Chapter 272: Chapter 272

The air was still, heavy with the smell of wet grass and wildflowers. I knelt beside my mother’s tomb, tracing my fingers over her name carved in the stone. My eyes burned, but I smiled anyway.

"Mother," I whispered, "I hope you can see me. I hope you’re proud."

The wind blew lightly, brushing my hair across my face. I laughed softly, shaking my head.

"I will find my brother soon," I said quietly. "I promise. And when I do, we’ll come back together."

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The world felt peaceful, too peaceful, almost. For a moment, I wished time would stop here. Just me and her. No war, no fear, no strange powers I didn’t fully understand.

From a distance, I stared at Lira, standing beneath the willow tree, her white cloak glowing faintly in the fading light. When our eyes met, she raised her hand and waved.

I waved back, smiling a little. Then I stood and dusted off my dress.

"Let’s go," I said softly to the tomb. "I’ll be back soon."

As I walked toward Lira, the place was quiet except for the sound of birds settling in the trees. When I reached her, she gave me a kind smile.

"You’ve been here a while," she said. Her voice was gentle, like water flowing over smooth stones.

"I just needed to talk to her," I said.

Lira nodded slowly. "I understand. A mother’s spirit never really leaves."

I looked down at my hands. "I just... I want to find my brother soon."

Lira’s eyes softened, but there was something unreadable behind them. "You will find him, Lisa. But not yet."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"Because you’re not ready."

"Not ready?" I repeated, my voice rising a little. "I can shift now, Lira. I can feel my powers. I can use it. Isn’t that enough?"

She shook her head slowly, her white hair catching the light. "You’ve only scratched the surface of what you are."

She took a step closer, her gaze steady. "Power is not just about shifting or strength. It’s about what your soul can carry. Your body may change, but your spirit must be able to hold what’s inside it."

I frowned. "I don’t understand."

"You have not yet blossomed," she said softly. "Your aura should fill the air around you, strong, dominant, untamed. Even without shifting, those near you should feel your presence. But right now, your power sleeps."

I folded my arms. "It doesn’t feel like it’s sleeping. Sometimes I feel like it’s trying to tear through me."

"That is because it’s unbalanced," she said. "It’s like a river trying to find its course. If you don’t let it flow the right way, it will drown you."

I looked away, biting my lip. My wrist ached again, the same spot that had been burning since last night. I unwrapped the piece of cloth tied around it. The skin beneath was red, angry-looking, like it had been scorched from the inside.

Lira’s eyes fell on it, and she frowned. "There," she said quietly. "It’s already trying to break through. You are forcing it before its time."

"I thought I was controlling it," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

She shook her head. "Control doesn’t come from holding it back. It comes from becoming one with it. If you fight it, it will turn on you."

I looked down at my wrist again. "Then what do I do?"

"You must let it bloom," she said simply.

She nodded. "Your power is like a flower hidden under ice. I can help you thaw it, but once it blooms, there’s no going back. You’ll never be ordinary again."

I smiled faintly. "I stopped being ordinary the moment I was able to unleash my powers." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

That made her laugh softly, the sound warm and calm. Then she stepped back, just a little, and bowed her head.

"Lisa of the Blood Moon," she said, her voice formal now, reverent even. "I offer myself to you, as your guide, your servant, and your protector."

I blinked, startled. "Lira, what are you doing?"

She went down on one knee, lowering her head. "Please accept me as your people."

I gasped and stepped forward. "Lira, no, get up. You shouldn’t kneel to me. You’re the one teaching me. I should be bowing to you."

She looked up, smiling gently. "No, child. You don’t understand who you are."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You are the rarest being this world has ever seen," she said softly. "Half witch. Half wolf. The blood of two ancient lines runs through you. You are what the prophecies whispered of, the balance between light and wildness."

My mouth fell open. "But that shouldn’t warrant you kneeling before me."

She smiled again. "There is hierarchy in our world, Lisa."

"You are the highest being in this realm, Lisa."

I shook my head slowly. "No... I don’t want anyone to bow. I just want peace. I just want to find my brother."

"And you will," Lira said gently. "But first, you must survive what is growing inside you."

I looked down again at my wrist. "What if I can’t?"

She stood and came closer, placing her hands lightly on my shoulders. Her touch was warm, steady. "You can. Because you were born for this."

I blinked, trying to keep the tears from falling. "I don’t feel ready."

"Power never comes when we’re ready," she said softly. "It comes when we’re called."

I stared at her for a long moment. "And if I don’t answer that call?"

"Then it will destroy you," she said simply.

The wind picked up again, making the leaves around us whisper. The light dimmed, and the first stars began to appear in the sky.

I took a deep breath. "Then help me, Lira. Help me bloom."

Her eyes glowed faintly, like silver fire. "I will."

She stepped back again, raising her hands slightly. The air shifted; I could feel it. The world grew heavier, quieter. Even the crickets stopped their song.

"Close your eyes," she said.

"Now breathe," she whispered. "Feel the earth beneath you. Feel the moon above. Let them speak to you."