Chapter 8 Unleashed

CHAPTER 8

It was already night. Galen and Lysandra sat under a fern that was big enough to accommodate both of them. Galen was already falling asleep but Lysandra was still wide awake. Part of the reasons was the scroll she carried with her from Themyscira. Queen Hippolyta had trusted her with the mission to guide the boy until he comes into the fullness of his powers. Lysandra then turned to look at Galen. He looked nothing like what was said but Lysandra had seen the extent of his powers when he escaped from the slavers. He would become powerful, there was no doubt about it. Her thoughts then darkened as it always did whenever it concerned the Empire. The last she heard, the army was getting closer to Themyscira and her people might not stand a chance. She regretted that she was not there to fight but then, she knew her chance would come. After all, she was protecting the most important thing of all: their hope for a future against the cruelty and inhumane desires of the Empire.

Galen stirred and Lysandra had to tear her eyes away from him. The days were getting dark and she hoped that they would all come out whole at the end of it.

The day had barely dawned when Galen woke up. He had slept fitfully all through the night. He looked to his side and saw Lysandra sleeping, her daggers and sword by her side within reach of her hand Incase of any danger or attempt on their lives. Without waking her, Galen crept out of the fern to hunt for something he and the Amazon would eat. The thought still made him smile as he trudged through the forest, the hilt of his dagger warming his hands.

When he came back carrying a freshly killed rabbit, Lysandra was up and about. As he skined it, he suddenly looked at her and spoke, "Why did you replace my dampener. I mean, there was literally no time for you to have picked it up and placed it on my wrist. I would have noticed." Lysandra stopped picking up firewood and looked so intensely at Galen it felt like she was peering into his soul.

"You don't know anything about Amazons, do you?" Lysandra asked, her tone laced with amusement.

Galen shook his head, a flush of embarrassment rising to his cheeks.

Lysandra'ssmile widened. "We possess what's called inner sight. Your Gifts, bestowed by the gods, are a double-edged sword. Without the dampener or proper training, they'll consume you in a matter of days."

Galen's eyes widened at her blunt words. "Why do you think that? I never asked for these... Gifts. They're more of a burden than a blessing."

Lysandra stood, placing the rabbit on a spit over the fire. "When the gods' powers course through a person without control or suppression, they can cause intense, internal burns. It's a slow, agonizing death. Before we reach the Rebel Kindred in Zha'thik beyond the Deep, I'll help you learn to harness your powers, at least enough to move without suppressing them."

Galen nodded, gratitude and understanding etched on his face as he accepted Lysandra's explanation.

After they finished eating the smoked rabbit, Lysandra and Galen moved into a warded area of the forest, thanks to Lysandra'sabilities to create protective wardings. That was where Galen learnt that even though Amazon's fighting skills are honed to perfection, at least, most of them has some measures of the Gifts. Lysandra'sMarks are a distinctive aspect of her Amazonian heritage.

Lysandra'sMarks are intricate, ceremonial tattoos that adorn her arms, shoulders, and torso. These sacred symbols are a testament to her status as a warrior and a member of the Amazonian tribe.

The Marks appear as a series of interconnected, curved lines and geometric patterns that shimmer with a subtle, Silver glow. This ethereal luminescence is a result of the magical properties infused within the tattoos.

On her arms, the Marks resemble coiled serpents, their bodies woven together to form a protective barrier. These serpentine patterns seem to shift and writhe like living tendrils when Lysandra channels her magical energies.

Across her shoulders and torso, the Marks take the form of stylized, feather-like motifs. These symbols evoke the image of wings, signifying Lysandra'sconnection to the wind, the skies, and the freedom of the Amazonian spirit.

When Lysandra summons her magical powers, her Marks glow brighter, pulsating with an intense, Silver light. This radiant energy seems to amplify her abilities, attuning her to the natural world and granting her access to the primal forces that fuel her magic.

Lysandra'sMarks are an integral part of her identity, a visual representation of her heritage, strength, and mystical connection to the world around her.

Galen stood in the ward, his eyes fixed on Lyria. At her nod, he opened the dampener, and a surge of raw energy coursed through his body. His eyes blazed orange as he gritted his teeth, struggling to contain the power.

"Consider your powers an extension of yourself, a weapon at your disposal," Lysandra instructed, her gaze intense. "You don't draw a sword until you need it. Learn to control your powers, to wield them with precision. That's the key to mastering your Gifts."

Galen closed his eyes, and his senses exploded into vivid clarity. Every blade of grass, every rustle of leaves, and every sound in the forest became amplified, crystalline. The pounding of his own heartbeat resonated through his veins like a drumbeat, fueled by the fiery energy coursing through him.

With focused determination, Galen summoned the willpower to rein in the surging powers. He pushed back against the rising tide, straining to contain it. The effort left him drained, the exertion taking more out of him than he'd anticipated. He opened his eyes and his eyes had reverted to their normal color.

Lysandra smiled in approval, "Try again." Galen tried several times at Lysandra'sbehest until he got the hang of it and releasing his powers at will. Lysandra made it so easy.

Several days passed like that in a blur as they continued their training like that. It was on the fifth day of their journey that they got to the nearest city: Valtoria. Galen and Lysandra stood at the edge of the forest looking at the city gate. From their vantage point, they could see people going in and coming out of the city gate which wasn't surprising considering that Valtoria was a trade town. It was also one city where the Empire's reach hasn't extended hopefully.

"We need horses. It will make our journey easier and faster." Galen said. He no longer had to wear the dampener. Lysandra had helped him to the point where he could now control his powers. Lysandra looked at him, "You know what to do?" Galen nodded, "Cover my Marks at all times. Not everyone is susceptible to Marked people. In some cities, they are killed on sight. We don't know if Valtoria is one of such." Lysandra smiled ruefully, "Let's hope we don't find out then." But they found out sooner and more gruesome than they could have hoped for.