ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 625: Letting Everything Out (1)

As the last sliver of sunlight slipped beneath the horizon, dusk surrendered fully to night, and the sky above the City of Grandeur deepened into a vast canvas of indigo and silver. One by one, the stars emerged, timid at first, then bolder, scattering their quiet brilliance across the heavens. The moon rose with unhurried grace, pale and watchful, casting a gentle glow over the academy grounds and bathing stone pathways and marble structures in soft light.

Under that quiet sky, Percy and Sheila walked through the academy courtyard toward the inner gardens.

Percy moved ahead at a steady pace, posture straight, hands resting loosely at his sides. He did not glance back. He did not slow down. His steps were measured, controlled, almost detached from the world around him.

Sheila followed several paces behind.

The distance between them was not large in physical measure, yet it felt immeasurable to her. Her shoulders were tense, fingers curling slightly into the fabric of her uniform as though bracing against an unseen chill. Even simply walking behind him made her heart beat unevenly.

Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the evening breeze and the soft rhythm of their footsteps against stone.

Sheila’s mind refused to stay quiet.

’Why now?’ she wondered, stealing a glance at Percy’s back before quickly lowering her gaze again. ’Why does he suddenly want to talk to me of all times?’

Her thoughts shifted abruptly.

’Wait... as unpleasant as this feels... isn’t this exactly what I wanted?’

Ever since her conversation with Liam on the night they had returned to the academy, those words had lingered in her mind like an echo that would not fade. She had resolved then that she would speak to Percy. That she would stop waiting. That she would finally ask the questions she had buried for years.

She had searched for him more than once.

She had wandered through training halls, asked around discreetly, lingered in places he was known to frequent. Yet every attempt had ended the same way—with nothing. No encounter. No chance. No words exchanged.

And now—

Now the opportunity was right in front of her.

Presented so plainly.

So close she could almost reach out and touch it.

Yet instead of relief, a quiet fear began to coil inside her chest.

Fear of speaking first.

Fear of looking at him directly.

Fear of hearing answers she might not be ready for.

Her throat felt tight, as though invisible hands were pressing against it, preventing her from forcing out even a single word. The chance she had longed for, the moment she had imagined countless times, suddenly felt fragile—like something that could shatter if she handled it wrong.

’What if I ruin it? What if I say the wrong thing?’

She lowered her gaze again, fighting the urge to retreat into silence.

But before she could lose herself completely in her spiraling thoughts, Percy’s voice cut through the quiet night.

"How were the evaluation tests?"

His tone was even, calm, as though they were discussing something ordinary. He did not turn around as he spoke.

The suddenness of his question startled her.

For a split second, her mind went blank.

"U-um..." she managed, the word escaping before she could stop it. She swallowed, steadying herself. "They weren’t bad. Not... not easy. But manageable."

Her voice sounded smaller than she intended, softer against the open night air.

"I see," Percy replied without pause. "That’s good to hear."

The words were simple.

But to Sheila, they struck with unexpected force.

That’s good to hear.

For a fleeting moment, she nearly missed what came next, too caught off guard by the acknowledgment itself.

"But I do have a problem."

Her stomach tightened instantly.

The earlier warmth that had threatened to rise in her chest was replaced by cold uncertainty. Her thoughts began racing again, far faster than reason could keep up.

’A problem? With what? With me?’

"You were matched against De’Ain," Percy continued evenly, still walking ahead of her. "You know he’s a strong opponent. If matched up against a first-year, especially."

Sheila kept her eyes fixed on the ground, listening.

"However," he went on, "he was restricted to fifty percent. Under those conditions, that match was yours to win."

His voice did not sharpen. It did not rise. If anything, it remained composed, and analytical.

"Why," he asked calmly, "did it end otherwise?"

The question hung between them in the cool night air, heavier than the silence that had come before it.

Sheila’s thoughts unraveled all over again, tangling into a mess of doubt and panic as she tried to decide what she should say—what answer would satisfy him, what explanation wouldn’t sound like an excuse. Her chest tightened, and for a moment she couldn’t even feel her feet against the stone path.

Before she could organize a single coherent response, Percy’s voice cut through her spiraling mind once more.

"You know what? Forget it."

He stopped walking so abruptly that Sheila nearly stumbled before halting as well. The distance between them remained—those few paces that felt like an unbridgeable chasm.

"There’s no point in asking you something I already know the answer to," Percy said evenly.

The words weren’t sharp, yet they carried a quiet finality.

He paused, exhaling slowly through his nose. The sound was faint in the open garden air.

"More importantly," he continued, his tone subtly softer though still controlled, "I should address what actually matters."

Sheila forced herself to lift her gaze to his back, confusion flickering across her face. ’What is he talking about?’

"I know you’ve been wanting to talk to me for weeks," Percy went on. "Probably for years. Since the day I left."

Her breath caught. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The tension in her body intensified rather than eased.

’He knew?’

"I’ve always known," Percy said calmly, as though confirming the thought she hadn’t dared voice aloud. "I just believed it was better that you didn’t get close to me. Not even a little. I thought that if you did... it might ruin you."

His eyes lifted toward the night sky, moonlight brushing faintly against his profile. His expression remained unreadable.

"But I was wrong," he added after a beat, letting out a faint scoff at himself. "Very wrong. It seems the conclusions I came to as a child lingered longer than they should have. Until now, at least."

"Why?"

The word left Sheila before she could stop it.

Percy went still.

"If you always knew I wanted to talk to you..." Sheila’s voice trembled, fragile and strained as she fought back the sting gathering in her eyes. "Then why did you keep pushing me away? Why did you treat me like I was just some stranger you barely recognized?" Her breathing wavered. "Why did you leave?"

The questions poured out, years of confusion and hurt woven into each one.

Percy did not answer immediately.

The silence that followed felt heavier than anything spoken.

Finally, he replied, his voice steady, almost distant.

"Because I thought I had no choice."

He paused briefly.

"At least... that’s what I believed at the time."

Sheila stared at his back, confusion replacing some of her fear. ’No choice? What does that even mean?’

"I assume you still remember," Percy continued, turning his head slightly so that he looked at her over his shoulder—but not fully, not completely facing her, "the day you turned five."

His tone remained composed.

"The day your affinities first awakened."