The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 320: Fire and Water

Chapter 320: Fire and Water

The morning sun cast a gentle glow upon the snow-covered landscape outside the towering walls of the Cursed Castle. Annalise stood in the courtyard, her breath forming a misty cloud in the frigid air. Winter had settled in, but there was no respite for her. The rigorous training sessions continued without pause, pushing her to her limits.

It had snowed the whole day and night yesterday, so everything was covered in a thick layer of snow. Unfortunately, the castle was in no mood to present them all with another sunny day.

It was Ezra and Leela who had decided to train with her and since these two carried completely opposite elemental powers - fire and water respectively, the session was definitely going to be a challenge for Annalise.

Ezra, with his fiery eyes shining brightly in anticipation, and Leela, whose calm demeanor belied her control over water, stood beside Annalise. They were her companions, her allies, and her challenges.

As the trio prepared for the day’s training, Ezra’s voice crackled like flames. "Ready to test your mettle, Annalise?"

Annalise wanted to let out a deep sigh but she held herself back. She knew from the beginning that this particular training session was nothing but trouble for her. Unfortunately, Damien didn’t gave her much of a choice other than accepting it.

Leela’s eyes twinkled as she added, "Remember, this is all to make you stronger."

Obviously, but Annalise wondered if the two of them would show her any sort of mercy like her husbands. The answer was likely a big no! It wasn’t like she didn’t trust her abilities but compared to Ezra and Leela who had spent their entire lives training hard to control their respective elements, she had only recently started to connect with her elements let alone learn how to control them.

Eventually, she nodded her head, determination in her eyes as she replied, "I’m ready."

Ezra and Leela joined their powers, and the ground transformed. Steam rose as fire and water mingled, creating an intricate path that Annalise had to traverse.

"This round will be against time. Make sure to be fast, Lisa." Leela advised Annalise right before she stepped to the side, leaving the latter all alone to face the hurdle.

Annalise’s boots sizzled as she stepped onto a fiery patch, followed by a quick leap onto a floating water platform.

It was at that moment, the first fire platform burst into small particles, creating a powerful impact that almost threw Annalise out of the water platform. Realizing that the water platform could too burst at any time, she hurriedly started making her way forward.

But nature had other plans. As she progressed, an unexpected gust of wind howled through the courtyard, disrupting the elemental ground. She stumbled, her balance faltering. Gritting her teeth, she fought against the wind, arms outstretched to steady herself. With a final leap, she made it through, albeit with visible effort.

Ezra grinned, his flames dancing in approval. "Well done."

Leela’s voice was soothing like a gentle river. "You showed great resilience. But this was just a warm up. We aren’t done yet."

Breathing heavily, Annalise replied, "Thank you. And I’m ready for more."

The next round commenced, shifting the training to a combat scenario. Magical attacks filled the air, as Ezra and Leela conjured spells that Annalise had to deflect and dodge. She focused on defense, her concentration unwavering. Her own powers surged within her, eager to burst forth, but the rules forbade her from attacking her friends.

Really smart of them!

Time seemed to stretch as the onslaught continued. Sweat mingled with snowflakes on her brow, but Annalise refused to yield. She parried magical assaults with precise movements, her concentration never wavering. Her defenses held strong, a testament to her discipline and training.

It took nearly an hour before Annalise was able to take down their set up while also continously deflecting their attacks.

When the third round began, the tension in the air was palpable. Annalise’s muscles were taut, her senses alert. This was her chance to fight back, to wield her powers without restraint. Flames and water clashed, creating a dazzling display of elemental prowess. Spells crackled and hissed, the training ground a dance of power and finesse.

This time, Annalise used her fire and water elements to face Ezra and Leela. She wanted to see if her elements could overpower theirs.

Hours passed like minutes, and finally, the training session came to an end. The courtyard was a testament to their efforts, marked by scorched earth and patches of melted snow. As Annalise caught her breath, Damien appeared, his presence a welcome anchor.

He embraced her gently, his eyes filled with concern and pride. "You did exceptionally well, Princess."

With a single wave of his hand, the courtyard returned to its previous state, devoid of any evidence of what just had transpired there.

Annalise leaned into her husband’s warmth, exhaustion seeping into her bones. "It was tough, but I’m getting there."

Damien’s lips brushed her forehead. "Rest now. You’ve earned it."

From the corner of her eyes, Annalise noticed Ezra pulling Leela into his arms before the man planted a soft kiss at the corner of her lips.

A smile bloomed on Annalise’s lips as she snuggled into Damien’s arms, giving the other two some privacy.

Together, she and the Shadow Prince walked back inside the castle, leaving behind the cold but also the sense of accomplishment. The challenges were formidable, but Annalise was determined to emerge stronger, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead.

As soon as she stepped inside, the castle welcomed her with its warmth. And then Valerius and Kenric were also there to engulf her into their arms one after the other.

Since it was late afternoon, they all just gathered around the fireplace in the living room while the servants served them tea and some snacks.

Valerius updated them all about the progress of the creation of wards around the realms and empires. It seemed like the priority at the moment was the safety of the Mortal Realm. The good thing was that the other rulers had also agreed to put the safety of the mortals first.