Chapter 157 – Testing the Bond
The sun rose high over the Hollow, bathing the town in a crisp, golden light that reflected off the newly polished walls of the council hall and the bustling streets below. Kael stood in the training grounds, his crimson eyes fixed on Azhara as she hesitated at the edge of the sparring field. Around them, Fenrik, Thalos, and Rogan observed from the sidelines, their expressions cautious yet curious.
"Relax," Kael called softly, his tone carrying both authority and reassurance. "There's no need to fight anyone today. We're testing what you can do, not who you can defeat."
Azhara shifted her weight nervously. Her small horns caught the morning sun, casting thin, jagged shadows across her striking red skin. Her black hair framed her face in soft waves, but her white eyes betrayed the inner turmoil she felt. "I… I don't want to hurt anyone," she said quietly, her voice trembling.
Kael stepped forward, raising a hand. "Good. That's exactly what I want to know. You don't need to hurt anyone to be useful. Let's see what you're capable of."
He gestured to a series of dummies and training equipment laid out across the field. "First, focus on me."
Azhara inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. A faint glow began to emanate from her body, a soft red light that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. Kael felt a warmth spreading through his muscles, his senses sharpening. The soreness from yesterday's sparring with Thalos and Fenrik dulled slightly, his energy levels increasing.
"I feel it…" Kael murmured. "Your power—it enhances my strength and heals fatigue." He flexed experimentally, surprised at how quickly his muscles responded to the invisible push Azhara provided.
Fenrik, leaning against a tree, frowned. "Interesting… I expected more raw destructive magic. Not… this."
Thalos nodded slowly. "Supportive abilities can be just as lethal, if used correctly. Dulling pain, enhancing magic… it changes the dynamics of the battlefield."
Rogan crossed his arms, looking skeptical but intrigued. "Still… she's a daemon. I don't like leaving this in her hands. What if she decides to switch sides?"
Kael shook his head, his crimson eyes fixed on Azhara. "She's proven her intentions. She saved me from the rift. Her powers are tied to her willingness to help, not her origin. That's why I trust her."
Azhara opened her eyes, seeing Kael watching her. She bowed her head slightly, a flush rising to her cheeks. "I… I don't want to fight. I just… want to help, without killing."
Kael smiled faintly. "Then that's exactly what you'll do."
The testing continued. Kael asked Azhara to focus on each council member in turn, amplifying their magic, easing fatigue, and dulling the sting of minor injuries from sparring exercises. With Thalos, she enhanced his sword strikes, allowing him to move with fluid precision. Fenrik's raw brute strength became sharper and more controlled under her subtle influence. Rogan, the most hesitant of the three, flexed experimentally and smirked. "Well… I'll admit. This is useful. I feel like I could lift twice my weight without effort."
Kael watched carefully, noting how she adjusted her energy to each person. "Your abilities… they scale with intent and focus," he said. "You can enhance physical strength, sharpen reflexes, dull pain, even boost magical output. And all without causing harm directly."
Azhara exhaled, a faint smile on her lips. "I… I didn't know I could do all that. I just… felt I had to help somehow."
Fenrik exchanged a glance with Thalos. "She's… docile enough," Fenrik said slowly. "Not a fighter by nature, more like… a buffer, a shield in spirit if not in body. Could be a valuable ally."
Thalos nodded. "Agreed. But we need to see her reaction under real stress. Training dummies and controlled sparring are one thing. The battlefield is another."
Rogan remained silent for a moment, then shrugged reluctantly. "Even if I don't fully trust her, Kael's judgment is clear. She saved him once. She isn't the threat here; fear of her is the threat."
Kael stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Azhara's shoulder. "You don't need to worry about that. I make the decisions here, not them. You stay by my side, and you'll be safe. But your power… your purpose… it is to support, not to fight. That's why you were summoned. That's your gift."
Azhara's white eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "I… I will try. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."
By midday, the training had concluded. Azhara's powers were measured, understood, and acknowledged by all present. She had proved her usefulness without inflicting harm, and her reluctance to fight became a point of admiration rather than concern.
Thalos approached Kael as the others packed up their gear. "She's… different," he said, glancing at Azhara. "Not what I expected. But I respect your choice to let her stay. She isn't a threat, not yet, and she seems… genuine."
Fenrik grunted. "I'll admit, I was wary. But seeing her work… she has control, discipline. She knows her place. That counts for something."
Rogan nodded slowly, his arms crossed. "Even if I don't like it, I can see her value. She's not here to dominate, only to help. Kael's decision stands, and I'll respect it. But she earns her keep every day."
Kael exhaled, relief washing over him. "That's all I ask. Respect is earned, not demanded. And she has proven herself."
Azhara approached him cautiously, her small frame trembling slightly. "Thank you… for trusting me."
Kael's crimson eyes softened. "You earned it. Trust is a choice, not a gift."
Lyria stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Kael's waist. "I think she's going to fit in just fine," she said with a smile. "She's exactly what the Hollow needs, and you've shown she has the right heart."
Kael nodded, glancing over the training ground where his people were beginning to resume normal activities. "Yes… exactly what we need. And exactly what I need, too. A reliable ally I can trust."
Azhara bowed her head, eyes flickering toward the ground, a blush rising to her cheeks. "I… I won't let you down. I promise."
Kael's lips curved into a faint smile. "I know."
The three men—Thalos, Fenrik, and Rogan—watched quietly as the bond solidified before them. Even though their instincts screamed caution, they all felt it: Azhara was not a weapon to fear. She was a tool to protect, to aid, to amplify the strength of those around her—and under Kael's guidance, she would be a force for the Hollow's survival, not its destruction.
By the end of the day, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the Hollow. Kael stood next to Lyria, watching Azhara leave the training grounds under Thalos's guidance, her movements careful and deliberate. The council members lingered nearby, discussing her capabilities in quiet tones, all of them nodding slowly in acknowledgment.
Kael exhaled, feeling a rare sense of calm. "She's going to do well here," he said softly.
Lyria leaned close, resting her head against his shoulder. "And so are we," she whispered, her hand finding his. "Together."
Kael's eyes met hers, a flicker of warmth breaking through the weariness that had settled in his soul. "Together," he echoed.
And for the first time in weeks, he felt like the Hollow's future—while still uncertain—was in capable hands.