Sera's POV
The training room door slammed behind me with a sound like a coffin closing.
I spun around, heart hammering. "Wait! I'm not ready for—"
"You're never going to be ready," Cassian interrupted, already walking away from the door. "That's the point."
The underground room was huge and empty, with stone walls that looked like they'd survived a thousand explosions. Scorch marks decorated them like ugly paintings. The ceiling was so high I could barely see it in the dim light. And it was freezing down here, which seemed wrong for a fire training room.
"Make a flame," Cassian ordered, crossing his arms. His silver eyes were colder than the room.
I held out my shaking hand. Nothing happened.
"I said make a flame, Sera."
"I'm trying!" Heat rushed to my face. Not the good kind of heat—the embarrassed kind. "It doesn't just appear because you tell me to!"
"Then you're useless." His voice was flat, emotionless. "The Shadow Council will kill you in seconds."
Something snapped inside me. How dare he? I'd lost everything—my parents, my home, my entire life—and he was calling me useless?
Fire exploded from both my hands.
Not a small flame. Not a controlled burn. A massive wave of orange and red that shot across the room like a dragon's breath. It hit the far wall with a WHOOSH that made my ears ring.
I screamed and shook my hands frantically, trying to put it out. The flames died instantly, leaving my palms smoking.
"Better," Cassian said, like I hadn't almost burned the place down. "Now do it again. Smaller this time."
For the next three hours, I tried. And failed. And tried again.
Small flame? It exploded into a fireball. Steady burn? It flickered and died like a candle in the wind. Hold it for ten seconds? I managed five before my concentration broke and fire shot up to the ceiling.
Every single time, Cassian just watched. Arms crossed. Face blank. Not helping, just judging.
"You're not focusing," he said for the millionth time.
"I AM focusing!" Sweat dripped down my face even though the room was freezing. My hands felt like they'd been dipped in hot oil. "Maybe if you actually taught me instead of just staring—"
"I'm teaching you to control your emotions. Fire responds to what you feel. Right now, you feel angry and frustrated. That's why it keeps exploding."
"I'm angry because you won't HELP me!"
"I won't hold your hand through this." He moved closer, and I noticed for the first time how tired he looked. Dark circles under those silver eyes. "Your parents didn't die so you could give up when things got hard."
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach.
I wanted to scream at him. To tell him he had no right to talk about my parents. But the truth in his words hurt worse than any insult could.
Mom and Dad had fought the Shadow Council. They'd been brave even when they were scared. And here I was, ready to quit after a few hours.
I took a deep breath. Closed my eyes. Thought about Mom's smile when she tucked me into bed. About Dad's laugh when I told bad jokes at dinner.
When I opened my eyes and looked at my palm, a small, steady flame danced there.
It didn't explode. It didn't die. It just burned, warm and bright and under my control.
"Good," Cassian said quietly.
That single word made me feel warmer than any fire ever could.
By the time Mirage showed up to take over my training, I could barely stand. My legs felt like jelly, and my hands were shaking from exhaustion.
"Whoa, he worked you hard!" Mirage grinned, tossing me a water bottle. Her purple streak of hair seemed to glow in the dim light. "Don't worry. I'm way more fun than Mr. Grumpy."
"I heard that," Cassian called from across the room.
Mirage stuck out her tongue at him, and I couldn't help but giggle. It felt strange to laugh after everything, but also... good.
"Okay, Sera. Not every battle needs magic," Mirage said, bouncing on her toes like a boxer. "Sometimes you need to be quick and quiet. Like a shadow. Speaking of which..."
She vanished.
I blinked. One second she was standing in front of me, the next—gone.
"Over here!" Her voice came from behind me.
I spun around. She was leaning against the wall, smirking.
"How did you—"
"Illusion magic. I'll teach you some tricks later. But first, basics. Show me your fighting stance."
I had no idea what a fighting stance was. I just held up my fists like I'd seen in movies.
Mirage laughed, but not meanly. "Okay, we've got work to do. Watch me."
She showed me how to stand with my feet apart for balance. How to punch without breaking my thumb. How to dodge and duck and move fast. Unlike Cassian, she was patient and made jokes when I messed up.
"Why did the Phoenix go to therapy?" she asked while demonstrating a kick.
"Why?"
"To deal with its burning issues!" She cracked up at her own joke.
I groaned, but I was smiling. Training with Mirage felt less like torture and more like... making a friend.
That night, I found Cassian sitting alone in the hallway outside my room. He was staring at the wall, lost in thought.
"Can I ask you something?" I sat down beside him, my sore muscles screaming in protest.
"You're going to anyway."
I ignored his grumpiness. "Why are you really helping me? You don't know me. You could just... hide and stay safe."
Cassian was quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper: "My family was murdered when I was fifteen."
My breath caught.
"The Shadow Council," he continued, still not looking at me. "They wanted our magic. We refused. So they killed my parents. My little sister." His jaw tightened. "I escaped. Barely. I've been hiding and fighting them ever since."
"I'm sorry," I whispered, because what else could I say?
"I know what it's like to want justice," he said, finally meeting my eyes. "And I know what it's like to be alone. To wake up every morning and remember that everyone you loved is gone."
Tears burned my eyes. He understood. He really understood.
For the first time, I saw past his cold mask. We weren't just allies in some fight.
We were the same.
"We're going to stop them," I said, and I meant it. "Together."
Cassian nodded, and for just a second, I thought I saw the ghost of a smile.
Then his expression changed. He stood up fast, hand going to the dagger at his belt.
"What—" I started.
"Did you tell anyone where we were going?" His voice was sharp, urgent.
"No! You said not to trust—"
"Someone's coming." He grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet. "Multiple people. Moving fast. They found us."
My heart stopped. "The Shadow Council?"
"Worse." He dragged me toward the stairs. "Mirage! We've got company!"
Mirage appeared instantly, her face pale. "How many?"
"At least six. Maybe more. They're surrounding the building."
"How did they find us so fast?" I asked, panic rising in my throat.
Cassian's silver eyes locked onto mine, and what he said next made my blood turn to ice:
"Because someone told them exactly where we'd be."
A door crashed open somewhere above us.
We had a traitor.