Making progress

I woke up with a sharp gasp, my mind jolting to awareness, but for the first time since starting training with Elira, I felt… good. No aching muscles, no soreness, no feeling like I'd been hit by a cart.

My body, which had been screaming in agony for days, was strangely calm and rejuvenated.

I blinked, adjusting to the dim light in the room, and as my vision cleared, I saw Elira standing nearby, her arms crossed, watching me with a satisfied smirk.

"You've been out for hours," she said, her voice as sharp as ever, but there was a glint of something in her golden eyes. "I had to patch you up with a bit of magic. If you're going to faint, you better be prepared to recover quickly. We don't have time for weakness."

I groaned and sat up, stretching my arms and feeling a strange sense of relief in my muscles. I wasn't just better I felt stronger.

She must've used some sort of healing spell, one that had done more than just mend me; it made me feel alive again, as if I could go through another day of her hellish training. 

But today wasn't a physical battle. I had to face Amara next, and though it wasn't as brutal as Elira's relentless drills, reading under her guidance was another mountain to climb. At least I wouldn't be running laps or holding stances until I collapsed. 

Elira's voice broke my thoughts. "Don't think you're off the hook for tomorrow. I expect you to be ready. If you can't keep up, there's no point in training you."

I nodded, forcing myself out of bed. I could hear the steady beat of my heart in my chest, the calmness of my breathing. It felt strange to feel this good after days of endless torment.

Elira's magic was no doubt powerful, but she'd never tell me what she'd used or how she'd done it. She didn't coddle or explain anything just barked commands and watched me fall, again and again. 

As I prepared for the day, I took a deep breath. I didn't have to worry about Elira for now. My challenge today was sitting through another reading lesson with Amara.

The strict, cold woman had been drilling the basics of reading into me for days, and while I was finally starting to make sense of it, her sharp corrections still stung every time I made a mistake.

I made my way down to the lecture room, the familiar hallway feeling more like a walk to an execution.

I couldn't help but dread the hours ahead, not because of the physical toll but because every single word on the page was a reminder of how little I knew about this world, how much I still had to learn.

The lecture room was a grand space, the walls lined with tall, ornate bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling. Sunlight streamed through the wide windows, casting golden light over the polished wood floors.

At the far end of the room, Amara stood near a large desk, her silver hair perfectly pulled into a tight bun. Her cold blue eyes met mine the moment I entered, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"You're late," she said, not even looking up from the book she was holding. Her voice was as sharp and unforgiving as usual, like ice cutting through the air.

"Sorry," I muttered, walking over to the table where my lessons were laid out. I couldn't argue with her. There was no excuse she'd accept. 

Amara finally looked at me, her gaze assessing. "You look better today. I assume Elira worked her magic on you again." She didn't wait for an answer, instead gesturing for me to sit. "Let's begin."

I sat down, pulling the book closer, the weight of the unfamiliar language pressing on my mind. The pages were filled with words I could barely make sense of, the letters jumbled and confusing.

Reading here was nothing like the fluid ease I remembered from my past life. I used to be able to pick up a book and just understand it. Now, every word felt like a riddle.

"Start here," Amara said, pointing to the beginning of the text.

I nodded, squinting at the page. "The… mmmagic of the—" I stumbled over the words, the sounds awkward and foreign on my tongue.

Amara's sigh was almost immediate. "No, again. You're rushing. Focus on each word, each letter. If you can't read properly, you'll never understand magic."

Her words were harsh, but I swallowed my pride and tried again. This time, I slowed down, letting each syllable fall out with deliberate care. "The… magic of the ancients was… found in the roots of…" I paused, struggling to make sense of the next word.

"Elements," Amara said sharply. "The word is elements."

I clenched my jaw and repeated it. "Elements."

"Good. Continue."

I read on, stumbling through the text with halting pauses, Amara's corrections coming swiftly whenever I made a mistake. Her tone never softened, and each time she pointed out my errors, I felt that familiar frustration building inside me.

Back in my old life, reading had been easy. I hadn't even needed to think about it. But here, in this world, everything was different. Even something as simple as reading felt like an insurmountable task.

But slowly, piece by piece, I began to understand. The words stopped looking like a mess of symbols and started to make sense. My pace quickened slightly, and by the end of the lesson, I had managed to read an entire paragraph with only a few corrections.

I glanced up at Amara, expecting her to criticize my performance, but instead, she simply nodded.

"You're improving," she said, though her voice lacked any warmth. "But you're still far from proficient. Don't let small victories make you complacent."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I know. But I'm getting there."

Amara raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze flicking over me. "Determination is admirable, but it's not enough. You must be disciplined. Magic requires control, both of the mind and body. If you can't control your own thoughts, you'll never control your magic."

Her words struck a chord. I had heard similar sentiments from Elira, though Amara's approach was more intellectual, more focused on understanding rather than brute force. They were both right, though.

I couldn't just rely on strength or willpower alone. I had to master myself before I could master the magic.

As the lesson went on, Amara began to share small pieces of information about the world. It wasn't much just tidbits about the history of magic and the ancient civilizations that had harnessed its power but it was enough to make me realize how vast this world truly was. 

"The ancients believed that magic was born from the elements themselves," Amara said, her voice taking on a slightly more animated tone as she spoke of history.

"Fire, water, earth, and air. They studied them, controlled them, and used their power to shape the world around them. But that power came at a cost. Magic is not limitless, and those who overstep their bounds often pay a heavy price."

I listened intently, the words sinking into my mind. She rarely shared anything personal, but when it came to the history of magic, I could see a flicker of passion in her otherwise cold demeanor.

By the end of the lesson, I was exhausted, mentally drained from the effort of focusing so intensely. But for the first time since I'd started, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was learning. Slowly, yes, but I was learning.

Amara stood, gathering her materials. "That's enough for today. You did… better than expected." Her voice was still distant, but there was a hint of something softer beneath it.

"Thanks," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. I felt like my brain had run a marathon, but it was worth it. I had survived another lesson under Amara's icy gaze, and I was getting closer to understanding this new world.

As she left the room, I sat there for a moment, letting the silence settle in. I had a long way to go, but for the first time in days, I felt like I was making progress.