Page 197 of Barbi and the Villain

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“Clear your mind, Barbs,” he instructs. “Now picture your shield expanding.”

I do as he says, focusing on the energy shimmering around me but also making sure I keep its signature hidden. Easier said than done, though. Within moments, I crash to the ground, sweat dripping down my face as I heave uncontrollably.

“Almost there, sweet thing,” Nyk says as he leans down to pat my hair. “You’ve already done better than anyone I know.”

“But I’ve only reached the second gate,” I say in between harsh puffs of air. “It’s going to take me forever to get to the fourth.”

He smiles.

“You will do it. I know you will.”

“I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’m tired,” I complain as I slump down. I lie on my back on the grass and stare at the semi-dark sky.

We’ve been here two weeks now and the lack of light has certainly taken a toll on my body. I laugh less, I smile less, I do everything less except for sleep. When it comes to sleep, I’d just sleep the days away. But with Nykander waking me up every single day to train, it’s nearly impossible to get a moment to myself.

He does everything.

He cooks. He cleans. He takes care of the dogs. In return, all I have to do is train.

And I’m so damn tired of it.

“Can I have a break?” I glance up at him, batting my lashes flirtatiously.

He tilts his head to the side and lifts one brow.

“Open your third gate and we will talk.”

“But… How?” I cry out in frustration, flailing my limbs around.

“It’s all in here, Barbs,” he says as he takes a seat on the grass next to me and points at my head. “Clear your mind and let go of all your doubts. Trust yourself and your abilities. Now enough rolling on the grass. I want you to hit those targets with your energy.” He points toward a few wooden sticks a distance away.

“What?”

“As I said before. Picture your shield as an unlimited resource that you can draw from. Take a piece of it and aim it at the target.”

And with that, he gets up and leaves, going to spend time with the dogs.

I want to spend time with them, but I barely have time to sleep and eat.

Grumbling a few curses under my breath, I get up and position myself in front of the targets.

Closing my eyes, I picture my energy shield in my mind. Pink particles shimmer around me, surrounding me from head to toe.

Initially, it’s only a few inches thick. But I do as Nyk instructed and I push against it, willing it to become wider.

The first few tries result in failure—as the hundreds of times before it.

The shape and size of my shield does not budge. It remains steady. And when I feel like I am about to lose control of my cloaking spell, I stop altogether.

I release a deep breath as I rest my hands on top of my knees. I might not channel enough energy to hit the targets, but the mere exercise of summoning my shield while cloaking it is entirely exhausting.

Not one to give up, though, I take a five-minute break before I try again. And again. For hours on end.

Unfortunately, each exercise ends in utter failure.

Tired, sweaty, and barely in control of my own body, I slowly make my way back inside the lighthouse. I haven’t seen Nykander in a few hours, so I assume he’s inside with the dogs.

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