Upon returning to the campsite, Adrian and Lilith found Medea in the middle of a fierce solo practice. She moved gracefully, her sword cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.

Dark energy crackled at her fingertips as she hurled bolts of it into the space ahead, each blast landing with a resounding crack against an invisible target.

She radiated power, and the air around her was charged with intensity.

As soon as Medea noticed their arrival, she didn't miss a beat.

With a flick of her wrist, she fired a dark energy dagger straight at Adrian. The attack came swift and sudden, the dagger whistling through the air, but Adrian's reflexes had sharpened from his training.

In an instant, he unsheathed his sword, deflecting the projectile just before it could reach him.

Medea's eyes glinted with approval. "Good... let's pick up from where we stopped."

"But we haven't eaten," Lilith interjected with a playful pout on her lips. "He hasn't eaten."

"And whose fault is that?" Medea replied sharply, her expression as cold as ever.

Lilith didn't have a chance to answer when Medea continued. "Instead of eating, you two decided to go on a cat-and-mouse chase until he was inside your cathole."

Adrian coughed, barely suppressing a laugh.

He knew how easily Medea could push Lilith's buttons and vice versa. He knew that this banter would escalate if he didn't step in. "It's okay, Lilith. I'll be fine. Just another round of training. Maybe you can give me a massage afterward." He winked, hoping to distract her.

Lilith's eyes sparkled with mischief, a small smile curling at her lips. "Okay then," she purred. "Do you want me joining you so I can also get a massage afterward?"

Adrian chuckled, nodding. "Sure."

Both turned toward Medea, who stood like a seasoned instructor, arms crossed, assessing them with the air of someone not in the mood for games. "Are you done with all that?" Medea asked.

Adrian nodded, straightening up, while Lilith lazily stretched before offering a mock salute. "At your command, Captain."

Medea gave a small, almost imperceptible smile before regaining her composure. "Good. Let's begin."

She led them to a quieter part of the clearing, where the grass was soft underfoot and the gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and earth. Medea sat down cross-legged, gesturing for them to do the same.

Adrian and Lilith followed suit, sitting side by side as Medea positioned herself in front of them. Her posture was straight and rigid, her eyes closed in concentration.

"Today, we focus on meditation," Medea began in a calm but commanding manner. "You've got power, Adrian. Both Lilith's and mine flow through you now that you've signed the contracts, but you need to learn to control it—especially under pressure. So try and focus on your breathing first."

And so they began the meditation exercise.

After being still for thirty seconds, Lilith leaned over to Adrian and whispered something in a curious, almost teasing voice. "You feel anything yet?"

Adrian tried not to laugh but gave her a nudge to focus. Medea, without opening her eyes, simply said, "Focus, Lilith." Her tone wasn't harsh, but there was no room for debate.

Adrian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

The world around him began to fade away as he centered his thoughts, focusing on the rhythm of his breathing.

He could hear the faint rustling of leaves, the distant chirp of birds, and the soft crackling of the fire behind him. He let the sensations ground him, pulling him deeper into his own mind.

Minutes passed, and for a while, nothing seemed to happen. His mind wandered to their mission, to the Shadow Court, to what lay ahead. Then, slowly, something stirred within him—a faint pulse of energy, like the flicker of a candle in the dark.

It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Medea's voice broke through the stillness. "Have you ever felt Lilith's or my power since the contract?"

Adrian opened his eyes, glancing at her. "No," he admitted. "Not in a way that feels... connected. It's like it's there, but I don't know how to reach it."

Medea nodded, her gaze steady. "That's because you haven't learnt to unlock it yet. You're distracted by emotions—anger, pain, desire. You let them cloud your focus."

Adrian frowned. "But don't those emotions fuel power? I've fought harder when I was angry, or when I needed to protect something."

"Exactly." Medea's voice was firm. "But there's a difference between letting emotions control you and using them as fuel. You need to channel them. I've spent centuries learning how to do it."

She paused, glancing between Lilith and Adrian. "I've meditated for centuries to keep my wrath in check. It used to consume me and cloud my judgment. But now, that same wrath is a source of strength. I draw on it, control it. If you can't master that, the Shadow Court will tear you apart."

Adrian absorbed her words, nodding slowly. "How do I start?"

Medea stood, brushing the dust off her legs. "We'll take it step by step. Close your eyes again, and this time, don't just focus on calmness. I want you to find those emotions—your fear, your anger, your pain—and let them rise. But don't lose control. Feel them, but don't let them rule you."

Adrian nodded, closing his eyes again. He inhaled deeply, allowing his mind to wander through the labyrinth of emotions that had been swirling inside him since the destruction of his kingdom.

Anger burned hottest—a seething fury at the injustice done to his people, at the lives stolen, at the memory of his wife's last breath. That rage felt like fire in his veins, threatening to consume him, but he held onto it, keeping it just beneath the surface.

Then came the sorrow, the deep ache of loss, like an endless well of grief that had no bottom. It weighed heavily on him, threatening to drown him in its depths. He could feel it wrapping around his heart, suffocating.

And finally, there was fear. Fear of failure. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the Shadow Court, and of what would happen if he couldn't protect those he still had left.

"Don't fight it," Medea's voice cut through his thoughts, guiding him. "Let it flow through you. Don't suppress it. Control it."

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