Chapter 29

VALERIA’S POV The cave was cold and damp, the air filled with the faint scent of earth and moss. It felt foreign, yet oddly comforting—a place cut off from the rest of the forest. The flickering fire Elijah had lit cast dancing shadows on the walls, illuminating the rough texture of the cave’s interior. “Elijah, why are we here?” I asked, my voice echoing slightly in the quiet space. “Because we’re about to find out what’s inside you,” he replied, crouching near the fire and poking at the flames with a stick to keep them alive. “What do you mean?” I pressed, unsure if I was more curious or apprehensive. “I mean that we need to work on your abilities,” he said, his voice steady and firm. “This morning’s session was to build your physical strength. But that’s not enough. Your internal strength—your control over your abilities—is just as important. Right now, it’s clear you have none.” I flinched at his words, my gaze dropping to the ground. The memory of the incident, the way I had hurt