The next morning came with golden streaks of sunlight seeping through the trees, and the scent of morning dew still lingered in the air. Lif, Mary, and Jenna stood in front of Mary and Jenna's parents, all packed and ready.
"So you three are going deeper into the forest?" their mom asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah," Lif nodded. "I want to train Jenna a bit. She's been curious about how to channel her mana."
Their father shot Lif a sharp glance, electricity crackling subtly around his fingertips. Lif, unfazed but mentally bracing himself, thought, Totally a threat.
Their mother smiled warmly, winking at Mary. "Alright, but be careful."
As they turned to leave, their father groaned, rubbing his forehead. "My beautiful daughters... going deeper into the woods... with a human."
"Be grateful," their mom teased. "At least we'll have gorgeous grandkids."
"Don't say that!" he snapped back as she giggled.
Cut to the forest. Birds chirped, and the trees rustled as a gentle wind blew through the leaves. Mary sat on a patch of moss, watching as Lif stood in front of Jenna, who looked a mix of nervous and excited.
"Alright, Jenna," Lif began. "So here's the thing. Hollowborns aren't exactly incapable of using mana. You still have it, but since you don't have a constellation, you can't channel it outwards. But you can still channel it inwards—into your muscles, your senses, your strength."
Jenna blinked. "Wait... really?"
"Yeah. My friend Liora taught me that actually—"
Mary interrupted, trying to sound casual. "By Liora, you mean a normal girl, right? Just not to get confused with the princess."
Lif chuckled. "No, that Liora. The princess. We're... really close."
Jenna's jaw dropped. "You're friends with the princess?!"
Mary bit her thumb, glancing at the ground. Friends with the princess? What chance do I have now...
Lif continued. "Back to mana. I can sense it in you, Jenna. It's potent. You just have to guide it. Breathe deep, focus on your core, and let it flood your limbs."
Jenna sat down and closed her eyes, trying to follow Lif's calm, firm instructions.
"When you feel something," Lif said, his voice dropping a bit as he sensed her energy, "hit that tree."
She stood, still nervous, eyes closed. She lifted her leg and kicked.
There was a loud crack. Jenna gasped and stumbled back, falling to the ground.
"Is it gone?! Was that my leg?!" she cried, half-terrified.
Lif laughed lightly. "Nah. Open your eyes."
She looked—and gasped. The tree had a wide split down the center, nearly halfway through. Her leg was fine.
"That was... about 35% of my mana," she mumbled.
"Not bad," Lif nodded. "You're new to this, but trust me... once you learn how to control it fully... you'll be able to pull off stuff like this."
Lif crouched, then launched into the air. He spun, then unleashed a perfect airborne kick—his heel cleaving through another tree like paper. As it split and began to fall, Lif landed cleanly beside them.
Jenna and Mary stared at him, speechless.
Far away, at the Herene palace.
The king stood outside Liora's room, knocking softly. "It's your birthday, darling. You shouldn't be in there all day..."
Silence.
He sighed. "When you're ready, we'll be in the throne room."
Inside, Liora sat on her bed, staring at the wall.
He lied to me... he said he was a hollowborn.
Her fingers clenched her sheets. I know nothing about him... but he knows so much about me. Why was he even still in Herene that night? Why were the guards after him? Why was he coming from the dungeon? Why was he so... hurt?
Back in the throne room, her father entertained a few noble guests. They laughed and sipped wine.
"So, who will your daughter marry?" one asked teasingly.
"That's her choice," the king smiled.
Suddenly, the doors burst open. Liora strode in, eyes focused and burning.
The nobles immediately nudged their sons forward, smiling nervously. But Liora didn't even glance at them.
"Dad."
"Yes, baby?"
"What happened to Lif?"
He blinked. "He left. I told you that, remember?"
"Yeah... he left. Not the day you said he did though. What happened really?"
"Nothing." His smile faltered.
"Don't lie to me."
He sighed. "We thought... there was a chance he forced you to come to the palace to use you. Maybe to steal something. I mean—you never got close to anyone, and suddenly you were attached to him. We were worried he had... done something."
He reached to touch her shoulder, but she shoved it away.
"We locked him up... in the dungeon. Just to be sure he wont hurt you again."
"Hurt me?!" she snapped. "He saved me."
She stormed out.
Back in the forest, the sun had started to dip. Lif was panting, sitting with his back to a tree. Mary was sweaty and out of breath beside him. Jenna, however, was practically glowing with excitement.
"So?" Lif asked, still catching his breath. "Did you get it now?"
Jenna nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Watch this—"
She channeled her mana and launched a punch into a tree, leaving a small crater in the bark before immediately falling backward, groaning.
"Yeah, alright. That's enough showing off," Lif laughed. "Let's get you home."
They began walking back as the sunset cast long shadows through the trees.
As they returned, their father stood on the porch, arms crossed, eyes narrowing at Jenna's flushed cheeks and Lif's matching fatigue. His jaw tightened.
He said nothing.
Later that night, they were inside, the soft glow of lanterns lighting the room. Lif laid down on the ground, arms crossed behind his head.
"You can sleep with me if you want," Mary offered, trying to sound casual.
Lif smiled. "Nah. Don't worry. I'm good here."
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly.
"Goodnight, Lif."
"Goodnight, Mary."