I swallowed and straightened.

I slipped out of my room and into the corridors, keeping my head down. The castle guards bowed as I passed, but I barely noticed. My mind was already racing ahead, to the eastern cliffs, near the cave.

The flight there was fast. Too fast. I let the wind bite at my face and tangle my hair loose again, anything to keep my thoughts from spiraling. The lake below shimmered like glass, and the mountains beyond looked impossibly still.

By the time the cliffs came into view, my chest was tight with nerves.

And then I saw him.

Kysen stood at the edge of the clearing with his arms crossed, dark hair tied back at the nape of his neck, gaze fixed on the horizon like he’d been waiting a while.

He wasn’t armored, just dressed like he always was when he trained. Simple. Practical. And somehow, still dangerous.

He turned when he sensed me.

And then, he smiled.

Not a cocky one. Not the infuriating half-smirk he used to wear whenever we argued.

A real, actual one.

“Morning, Altharos,” he said.

My heart did something incredibly unhelpful.

“Morning,” I replied, trying not to sound like I’d just run five miles instead of flown across the kingdom.

I quickly braided my now loose braids again, this time, securing it in place.

He studied me for a second. Not rudely. Not intensely. Just… attentively.

“You look like you didn’t sleep,” he noted.

“I didn’t.” I said.

“Good,” he said lightly. “That means your mind is too tired to lie to itself today.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It will.” he said, like he was some wise elder.

Oh please.

He gestured toward the clearing. “Come on. Let’s start before you talk yourself out of this.”

I followed him without another word.

The cave behind us loomed dark and quiet, but the space in front of it was wide and open. Perfect for training. Perfect for losing control.

Kysen stopped in the center and turned to face me.

Silence stretched between us for a second.

Then I cleared my throat. “Before we start… I should tell you something.”

His posture shifted instantly.

“I accidentally used one of Vyrmoth’s powers yesterday,” I admitted. “I cracked my vanity. Made of Aetheroak.”

His eyes widened.

“You did that?” he asked, shock etched on his face. I mean, who wouldn't be? It wasn't the power itself that was surprising though, a lot of faes had it. But it was always their fae gifts, not their drakyn power, and that was the surprising part. Drakyns shared their other powers, but never their strength. They couldn’t control what powers to give or anything though, it just happened.

But still, I’ve never heard of this.

“I didn’t mean to. I was angry and it just… happened.” I explained.

“That's incredible,” he said, as he stared at me like I was an idol.

Then after a few seconds, something akin to relief crossed his face.

“That makes things easier,” he said.

“How so?” I asked, “This has never happened before, has it?”

“No matter the power, you’ve already opened the door. Now we just need to teach you how to walk through it without setting everything on fire. It’s just one of your powers, but it’s major progress, so, it definitely makes things easier.” He explained.

“That’s reassuring.” I stated.

“First rule,” he said, “you don’t control power by forcing it. You guide it. And right now, you’re all force and zero direction.”

So rude.

“Rude.” I voiced my thoughts.

“Accurate,” he retorted.

I crossed my arms. “Well then, enlighten me. How do I get ‘direction’?”

He didn’t rise to the bait. Typical.

“Vyrmoth’s power isn’t something you turn on like a switch,” he continued. “It flows through you, all the time. Whether you notice it or not. Your job isn’t to summon it, your job is to shape it.”

That sounds… terrifying.

For Green's sake, how was I supposed to shape power?!

“How?” I asked, pretending to be calm about it.

He stepped closer. Not too close. Just enough that I had to actually look at him.

“By separating what you feel from what you do.” he said it so calmly, like it was really that easy.

He moved past me and picked up a smooth stone from the ground. Then he held it out.

“Take this.”

I did.

“Now,” he said, “Break it.”

He had to be joking.

I stared at the rock in my hand, it was very much solid, and he wanted me to break it?!

How was I even supposed to do that?!