Sanctuary - Black Estate
The Black family's ancestral estate sprawled across thousands of acres, a sanctuary steeped in history and mysticism. Towering mountains stood as silent sentinels, sheltering the land that held dense forests, a tranquil lake, and hidden caves whispering secrets of the past. The very air shimmered with an ancient energy, a reminder of the lineage that ran through Alexa and her siblings' veins.
As dusk painted the sky in warm hues, Alexa, Xanthine, and Xander gathered at the secluded training grounds deep within the estate. Unlike their usual combat drills, today's session was different—it was about awakening the latent magic within them. Their mother, Helena, along with their trusted guardians, stood by to guide them in harnessing the abilities they had yet to fully grasp.
"Children, within this sanctuary, you will connect with the magic that has always been a part of you," Helena said, her voice both gentle and firm. "It is there, waiting, but unrefined. Tonight, you will begin to understand it. First, sit down, cross your legs, and let go of all distractions. Feel the world around you—the rustling leaves, the shifting wind, the heartbeat of the land itself."
Xanthine focused, her normally sharp mind struggling to quiet itself. She had always relied on logic and strategy, but magic was something beyond calculation—it was instinctual. As she followed her mother's instructions, a warmth ignited within her chest, spreading like a slow-burning flame, wrapping around her heart, coursing through her veins, and reaching her fingertips.
She hesitated for a moment, before opening her eyes to find a brilliant light surrounding her. Her body radiated a soft glow, and even Dianne, her owl companion, watched in quiet approval. "Not bad for a first-timer, Sister," she remarked, clearly impressed.
Xander remained still, his palms pressed firmly against the cool earth. Unlike the technology he excelled in, this power was raw and ancient. A faint tremor rippled beneath him, subtle yet undeniable, as he forged a connection with the energy coursing through the land. Moments later, the same warmth Xanthine had felt surged through him, spreading from his core to his fingertips. His body began to emit a steady, golden glow, mirroring his sister's.
"Good, keep it going, bro. Remember that feeling—the heat circulating within you," Leo encouraged, his tone steady with approval.
But Alexa's experience was different. She sat still, eyes closed, focusing hard, yet the connection she sought remained elusive. Her heart raced, but she felt nothing—no warmth, no power. Her mind, too well-trained in the logic of Earth, couldn't allow her to simply let go. She had always relied on control, on rules, on precision. Magic, however, defied all of that.
Frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior, and she exhaled sharply, a mix of impatience and confusion clouding her thoughts.
Vleid, standing a few paces away, watched her struggle with a mixture of concern and pride. Stepping forward, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Alexa, you're thinking too much," he murmured, his voice tinged with both worry and admiration. "You don't command magic like you command your strategies. It doesn't work that way. Magic flows through you, not under your control. You need to stop trying to force it."
Helena, sensing her daughter's growing frustration, moved closer, her tone softer than usual. "It's okay, darling. You've always been grounded in logic, but magic doesn't work on the same principles. It's about letting go, about feeling, not thinking." She gently cupped Alexa's face, her eyes warm with reassurance. "It may take time for you to connect, and that's alright. Your journey is different, but that doesn't make it any less important."
Despite their reassurances, Alexa remained still, her frustration mounting. She wanted to understand, to feel the magic like her siblings did, but it wasn't coming. The purple light she had sensed in her earlier attempts was nowhere to be found—just an emptiness that seemed to mock her. She felt disconnected, as if she were on the outside looking in, watching others tap into something she couldn't grasp. She was too grounded in the chaos of recent events, overthinking the unresolved issues weighing on her heart. Anxiety crept in, especially after seeing her siblings succeed in the training.
"Try again," Vleid urged, his voice firm but not unkind. "But this time, stop trying to force it. Just feel what's around you. Trust in it." Alexa closed her eyes once more, forcing herself to calm her thoughts. Slowly, she exhaled and let the tension melt from her shoulders. She allowed herself to feel the cool evening air, the whispering breeze, the pulse of the earth beneath her. There was something... something faint, just at the edge of her awareness. It wasn't like the powerful surge she had expected—it was subtle, a hum, like a quiet voice waiting to be heard.
But it was a start. She couldn't see it, but the faintest trace of light began to appear at her fingertips—a tiny flicker of purple, not strong, but present.
Helena smiled softly, her eyes full of understanding. "It's there, Alexa," she said gently. "Your power is there. It just needs time to grow." Alexa held her hands before her, still feeling the faint pulse of that energy. It was so small, so insignificant in comparison to her siblings' glows, but it was hers. It was her magic, hidden deep beneath the surface, waiting to be fully awakened.
As the night deepened and their training came to an end, Alexa sat in silence for a moment, reflecting on the subtle change within her. There was still so much to understand, but for the first time, she felt something stir within her that she hadn't before. A spark of potential—one she would need to learn to harness.
And perhaps, just perhaps, this was the first step toward understanding a power she hadn't yet known was hers.
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After the training, the siblings were exhausted, their bodies worn from the effort. As they made their way back to the main house, the scent of a freshly prepared feast greeted them, drifting from the dining hall. The maids had outdone themselves, laying out an impressive spread with dishes fit for royalty: roasted meats, fresh vegetables, creamy pastas, and a variety of desserts.
Yet, despite the mouthwatering feast, none of the siblings were in the mood to indulge.
Xanthine was the first to sigh, a weary smile tugging at her lips. "I think I'm going to collapse if I have to eat one more bite," she muttered, her voice hoarse from the training.
Xander, equally fatigued, nodded in agreement. "Same here. I think I'll just have a glass of water." He moved toward the nearest chair, slumping into it with a tired groan.
Alexa, sitting at the edge of the table, barely touched her plate. The faint trace of magic she had felt earlier still lingered within her, but the frustration hadn't quite left her. She absentmindedly pushed her food around, her thoughts preoccupied.
Vleid, seeing her struggle, walked over to her. He didn't quite know how to comfort her, but he couldn't just leave her like that. With a hesitant but steady move, he sat beside her, taking a glass full of chocolate ice cream. He didn't have the right words, but he spoke from the heart, his voice soft but firm. "You don't need to pressure yourself, Alexa," he said quietly. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. That's why I was sent here, to protect you..."
Helena, ever perceptive, watched her children with a mixture of concern and love. "Sebastian," she called out, her voice carrying smoothly through the room. The butler, who had been standing quietly at a distance, immediately straightened and approached her.
"Yes, madam?" Sebastian responded.
"Please bring the meals to their rooms. And for Alexa, prepare some hot tea to help her unwind. A calming one," Helena added softly, her gaze drifting to her daughter.
Sebastian nodded with a quiet "Of course," before turning to instruct the head maid on the arrangements.
As the siblings quietly retreated from the dining room to their rooms, Helena lingered, her eyes following Alexa's retreating figure. She knew that there was more to her daughter's struggle than just the magic training.
"Darling," Kian said, his voice gentle but laced with concern, as he joined Helena by the fireplace. "Today was the first time I've seen Alexa struggle like that. Maybe the incident on her birthday is still bothering her. "
Helena's expression softened as she turned to Kian, her tone quiet but tinged with worry. "I've been meaning to ask you—do you have any updates on the party incident? I've been so focused on Alexa's training that I haven't had time to check in on it properly. Do we know anything more about what happened?"
Kian's face tightened slightly, a flicker of concern flashing in his eyes. "We're still looking into it. There are things I can't yet confirm, but... I have a feeling we haven't heard the whole story. Whoever is behind this, they're being careful, trying to stay in the shadows."Helena nodded, her brow furrowing. "I know. I can't shake the feeling that the party incident and Alexa's struggles are connected. The way she's been acting... it's like there's something weighing her down, something she's not telling us. We need to be there for her, especially now."
Kian exhaled slowly, his gaze hardening with resolve. "I'll make sure we get to the bottom of it. We won't let anything happen to her."
Helena reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "We'll handle it together, Kian. Just... make sure we don't push Alexa too hard. She's already carrying a lot."
Kian nodded, his grip on her hand firm but gentle. "We'll protect her, Helena. We always have." They stood in silence for a moment, the crackling of the fire filling the quiet. Helena's mind was far from calm, but she took comfort in knowing she had Kian by her side—strong, steadfast, and always ready to protect their children.
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Vleid's POV
I followed Alexa upstairs to her room, the glass of chocolate ice cream still in my hand, the coolness of it offering a small comfort. As I entered her room, I couldn't help but tease her a bit.
"Why didn't you finish eating that in the dining room? And besides, can dogs eat chocolate? I heard it's like poison for your kind," Alexa snapped, her irritation clear.
I raised an eyebrow, stepping inside her room. "I brought this for you," I replied, a teasing smirk playing on my lips. "And, besides, I'm not really a wolf. I shape-shift. My form is a Fenrir, you dimwit," I added, my voice light but playful, hoping to distract her even for a moment.
She didn't seem particularly amused, though. Her eyes flickered with something more complicated—her mind clearly elsewhere. She was holding back, something was on her mind, and I could see that she was struggling.
Not wanting to push her too hard, I stepped back, giving her space. "I'll wait in my room," I said softly, my gaze lingering on her. "After an hour, I'll come to you. Just for a few minutes."
With that, I turned and left her room, not waiting for a response. I knew she needed time, and I wasn't about to rush her.
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Alexa's POV
"THAT jerk," I muttered under my breath, my irritation bubbling to the surface. "I don't know why his attitude was like that. Is he having period cramps or something!" I fumed, grabbing my robe as I prepared to head to the bath. I badly needed one—needed to wash away the frustration, the confusion, the mess of everything that had happened today.
It wasn't even the end of my second day as a seventeen-year-old, and yet, it felt like my whole world had flipped upside down. Everything that I once thought was grounded in reality—everything I was certain about—now seemed like some kind of twisted dream. Or maybe nightmare.
Those events, the ones that felt so out of place, they had happened in my reality. My reality. And now, my head was in total chaos. My magic, barely awakening, my family, my connections, the strange, unexplainable things piling on top of one another.
Why did everything feel so different? Why did everything seem so heavy? It was almost as if I couldn't keep up anymore, like the life I had been living had been swept away by some force I couldn't control. I had always prided myself on my ability to stay grounded, to think things through logically, but none of that helped now.
I ran my fingers through my damp hair, frustrated with how little sense anything made. "This is insane," I muttered to myself as I stepped into the bath, hoping the warm water could somehow bring me some semblance of peace.
"Deep breaths, Alexa, okay!" I whispered to myself, standing in front of my bathroom mirror.
"For now, we'll indulge ourselves with this warm bath. Get your favorite liquid soap, bath bomb, face mask, and scrubs."
I tried to focus on the comforting ritual of it all, but even as I let the water envelop me, the unease in my stomach only deepened. There was a nagging feeling, a sense that something is out there. And no matter how much I tried to calm myself, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't ready for it.
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Third person's POV
A few minutes passed, and Alexa had finished her nightly routine. She changed into her nightgown, blow-dried her hair, and was just finishing up when a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in, Vleid," she called out, her voice tired, though the irritation from earlier was beginning to ebb.
Vleid twisted the knob and entered, holding a tray filled with light meals. The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the room, but Alexa's exhaustion still hung in the air.
"You need to eat," Vleid muttered, setting the tray down on the table beside her. "I saw a maid bring it here, and I... anyway. Eat." He wasn't the best at expressing himself, especially when it came to things like this. The words were awkward, but the intent was clear.
Alexa let out a soft sigh and picked up a fork. "I'll eat while you talk," she said, her tone more resigned than before. "So spill. I'm tired."
Vleid hesitated, glancing down at the floor for a moment before meeting her gaze. He wasn't entirely sure how to start, but he knew something needed to be said. "It's just... You've been off today," Vleid began, his voice quieter now, the playful tone replaced with something more serious. "And I don't know if it's because of your magic or... or the stuff with the birthday incident, but I'm worried about you, Alexa."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "You don't have to tell me everything, but if something's wrong, you know you can talk to me, right?"
A few moments of silence hung in the room as Vleid waited for Alexa to respond, his words lingering in the air. She finally took another bite of the food he brought her, her expression softening, but the tension still evident in the way she held herself.
"I know," she muttered quietly, looking away from him. "But not yet. I just... need some time to figure things out."
Vleid watched her for a moment, a quiet concern still etched on his face. But before he could say anything more, a small grin tugged at Alexa's lips. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked at him.
"But maybe, you can do something else," she said, her voice lighter, almost playful now.
Vleid raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her mood. "Like what?" he asked, his voice cautious but intrigued.
Alexa leaned back slightly in her chair, her hands resting on the edge of the table. "Your 'Fenrir' form," she said with an excited gleam in her eye. "I'd love to see it. And I mabe feel the texture of your beautiful fur."
Vleid blinked, momentarily taken aback. His cheeks flushed slightly at the thought of shifting in front of her. He wasn't particularly fond of being asked to transform casually, especially since his Fenrir form wasn't just any shape-shift—it was powerful and imposing. But seeing Alexa's excited expression, her energy shifting from frustration to curiosity, made him hesitate less. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the heat of his embarrassment, but nodded. "You're unbelievable, you know that?" he said with a soft laugh, though he couldn't hide the awkwardness in his voice. "But fine... I'll indulge you."
Alexa's face lit up, her earlier frustration momentarily forgotten. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "I promise, I won't pull on it. Just want to see it again."
With a resigned sigh but a small smile on his face, Vleid stood and stepped back a few paces, giving her some space. He focused, letting the change come over him as his body began to shift. Fur sprouted across his skin, his form growing larger and more powerful, the air thickening with the primal energy of the Fenrir. His sky-like eyes glowed briefly before the transformation was complete, his massive wolf-like form, different from that first encounter as a bloody pup, standing tall in the room.
Alexa gasped softly in awe, her eyes wide. She slowly reached out, her fingers trembling with excitement as she gently touched the soft fur on his back.
Vleid, though still a bit awkward in his transformed state, stood still for a moment, letting her explore. It was a strange feeling, this vulnerability—letting her touch his form, allowing her to see him in this more animalistic state—but if it helped her in some small way, he was willing to endure the discomfort.
Alexa continued to stroke the fur along Vleid's back, her touch gentle and tentative at first, as if unsure of how much pressure to apply. She marveled at the softness of his coat, her fingers sinking into the thick, silken fur. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before—smooth, warm. She hadn't paid much attention to his pup form, but now, with him standing so majestically in front of her, it was almost overwhelming. The sheer size of him, made her feel both small and in awe, something raw and untamed about him, but also something comforting in his presence.
Vleid stood there, his large, wolf-like form towering over her. His sky-like eyes watched her closely, alert yet strangely calm, as though he were waiting for something—perhaps for her to ask for something more, or perhaps for her to react in a way that would change the mood of the room. There was something oddly vulnerable about him in this form, but Alexa couldn't pinpoint why. She was used to seeing him in his human state—playful, teasing, a little intimidating—but this felt different, more raw.
"Wow," Alexa murmured, her fingers tracing the contours of his powerful muscles beneath the thick fur. "You're like... a living, breathing mountain of fur." She paused, looking up at his massive form. "But you're still you. I can feel it. In a weird way."
Vleid gave a soft huff, a sound that might have been a chuckle if he were human, and his eyes softened slightly. He wasn't sure if it was the tension easing between them or the strange comfort of the situation, but he could feel something change in the air. It was as if, in this moment, she was no longer consumed by whatever turmoil had been plaguing her before. She was here, now, with him, allowing herself to enjoy something as simple as this.
"Feel free to keep going," he said, his voice low and rumbling, the deep vibrations vibrating through his fur. "I'm not going anywhere." He smiled inwardly, thankful for this small, silly moment to ease her mind.
Alexa smiled at his words, her fingers moving along the soft fur as she let herself relax. "I think you've been holding out on me," she teased lightly, a glimmer of her usual playful self returning. "I wasn't expecting you to be this... fluffy."
Vleid chuckled, though the sound was deeper and more resonant in his current form. "I could say the same about you. But I think you're enjoying this a bit too much."
Alexa glanced up at him, her expression softening, eyes filled with a quiet fondness. "Maybe I am," she admitted. "But it's nice to forget about everything for a while. Just... focus on this moment."
There was a pause, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the day, the uncertainty of everything that had happened, seemed to lift just a little as they shared this quiet, unexpected connection. Vleid was still in his wolf form, standing before her, and Alexa—though exhausted—felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease.
"Thanks, Vleid," she said quietly, her voice sincere. "For everything. Even when you're being... difficult."
Vleid snorted in amusement. "I'll take that as a compliment, I guess." He shifted slightly, his massive tail swishing behind him, and then, as though on cue, began to return to his human form. The fur receded, his muscles shrinking back to a more human shape, leaving him standing before Alexa in his usual attire.
Alexa let out a soft sigh, the tension of the moment fading as he reverted back to his usual form. "You know," she started with a smirk, "I think you look better like this."
Vleid grinned, brushing a hand through his now slightly disheveled hair. "I'll keep that in mind."
Alexa, still smiling softly, finally took a deep breath and began to eat the meal he had brought her. The earlier unease hadn't completely disappeared, but the weight in her chest had lightened, and for a moment, she could breathe easier. Whatever chaos was brewing in her life, she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone.
And that, in itself, was a comfort.