My Trash Talent Is Actually OP!

The van rolled into a forest at about 8 p.m., when the forest had become quiet, dark, and covered in mist by the time they stopped for the night.

The moon hung high above the trees, casting a soft glow through the thick canopy of leaves and branches. Crickets chirped, and leaves rustled gently as the wind passed.

Nova sat by a tree, her knees pulled to her chest, and her bow resting beside her. Her breathing had evened out, and her wounds were gone, but her mind was still far from calm.

She stared into the fire Tay had built, her usually sharp eyes gray and somewhat distant.

Asher kept glancing over at her, concern building inside him.

She hadn't said a word since Zain had hit her. And while she was physically fine, he could feel something was off,something deeper than pain.

Zain sat cross-legged near the fire, poking at a sausage roasting on a stick. He looked relaxed, almost too relaxed, like the earlier fight meant nothing to him.

Every once in a while, his eyes would shift toward Nova, then back to the flames, unreadable.

Asher finally broke the silence. "Zain."

The lich looked up, his blue eyes glowing faintly. "Yes, Master?"

"Don't call me that right now."

Zain blinked, then gave a small nod. "As you wish."

Asher stood up and walked closer, arms crossed. "Why did you do that to her?"

Zain looked toward Nova, then back to Asher. "She attacked me. I reacted. I didn't use anything that would permanently damage her."

"She's terrified of you. You should say something, because Nova fears no one,not even Sinnett," Asher snapped, keeping his voice low. "She's shaken, Zain. You didn't have to go that far."

Zain bowed his head slightly. "I apologize. I misjudged the level of force required. It won't happen again."

Asher studied him, trying to find a trace of mockery or insincerity, but Zain looked genuinely apologetic.

"Fine," Asher said at last, turning away. "Just… be more careful next time."

Zain nodded again. "Of course, Master."

Across the small camp, Sinnett dragged Cinder into a tent he had formed using leftover summoning magic.

The two disappeared behind the fabric, and the sounds that followed left no doubt what they were up to.

Tay groaned. "Seriously? That again?"

Zain chuckled softly, his mood already lightening. "They're persistent, I'll give them that."

Asher sat down beside the fire again, grabbing a stick and skewering a marshmallow on it. "Let's just focus on our own group."

"Nova?"

Nova finally stirred, sitting up straighter. Her voice was quiet but clear. "I'm fine."

Tay leaned over to hand her a warmed marshmallow. "Yeah, you say that, but you haven't spoken for the past hour."

Nova took the marshmallow but didn't respond.

Asher looked at her. "He won't do it again."

She met his gaze for a moment, and though her expression was neutral, he saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes, maybe doubt.

Because she knew Zain more than anyone. He was her brother... half-brother anyway, and was the definition of someone who only obeys his master.

Nevertheless, if he wanted to, he could have easily killed her right here, although her phylactery would still be intact.

"I know," she said lowly, then took a bite.

Zain turned to Asher after a moment of silence. "Master, your body isn't as flexible as it should be."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Zain motioned toward him. "You've gained strength quickly, but your movements are still rigid. You rely too much on power. If you fought someone faster, someone with finesse, they could exploit that."

Tay laughed. "Are you saying Asher needs yoga?"

"Stretching," Zain replied without humor. "Agility. Flow."

He stood and gestured toward a nearby clearing between trees. "Come. Let's test your range of movement."

Asher sighed but got up, brushing his pants off. "Fine. Might as well do some exercise. Yay."

Nova watched them silently, still hugging her knees, but her interest seemed to return as Zain walked Asher to a shaded patch of grass and had him go through slow motions, lunges, arm rotations, even low stances like a martial artist preparing for a fight.

"You're holding tension in your shoulders," Zain commented. "Relax your arms when you strike. You're not wielding a hammer."

Asher frowned, adjusting his form.

Tay strolled over with another sausage. "This is getting weirdly educational."

Zain ignored the comment and turned to one of the trees. "Try using that one. Jump to that branch there, then push off and land over here."

Asher looked at the height. "You serious?"

"You have the strength. Show me the control."

Asher grumbled but took a few steps back, then ran forward and jumped. He grabbed the branch, swung up, then pushed off to land back on the ground, stumbling a little.

"Too much force," Zain said. "Try again. This time, focus your energy in short bursts. You're not smashing... you're gliding like a dragon."

They repeated the drill several times, Asher improving slowly with each pass. Nova finally stood up, brushing herself off. She approached the edge of the clearing and crossed her arms.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she asked Zain.

Zain glanced at her. "Teaching? Yes. I've trained many before. But only a few were worth the effort."

Nova didn't reply, but she stepped closer to the tree and leapt up, reaching the branch with ease, and landing with barely a sound.

Asher gave a small smile. "Show-off."

Nova arched a brow. "You're just slow."

Zain chuckled again, but his tone changed after a moment. "Master, I've been meaning to ask… have you tapped into the elemental side of your abilities?"

Asher paused. "Elemental? You mean fire or ice?"

"Yes," Zain replied.

"Necromancy isn't just bones and death. It ties into elemental power as well—mostly shadow and dark flame. You've already shown some when you fought Cinder. But you've barely scratched the surface."

Tay looked interested now. "Wait, we have elements too?"

Zain nodded. "Everyone has potential for it. Most just never access it. But for someone like Asher... it's essential."

Nova stepped forward. "He did use black fire. When he was poisoned, it reacted."

Zain's eyes gleamed. "Exactly. That was your soul's reaction to danger. But you can learn to control it. Shape it. Even enhance it."

He stepped over to Asher again. "Focus. Close your eyes."

Asher did as told.

"Think about the fire you summoned before. Not the chaos of it, think of its shape. The way it danced. The heat. Draw from that memory."

Asher breathed slowly, steadying himself. He remembered the feeling, the way the fire had erupted from within when Cinder's poison had nearly ended him. He remembered the fear, but also the power.

A faint glow appeared in his hand. Flickering black flames licked around his fingers, but they didn't burn. They felt… warm.

Tay gasped. "Whoa, that's cool."

Zain smiled. "There it is."

The flames pulsed, then faded as Asher opened his eyes.

"That's just the start," Zain said. "You'll need to train it. Learn to mold it like a blade."

Nova nodded. "He'll need it. Whatever's coming… it won't just be monsters."

Asher exhaled, sweat dotting his brow. "Every time you both talk about this... something that is coming... you think I don't know?"

Zain placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're growing fast. But pace yourself, Master. Even I took years to reach where I am."

Asher turned to him. "And how long have you been a lich?"

Zain's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't hesitate. "Too long. Long enough to forget what being alive feels like."

Nova stared at him. "Why did you become one?"

Zain glanced at her. "Same reason you did. To survive. To keep going even when the world wanted me gone."

"Or maybe I just signed the contract with the guy who handed you your phylactery when you almost died." He shrugged.