story whispered by mothers to restless children, or a leg

yard of Blackthorne Fortress, she felt its

glow across ancient walls. Kael stood opposite her, his postu

ructed, voice fi

e the cool night air. Her own staff felt heavy, awkward.

the empty yard. Sparks of pain danced up her arm as she blo

your balance slips when you anticipate i

er mind was a storm: images of prophecy, her parents

ink water or catch breath. Each time, Kael pushed her a little

e ache in her muscles. The st

something

und her. The cool breeze whispered across her skin. He

again, she didn't

r his guard and bringing her staff across in a sweeping arc. K

d, voice softe

ght air. Amara wiped sweat from her b

admitted quietly, staring at t

d. "And yet here you

here. "Will this really help? Swinging sticks w

ime. But power without discipline destroys as surely as a blade tur

l curled at the edges of her th

hen I first learned of the prophecy, I thought the goddess had

e rawness in his v

ss doesn't choose the strong or the fearless. She

avering. "You don't have to be ready no

a promise that it would be easy, but a promis

epened, shadows stretching across t

hift in Kael's stance before he attacked, the way the wind carried scents of moss and cold stone, t

l watched her quietly. "D

itated. "

said. "It's faint now, like a spark

che of muscle and bone, she sensed... something. A flicker, almost like a

red, eyes opening

unreadable. "Good. Hold onto

ed westward. Kael led her through a narrow passa

walls, filled with scrolls and worn tomes. In the center stood a stone p

r ancestor - the first High Priestess. The

, and lifted it gently. Cold silver kissed her skin, and a rush of sensation flooded through her: v

g the amulet to kee

nd on her arm. "Easy. The a

dled the amulet against her

your awakening. But its true power only reveals i

e question echoed wi

el paused at the doorway. "Tom

tired smile. "At

trace of humor warming his fe

amulet heavy in her palm. She traced its crescen

darkness gathered strength. She didn't know if she could live up to

r toward sleep, one thought

ll no

nned, whatever power slept w

perhaps - she would