CHAPTER TWENTY

I've always prided myself in being a quick study, whenever I put my mind to learn something, I learnt it quickly.

Learning magic is not as easy as I thought. In truth I had no idea what learning magic would be like.

We began with the basics, 'The secret of magic is will' she had said, and I had spent four hours trying to will the stone Kaida had in her palm to mine. I took a deep breath and drew my feet apart, which made her chuckle. I stretched out my hand, I did the best I could do, which was call the stone to me, and five minutes later, nothing happened.

"You are doing your best my lady, but perhaps if I could simplify it for you?" she offered. I nodded and we both took our seats.

She opened the palm which held the stone, and the stone began to float, I stared in awe and a hint of jealousy at what I'd been trying to achieve for hours, but it didn't affect me, she has been trained since birth, I had started four hours ago.

"Telekinesis is not hard, it's something even normal witches learn within six hours. It's all about moving things with your mind, the trick is imagining a connection between yourself and that which you wish to move. It's all about intention my lady, affirm that you wish to move something, and it shall move"

I understood her well enough "Allow me to try again" I breathed.

She smiled in response "Be my guest"

I stood in the middle of the room, my eye fixed on the stone which now lay on the table, Kaida's words lingered in my mind Affirm that you wish to move something, and it shall move

I took a deep breath and reached out with my mind, feeling an unfamiliar surge of energy course through my veins.

Slowly, the stone began to move, drifting lazily to the left. I concentrated harder, trying to precision-guide the stone through the air.

It wobbled and stuttered, but I persisted, my mental grip tightening around the stone. Suddenly, it darted forward, stopping just inches from my outstretched hand. I beamed with pride.

I was getting the hang of this!

Next, I decided to try something a bit more challenging. I focused my mind on a nearby stack of wooden blocks, willing them to rise into the air. The blocks trembled, then lifted off the ground, hovering steadily above the mat.

I held my breath, maintaining the delicate balance of my telekinetic grip. The blocks swayed and teetered, but I managed to keep them aloft, feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

"I did it!" I beamed.

Kaida smiled "This is but a fraction of the power you possess my lady, shall we discover more?"

My smirk grew "Show me"

And that she did. Magic, being as complicated as it is, was impossible to learn all about it in the extra five hours that we had spent learning.

I didn't learn any new ability, I just spent five hours perfecting my telekinesis. I could now move objects at will and crush them without as much as touching them. And I was satisfied with that, at least for today.

"I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today my lady" Kaida said with a grim expression. She enjoyed these few hours of teaching me magic as much as I loved learning from her.

I smiled softly "Thank you for teaching me Kaida"

She dipped her head in a nod "The pleasure is all mine, high priestess"

Kaida escorted me to where I left tyrant, her eyes shone wide as she laid her eyes on the war stallion. The early morning sun greeted us.

"May I touch him?" she asked, and I nodded for her to proceed.

Regina hissed in hunger in my pocket "Hush girl, it's too early" I said to her.

She continue to rub tyrant's black mane even as I mounted him "When shall I see you again, my lady?"

I pulled my hood back on "I do not know. I'll come as soon as I can, but rest assured I'll be practicing"

A smile graced her beautiful face "I have no doubt that you will" she then pulled out a small brown book and handed it to me "This should help you further, it contains the basic magic. Once you've mastered those, we can proceed to advanced magic"

I took the book from her, my heart swelled in gratitude "Thank you Kaida"

"It is my pleasure, high priestess"

I kicked tyrant's side and rode off.

The capital loomed before me, a reminder of my burden, or perhaps the awful people that sat inside. I didn't let that bother me, as I remembered that they are people I care about in there, however few they may be.

I rode through the streets of the city, I would think that half the city still slept because few windows were opened and even fewer walked the streets. I couldn't blame them anyway, the sun wasn't even fully up yet.

I arrived at the stables, the sound of hooves on the stone floor echoing as I rode in, I handed tyrant's rein to a young stable boy who took them with trembling hands. "Should you be working in such conditions boy?" I asked, noticing the dark circles under his eyes.

He dipped his head in a bow "Do I not please the princess?" he asked, fear coating his voice.

I rolled my eyes. Not at him but at his fear, though not surprised "It does not please me that you work when you've had nothing to eat" he was about to say something, probably another apology when a golden moon coin fell on his palm.

His eyes grew wide in surprise as he surveyed the coin, probably hoping to see if it was real or not "I can't accept this, your highness" he said.

I cleaned the dust off my leather trousers as I dismounted "You will unless you wish to starve to death" I said, trying to keep my tone light.

Tears gathered at his eyes "Thank you, my lady"

Warmth filled my chest, but I would not smile "Take care of tyrant" was all I said before I strode into the castle.

I came across no interruptions as I entered the castle, the hallways were empty, save for the servants that decided to take the early morning shift. They all bowed curtly as I passed.

Alice was already inside, probably wondering why I wasn't in my bed or in the bathing chamber, after all, I hadn't told her I was leaving.

"Good morning Alice" I greeted, as I walked past her and to my desk to place Regina in her glass box. I fetched her a mouse from a box in my drawer. I probably should stop keeping dead animals in my drawer.

"Good morning your highness," she greeted "You went out last night?"

"Yes" I answered as I unfastened my cloak and removed my sword belt. "And Amenadiel?" she asked.

I sat on a chair and removed my boots "With Acrisius, they'll return later" she wanted to ask another question, but I stopped her "Please ready the bath Alice, I'm exhausted"

The warm bath eased my tensed muscles, I had not realized the extent of my exhaustion until I climbed my bed, the smell of the sheets something I welcomed.

"Close the curtains Alice. And please no disturbances"

She did as I asked and the room grew dark as if night had returned, I buried myself in my blankets as I closed my eyes in glorious slumber.