Jayden stood in the middle of the forest clearing, feeling the cool breeze brush against her skin as Azrael stood across from her, his gaze intense and unwavering. The sun was high, casting a golden hue over the trees, but there was no time for distractions. She was here for one reason only—to train.
"Focus, Jayden," Azrael's voice was steady, his tone a little more serious than usual. "Command the spirits as you did before, but with intent this time. Feel their presence around you. Don't just see them. Command them."
Jayden nodded, taking a deep breath. Ever since her encounter with the spirits in the forest, she had felt their presence more clearly—like an invisible web connecting her to them. The idea of commanding them felt foreign, but the pull of something deep within her made it impossible to ignore.
She closed her eyes and let her senses open, reaching out into the air around her. The spirits were close. She could feel them, like wisps of cool wind brushing past her skin, moving just beyond her reach. She focused harder, trying to bring them into her control.
Azrael watched her with patient eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. "You can do this. You were born with this power, Jayden. You have the ability to bend the spirits to your will."
The wind seemed to respond to her as she concentrated, swirling around her, lifting the leaves from the ground. Then, suddenly, one of the spirits—a translucent figure, glowing faintly—appeared before her, hovering just a few feet away.
Jayden's heart raced, but she didn't back down. "I command you," she whispered, her voice strong. "Come here."
To her surprise, the spirit obeyed, floating closer to her, its ethereal form shimmering in the sunlight. It was like a dream made real, and for the first time, Jayden felt that the spirits weren't something to be afraid of. They were simply a part of her world now, just as they had been in the past.
She exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I did it..."
Azrael smiled, a rare and small expression of pride. "That's a start. Now, let's see you control more than one."
Jayden's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. This was no longer about being afraid—it was about embracing what she was. She closed her eyes again and extended her senses further. More spirits appeared—some small, others towering above her, their forms shifting in the air like smoke. She could feel them all, their energy pulling at her as if they were eager to listen.
"Bring them to you," Azrael urged quietly.
Jayden stretched her hand out, the power within her surging. The spirits responded, swirling around her, some of them pausing in mid-air, others briefly resting on the ground, their forms as delicate as cobwebs.
"Good," Azrael praised. "You're learning quickly. But now you need to focus. Command them to do something for you. Not just to appear, but to act."
Jayden nodded, concentrating once more. She felt the pull of the spirits, her own power aligning with their ethereal nature. She could hear their whispers in the back of her mind, feel their presence becoming part of her.
"Lift that stone," she commanded firmly, pointing to a large rock nearby.
The spirits swirled, their forms wrapping around the stone. Slowly, the rock began to levitate, floating up into the air. Jayden's heart fluttered at the sight. She had done it. She had commanded them—truly commanded them.
Azrael's expression softened slightly. "Well done, Jayden."
Before she could celebrate, Azrael's voice took on a more serious tone. "But this power of yours isn't just for show. You need to control it, not let it control you. If you allow it to consume you, Sage will take hold again. And you will lose everything."
Jayden nodded solemnly. She understood the weight of his words. This power was part of her, but it was also dangerous. She had to be careful with it.
Azrael stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone in this. I'll be here to help you control it. Together, we can fight back against Sage."
Jayden looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Azrael."
He nodded. "We're far from done. But it's a good start."
Meanwhile, deep inside the castle, the king stood alone in the dimly lit room, his eyes fixed on the glowing crown that lay under a magical veil. His fingers twitched as he reached for it once again, but the barrier repelled him, its power unyielding.
"I've tried everything," the king muttered under his breath, frustration boiling in his chest. "No spell will break it. This was left by the last king, and it refuses to yield."
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the crown. "That witch—the so-called princess—must be stopped. If she lives, she will take what's mine."
The king turned on his heel, his expression dark with resolve. "The crown will be moved to the temple outside Lumeria. A sacrifice—a powerful one—will bind her and kill her. Azrael, too. I can't let them take what's rightfully mine."
With a final, lingering glance at the crown, the king left the room, his thoughts turning to the cruel plans he would set into motion to ensure his bloodline stayed in power.