ZADOK My eyes skimmed through the decade old greenhouse that was Shilhi's workspace. “I think it's good that she wants to train.” Shilhi remarked, stirring her cauldron pot. God knew what content it was this time around. “Why do you say so?” Azriel asked from behind me. “She poses enough danger even without powers, why would she need to train more?” I heard the implications of his words, but chose to play dumb. “A powerless witch living in a pack of witch-hating-wolves.” I answered in place of Shilhi. “ It doesn't take a genius to know why she feels threatened.” I watched Shilhi pour little portions of the pot's contents into small bottles. Those were my potions. “I understand that, but you already said you would introduce her to the pack as a guest. No one would hurt her after that.” Azriel explained. “Training her will pose more of a risk to us with her current skill set.” “If I didn't know you well, I'd think you are scared of her, Azriel.” A wry smile was on my face, “If
ITHRA“Why do we have to go this early?” I walked behind Azriel, trying to meet up to his pace. “Don't think that because you are now a member of this pack, you have permission to idle away.” He said without a glance back. “We are disciplined, and in order for you to fit in, you must be disciplined.”“I wasn't trying to fit in.” I sneered behind him, “Zadok- I mean, the alpha said I would be introduced to the pack. It's been two days and there's been no word. Forgive me but I don't feel like getting attacked by your people.”Azriel stopped, and turned around. “My people?” he asked in an incredulous tone. I stared back at him. Surely, he didn't expect me to refer to them with anything dear. Not when they were all after my life. When he realized I wasn't planning on saying anything, he sighed. “Today is your first day of training. Zadok will meet you in between. I have been assigned to oversee your training.” He took a long look at me, “which unfortunately for you, begins in the earl
ITHRA Everyone returned to their places after the little show from Zadok. The remnants of the wolf’s body was carried out of the training ground and decorum returned like it never left. Zadok left for God knows where and everyone returned to sparring and getting dirty on the ground. “Come.” Azriel said, and led me to the right side of the training ground where there were less people. I wondered what he was planning on teaching me today.“For today, I’m going to test your abilities.” he gauged me with a look I couldn’t understand. “Let's see what you are capable of doing.”Azriel stepped back with his arms spread wide and a wolfish grin. “Come on, let's have it. Show me what you’ve got.” For the first time ever Azriel seemed comfortable with me. Dare I say, he looked almost happy. Like nothing could go wrong and this was his forte. It took a moment before I realized he wanted me to hit him. “No..” I muttered, refusing to do it. His face lost its smile. “Don’t act like you don’t
ZADOKShilhi, Azriel and Zadok were seated round a wooden table in the greenhouse. “She suddenly became powerful, like she wasn't weak and complaining some seconds ago.” Azriel narrated to Shilhi, speaking about the training session with Ithra. “She took off his hands like it was nothing.”“We can't take that for a fact, who knows, perhaps the alpha didn't use as much strength?” Shilhi opined, her gaze flickered to me, and I answered. “I obviously didn't use as much strength, but I am certain she shouldn't have been able to get out of my hold that easily. I didn't exert much strength, but it was strong enough to hold her.”“Maybe your hand slackened a bit during your interactions?” Shilhi said with her eyes focused on me. “The alpha was angry.” Azriel said, “From my point of view, he was seconds away from strangling her. He couldn't have slackened his hold in that mind state.” It was good he answered her bizarre question because I doubted my answers will be anything but lethal. “
ITHRAI haven’t received a word since the training two days ago.When Azriel informed me of our training session this morning, I didn’t know how to feel about it. When we passed the training grounds, I got concerned. “Where are we going?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.Azriel turned back, “You will not be training with the others today.”I couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words, and I felt my guard build up. “What do you mean?”“The Alpha has instructed you will be training at a different spot moving forward.” His tone clipped. I didn’t like the sound of that, “Where is he? Will he be present?” I find myself asking. There was no way I was training without Zadok. If they wanted to kill me, then he should have the decency to do it himself. “Not that it is your concern, but he will join us shortly.” He answered. Without waiting for a response, he took a route I knew too well. He entered the farm, but I remained rooted to my spot.I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Beta Azriel.” A fe
ITHRA I fell to my knees with another blow to the head from Athaliah. Blinded by my bodily fluids and earth, I could hardly make out the frame of Azriel, who stood at the far end of the farm. “Get up.” Athaliah urged, dragging me by the hair. “Second lesson. Do not stay down for too long. Every second is valuable, and the more you stay down, the more dominion your enemy has over you.” She dragged me up and cut me short with another heavy blow to my stomach. My body erupts in pain, and I feel my internal organs struggle to keep up. Athaliah continued to drill her fist into my guts, and I tried and failed to prevent myself from it. It became evident that I didn’t have enough skills to defend myself. All my life, I craved power and went after everything that could grant me dominion over my enemies. I was already at a disadvantage. Born as a witch without powers. I tried all I could to get myself armed and ready to attack before they attacked me. However, I never thought there w
ZADOK“She can't survive the dark forest,” I muttered, gritting my teeth as I watched Athaliah beat Ithra to a pulp. “She's too weak.”“Exactly why she is training.” Shilhi said beside me, “She will do fine with enough training.” I got frustrated. “Can't you see? It will take years before she becomes good enough to survive the dark forest. We don't have much time.” “What do you propose we do?” Shilhi turned to me, “Last I checked, she is our only hope of getting into the dark forest. We don't have options.” Athaliah delivers a spin kick, and Ithra is on the floor, Almost lifeless. I could tell she was still alive by the faint high and low of her chest. She was breathing, thank God. For some reason, it sucked to watch her get beat up. Despite knowing it was for her good. I knew she would be attended to afterwards, but it didn't go well with me. “What is she doing?” Shilhi's inquisitive tone jolted me from my thoughts. “What did she say?” I looked to the field and spotted Athali
ITHRA“Ithra…” A voice called in a ghostly tone, “There is no more time…”I looked around the dark forest without fear. “Sarai, where are you?”“At the heart of the forest. Let's meet at the heart of the forest...”The voice returned to me. I nod and turn eastward toward the forest. I stare longingly at the mountain, “I’ll be there, just hold on!” I called back and started my sprint towards the mountain. Wait! The voice called back, Sarai’s voice. I come to a halt. “Take the book! Don’t come without the book! You need the book!”Confusion clouded my features, “What book? I don’t have any book.”“The ancient witches book. Get it, you’ll need it. You’ll need your powers…”At the mention of my powers, I felt a dark aura surround me. It immediately dawned on me the implications of her words. I still didn’t have my powers. I was still weak. “Get the witch’s book and get to the heart of the forest, Ithra.”“I’ll be waiting.”My eyes flew open, and my heart rate increased. It took a wh