Chapter 5 005

Alera's Pov

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Sweat dripped down the back of my neck, stinging as it slid down to the small of my back. The weight of the sword in my hand seemed to grow heavier with each failed swing. My muscles burned, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I could feel the eyes of the warriors around me, their silent judgment weighing down on my every movement.

"Again," Kael's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a whip.

I had lost count of how many times I'd heard him say that today. Each time, his gaze stayed cold and unwavering, as if my struggle was nothing more than a nuisance. I wasn't sure if he was disappointed in me or simply indifferent. Maybe both.

My body screamed in protest as I raised the sword again, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The tip of the sword trembled slightly in my grip, but I steeled myself, remembering the countless hours of training. The warriors around me didn't have the luxury of making mistakes; I couldn't afford to either.

I took a step forward, my feet heavy, and swung. The blade made a dull thud against the training dummy, and I winced. Too soft. I swung again, harder this time. But it still didn't feel right; too clumsy, too weak.

"Pathetic," Kael muttered from behind me. "You're still holding back."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap at him. I had to prove him wrong. I had to show him that I could do this. I wasn't weak. I couldn't be.

"Focus, Alera," Lira's voice cut through the noise of my frustration. I turned toward her, grateful for the distraction. She stood at the edge of the field, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze steady.

I forced a tight smile, trying to mask my frustration. "I'm trying."

"No," she said, her eyes narrowing. "You're not. You're letting Kael's words get to you. Stop thinking about what he's saying and focus on your own strength."

I shook my head, unable to quiet the doubts swirling in my mind. "How do you expect me to ignore him? He's right. I can't do this."

Lira's expression softened, and she took a few steps toward me. "You're wrong. I've seen you fight before, Alera. You have something inside of you-something that Kael doesn't see. You just have to learn to unlock it."

I lowered my sword and looked at her. "I don't know if I can."

"You're stronger than you think," Lira said, her voice filled with quiet conviction. "You've been through so much already. You've survived. That's strength. You just have to learn to use it."

The weight of her words hung in the air between us. There was truth in them. I had survived things that most people would never understand, things that had shattered me but also shaped me into who I was. I had been broken, yes-but I had never given up. I had always found a way to keep moving forward.

I straightened, lifting the sword once more. This time, my grip felt firmer. The tremor in my arms began to subside. The fear that had been clouding my mind started to clear.

Kael watched from a distance, his eyes fixed on me, but there was no judgment in his gaze. Not now. It was as if he was waiting for me to prove him wrong.

I exhaled slowly, centering myself. My heart pounded in my chest, but it wasn't out of fear anymore. It was the rush of blood, the surge of energy that had been dormant inside me, waiting to be unleashed.

I lunged at the dummy again, this time with purpose. The sword sliced through the air, making contact with the training bag with a satisfying crack. My body moved fluidly, not thinking, just reacting.

"Better," Kael said, his voice carrying across the field. There was a hint of approval in his tone, but I didn't let it distract me. I focused on the rhythm of my movements.

Swing. Step. Strike.

I repeated the motions, faster this time. Each blow felt more precise. More powerful. The doubts began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of control. A sense of power I hadn't realized I possessed.

"You're still too slow," Kael called out, but this time, there was no scorn in his voice. It was a challenge.

I clenched my teeth, unwilling to back down. I wasn't going to let him win. Not this time. Not when I was finally starting to feel like I could do this.

I took a deep breath and moved faster. The sword blurred in my hands as I swung it with everything I had, the edge of the blade meeting the dummy with a sharp crack. Sweat stung my eyes, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Not when I was this close.

"You're getting better," Kael said, his voice softer now, but still distant. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or just indifferent. But it didn't matter. I was done seeking his approval.

I turned to Lira, who was watching intently from the sidelines. She gave me a small nod of approval. It wasn't much, but it was enough. She believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.

I lowered the sword, feeling the exhaustion begin to settle in. My arms were heavy, my chest heaving with every breath, but there was a quiet satisfaction deep inside me. I had pushed through. I had fought back the fear, the doubts, and I had come out stronger for it.

"You're not finished," Kael said, his voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

I met his gaze, my pulse quickening. "I'm done."

I didn't wait for his response. I walked away from the training grounds, the weight of the sword in my hand feeling like a reminder of everything I had just accomplished. There would be more to fight for, more to prove, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was capable of facing it.