The next day started with
"Again."
I didn't even sigh this time.
I just lifted my hand.
The light formed faster now—steadier, cleaner. It didn't flicker the way it used to. It stayed where I placed it.
Controlled.
I held it there, watching it carefully.
No pressure spike.
No sudden surge.
Just—
calm.
"Better," he said.
I blinked. "That sounded suspiciously like approval."
"It's not."
"Of course it's not."
I relaxed my grip slightly, remembering what he had said before.
Don't force it.
Let it stay.
The light softened, but didn't disappear.
Still there.
Still stable.
"I did it," I said quietly.
A pause.
Then—
"Then prove it."
Before I could ask what he meant—
he moved.
Not toward me.
Around me.
The air shifted instantly.
Sharp.
Familiar.
My eyes widened slightly. "Oh, come on—"
Shadows formed.
Not one.
Not two.
More.
"You're joking," I muttered. "This is the next lesson?"
"Control doesn't matter if you can't use it."
"Of course it is."
The first shadow lunged.
I reacted immediately, pulling the light—
but this time—
I didn't let it surge.
I held it.
Guided it.
It cut through the shadow cleanly.
Silent.
Gone.
Another came.
Then another.
Faster now.
Closer.
I moved with them, adjusting without thinking. The light followed—not wild, not unstable.
Responsive.
"Don't rush," he said.
"I'm not rushing," I shot back, stepping aside as another shadow slipped past me.
"You're speeding up."
"Because they're speeding up!"
One came from behind.
I turned too late—
the light flickered—
just slightly—
Not again.
I steadied my breath.
Didn't force it.
Didn't panic.
The light stabilized just in time as I turned, cutting through it before it could reach me.
"…Okay," I muttered. "That was close."
They didn't stop.
More formed.
This time—
closer.
More aggressive.
My movements sharpened, faster now, but controlled. I wasn't just reacting—I was adjusting.
Learning.
The pressure built again.
That same edge from before.
Where it could slip.
But this time—
I recognized it.
Instead of forcing it down—
I eased it.
The light steadied.
Didn't surge.
Didn't break.
I moved again, clearing the next shadow cleanly.
Then the next.
Then the next.
Silence.
I stopped, breathing slightly heavier, but still standing.
Still in control.
"…That all of them?" I asked.
No answer.
I turned slightly.
Lucien was watching.
Not correcting.
Not interrupting.
Just—
watching.
"Well?" I said. "Was that enough or do you want me to fight an entire army next?"
A pause.
Then—
"Better."
I let out a breath, dropping my hand. "You're really holding back on the compliments today."
"You're not done."
Of course I wasn't.
I glanced at him. "What now?"
A brief silence.
Then—
"We make it harder."
I stared at him.
"…I knew you were going to say that."
But this time—
I didn't feel like I was failing anymore.
I felt like I was finally catching up.