Chapter 11: Awakening-(1)

CAERA DENOIR'S POV:The night air was cool and crisp as I swung my sword through the air, the rhythmic clash of air against metal echoing through my room. Lenora had strictly forbidden me from practicing, but I couldn't resist. It was in my blood, a part of me as essential as breathing.My mind drifted back to the conversation I had with Lauden a few days ago. After I had asked him why he seemed to hate me, he had hesitated but as I pressured him further he finally admitted that he was afraid of losing his place in the family as the youngest child. I had been genuinely shocked by his response, unable to understand the complexity of his emotions.Now, as I reflected on his words, I began to see things from his perspective. If Seris had taken another disciple, someone younger than me, wouldn't I have felt the same? Wouldn't I have been afraid of losing her attention and affection?The thought made me pause. I had always assumed that love and acceptance were unconditional, especially within a family. But perhaps I had been too naive. Maybe it was possible to feel threatened by the arrival of a new family member, even if that person meant no harm.I continued to practice, my movements becoming more fluid as I lost myself in the rhythm of the sword. But even as I focused on my training, my thoughts kept returning to Lauden. I wanted to understand him better, to see things from his perspective.Suddenly, a loud crash reverberated through the room, and I realized that I had hit the vase on the table with my sword, and it fell to the ground with a loud crash."Oh no!" I exclaimed, panicking at the thought of someone hearing the noise. At the same time, I heard a knock on my door. I immediately stored my sword back in my dimensional ring and tried to calm my breathing, which was ragged due to swinging my sword. I couldn't hide the broken pieces of the vase, but I could only hope that no one would notice that I was practicing.Arriving at the door, I unlocked it and opened it, hoping for anyone but Lenora. Fortunately, as luck would have it, it was Sevren."Hey Caera, I heard something falling as I was passing by..." he said, his voice trailing off as he noticed my face and body sweating. "Wait! Why are you sweating so much?"I pulled him into the room, closing the door behind us. As he entered, his eyes landed on the broken pieces of the vase."Huh? How did it break... Caera, were you practicing in your room?" Sevren inquired, hitting exactly on the mark. His tone was scolding with a hint of disappointment.I felt a surge of guilt. I knew I was supposed to stop practicing, but I couldn't resist the urge to train."I'm sorry," I mumbled, looking down at the broken vase.Sevren sighed. "You know mom doesn't want you to practice without supervision, right? She's just trying to keep you safe."I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. I knew Lenora was only trying to protect me, but it was hard to follow her orders when my passion for training was so strong.Sevren placed a hand on my head, patting me gently. "Follow me."I looked at him questioningly as to where he was taking me. But I followed him out of my room, we walked through the silent hallways and arrived at the back garden where a small clearing was there. Sevren moved forward and placed a small object on the nearby tree branch, and suddenly a light filled the area where we were standing. It wasn't very bright, but enough to see clearly in the night."What is this?" I asked, curious about the glowing object on the tree branch.Sevren smiled. "It's a nightlight. I thought it might be useful if you wanted to practice without disturbing anyone.""Wait! Really!? What if mother finds out?" I gasped, my eyes wide with excitement. Sevren chuckled. "Don't worry, she won't. We just have to stay quiet and not make a loud noise."I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Sevren. This is perfect."Sevren nodded. "Now, let's get back to training. But remember, be quiet."I nodded eagerly. With the nightlight illuminating the garden, I began to practice, my movements becoming more fluid and precise. Sevren and I engaged in a spirited sparring match, focusing solely on physical technique and strategy, leaving our mana dormant.The cool night air invigorated us, and our blades clashed with a satisfying rhythm. Sevren was a skilled swordsman, his movements fluid and graceful. I pushed myself to keep up, my body straining with exertion.As I practiced, I felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration. I was finally able to train without the constant fear of being caught. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.Hours passed, and we lost track of time. Our sweat glistened in the moonlight, and our muscles ached with fatigue. But we continued to spar, our determination unwavering.Finally, we paused, panting heavily. "You're getting better," Sevren said, his voice filled with admiration.I smiled. "Thanks. You're a great sparring partner."Sevren grinned. "You're not bad yourself. I think you've got the makings of a real warrior."I laughed. "I'm just a girl who likes to swing a sword."Sevren chuckled. "Well, you're a pretty good one at it."We continued to talk for a while longer, sharing small talk and laughter.~~A week had passed since the grand ball at the Denoir estate. I was now standing before the Tempus Warp, ready to travel to Seris's estate in Sehz-Clar. Over a week and a half had passed since I became the adoptive daughter of the Denoirs, yet Seris had not come to meet me. I had asked Nessa the reason for her absence, but she had simply replied that Seris would be busy for a few more days.Impatient to see her, I decided to take the initiative and visit her myself. Nessa also accompanied me, as we stepped into the portal before us, I felt the distortion of space around us, a small nauseating sensation enveloping me. When we emerged on the other side, we arrived at Seris's office.Seris was seated at her desk, looking directly towards us. Nessa immediately went down on one knee, bowing her head. Rolling my eyes I too followed suit, kneeling and greeting Seris.Seris nodded, her expression calm and composed. "Rise." We stood up, and Seris regarded us with a thoughtful gaze. "Well Caera, I am sure you are iching for your training, so how about getting changed into your training clothes. I have some things I want to discuss with Nessa too." Nodding excitedly, I left the office and went into my room in the mansion. Arriving there, I took in the sight of my old room. It was vastly empty except for the plushies that lay on the rack. I missed playing with them and made a mental note to take them with me when I left.Opening my wardrobe, I took out my training gear before going to the bathroom to change into it quickly. Once ready, I ran to the garden, feeling the familiar scent of the place. Arriving in the garden, I spotted Nessa and Seris talking. It seemed Seris was asking Nessa questions.As Seris noticed me running in her direction, she shifted her attention towards me.Seris turned to face me, her expression softening slightly. "You seem eager," she said with a faint smile, her usual composed demeanor still present, but her eyes held a warmth that I rarely saw.I stopped a few feet away, my heart racing with anticipation. "I am," I admitted, almost breathless. It had been too long since I had trained under Seris's guidance, and the thrill of it never seemed to fade."Good," Seris replied, standing up gracefully. "We have a lot to cover today."Nessa gave me an encouraging nod as she stepped back, leaving me and Seris alone in the garden. The open space around us was peaceful, the scent of flowers filling the air, but I knew the calm wouldn't last long once we began. "Before we start, I want to see how far you've come on your own," Seris said, urging me to bring my sword from the dimensional ring. With a nod, I reached into my dimensional ring, feeling the familiar pulse of mana as I summoned my sword. The blade shimmered in the light, its weight balanced perfectly in my hand. Holding it brought back memories of long hours spent training with Seris, the countless lessons etched into my mind and muscles.Seris eyed the sword for a moment, her gaze unreadable, before turning back to the training space. "Let's see if those hours paid off," she said, stepping into position. "Show me your stance."I adjusted my grip, planting my feet firmly into the ground and holding the sword in front of me. I could feel her watching every small movement, analyzing, searching for any flaws.Seris remained silent for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod. "Decent. Your form has improved, but remember, power without control is useless. Fluidity, Caera, is just as vital as strength."I gave a small nod, bracing myself for her next command."Now, attack," she said simply, standing still, her hands behind her back as she gave me an expectant look.I hesitated for a second but quickly pushed aside my nerves. Taking a deep breath, I surged forward, bringing my sword down in a swift, practiced arc. But before my blade could even touch her, Seris sidestepped effortlessly, her movements so fast and graceful it was like she had anticipated the strike before I made it."Too slow. Again," she ordered, still without drawing a weapon of her own.I swung again, this time with more speed, my feet shifting to keep up with the momentum of my strike. Seris, however, evaded it just as easily, barely needing to move."You're thinking too much," she said, her voice calm. "Trust your instincts, Caera. Feel the flow of battle. Don't fight it."Frustrated but determined, I kept attacking, trying to break through her defenses. Each time, she dodged, her movements fluid and precise. It was like she was toying with me, her eyes never leaving mine, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.After what felt like a dozen attempts, I finally paused, panting slightly from the exertion. My grip on the sword tightened. "What am I doing wrong?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.Seris crossed her arms, looking at me thoughtfully. "You're focusing too much on the end result—the hit. You're not allowing your body to flow with the movements of your opponent. Fighting isn't about brute strength; it's about adapting, reading your opponent's intent."She stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on my sword. "Let your movements come naturally, like a dance. Once you stop trying to force it, your instincts will guide you."Her words sunk in, and I took a deep breath, resetting my stance. This time, when I moved to strike, I didn't think about the next step or where my sword needed to land. I let my body respond to the flow of Seris's subtle movements.For the first time, I felt a difference. The weight of the sword didn't feel as heavy, and though Seris still easily dodged, I could feel a shift in the way I moved—smoother, more controlled.Seris smiled slightly, noticing the change. "Better. Much better."I nodded, feeling a sense of pride swell within me, though I knew I still had a long way to go."Try again!" Seris instructed, her voice firm, but before I could react, a subtle pulse of mana rippled through my head. It was faint, yet disorienting, leaving me momentarily dazed."—Caera!" I faintly heard Seris call my name as the pain started to subside, but before I could respond, another pulse struck, this time far stronger. The intensity was overwhelming, and I instinctively dropped my sword, clutching my head in agony.Seris's voice grew more frantic as she knelt beside me, her hand stroking my back, but her words were muffled, drowned out by the waves of pain that crashed through me. I couldn't focus on her, couldn't see her expression. All I could do was scream.The pulses came again and again, each time more powerful than the last, relentless and torturous, as it forced me onto my knees, screaming and clutching my head. Minutes passed, though it felt like an eternity. The pain was so intense that I thought I might pass out, but even unconsciousness seemed beyond reach.Suddenly, I felt warm liquid running down my face—blood, thick and red, dripping from my forehead, staining my hands and clothes. My entire body trembled, wracked with pain. I instinctively reached up to my head, and that's when I felt it—something sharp breaking through my skin.Horns.The pain wasn't just from the mana pulses; my skull was splitting as two jagged horns grew from my head, forcing their way out. The pressure was unbearable, the sensation of bone and flesh tearing apart. Blood continued to flow, warm and sticky, as the horns twisted and grew longer.My vision blurred as the torment worsened. The pain, the fear, the helplessness—it consumed me completely. I could hear Seris calling out to me, but her voice was a distant echo, drowned out by the searing agony of my transformation. All I could do was endure, trapped in a storm of suffering.Then, suddenly, I felt it—the rune, my Regalia, stirring to life. It activated, drawing mana from my core, as though it was calling to me, urging me to pour more mana into it. My mind was clouded with pain, but in desperation, hoping for an escape from the torment, I channeled my mana into the Regalia.As the mana surged into it, a strange black energy began to swirl around me as I felt myself slipping, sinking into a dark abyss, drawn deeper by a mysterious force.~~A/N: Well, sorry for not updating for few days, I had my eyes checked-up a few days ago, and it turns out my right eye has some problem, hence I got my specs delivered today and you got your chapter, I am still not used to it and it feels odd to wear it, but well whatever. Anyway, how was the chapter? Make sure to vote and comment if you enjoyed it.