"Don't fight it," Medea's voice cut through his thoughts, guiding him. "Let it flow through you. Don't suppress it. Control it."

Adrian breathed through the storm of emotions, letting them swirl around him but refusing to be swept away. He focused on keeping them contained, like harnessing a wildfire and using its heat without being burned.

Then, something shifted.

A spark ignited deep within his chest, a wellspring of energy that flared to life with the intensity of his emotions. It wasn't just his own power—it was Lilith's seductive, fiery strength, and Medea's cold, calculated wrath, intertwining with his own energy.

Adrian's entire body tingled, the power rising from within him like a surge of electricity coursing through his veins. He clenched his fists, feeling the crackle of dark energy gathering at his fingertips.

Medea opened her eyes, watching closely. "Now," she commanded, "channel it out."

Adrian focused, his breath coming in controlled bursts.

Slowly, he raised his hands, palms outward and, with a sharp exhale, unleashed the energy in a controlled wave. Dark tendrils of power burst from his hands, merging with the remnants of Medea's power that still lingered in the clearing.

The force of it made the ground tremble, a small crater forming where the energy struck. Adrian gasped, his heart racing from the effort, but he felt a strange sense of balance, of control.

Medea nodded with an approving expression. "You're getting there. You felt it, didn't you? The balance between the chaos and control."

Adrian nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah... I felt it."

Lilith, who had been unusually quiet during the session, finally leaned in with a smirk. "Well, darling, I guess you're starting to tap into some of that goddess juice after all."

Adrian chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It's a start. But I've got a lot to learn."

Medea's gaze softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "You've made progress, but this is just the beginning. Discipline will be key. You've taken the first step, but you'll need to push even harder."

Adrian stood. "I'll keep working at it."

Medea gave him a final nod before turning her back to the campfire. "Now you can go have your breakfast."

"More like lunch." Lilith replied.

After their meal, Medea wasted no time resuming Adrian's training.

This time, however, it wasn't just about brute force or raw energy. She guided him through a series of techniques that required power, precision and control—things Adrian wasn't used to relying on in battle.

Lilith, to her surprise, joined in under Medea's watchful eye, though her playful antics never fully disappeared.

Together, they practiced combat stances, focused strikes, and controlled bursts of power, all while Medea drilled them on balance and discipline.

As the day wore on and the sun dipped toward the horizon, they settled beside the fire for the evening. The crackling flames cast long shadows over their faces as Adrian unfurled the map he'd been carrying, spreading it out on the ground.

"We'll make a stop in this town tomorrow," Adrian said, pointing to a small, nondescript village marked on the map. "It's a good place to rest for the night before we head toward the mountains and the next temple."

Medea nodded in agreement, her fingers tracing the route they would take. "It looks straightforward enough, but we should still be on guard. These towns often have their own issues."

Lilith yawned and stretched, her arm casually slipping around Adrian's waist as she leaned against him. "Whatever gets us there faster, darling. I'm ready to free another sister and get one step closer to dismantling this Shadow Court nonsense."

Adrian chuckled softly but focused on the plan.

They agreed to set out at dawn, ready to face whatever lay ahead. As night settled in, Lilith wasted no time taking her position beside Adrian, her body practically glued to him.

She draped herself over him like a possessive blanket, her breath warm against his neck as she quickly fell asleep.

***************

The next day, after a light breakfast, they packed up and mounted their horses. The day's journey was long and uneventful. The landscape shifted from open plains to denser forest, with only the sound of their horses' hooves and the occasional rustle of leaves to break the silence.

They spoke little, each lost in their own thoughts, but the anticipation of reaching their destination hung in the air.

As the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, casting golden light over the landscape, they arrived at the town Adrian had marked as their resting point.

The village wasn't large, but it bustled with activity. People moved about, haggling in the marketplace, children ran through the narrow streets, and vendors called out to passing travelers.

They dismounted their horses and began walking through the town, holding the reins as they made their way down the main street. The villagers paused to watch them, their eyes lingering on Adrian, Lilith, and Medea longer than usual.

Adrian, used to the attention that Lilith's ABC—aura, beauty, and curves usually commanded, barely noticed at first. But then he caught sight of a small poster pinned to a wall nearby. Lilith, ever curious, sauntered over to it and pulled it free.

"Hmmm... what's this?" she asked, flipping the paper around.

Adrian barely glanced at the paper, his eyes catching a single word—"Church." He frowned slightly. "I think it's some kind of movement or religious sect. Let's focus on finding a place to rest our horses and ourselves first. We can go sightseeing later."

Lilith nodded, folding the paper without paying much more attention to it.

As they continued down the street, Adrian raised his head, searching for someone who could point them to an inn or stable. He noticed that more eyes were following them now—not just glances of curiosity but something deeper.

Reverence, almost awe, seemed to spread throughout the audience.

Adrian exchanged glances with Medea, who was resting her hand lightly on the hilt of her sword and scanning the crowd with suspicion. "Is it just me," she murmured, "or are they looking at us kind of... strangely?"

Adrian nodded. "It's not just you. And they're not just looking at Lilith."

Medea's gaze hardened. "We should be ready for anything."

Before they could discuss it further, a man broke away from the crowd and approached them. His clothes were simple, and his face was thin but full of zeal. Without a word, he dropped to his knees before them, bowing so low his forehead touched the dirt.

"Praise be to the goddess within," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he bowed again.

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