Page 74 of A Story of Sinners

“Very good. Your control is massively improving. Now, lift the barrels and start again.”

So, I did. Over and over, we repeated the exercise, tendrils streaming in and out of my hands as I knocked over the barrels, then placed them upright. We practiced for hours, until my brow was soaked with sweat and my head was faint with exhaustion.

I was close to keeling over when an unidentifiable expression flickered over Eulalia’s face, something akin to anxiety. “We are going to try something new. I don’t want to do this, but we must.”

I raised a brow, my chest heaving as I groaned. “Can we be finished?”

“No,” she stated simply. “Do you remember that day in the clearing when you absorbed my coven’s spells?”

I nodded.

“I believe you have the capability to steal magic from others, and we need to try. I’m going to throw spells at you, and you are going to absorb them and attempt to steal my magic.”

I paused for a moment, processing her request. “Why don’t we not. I—"

Eulalia threw the first spell before I could even finish speaking, and it hit me square in the chest, plunging my body beneath the water. I quickly rose and shot her a scathing glare.

“That was not all right, Lali.”

She shrugged. “It was just a minor spell, one to keep you from arguing. Now, brace yourself.”

I stood, spreading my feet wide and bending my knees, preparing for her next attack. The water hadn’t even left my lungs when the next spell was hurled in my direction.

My palm lifted, and a golden light beamed, swallowing the spell whole. I stopped to smile at her, opening my mouth to shout in celebration, but I was cut off as yet another spell hurled my way. Spell after spell rushed in my direction, and my magic absorbed each shock wave. A small bubble, like the one in the clearing, formed around me. A layer of protection.

Eulalia heaved with the massive amount of magic she threw, still uttering words beneath her breath. She momentarily halted to shout, “Now steal my magic!”

What? No.

Her spells kept coming, and my magic and I both grew irritated. By the time Eulalia was doubled over with fatigue, my magic had retaliated, coming at her in vicious tendrils and wrapping around her arms.

A purple light spilled from her chest, and I snapped free of my haze, tugging on the golden tendrils and withdrawing them. I couldn’t see Eulalia anymore, because she was crippled on the ground behind the fountain. Water sloshed around my legs as I bolted in her direction, my heart racing with worry. I climbed over the stone fountain wall, only to find Eulalia curled into a ball and coughing.

“What is wrong with you?” I shouted.

Laughter poured from her lips as she climbed to her hands and knees, meeting my eyes. Pride shined in hers. “We did it! We broke through to another power.”

A cough followed her claim, and I glared down at my friend who was willing to risk life and limb in the name of training. I shook my head at her, and then offered my hand. Eulalia took it and pulled herself up, stumbling in the process. She threw her arm over my shoulder and groaned.

“All right. I think training is finished for the day.”

Thank the gods.

Gabriella came skipping around the corner right on cue, but she halted at the sight of us. “What is wrong with the two of you? It looks like you both faced down a battering ram.”

I chuckled as Gabriella grabbed ahold of Eulalia first, leaving me to fend for myself as she fawned and fussed over the witch. “You’re the instructor—why do you look like you’ve been attacked?”

The two were the least likely of friends, but ever since we’d come to the Dragon Lands, they’d only grown closer. There was something about Gabriella, so lighthearted and filled with joy, that would soften the heart of even the most hardened individual.

“Eulalia decided to get creative today; something we won’t be doing again,” I answered with a glare. I was putting my foot down. There was no reason for Eulalia to put herself at risk like that again. Her newly acquired tendency towards self-destruction was worrisome. Something haunted her, and I intended to find out.

“It’s getting dark,” Gabriella stated, and I looked around, noticing the slowly sinking sun. We’d been at it long enough to miss the daily dragon flight. “I was hoping we could go to one of the taverns and have dinner.”

Eulalia looked over her shoulder at me, the sides of her eyes wrinkling as she took in my haggard state. “Let’s just have dinner brought to Dahlia’s room.”

I stepped forward, nearly stumbling, and gripped Gabriella’s other shoulder, using her for support. “My room,” I said breathlessly as a wave of dizziness overcame me. “We can have dinner in my room.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Gabriella’s face, but it was quick to vanish when she noted our slow, pained movements. She wrapped one arm around me, the other around Eulalia, and held us tightly to her sides.

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