Chapter 276: Chapter 276

The morning light slipped through the cracks in the wooden walls, soft and golden. My whole body ached. Every bone, every muscle. It felt like I’d been beaten and left in the rain. I groaned and tried to sit up, but even that felt like lifting a mountain.

"What’s wrong with me?" I muttered under my breath. I had shifted before, fought before, but never felt after. My legs trembled when I stood. My hands were cold. My chest hurt a little when I breathed.

The faint scent of herbs reached my nose, sharp, bitter, and smoky. I turned my head toward the sound of soft coughing.

Lira was there, bent over a clay pot, fanning the thick smoke that rose from it. She coughed again, almost choking, but kept at it, whispering something under her breath as the greenish smoke curled up.

"Lira," I said softly, stepping closer.

She looked up at me immediately and smiled, her eyes bright even though her face was covered in a thin layer of sweat. "Good morning, my child. You’re awake."

"Good morning," I said, rubbing my arms. "What are you making? It smells... strong."

She laughed lightly. "It does, doesn’t it? It’s a mixture of mountain herbs and moon leaves. It should calm your body a little."

I frowned and touched my shoulder. "I feel sore. Everywhere. Why?"

She put down the fan and walked toward me. "That’s the price of using the chant yesterday," she said softly. "Your body isn’t used to being forced to shift with magic. It drains the life from your muscles for a while. The herbs will fix that soon."

I blinked. "You mean... this is normal?"

She nodded. "Completely. I warned you, remember? Power must grow, not be pulled."

I sighed and gave a tired smile. "Then I’ll never let you chant for me again."

Lira laughed, the sound light and full of warmth. "Good. I don’t plan to. Today, you’ll stand on your own."

"Can I help with the herbs?" I asked, stepping forward.

She waved her hand quickly. "No, no. It’s almost done. Sit down before you fall down again."

"I’m not that weak," I protested, but even as I said it, my knees wobbled a little. I sat down on a wooden stool near the door.

She chuckled softly. "I told you so."

The smell of the herbs grew stronger, filling the hut. I watched her move gracefully, like she’d done this all her life, stirring with one hand, muttering softly, adding tiny pinches of powders and crushed leaves from small clay bowls. The way she worked made me forget my pain for a moment.

Finally, she poured the mixture into a wooden cup and turned to me. "Here," she said, "drink this while it’s warm."

I hesitated, sniffing it. "It smells like burnt grass."

"It tastes worse," she said with a teasing smile.

I laughed weakly and took a sip, and almost spat it out. "Ugh! That’s awful!"

Lira grinned. "Then it’s working."

Despite the taste, I drank it all, forcing it down my throat. The warmth spread through me first, then a tingling sensation followed. I felt it move from my stomach up to my arms and legs. Within a few minutes, the ache began to fade.

I took a deep breath. "It’s working," I whispered, almost surprised.

"Of course it is," Lira said, sitting across from me. "The forest provides all the healing we need. You only need to know how to ask."

I smiled faintly. "I think you and the forest are very good friends."

She laughed. "Maybe. Or maybe it just pities me."

We both laughed, the tension easing a little.

Afterward, we made breakfast together. It was simple: roasted root vegetables and a bit of dry corn. I helped her cut the roots while she stirred the pot over the fire. The air was filled with the scent of herbs again, this time softer and warmer.

When the food was ready, we sat outside under the shade of a tree. The morning breeze was cool, carrying the songs of distant birds. I felt peace.

As I took a bite, I noticed she wasn’t eating much. "You’re not hungry?" I asked.

"I am," she said, "but witches don’t eat too much of certain foods."

I tilted my head. "Why not?"

She smiled faintly, poking at her bread. "There are rules to what we eat, rules that keep our energy balanced. For example, we avoid too much meat because it ties the spirit too closely to the earth. We must stay light to work with magic. The heavier your spirit, the harder it is to reach the higher forces."

I frowned a little. "So witches don’t eat meat at all?"

"Some do, some don’t," she said. "But the old ways forbid it, especially when training. The spirit needs clarity. Heavy foods make your mind dull."

I nodded slowly, chewing thoughtfully. "That makes sense, I guess."

She looked at me with gentle amusement. "You see? Even your wolf knows the truth of balance. The beast part of you craves strength, but the witch part of you seeks harmony. Together, they make you whole."

Her words made me quiet for a moment. I thought about what she said, about balance. Maybe that was why I always felt torn, why I was never just one thing.

She must have seen the look on my face, because she reached over and touched my hand. "You are not cursed, Lisa," she said softly. "You are chosen. Your pain is proof of what you carry, both the gift and the burden."

I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging a little. "Sometimes it feels more like a curse." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NoveI[F]ire.net

She squeezed my hand. "It will feel that way until you learn control. When you do, you will see it differently. You were born of love between two great forces, wolf and witch. The world feared what your parents made, but the Moon Goddess blessed it."

I looked down, my voice small. "Do you really think the Goddess blessed me?"

"I don’t think," Lira said with a smile. "I know."

I stared at her in silence for a while after that. I felt calmer.

After breakfast, Lira stood and stretched. "Finish your food," she said. "We’ll begin again soon."

I groaned. "Already?" he laughed. "Did you think one day’s rest was enough for a child of power? We have a long road ahead, my dear."

I sighed, though I couldn’t help smiling. "You’re a tough teacher."

"And you’re a stubborn student," she replied, eyes twinkling. "That makes us a perfect match."