Chapter 15:Twilight Ascension
The King of Valor looked troubled, worried that Victoria might discover the truth. Lucas noticed the concern written all over his face.
"I know you're thinking of telling her what happened yesterday," Lucas said quietly. "But believe me, if she finds out, she'll stop training and run back to Axel—and that's exactly what Den wants."
While they spoke, Victoria entered the training ground with a bright smile. She told the mages she was ready, and once again, they began hurling lightning spheres at her.
She dodged the first, but the second struck her hard, knocking her to the ground. Its touch burned intensely, like fire against her skin.
"Don't fear it, Victoria—embrace it, and you'll control it!" Lucas called from above.
Slowly, she rose to her feet. A calm yet fierce glow burned in her eyes. This time, she allowed the Shrine of Sin to take over.
When another bolt came toward her, she didn't dodge. Instead, she caught it with her bare hands.
The mages gasped as the pure light in her grasp twisted into something dark. With a powerful shout, she thrust her hands forward, releasing a wave of soft twilight energy—a perfect fusion of Valor's light and Axel's shadow.
The force blasted the mages backward, slamming them into the walls. The arena floor cracked, and darkness swept through the space. The mages, shaken, were spared only by the fading glow of her terrifying golden eyes.
Silence fell.
The king stood stunned as the mages struggled to their feet, now looking at Victoria with a new kind of fear.
Lucas approached her, pride evident in his expression. "You did it," he said. "You didn't just resist it—you used the Shrine of Sin to create something entirely your own."
"I didn't know you could turn someone else's power against them… that was incredible."
Victoria smiled at his praise. She looked down at her hands, still marked with drifting dark smoke. Though exhausted, she felt something new for the first time. She was no longer just the Daughter of the Shadows—she had become something more, something truly her own.
After many weeks of hard learning, the mages had taught Victoria all they knew about how energy works. Now it was her turn to keep her promise by training King Alaric's best soldiers.
The next morning, the King and his top mages watched from a balcony. Below them, in the arena, Victoria and Lucas stood in front of the experienced warriors of Valor.
"Begin," the King ordered, his voice loud across the arena.
Victoria and Lucas started by teaching a skill called "Energy Blocking," which helps stop magical attacks without getting hurt. But the soldiers didn't like being taught by outsiders, and the mood quickly became tense.
One older warrior suddenly dropped his shield in anger. "Since when do we take orders from strangers?" he shouted. "Are we so weak that we must bow to people from Axel?"
He walked toward Victoria, glaring at her. "I won't take orders from a woman—especially one from a land of ghosts and demons."
He then turned away and started to leave the arena.
The Captain of the Guard quickly stopped him and grabbed his shoulder. "Do you think this is about your pride?" the Captain said seriously. "What's coming is bigger than you, bigger than anyone here. Do you remember the stories of the Great War between Valor and Axel?"
The soldier paused, his anger fading a little. "Yes, Captain," he replied.
"This time, it's even worse," the Captain said. "We are facing something ancient and dangerous. We need all the help and knowledge we can get to protect our people. Now go back."
The soldier understood and returned to the group. He bowed his head to Victoria to say sorry, and the training continued. The warriors slowly began to see that Victoria wasn't just a stranger—she might be their only hope.
After the Captain calmed his men, the arena became quiet. The soldiers stood with their arms crossed, watching Victoria closely, waiting to see if she would fail. The Captain decided that if Victoria wanted to lead them, she had to prove her strength without using magic.
Lucas agreed, curious to see how she would fight using only her skills. The Captain—the same large man Lucas had defeated before—stepped into the center. He looked down at Victoria, trying to scare her with his size.
"I'm sorry if my sword hurts you, Princess," he said with a smirk. "Don't cry like a baby."
The soldiers laughed, but Victoria stayed calm. "Don't be embarrassed when I beat you," she replied.
The King came to watch from the balcony and gave the signal to start. "No magic, Victoria. Only swords. If you last four rounds, these men will follow you."
"I only need three," she said confidently.
Victoria stepped forward, and Lucas gave her a small nod. She held a short, heavy sword.
Next to the Captain, she looked very small.
In the first round, the Captain moved skillfully and attacked her with strong swings. Victoria used her speed to dodge him, remembering what Lucas taught her. She moved around him, though she almost slipped once. The soldiers cheered as his sword nearly hit her.
In the second round, the Captain understood her movements better. He kept attacking without stopping, pushing her back with his shield. She didn't get a chance to rest, and he finally hit her, knocking her to the ground.
"Stay down!" a soldier shouted. "Strength matters more than who you are!"
The Captain looked at her. "You said three rounds. Let's see if you can do it."
In the third round, the Captain attacked again with a strong strike. Victoria blocked his sword with hers. Remembering Lucas's advice, she quickly attacked his legs and made him lose balance. Then she moved behind him and placed her sword at his neck.
"I told you I only needed three," she said quietly.
The arena became completely silent. Then the Captain laughed loudly. He lowered his sword and bowed to her.
"You are fast and brave," he said. "You were trained well." He turned to the soldiers and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Bow to your Commander!"
All the soldiers bowed to her in respect. Victoria stood there, tired and covered in dust, but now the army of Valor accepted her. She left the arena with Lucas, and the soldiers were now ready to fight beside her.