Summoning

Sultan's lips curved slightly in approval. "Good. But remember, control isn't about forcing your magic. It's about shaping it, like guiding a river. Push too hard, and it'll flood. Too soft, and it'll stop flowing altogether."

Leandra nodded, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes. "What if I lose control again? What if it's too strong?"

Sultan stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his towering presence impossible to ignore. His amber eyes locked onto hers, filled with intensity and a deep, unyielding confidence. "Then you rely on me. You're not alone in this, Leandra. I'll be with you. Always."

For a moment, their gazes held, the bond between them thrumming like a low hum, barely audible but ever-present. Sultan's wolf stirred within him, pleased and impatient. It knew, just as Sultan did, that she was their match in every way.

He stepped back, giving her room to breathe, to focus. "Now, I want you to try something different. This time, don't just feel the energy. Channel it. Direct it toward something."

Leandra's brow furrowed. "Like what?"

Sultan gestured toward a tall oak tree on the far side of the clearing. "That tree. Imagine your energy as an extension of yourself. See it reaching out, connecting with the world around you. Then direct it."

Leandra stared at the tree momentarily, uncertainty still lingering in her eyes, but she took a deep breath and nodded. She closed her eyes again, her hands relaxing at her sides as she centered herself. Sultan could feel her energy shift, the magic stirring once more. It was still raw, but there was more focus this time, more control.

The air around them seemed to hum with potential as her magic began to build, swirling like a gentle current. Sultan's eyes stayed on her, watching her every move, feeling the power radiating from her. She was still learning. And that made her both dangerous and vulnerable, but at this rate, she would master it in no time.

"Focus," Sultan said softly, his voice cutting through the quiet. "Let it flow through you, but guide it. Don't fight it—shape it."

Leandra's breathing deepened, and Sultan could see the concentration etched on her face. Slowly, the energy around her shifted, becoming more directed and purposeful. A faint power ripple moved toward the tree, a barely visible wave of magic connecting with the bark like a soft touch.

Leandra's eyes snapped open, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the result of her effort. The tree trembled slightly, its leaves rustling as if responding to her power.

"I did it," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and disbelief.

Sultan nodded, his expression serious but full of pride. "You did. And that's just the beginning. You're learning, but there's more inside you than you know. This was a small step. Next, you'll need to learn how to focus that energy in ways that can defend you—or attack."

Leandra swallowed hard, her fingers flexing at her sides as if she were still getting used to the feeling of magic flowing through her. "Attack? I'm not... I don't know if I'm ready for that."

Sultan's gaze softened, but an edge of steel was behind his words. "You don't have a choice. The ones who are coming for you—they won't hesitate to attack. You need to be ready to defend yourself when the time comes."

Leandra's eyes flickered with fear briefly, but then she squared her shoulders, determination taking over. "Then teach me. I don't want to be helpless."

Sultan's smile was faint, but it carried a weight of approval. "That's what I'm here for."

Leandra felt the magic inside her like a rush of electricity, tingling in her veins and making the world around her seem sharper and more transparent. The feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and as she looked at the tree, still trembling slightly from her magic's touch, a sense of awe settled over her. She had done that. She had made that happen.

But the awe was quickly followed by fear. Leandra hadn't realized how powerful the magic was until it surged out of her earlier, and now, hearing Sultan talk about attack and defense, the weight of it all pressed down on her.

She glanced at Sultan, his towering form so calm and in control. How could he be so sure of her when she wasn't sure of herself? How could he expect her to embrace this new power and responsibility suddenly?

"Why me?" Leandra asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why is it me who has this power? I didn't ask for any of this. I don't even know who I am."

Sultan's eyes softened, and he stepped closer to her, his presence warm and grounding. "You didn't choose this, Leandra. But that doesn't change the fact that it's yours. Your magic, your power—it's part of you. It's been there all along, waiting for the right moment to awaken. And now that it has, you have a choice: either you control it, or it controls you."

Leandra swallowed, her throat dry. "But what if I can't control it? What if it's too much?"

Sultan shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "You can control it. You're stronger than you realize, Leandra. You're already proving that. But you need to trust yourself. This magic is a part of you, not something separate from who you are. Once you accept that, the control will come."

Leandra felt the weight of his words settle over her. He was right. She had spent so much time fearing the magic, thinking it was alien and dangerous. But it was part of her now, and she needed to learn to accept that.

"Okay," she said, her voice steadying. "So how do I focus it? How do I make sure it doesn't overwhelm me?"

Sultan's expression grew more intense, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "Magic is tied to your emotions. The more intense your emotions are, the more powerful the magic becomes. But that also means it can spiral out of control if you're not careful. The key is to stay calm and focused. You must control your emotions, even in the heat of battle."

Leandra frowned, her mind racing. "Easier said than done. I'm not exactly familiar with the pressures of battles and war."

Sultan chuckled softly, a rare sound that sent a strange warmth through her chest. "That's what we'll work on. You'll learn. And when the time comes, you'll be ready."

Leandra nodded, though the doubts still lingered at the edges of her mind. She wasn't sure if she would ever feel ready, but at least now, with Sultan by her side, she didn't feel completely lost.

"All right," she said, exhaling slowly. "Let's keep going."

Sultan's expression hardened, but there was pride in his eyes. "Good. This time, we're going to try something different."

Leandra raised an eyebrow. "Different, how?"

Sultan's lips curved into a small, confident smile. "We'll see if you can summon your magic without me guiding you. I want you to feel it, call it out, and direct it yourself."

Leandra's stomach tightened. "You think I'm ready for that?"

"You won't know until you try," Sultan said, his tone both challenging and encouraging. "Trust yourself."

Leandra swallowed her nerves and nodded. She could do this. She had to.