For the past two weeks, Melody had been training with Nathan and Damon every day. In that same span of time, she had also begun interacting more with the women of the kingdom.
Being crowned queen—even if it was mostly in name—came with expectations. Duties she couldn't avoid. So she went around the kingdom, observing, listening, learning.
And the more she saw, the more she realized how different it was from the Fea Kingdom.
The Fea Kingdom was bright with Lush green lands, shimmering waterfalls, trees that sparkled like they were stitched from fairy tales. And yet, beneath all that beauty, there was a strange emptiness. A forced happiness. A quiet insistence on pretending everything was perfect.
Here, in the Thenaros , there was no such pretense.
It wasn't overly sunny. It wasn't soft. But it was real.
She had spent the past week moving through the kingdom, and she could say—without hesitation—that she found herself falling in love with the environment. The beauty,
The women especially stood out.
Back home, women were admired for being gentle. Cute. Docile. Here, women were warriors. Strong. Protectors. They knew how to care for themselves, how to fight, how to survive. It was something she truly loved about this place, where women weren't seen as trophies wifes.
"Again," Nathan said.
She leapt back just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike aimed at her.
"You're getting slower," Damon remarked coolly from the side.
"I'm trying my best," she shot back, breathless as she dodged again.
Her foot slipped.
The next strike landed hard, knocking her to the ground. Pain exploded through her hand as she hit the floor.
"Ouch," she hissed, staring down as blood trickled from her palm.
Nathan was at her side immediately. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, pushing herself up despite the sting.
It wasn't the first injury she'd sustained during training, not even close. Bruises, cuts, soreness—they had all become familiar companions over the past two weeks.
And as for her husband…
She barely saw him.
They slept in the same bed, yes, but that was where their closeness ended. Since that day, he had completely distanced himself from her and was extremely cold in a way that felt deliberate, as though he were punishing himself for something she didn't understand.
Not that she cared.
The rest of the training was as tedious as ever, because neither Nathan nor Damon showed her any mercy when it came to combat.
Strangely, she liked it that way. She didn't want to be treated like a queen—someone they were afraid to push or make stronger.
They trained her like any other person, careful not to injure her but never holding back, and she appreciated that.
The next day, Melody dressed as usual and walked to the training grounds for her normal two hours of combat practice, only to find the place completely empty.
Normally, Nathan and Damon were already there—or at least one of them if the other was running late. Sometimes they arrived later than usual, but they were always there.
"What's going on?" she wondered, clearly disappointed.
There was something she needed to practice today, yet no one was in sight.
She turned around, intending to go look for them, and froze.
Orionn stood at the edge of the training grounds.
They stared at each other in silence. She hadn't seen him in a while, and as for him… she didn't know why he was looking at her with such intensity.
She realized she was doing the same.
"They're not coming today," Orionn finally said, breaking the awkward silence.
"Why?" she asked, genuinely confused. She couldn't imagine why they would miss training.
"They're busy. There's a tournament to plan, and we're pushing it forward because of certain matters that don't require your opinion."
"Oh," she thought dryly. Same as ever. At least his personality hadn't changed.
"Then why are you here?" she asked. "To tell me they won't be coming? You could've easily sent one of the castle maids."
"No," Orionn replied. "I'm here to train you."
"What?" She stared at him in surprise. "Do you suddenly have free time on your hands?"
"I'll be training you for a while," he said calmly, ignoring her question.
"So show me what you've learned over the past two weeks."
Melody frowned, puzzled. Why was he suddenly interested in training her?
Still, she had no choice but to comply.
She demonstrated every technique Nathan and Damon had taught her over the past weeks—each movement sharp, controlled, and deliberate. When she finished, she straightened and looked at Orionn, waiting for his feedback.
"Not bad," he said. "How's your magic training going?"
"I haven't started," she replied. "You didn't send a magician."
"I did."
"I asked for one, but nobody came," she said firmly.
Orionn didn't push further.
He studied her for a moment. "Then show me your powers," he said.
She blinked, confused. "You're going to teach me about my powers?"
That made no sense. He wasn't Fae—only a master Fae could help her control her abilities.
Still, she summoned her magic orb.
In the Kingdom of Devera, magic was divided into three levels: Intermediate, Advanced, and Master Sage.
Melody's power was currently at the intermediate stage—a green magic orb forming in her hands. The brighter the glow, the stronger the power.
"You're lagging behind," Orionn said when he saw the orb, its green light illuminating the surroundings.
"That's not my fault," she replied.
Back home, no one had ever taught her how to use her powers. Everyone's attention had always been on Mira.
Mira was a prodigy—the future of the Fae Kingdom.
While they polished Mira into perfection, Melody was left to figure things out on her own. Everything she knew, she had learned by herself—through study and constant trial and error.
She had learned to keep many things hidden. It didn't help that her powers were still incipient, even at her age.
"Sit down," Orionn said, ignoring her venting.
She stared at him. "You're not even Fae. How are you planning on teaching me my own powers?"
"Sit down," he repeated.
This time, she didn't argue. She lowered herself to the ground.
Orionn walked behind her. "Transfer your power to the orb."
Magic, after all, was bound to origins.
In Devera, every kingdom was intertwined with a source.
Fae magic was channeled from nature itself—through plants, flowers, and roots.
The Sea Kingdom drew its power from the ocean, its creatures, coral, and tides.
The Wolf Kingdom was bound to the land itself—the soil, the climate, the very earth beneath their feet.
These were the categories of power, excluding the long-lost vampires.
The fact that he told her to connect through the roots beneath the ground proved something unsettling.
He understood Fae magic better than she did—a Fae princess.
It left her confused.
How does he know this?
She didn't allow the thought to linger.
Closing her eyes, she reached inward and guided her power downward, searching for the roots beneath the earth—trying to connect, to listen.
"You're not concentrating," he said, making her turn toward him.
"I'm trying."
"No, you're not. I need you to tune into every sound you're hearing and focus deep—down to the roots of your soul. Connect to every energy you feel."
This time, Melody focused on the sound of his voice. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and followed his instructions exactly as he described.
The deeper she pushed into the energy surrounding her, the more intense it became.
Power flooded her senses—raw, unfamiliar, and overwhelming—pulling her further in.
"Melody," Orionn said sharply.
The power around them began to thrum and swell. Plants nearby twisted and grew, vines thickening as flowers sprouted sharp thorns that seemed almost alive.
But she didn't hear him.
Her aura grew brighter with each passing moment, the green light expanding and pulsing around her. The deeper she connected, the stronger it became.
This wasn't something an ordinary Fae could do.
"Melody," he called again.
"Melody!"