Page 52 of Rise of the Siren Queen
“So, this barrier problem made the cave visible?” I furrowed my brow, still confused. “And this Astralis is a festival of sorts?”
She nodded, her expression brightening as she continued. “Yes, but it’s more than just a celebration. It’s a time when our magic is at its most potent. The tides swell, the full moon rises, and we engage in ritualistic ceremonies to invoke the goddess’s blessings. It symbolizes the balance between light and dark, the ever-changing cycles of nature and the ocean.”
A sense of awe washed over me as I listened to her describe the significance of the Astralis. “And here? Is that where it takes place?”
“Precisely,” she confirmed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “The Moon Pond is the heart of the Astralis’ celebration. It is said that the waters here reflect the deepest truths of our souls. It’s a sacred space where we connect with our heritage and our goddess.”
I took a moment to absorb her words. “And somehow, I stumbled into this? Into your world?”
“Yes.”
The allure of their magic and history pulled at me, igniting a curiosity I hadn’t expected. Yet, even for a moment longer, the thought of becoming entangled in her realm sent a shiver down my spine.
She saw my unease and spoke before I could dwell on it further. “I think that’s enough truth for today. You need to learn about your powers and control them, so we should get started on that.”
Her tone shifted, adopting a more authoritative stance that irritated and intrigued me. I had expected to delve deeper into the mysteries of her world. Instead, she was redirecting our focus. The urgency in her voice clarified that controlling my powers was not just a curiosity. They were a necessity.
“Right,” I replied, attempting to regain my composure. “Training, then?”
“Yes, training,” she confirmed, the corners of her lips lifting slightly in a half-smile. “Let’s see what you can do. I will show you, and then you try.”
“It sounds easy enough.” I cocked a grin, aiming for playfulness. A part of me wanted to impress her, show her I wasn’t just some clueless hybrid fumbling with powers beyond my understanding.
Her smile faltered, and her tone grew sharper. “It isn’t. You need enough control to not get exposed. This isn’t a game.”
Her bossy tone stirred something in me, a strange mix of irritation and excitement. The way she commanded the situation made me want to prove her wrong, to show her just how capable I was. Truth be told, I had been playing with these powers in her absence. Quietly, when she wasn’t around, I pushed myself, testing the limits, seeing what I could do.
Without waiting for her next move, I stepped forward, raising my hand, focusing on the water in front of us. The surface rippled as I pulled, drawing it upward in a swirling, controlled spiral. The effort burned, but I kept my expression calm, pretending it was easier than it actually was.
Her eyes widened for a split second before she masked it with her usual composure.
“Not bad,” she said, though I could hear the slight edge in her voiceas if she hadn’t expected that.
I dropped my hand, letting the water fall back into the pond. “Told you it sounded easy enough.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“Don’t get cocky. This was a simple demonstration.”
I leaned in slightly, my grin fading into something more serious. “Then show me what you can do.”
Her expression softened for a moment, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us, but just as quickly, she straightened up, slipping back into that regal, distant demeanor. “Fine. But remember, Adrian, control isn’t just about power, it’s about restraint.”
I watched as she lifted her hand with a smooth, deliberate motion. The moment her fingers twitched, the surface of the pond responded. It wasn’t just a ripple or a disturbance, was as if the entire body of water answered her call. The water vibrated with life, swirling and shifting as if stirred by an invisible force. In an instant, the pond surged upwards, forming a towering wall that defied gravity.
The wall was massive, easily twice my height, and as it stood there, shimmering in the sunlight, it was as though the very essence of the ocean had summoned and shaped. The clarity of it was mesmerizing, pure liquid frozen in motion, yet never still. Droplets danced along the edges, breaking off into a fine mist before rejoining the body of water with seamless fluidity. The wall didn’t just rise, it loomed, strong and unyielding, as if she could hold it in place for eternity.
I sensed her power in the air, palpable and overwhelming. She wasn’t struggling with it, no sign of strain on her face, no tightening of her muscles. Instead, her hand hovered, steady and controlled, as the wall stood, motionless and silent. The water itself seemed to bend to her will, obeying without question, held together not by physical force but by her sheer command.
It wasn’t just a show of power, was control, precision, mastery.Every drop seemed to be exactly where it needed to be, forming a perfect, solid structure. I couldn’t help but compare it to what I had done just moments before, barely summoning a small column of water. She had raised an entire wall with nothing more than a flick of her wrist.
The sun glinted off the water, making it sparkle with a warm light. I saw the pond’s depths reflected in the water, as the light refracted through it like glass. It glowed with the potential for destruction, yet remained perfectly still, as if waiting for her next command. The power radiated from it, raw, untamed, and yet completely at her mercy.
I swallowed hard, forcing down the unwelcome flicker of awe before it could crack through my carefully controlled exterior.
Power.Absolutepower.
She wielded it effortlessly, bending the water to her will as if the ocean itself existed for no other reason than to obey her command. There was no hesitation, no struggle, just sheer, terrifying mastery.
