The Scream of A Thousand Libraries Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Power of Dreams (II).

Read chapter 27 of The Scream of A Thousand Libraries by Susangja on NovelPedia.

POV: MIGUEL CASTRO. Outside the training arena, I silently observed the exchange of blows between the girls. The afternoon sun had already passed its peak, so the heat was intensely present there. The cool shadows around the training court drew strange patterns. Adding that to the misty and slightly dark atmosphere that Renata had created, it made the court’s appearance distinctive, a truly unique atmosphere. I had asked them to try to innovate, to challenge their own limits. I wanted to see them experimenting with different approaches, thinking of new means and techniques to confront each other, and everything indicated that the proposal was met. They had accepted the challenge with seriousness. I saw it in the way they moved, in the energy beams that traced quick and improvised lines in space, in the concentrated tension in their eyes. This wasn't just training. It was a test. ‘They are taking this very seriously… And that’s great’ It was an encouraging observation. I had been convinced of their potential that afternoon, but seeing them applying their enchantments under pressure, face to face, revealed nuances that had previously escaped my understanding. It was like watching two artists experimenting with new strokes on a canvas. They knew what they wanted to do. They had clarity of intention, but the execution still left something to be desired; it was evident that it had uncertainties and imperfections. Not due to lack of ability, but lack of refinement. Of experience and maturation. Of course, there was the emotional factor: they were friends. It was natural for them to hesitate at the idea of a more direct or lethal attack. However, despite that, they fought with ferocity. A ferocity that was contained, disciplined, but present. Helena, in particular, surprised me. She adopted a posture I hadn’t seen in her before: firm, calculated. She advanced with precision, using her enchantments fluidly and multifunctionally. She strengthened her senses to amplify her reflexes, summoned specters to provide cover and distraction, and molded geometric constructs that forced Renata to move in unfavorable trajectories. Her action patterns branched out like growing limbs, a living equation that adapted to each new variable. Always adding a new layer, a new operation in that calculation. Renata, on the other hand, was the perfect counterpoint. She was resistant, focused, and controlled. Her enchantments didn't have the same variety as Helena's, but they worked like the gears of an old clock: each element supported the next with surgical precision. Her specialty was cohesion. She mastered her marks; because they were similar in nature, she used this to her advantage almost organically. And, at the beginning of that confrontation, this gave her an advantage. She maintained a solid defense, almost impenetrable, observing Helena’s movements with attentive eyes, waiting for the perfect opening. But, as in a dance, the roles began to reverse. Helena pressed. At close range, her skill with physical constructs and geometric manipulation made her practically unreachable. She found an opening. She attacked. And I saw Renata get hit twice. For a moment, I thought Helena had won. But the third assault was thwarted by an emergency conjuration: the Mirror of the Lost Soul. A powerful, but demanding, defense. Renata conjured it with precision at the last second, avoiding an impact that could have taken her out of the fight. From then on, everything changed. Renata began to rebuild herself. It was subtle, but visible. With each conjuration of the Oneiric Reservoir, a new layer of energy seemed to emerge from within her, as if the darkness itself revitalized her. It was an interesting process, after all, her enchantment was undefined. ‘I think I’ll research more about enchantments of this type… It might be useful somehow’ Returning my attention to the combat, I saw Helena beginning to show signs of exhaustion, such as heavier breathing, slightly less flu