Page 18

Acacia

I ducked as a branch whipped past my head, narrowly missing my face. Sweat dripped down my back as I spun, searching for my next target. The forest pulsed around me, alive with energy that both exhilarated and overwhelmed my senses.

"Focus, Acacia!" Thornix's voice cut through the chaos. "Don't just react. Feel the forest's rhythm and move with it."

Easier said than done. I gritted my teeth, trying to calm my racing heart and tap into the web of life surrounding me. For a moment, everything slowed. I could sense the trees swaying, the insects burrowing, the very earth breathing beneath my feet.

There, a flicker of movement to my left. Without thinking, I reached out with my mind, willing a nearby sapling to bend. Its slender trunk whipped forward, catching ourattacker,a cleverly disguised forest sprite, square in the chest.

"Ha!" I crowed, pumping my fist in triumph. "Did you see that?"

Thornix materialized beside me, a rare smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Impressive," he admitted. "Though you might want to work on your victory dance. It's a bit undignified for a wood nymph's mate."

I stuck my tongue out at him, too pleased with myself to care about dignity. "Please. You love my human quirks."

His expression softened, and he reached out to brush a leaf from my hair. "That I do," he murmured.

Our sprite friend, still tangled in the sapling's branches, interrupted the tender moment with a disgruntled squawk. I winced, hurrying over to help free him.

"Sorry about that, Puck," I said as I gently unwound the twigs from his leafy hair. "Got a little carried away there."

The sprite huffed, smoothing his rumpled appearance. "S'pose I should be glad," he grumbled good-naturedly. "Means you might actually survive when the real baddies come calling."

His words sent a chill down my spine, despite the warm afternoon sun. It had been two weeks since Thornix discovered Blackthorn's corruption in our territory. Two weeks of intense training, pushing my newfound abilities to their limits and beyond. I wondered if this would be enough.

Thornix must have sensed my sudden unease because he was at my side in an instant, his hand a comforting weight on my shoulder. "You're progressing faster than anyone could have expected," he assured me. "Your connection to the forest grows stronger every day."

I leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his unwavering faith in me. "I just hope it's enough," I said softly. "If Blackthorn is as powerful as you say..."

"Hey now," Puck interrupted, his earlier grumpiness forgotten. "Don't go sellin' yourself short, missy. I've been around a fair few centuries, and I ain't never seen a human take to forest magic like you have."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at the unexpected praise. "Thanks, Puck. I couldn't have done it without you guys as teachers."

Thornix squeezed my shoulder gently. "You've done the hard work yourself, Acacia. We've just shown you the way."

As touched as I was by their words, I couldn't shake the nagging fear that had been growing alongside my powers. "But what if it's not enough?" I voiced the thought that had been plaguing me. "What if I'm still just a liability when Blackthorn attacks?"

Thornix turned me to face him, his ancient eyes filled with an intensity that took my breath away. "You are not a liability," he said firmly. "You are my partner, my equal in every way that matters. The forest chose you as my mate for a reason, Acacia. Trust in that, even when you doubt yourself."

His words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing some of the tension I'd been carrying. I managed a small smile. "When did you get so wise, old man?"

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "I've had a few centuries to practice."

Puck cleared his throat loudly, reminding us of his presence. "If you two lovebirds are quite finished," he said with exaggerated impatience, "we've still got work to do. Unless you want to spend the rest of the day making goo-goo eyes at each other?"

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. "Alright, alright. Back to work it is."

We spent the rest of the afternoon running through increasingly complex drills. Thornix and Puck took turns playing the role of attackers, forcing me to think on my feet and use my growing connection to the forest in creative ways. My eyelids drooped from fatigue but yet I smiled enthusiastically.

As we made our way back to our tree-home, Thornix's hand found mine. The simple contact sent a warm tingle up my arm, a reminder of the bond we shared. It was still strange sometimes, to think of myself as a wood nymph's mate. But moments likethis, walking hand-in-hand through the twilight forest, felt more natural than anything in my old life ever had.

"You did well today," Thornix said softly as we approached our home. "Your control is improving rapidly."

I beamed at the praise, then sobered as a thought struck me. "Do you think I might be ready to help defend the territory soon? Not just our immediate home, but the borders too?"

Thornix was quiet for a long moment, his expression unreadable in the gathering darkness. Finally, he nodded. "Yes, I believe you are. Tomorrow, we'll start patrolling the outer reaches together."

My heart soared at his words. It wasn't just the idea of being useful in the fight against Blackthorn, though that was certainly part of it. It was the knowledge that Thornix truly saw me as an equal now, someone he could rely on to help protect our home.