The next morning ina woke up with heavy head and sore arms.
Everything from yesterday felt like a dream-- the glowing light , the sword. But her aching muscles told her it had all been real .
Before sunrise , the knock came at her window.
It was Rehan.
"Get dressed," he said . "Today's training begins before the sun does."
☀️ The Mountain Trial.
He led her to a high mountain just beyond the palace's edge. The climb was steep and cold, the wind sharp against her cheeks.
They reached the narrow cliff where the sunlight reached first. The sky was turning golden.
Rehan pointed to the smooth on the edge. "Stand there."
Ina looked confused . "Okay. Then what ?"
He looked at her , serious . "You will stand ....there on one leg . Until the sun sets."
She blinked. "You are joking ."
"I neverjoke," he replied.
Her eyes widened. "That's hours! What's the point of that?"
" Balance, stillness, and patience . These arepart of strength too", he said . " Noteverything is swinging a sword."
Ina hesitated , but then stepped up on a rock.
The wind blew through hair.
Rehan added ,one last rule." No magic , No moving , just you and the mountain."
🌞 Hours of Sunlight .
The day was long.
The sun climbed high above her, burning her skin and making her sweat. Her leg ached . Her arms were stiff from staying still.
Birds flew past. Leaves danced in the air. Time crawled.
At one point, she almost fell-- but she caught herself .
She gritted her teeth. " I won't give up."
Not today .
In the quiet , her thoughts returned-- her parents, the accident, the visions of the sword, and Rehan' s unreadable eyes.
She closed her eyes and whispered. " I will be more than they ever thought I could."
And somewhere deep inside her..... Something shifted again.
🌅 Sunset and the New Flame.
When the sun finally touched the mountain in the west, Rehan returned. He watched her from a distance as a final light kissed her face.
Her entire body trembled from the effort-- but she was still standing. One leg arms stretched . Eyes closed
He stepped forward. " That's enough."
Ina collapsed in his arms, exhausted but smilling through the pain. "I did it."
He nodded. "You did."
As they walked down the mountain. Ina looked at him and whispered. " This is the hardest thing I have ever done."
Rehan looked ahead. " Then you are finally becoming who you were meant to be."
She looked at her hands. They were bruised, dirty and shaking.....but powerful.