chapter 4: The power within

The second day of training started much like the first, with the piercing sound of the communicator pulling me from sleep before dawn. My entire body protested as I dragged myself out of bed. Every muscle ached, reminding me of yesterday's beatdown, but there was no time to dwell on the pain.

Tristan and Nate were already up again, their usual morning routine in full swing. Tristan glanced at me with a smirk. "Ready for round two?"

I gave him a weak nod. "Sure. Let's see if I survive this one."

"Don't worry," Nate chimed in, tightening the straps on his boots. "Day two is usually when things start to make sense… or when you get used to the pain, whichever comes first."

We headed out to the training grounds once more, joining the other recruits in the cool early morning air. The faint orange hue of the rising sun lit the sky, but there was no time to appreciate it. Codatorta was already barking orders the moment we arrived, wasting no time in getting us into position.

"Alright, listen up!" Codatorta's voice cut through the chatter. "Today, we're going to push you harder. You know the basics, now we're moving to the next level. Team combat drills. You'll be working in pairs, testing your ability to cooperate under pressure. This isn't just about individual strength—it's about working together to survive."

I exchanged a glance with Tristan, who nodded at me. "Looks like we're partners," he said. "Better than getting stuck with someone who's all brawn and no brain."

Nate rolled his eyes but grinned. "Just don't slow him down too much, Evan."

We got into formation with the other recruits, pairing off into small teams. The drills began immediately—Codatorta had set up a series of obstacles and challenges that required us to rely on each other to get through. From scaling walls to dodging simulated attacks, it was clear that the focus today was on teamwork.

Tristan moved with a natural grace, his agility a perfect complement to my more defensive style. Where he was quick to attack, I found myself instinctively covering our backs, watching for any potential threats. We worked well together, falling into a rhythm as we navigated the course. I was starting to feel more confident—maybe I could actually keep up.

But then, halfway through the drills, something unexpected happened.

We were in the middle of a mock battle scenario, facing off against another pair of recruits. Tristan was busy keeping our opponents occupied, darting between them with swift strikes, while I covered him from behind. Everything was going fine until one of our opponents, a tall, muscular guy named Kade, lunged at me with a heavy punch. I raised my arms to block, but the force of the blow sent me stumbling back.

I tried to recover, but as I steadied myself, I felt it—the familiar surge of power that had been lying dormant inside me. It was sudden, overwhelming, like a floodgate had opened. Before I could stop it, the magic surged through my body, and a wave of blue energy exploded from my hands, sending Kade flying backward.

For a moment, everything froze. The other recruits stopped what they were doing, staring at me in shock. Even Tristan, who had been mid-attack, turned to gape at me. Kade lay on the ground several feet away, groaning in pain, while the faint traces of blue energy still flickered around my hands.

I stood there, heart pounding, my mind racing. I hadn't meant to use my magic, but it had happened anyway. I clenched my fists, willing the energy to die down, and thankfully, it did. But the damage was already done. I'd drawn attention to myself, and not in a good way.

Codatorta strode over, his expression unreadable but his gaze sharp. "What was that, Evan?"

I swallowed hard, trying to think of an explanation. "I… I didn't mean to. It just… happened."

Codatorta's eyes narrowed. He looked down at Kade, who was still recovering, before turning back to me. "Magic, huh? Specialists don't use magic. That's for fairies. So why don't you tell me why you've got it?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could I explain something I didn't even fully understand? My magic wasn't like what the fairies had—it felt different, more raw and unstable. But I didn't have the answers, and I wasn't sure I could give him one.

Codatorta studied me for a moment longer, then straightened up. "We'll talk later," he said, his tone cold. "For now, get back in line. And keep that under control."

I nodded, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. As he walked away, I could feel the other recruits' eyes on me, whispers spreading through the crowd. Tristan came over, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

"Yeah," I muttered. "Just… didn't mean to let it out like that."

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "I figured. But you should be careful. Codatorta doesn't mess around, and neither do the other instructors. If they think you're hiding something…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but the warning was clear. I had to be careful, or I'd find myself in a lot more trouble than just a reprimand.

We finished the drills without any further incidents, though the tension from my magic flare-up lingered. I tried to focus on the exercises, but my mind kept wandering back to what had happened. I had felt the magic building up for days, but this was the first time I had lost control so completely. What would happen if it happened again? And worse—what if someone more dangerous than Kade was involved next time?

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By the time the training day ended, I was physically exhausted and mentally drained. I could barely keep my eyes open as we trudged back to the dorms. Tristan and Nate didn't bring up the magic incident again, but I could tell it was on their minds. Nate kept glancing at me every now and then, like he wanted to ask something but wasn't sure how.

Back in our room, I collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling as my mind raced. Codatorta had said we'd talk later, but I wasn't looking forward to that conversation. I had no idea how to explain what was happening to me. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my magic wasn't the only thing out of place here.

I wasn't just some random recruit. I was an outsider in this world—someone who didn't belong. The timeline of events from the Winx Club series played in my mind like a loop, and I knew that things were about to get a lot more dangerous. Bloom would be arriving at Alfea soon, which meant the Trix and their dark forces were already in motion.

I didn't have time to sit around and figure out what my magic was or how to control it. I needed to be ready. I needed to be strong. Because when the real battles started, there would be no second chances.

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End of Chapter 4