MOONFIRE ASCENDING

"Now," Master Theowin said, loud and clear, standing in the center of the arena.

"Call your weapon. Reach into your energy. Feel it. Let it come."

Yvaine could barely hear him over her heartbeat.

Lucien smiled. Eyes still on her.

Why were they so scary… and still so beautiful?

Stop it, Yvaine. Focus. He is not beautiful.

He's your bully.

Get a freaking grip.

Lucien didn't even move much. His hand lifted slightly—and then whoosh—a sword appeared.

Gasps spread through the students like wind.

Long, sleek, dangerous. Silver and gold shimmered down the blade, crest carved so neatly it almost looked alive.

He didn't even look at it.

Show off.

"Impressive, Lioréan," Theowin said, nodding. "Now, your turn."

He turned to Yvaine.

Her throat dried.

She nodded slowly. Tried to breathe. Closed her eyes.

Come on. Just feel your energy.

Nothing.

Instead, Lucien's face popped up in her head. Those stupid perfect cheekbones. That perfect hair.

What the hell, brain?

Focus, Theolux!

The murmurs around her started. Low, whispery, growing louder.

"Where's her weapon?"

"Is she blank?"

"She's wolfless, what did you expect?"

"Maybe she'll call a stick."

Great. Just great.

"Don't waste my time, girl," Theowin snapped.

Yvaine clenched her fists.

Then—something pulsed.

Her palm burned, just a little.

There it was.

A staff.

Wooden. Polished. Tall enough to stand with her.

She stared at it.

A staff?

Are you freaking kidding me?

She looked up at the sky like the Moon Goddess might say "just joking!"

But nope.

No one was joking.

She was standing in front of Lucien Lioréan with a piece of glowing wood.

He had a death sword and sharp muscles and she had... this.

Lucien moved first.

The swing was fast.

Yvaine ducked—well, tried to.

The sword sliced her arm.

Just a bit. Just skin.

But pain still hit. Sharp and hot.

Someone in the crowd laughed.

Zully didn't.

She grabbed Elyan's arm. Hard.

"He's going to kill her." She said.

Elyan clenched his jaw. "He's not supposed to be using full strikes."

"Yeah, well, he doesn't follow rules," Veylor muttered from behind them.

In the ring, Yvaine blinked past the pain. Staff shaking in her hands.

Lucien walked toward her slowly.

"Your move," he said, lips curled.

Yvaine held her ground. Just barely.

She raised her staff.

Okay, Moon Goddess. Let's see what this dumb stick can do.

Yvaine gripped her staff harder.

Lucien was circling her now. Calm. Smooth. Like he was just having fun.

She blocked his next hit—barely.

She remembered Gareth's voice in her head: "Feet firm, wrist loose, eyes sharp."

She tried. Gods, she really tried.

Twist, duck, hit.

Another swing.

She blocked again, but not fully—his sword brushed her side. Hot pain.

She hissed. Took a step back.

"You can't use a weapon you summoned? Pathetic."

That stupid smirk was on his face again.

The crowd laughed.

Yvaine rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up. You're not even that good."

He arched a brow. "A staff, Theolux? Really?"

"I didn't pick it," she muttered, stepping forward again.

She swung. He dodged.

Again. He blocked.

But then—she found a rhythm. Her body started moving faster. Staff hitting with better control.

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

She caught his wrist.

He stumbled. Just slightly.

Her heart jumped.

Did I just—

Another hit from him came fast. Toward her face.

She ducked just in time.

Okay. That was close.

He came again.

She blocked. Twisted. Hit.

The crowd went quiet for a second.

Was she… gaining on him?

Lucien growled under his breath.

Then—wince—her head.

No. Not again.

The pressure pressed in, like a fist on her brain.

Aura suppression.

She staggered.

Lucien didn't stop. Of course not.

"You're a weakling, Theolux," she suddenly heard.

But… his lips didn't move.

She blinked.

What?

Was he in her head?

Now he was messing with her mentally?

Her knees buckled a little. Her staff nearly dropped.

Blood dripped from her nose.

Lucien kept coming. He raised his sword.

She looked at Master Theowin.

Why wasn't he stopping this?

The students were cheering. Chanting Lucien's name like it was some damn football match.

She clenched her teeth. She was tired. Angry. Scared.

He was going to hit her—hard.

Then—

BOOM.

Lucien flew backward.

Everyone gasped.

Lucien had landed hard and flat on the ground.

Yvaine stared. Shocked.

She looked at her hand.

What... what just happened?

Did I do that?

Lucien slowly stood up. He wasn't smiling.

Yep, he definitely was going to kill her now.

He charged at her.

And then—

"Enough," Theowin's voice boomed. "The match is over."

Lucien stopped right before her.

Face still hard.

He threw the sword on the floor.

Then he stormed off.

No words.

Just fury.

Yvaine stood there, still breathing hard. Her whole body was shaking.

Theowin nodded. "Good for a start, Theolux. You may return to your seat."

She didn't speak.

She just nodded and walked slowly back to her friends.

Zully reached out. "You did good. I really thought he was going to kill you."

Yvaine let out a tired laugh. "Same."

Yvaine saw Ed, from across the arena. He waved at her.

She smiled faintly and waved back.

Then turned back to Zully.

"I need food," she muttered.

Zully chuckled. "You need a healer after Theowin dismisses the class"

____

Why the hell were they teaching dance?

Yvaine held her chest panting. She really just wanted to rest. Her shirt stuck to her back. Her hair was a mess. Her legs ached.

Dance? Really? She'd always hated it.

Her mother never said anything about dance being part of Moonfire Academy. Battle? Yes. History? Sure. But tango?

She grabbed her bottle and wiped her face, mumbling to herself, "New dumb curricular…"

"Hey, Yvaine."

She turned.

Ed.

She forced a small smile. "Hi, Ed."

He smiled back. "You look… exhausted."

"I am." She took a deep breath. "Also, I'm really sorry. About last night. Leaving you just like that… it's just—" She waved her hand. "Never mind. It's a long story."

Ed nodded. "It's okay. I get it."

He walked beside her as they left the hall.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "After that duel? Lucien was intense."

Yvaine snorted. "Lucien almost killed me."

"I know," Ed said. "That's why I did the Aetherpulse spell. You know, to knock him off."

Yvaine stopped walking.

She blinked. "Wait... what?"

Ed gave a little grin. "Aetherpulse. You know, Aethra exsilio—the invisible force spell?"

Yvaine blinked again.

That moment in the arena. Lucien flying back.

She had thought...

No.

She swore she had done it. Her powers. Finally.

But no.

It was Ed.

It was just Ed.

She didn't know if she wanted to say thank you... or scream.

Her throat felt tight.

"Yvaine?" Ed looked at her, brows pinched. "You okay?"

"I've gotta go," she said, turning quickly. "Thanks, Ed."

She didn't wait for his reply.

She just walked. Fast.

Away from the hall.

Away from him.

Away from herself.

"Yvaine?" Ed called after her. "Did I say something wrong?"

She didn't answer.

Didn't look back.

She just kept walking.

Her chest heavy.

So it wasn't her.

No magic. No breakthrough.

Still the wolfless girl.

With the Theolux name.

And nothing to show for it.