ShadowBound: The Need For Power

Chapter 23 - 23: I Will Make It No Matter What

Liam moved through the hallway, his steps purposeful as he headed toward the library. The echo of his own thoughts lingered in his mind, especially the moment when Elsie had healed him.

"She managed to heal me..." He replayed the memory, the warmth of her magic still fresh in his mind. "Dr. Dain couldn't do it when he first found me, but Elsie did, and it was an internal injury."

He frowned slightly, shaking his head to clear the distraction. "Focus, that's not important right now."

Arriving at the library, Liam's eyes settled on the familiar figure of the librarian from his last visit. She looked up, a smile playing on her lips, eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Well, look who's back," she greeted, her tone light and teasing. "Finished the book already?"

"Not quite," Liam replied, maintaining his calm demeanor. "I actually came to ask you about something else."

"Oh? And what might that be?" she asked, leaning forward slightly, still dripping with that playful flirtation.

"Do you know anything about a flower that grows in volcanic soil?" Liam asked directly, his voice steady.

The librarian tilted her head, pondering for a moment. "Volcanic soil?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Can't say I know off the top of my head. But, you might want to ask that girl over there." She gestured to a nearby table where a girl sat surrounded by stacks of books, her eyes darting back and forth as she took notes. "She's known for her re

When she reached the door to the training room, she reached for the handle, but as soon as her fingers made contact, she recoiled with a soft gasp.

The metal was hot to the touch, almost searing. Her heart quickened, and her eyes narrowed with concern. Carefully, she pressed her hand to the door again, this time more cautiously, and pulled it open.

The sight before her was something she hadn't anticipated. Liam stood in the center of the room, drenched in sweat, his bare chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath.

But it wasn't just sweat that caught her eye — there was steam, an actual mist of vapor, rising from his skin as if he were a furnace. It swirled around him, dissipating into the air, and his entire body radiated a heat that made the room feel several degrees warmer.

For a moment, Ane could only stare, frozen in place. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was witnessing. It was both mesmerizing and alarming—the sheer intensity of whatever he was doing had pushed his body to the brink.

Finally finding her voice, she cleared her throat, though it came out a little shaky. "Liam," she called out, trying to sound composed despite the shock. "It's almost time for dinner."

Liam's head slowly turned towards her, his eyes still burning with that fierce determination, but there was something else in them too—fatigue, but also triumph, as if he had conquered something invisible and monumental.

He nodded, breathing heavily, and wiped the sweat from his brow, sending another plume of steam into the air.

"Thank you, Ane," he said, his voice hoarse yet steady. "I'll be there shortly."

Ane could only nod in return, still transfixed by the sight of him. As she turned to leave, she couldn't help but murmur under her breath, "What kind of training could push someone this far?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and a shiver ran down her spine, not from fear, but from the realization that this boy —no, this young man — was on a path that even she couldn't begin to fathom.