The silence between them was thick, tension hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. The dark prince stood still, his sharp eyes tracking every subtle movement she made. Serenya's heart beat steadily in her chest, her mind sharp and focused. She had to get through to him.
The faint pulse of magic still crackled between them, flickering like a candle's flame in the wind. Serenya stood before him, watching his every reaction, as if the very air around them was charged with the promise of something dangerous.
Her voice broke the silence. "You think magic is only about power. It's not. Power is nothing without control."
Prince Vraevyn narrowed his gaze but didn't respond.
"Control is what separates those who wield magic with precision from those who merely allow it to consume them," Serenya continued, pacing in front of him with measured steps. "Without it, magic is unpredictable. It is like a wild beast, clawing at the edges of your mind, demanding to be released, to be used at every moment. You cannot simply throw it out of you, hoping it will hit your target. It will destroy everything in its path, including you."
She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words sink in. His face betrayed nothing, but Serenya could see the flicker of curiosity in his eyes, the slight tension in his shoulders. That was a start.
"Magic isn't just a force," Serenya continued. "It's a reflection of your emotions, your willpower, your intent. Every time you lose control, every time your anger, fear, or hatred takes over, your magic will go wild. It's a reflection of your inner chaos. And that chaos will cause destruction, not power."
Serenya stopped in front of him, meeting his piercing gaze. "But true power comes from knowing when to let go, and when to hold back. To unleash magic when needed, but to reign it in when it's not. You can't let it run wild. You need to make it *submit* to your will."
Vraevyn's lips twisted into a smirk, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "You make it sound so easy," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Like I can just command it and expect it to obey."
Serenya's eyes narrowed. "It's not about commanding," she said. "It's about understanding. Understanding yourself, your power, and knowing *when* to use it."
She stepped closer to him, her voice dropping to a whisper. "When I say control, I mean more than just the ability to hold your magic back. I mean the ability to understand your own emotions, your own impulses, and to *choose* when and where to act."
Vraevyn's gaze darkened slightly, his magic still humming with anticipation. She could feel the flicker of danger in the air, but she didn't flinch. She was used to the dark prince's dangerous aura.
"Most people think magic is about raw strength," she continued. "But strength without control is like a sword with no hilt—it's useless. A true master of magic can wield it like a scalpel, cutting only what is needed, leaving the rest untouched."
Serenya took a deep breath, her gaze softening slightly. "You have the power, Vraevyn. You have more power in you than most could ever dream of. But right now, it's like an uncontrollable storm, wreaking havoc on everything around you. If you want to learn how to truly control it, you have to learn to control *yourself* first."
She gave him a moment to process her words, watching his expression shift ever so slightly. He was no longer smirking, no longer dismissing her. There was a flicker of understanding, a hint of realization in his eyes. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
"We'll start slow," she said. "I'm not asking you to master it immediately, but I want you to try something. Focus on your magic. Try to feel it, understand it. Feel the pull, the tension, the way it vibrates against your skin. But don't let it take control. *You* are in charge, not your emotions. Not your power. You are in command."
Vraevyn tilted his head slightly, as though considering her words, and for the first time, he didn't immediately dismiss her. The tension in the air seemed to shift. A slight change, but a change nonetheless.
Serenya took another step back, her eyes never leaving him. "Let's begin," she said softly.
She raised her hand, and the air around them seemed to crackle. She summoned a small sphere of light, glowing brightly in her palm, its light a sharp contrast against the shadows surrounding them. The light pulsed gently, a quiet thrum of power.
"This is control," Serenya said, her voice steady and calm. "Control isn't about brute force. It's about balance. You don't need to overpower your magic, you need to work with it."
She allowed the sphere to float in the air, its light flickering softly. She let it hover, shifting ever so slightly in the air, her eyes still focused on Vraevyn. "Now, I want you to focus. Reach out with your senses. Feel your magic. Understand the way it wants to move. But don't give in to it. Don't let it consume you."
Vraevyn stood still, his gaze locked on the floating sphere, his eyes narrowing slightly as he concentrated. His magic thrummed softly around him, but he didn't release it yet. He seemed to be testing it, feeling it like a wild animal sniffing at the edge of a trap.
Serenya watched him closely. She could see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, the way his magic quivered with uncertainty. It was a delicate balance, and it wasn't easy. But that was the point. Control wasn't supposed to be easy. It was supposed to be earned.
After a long moment, Vraevyn finally took a breath, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. The tension in his magic eased, though it didn't dissipate entirely. Serenya's lips curved into a small smile.
"Good," she said. "You've started."
It wasn't much, but it was progress. For someone like Prince Vraevyn, progress was hard to come by. And Serenya knew that if he could master this, the rest would follow. Control over his magic would give him more power than he could ever imagine.
"Remember," she added, her voice firm but gentle, "it's not about being perfect. It's about understanding the magic. Understanding yourself."
She let the sphere fade away into nothing, her eyes still on him. "Now, you try."
Vraevyn didn't speak, but the slight nod he gave her was all the confirmation she needed.
The lesson had begun.