Page 148 of Moonlit Fate

“Everything.”

I tried to steady my shaking hands. I had always known my path would be hard, but this felt like something else, something bigger.

“As the elements move with purpose, so must you,” she instructed as she painted invisible strokes that stirred thebreeze. “Control comes from understanding the flow of energies, feeling it around you and within you and responding.”

I focused on her every gesture, attempting to mimic the grace and intention behind them.

“Feel it,” Philesia said. “It’s all around us.”

I reached out with my senses, trying to grasp the elusive currents she spoke of. There was a rhythm, a dance of forces at play, and I yearned to join them.

The water in the stream spiraled into the air, twisting patterns that held the geometry of nature within their curves and edges. I had shaped these same swirls since childhood, each ripple a plaything under my command. Yet the thrill had vanished. Duty had turned the dance into drudgery.

“Focus. What you once did for joy, you must now harness with purpose.”

With her near, my fear of the water’s power ebbed away. Icouldmaster this.

“Like this?” I asked as I sent a ribbon of water arching high above us.

“Better. Now, the wind.”

I flicked my wrist, feeling the rush of air before it even began to stir. Gusts answered my call, circling around us, whipping at our clothes. Each summoning came easier than the last, my movements syncing with the unseen currents.

“Good. Remember, the elements are an extension of your will,” Philesia said. “You are not just fighting for your pack. You are a guardian of the balance between all things. If you wield your power with heart and wisdom, you can heal the fractures of this world.”

Her words speared into me. My role, it seemed, stretched far beyond what I had ever imagined.

“I’m a guardian of balance?” It was a daunting concept, yet it felt right.

“You are. Remember, true strength comes from the heart.”

Muscles aching and breath heavy, I released the last stream of air from my fingertips, watching as it dispersed into the twilight. Where commanding the wind had terrified me before, it was now second nature. As the final breeze faded, a profound stillness enveloped me.

“Philesia, I never knew how much more there was to this.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “You’ve done well. Your connection to the elements is deepening. They’re not just your allies in battle; they are part of you, an expression of life’s balance.”

I dropped to one knee in deference, the cool earth grounding me, and looked up at her. “Thank you,” I said, meaning every syllable. “For showing me this. For everything.”

“Rise.” She held out her hand, and I took it, letting her help me to my feet. “This is only the beginning. There is still so much more to come.”

My powers, once a source of uncertainty, now commanded a new respect. They were more than just a means to fight; they were a symphony of nature, and I was their conductor.

“Today is just a step forward,” she continued. “Your journey will be long, but remember, the strength you need is within you.”

I nodded. The exhaustion clinging to my limbs was a small price to pay for the rush of exhilaration. This was the start of something greater. Something that would test me, change me, and ultimately define my destiny.

“Still want to learn?” she asked.

“Absolutely.”

“Very well. Here’s your next lesson,” Philesia said sternly. “Go home, eat, and sleep. You can reflect on what we’ve learned today when you are rested. You’re no good to anyone if you’re running on fumes, girl.”

The air crackled with electricity as a deafening thunderclap and blinding lightning strike swallowed her up.

I trudged back to the manor, each step a Herculean effort for my weary body, and sighed in relief when the back door came into view.

The kitchen welcomed me with its familiar warmth, and I sagged onto a stool at the table. Stew bubbled on the stove, and I ladled some into a bowl, then grabbed a hunk of bread. A pitcher of chilled water stood on the table, and I filled a glass, gulping it down before refilling it. I rushed through my meal, eating without tasting the flavors. With a weary sigh, I pushed away from the table and went up to my room.

---