Shadows Tell No Secrets

Ali's POV

I woke with a sharp gasp, my lungs burning as if I had surfaced from drowning. My chest felt strange, unnaturally still, yet thrumming with something cold, something alive. I didn't need to open my eyes to know that everything had changed.

The air in my room felt heavy, pressing against my skin with a strange energy. My body ached, not from pain, but from something I couldn't quite place. It was as if every part of me was adjusting to a new rhythm. Slowly, I dragged a hand down my face, my mind racing as the memories of the last few days crashed over me.

The shadows. The cold pull of magic in my chest. The moment I chose to embrace it.

I flexed my fingers, hesitant. The room was still, but inside me, there was motion, a subtle hum of energy swirling just out of reach. I could feel it, coiled and ready, like a creature waiting for its cue. I let out a slow breath and focused. The shadows answered. A thin tendril of darkness slipped from my fingertips, curling through the air with eerie grace. I didn't fight it this time. It felt natural, like the magic had always been there, waiting for me to wake it.

Beneath the shadows was something colder and quieter: death magic. Where the shadows were restless winds, shifting and alive, death magic was a deep, ancient stillness, steady and unyielding like bedrock. It felt as if it had existed long before me and would endure long after, a quiet presence that needed no acknowledgment.

I exhaled and forced the shadows to recede back into me. There was no use resisting them anymore, they were part of who I was. But I was not afraid of them either. Not of the shadows. Not of the cold weight of death lingering within me. This power was mine now. And I could feel it, raw and untamed, ready to be shaped into something greater.

Despite the lingering cold of death magic, one emotion outweighed everything else: excitement. For years, I had wondered if this moment would ever come. I had dreamed of it, craved it, worried about it, and now it was here, undeniable and real. I could not stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. The shadows stirring in the corner seemed to mirror my thoughts, rippling faintly before disappearing as if on command.

A sharp knock broke through my focus, and I froze. "Come in," I said, my voice calm despite the storm inside me.

The door opened, and my mother stepped into the room first. Elise moved with her usual grace, her soft smile radiating warmth. It was the kind of warmth that could soothe any tension, but the faint crease in her brow betrayed her concern. Behind her, my father followed. Eman did not speak at first. His sharp gaze landed on me as if to evaluate or gauge something I did not yet understand. Where my mother's presence was light, his was weight. A steady and constant force that filled the room.

Elise crossed the floor and sat on the edge of my bed. Her hand brushed lightly over my forehead, her touch warm and familiar. "Ali," she said softly, her voice gentle but laced with concern, "are you feeling better, my son?"

I wanted to avoid her hand because she could sense something, but she was faster. Her fingers had already made contact with my skin before I could turn away. I felt a jolt of anxiety, knowing that her touch might reveal more than I was ready to share. Her ability to perceive things beyond the physical was both a comfort and a source of unease in moments like these.

"I am fine, Mother," I answered reflexively. The words came easily, perhaps too easily. It was not a lie, I did feel fine, at least physically, but the weight of what had changed inside of me made it impossible to feel entirely normal. I forced a small smile. "Really. I am fine."

Her hand lingered over mine, a comforting presence. "Good. We were worried about you."

Eman stepped closer, I felt his sharp eyes fixed on me.

"Your mana has stabilized quickly Son," he said, his tone even but heavy with purpose. "Your magic has awakened, thanks to the mana-rich lands of Aurorastone Plains."

I nodded carefully and did not clear the misunderstanding. The memories of the awakening were still fresh in my mind. There were three known ways for one to awaken magic:

- Lucky Awakening, a rare and natural occurrence in mana-rich environments. 

- Ritual Awakening, elaborate ceremonies helped children align with their potential affinities starting at age ten. 

- Forced Awakening, the most dangerous, triggered by intense trauma or emotional upheaval, though only tier 4 souls and above could do this.

Mine had been the last. It had not been clean or controlled. It was chaos, and it had marked me in ways I was not ready to share.

"What is your affinity, Ali?" Eman asked, his voice steady and expectant.

For a moment, I hesitated. Slowly and carefully, I raised my hand. A single tendril of shadow curled out from my fingertips, smooth and fluid. It danced in the air for a moment before dissipating into nothingness. "Shadow," I said evenly, my voice calm. Then, after a pause, I added, "And... decay."

It was not the whole truth, but it was the only truth I could afford to give. No one could know. Not even my family could be trusted with this secret, for it could lead to my reincarnation. That knowledge was a dagger at my throat, and if anyone uncovered it, it would endanger me in ways I could not bear to imagine.

Eman's gaze did not waver. He studied me closely, his expression sharp and unreadable. Finally, after a long moment, he nodded. "Two affinities," he said, his tone quieter now. "Rare. Very rare."

I exhaled, realizing I had been holding my breath. His sharp features softened by the smallest degree, his approval subtle but present. "Shadow and decay," he repeated, almost to himself. "Powerful, but dangerous. You will need guidance."

"Lothar will arrive tomorrow to train you," he continued, his tone firm. "He is one of the best, harsh but fair. Your soul must have bonded strongly with your affinities. That's why you're already a rank 1 adept. But do not mistake that for mastery. This is just the beginning. There is far more to learn, and it will not come easily."

I thought back to the darkness that had slipped from my hands, the way it felt both natural and foreign. I did not just want to control, I wanted to master it.

"I understand," I said firmly, meeting my father's gaze. "If it means learning what I am capable of, I am ready."

Eman's expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Good. Then be prepared. Lothar will not go easy on you." He turned toward the door, pausing only briefly. "Tomorrow. The training grounds." And then he left.

Elise lingered, her warm smile easing the tension in my shoulders. She took my hand in hers and gave it a soft squeeze. "I am proud of you, Ali. You will do great, I know it."

Elise's warm eyes met mine, a mix of pride and concern evident in her gaze. "But you do not have to practice already, Ali," she said softly. "You are still too young, just eight. You can enjoy yourself if you want to. No one can force you as long as I am here."

I felt a surge of affection for my mother, always protective, always caring. But the eagerness within me could not be contained. "It is okay, Mother," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips. "I am actually excited to learn magic already. I wish I could start now."

She studied my face for a moment, seeming to gauge my sincerity. Finally, she nodded, her expression softening. "Okay, son. It is up to you. Just be careful."

"I will," I promised.

As she kissed my forehead and left the room, I found myself lingering on her words, her warmth, and the unshakable support she always gave me. Motherly love is really interesting. It is the kind of love that feels boundless, like it would bend the universe itself to protect you. They would do anything for you, sacrifice anything, without asking for anything in return. And yet, it was so easy to take it for granted.

I sat back against the wall, letting that thought settle in my mind. For better or worse, I would learn under Lothar. Not out of obligation, but because I wanted to. I did not need to prove myself to anyone, not even my family. This was not about meeting their expectations or earning their approval. I would just do what I wanted. And what I wanted was to unlock the full potential of the magic that now coursed through me.

I flexed my fingers, watching as the shadows danced faintly around them, obedient yet brimming with possibility. This was not just about control. It was about discovery, about diving into the depths of a power unlike any I had ever dreamed of. And I could not wait to begin.