Chapter Eight: Secrets Beneath the Moonlight
The following days were a blur of lessons, each one pushing Lila further into the depths of her magic. She learned to control the subtle hum of the Veil, to call upon the threads of magic that wound through the world. Each lesson was harder than the last, but Lila felt herself growing stronger.
By the time the next full moon approached, Lila had gained more control, though it still felt as though the magic was a beast she could barely tame. But with Thorne's guidance, she was learning.
It was the night before the moon would rise fully, casting its light across the Academy, that Lila found herself standing in the same training hall once more. This time, however, the atmosphere felt different—heavier, charged with anticipation.
Thorne stood across from her, eyes sharp. "Tonight, we begin the final phase of your training."
Lila's heart thudded against her ribs. "What does that mean?"
Thorne's lips curled into a slight smile. "Tonight, you will learn to bind the Veil."
Lila blinked, confused. "Bind it? I thought the Veil was something to be protected, not manipulated."
"It's not just a barrier, Lila. It's a living force, a source of magic. And as the Seer, you are connected to it in ways no one else is. It's time you learned how to wield that connection."
Lila's nerves flared, but she nodded. "I'm ready."
Thorne's gaze softened with understanding, then she gestured to the center of the room where a circle of stones had been drawn, much like the one they had used during their first lesson.
Lila stepped into the circle. The stones hummed beneath her feet, and she felt the familiar pull of the Veil, a tug at her very soul. But this time, she wasn't afraid. This time, she welcomed it.
Thorne's voice was a quiet command. "Focus. Reach for the Veil, but don't just grasp it—bend it. Feel it pulse through you, let it fill your veins."
Lila took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The room around her blurred, and she let the magic flow through her, deeper than ever before. She felt the Veil, not as a distant force, but as something that lived within her, something she could shape. With a quiet thought, she reached for it, pulling at its edges.
It didn't take long for the Veil to respond. A storm of power rushed through her, a wild torrent of energy that threatened to consume her. But this time, she stood firm. She pulled at the magic with both hands, focusing her mind on the ancient bond between realms.
For a moment, she thought she might lose herself in the power. But then, a quiet voice broke through the chaos.
You are not alone.
Thorne's voice, calm and steady, echoed in her mind. Control it, Lila. Let it flow through you, but do not let it overtake you.
With Thorne's guidance, Lila grounded herself. Slowly, the storm calmed, and the magic settled into her core, a steady pulse that mirrored her heartbeat.
The room went silent, save for the sound of her breathing.
"Good," Thorne said, stepping forward. "You did it. The Veil is now bound to you, and you can call upon its power whenever you need."
Lila's mind reeled with the enormity of what had just happened. She had bound the Veil. The magic was hers to command, but with that power came a heavy responsibility.
Thorne's eyes softened with approval. "This is only the beginning, Lila. The Wraithborn are still hunting you, and soon, you will have to face them. But now, you have the strength to stand against them."
Lila stood tall, her heart steady despite the weight of the prophecy. She had taken the first steps toward mastering her fate, and nothing—nothing—was going to stop her now.
To be continued...