Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 303 - dreamless sleep

303

~Lisa’s POV

I stared at the flames dancing around the forest, my heart racing with excitement. Fire leaped from my fingertips, curling and twisting as I made it burn hotter, faster. Trees caught in the blaze, and smoke curled into the sky. The heat warmed my face, but my body felt alive, pulsing with raw energy.

"Lisa! Stop!" Lira’s voice cut through the roar of the fire. She ran toward me, eyes wide, a mixture of amusement and worry.

I laughed, waving my hand and making a smaller flame flicker above my palm. "I know, I know... conserve my energy, right? But it’s so much fun!"

Lira grabbed my shoulder, steadying me. "Fun? Lisa, you’re going to burn the hut! And yourself too, if you don’t calm down!"

I smiled, almost teasingly. "I’ll put my mind to it... But just a little longer. I want to see how far I can push it!"

Her eyes narrowed, clearly not trusting me. "Little longer? You’ve already been at this for hours!"

I ignored her and snapped my fingers. Fire danced again, this time between my fingers, delicate but alive. Then, without thinking, I raised my other hand, and water from a nearby stream started spiraling around me, following my command. Flames met water, hissing and cracking, but I didn’t stop. I wanted it all, the control, the power, the mastery.

Then, something went wrong. My head spun violently. My stomach twisted, and a burning pain ripped through me. I clutched my abdomen as something warm and metallic ran down my throat. I gasped and fell to my knees. Blood... I was vomiting blood.

"Lira!" I screamed again, my voice breaking as I fell to my knees. The world around me spun like I was trapped inside a storm. My chest burned, my throat felt tight, and my vision blurred.

Lira’s footsteps were fast, and in seconds she was beside me, dropping to the ground. Her hands gripped my shoulders tightly, eyes wide with panic. "Lisa! What did I tell you? THIS is why I said conserve your energy!"

I coughed again, tasting blood, feeling it slide from my mouth to my chin. My whole body trembled. "Am I... dying?" My voice came out weak and shaky. "Am I going to die?"

Lira’s lips twitched into a small, pained smile. She tried to sound calm, but I could see the worry in her eyes. "No, you’re not dying, you foolish girl," she said softly, brushing my hair from my face. "But you’ve gone too far. You’ve drained yourself dry. You’ve pushed your body and your spirit past their limit."

Tears filled my eyes, hot and unstoppable. "But... I can’t stop, Lira," I whispered, struggling to breathe through the ache in my chest. "I have to get stronger. I want the world to see that a human girl is not a weakling. I want them to know that I’m not someone they can trample over."

Lira sighed, the lines on her face deepening. "Lisa... that’s ambition, and I love that fire in you. But listen to me, your life is not just about proving something to others. What use is power if you destroy yourself to get it?"

Her words hit hard, but my heart still burned with determination. I clenched my fists, forcing my voice out even though it trembled. "You don’t understand," I whispered. "I’ve lived my whole life being looked down on, being called nothing. I can’t let it stay that way. I need to be powerful. I need to show them that I can rise higher than anyone ever expected."

Her expression softened, and for a long moment, she didn’t say anything. The firelight reflected in her eyes, making her look almost sad. "Lisa... I understand more than you think," she finally said quietly. "But strength means nothing if it kills you. Power comes from patience, not rushing. It’s built, not forced."

I turned away, my voice breaking. "I... I just want to see my brother again," I said, almost choking on the words. "I want him to see me, to be proud. I want him to watch over me and smile, knowing his sister can take care of herself."

Lira’s face softened instantly. The hard edge in her tone melted away. "Your brother... You want to know him, don’t you?"

I nodded weakly, the tears falling faster. "Yes. I want to feel what it’s like to have him by my side. To... to have someone who truly sees me."

She sighed, her tone gentle now. "You will, Lisa. You will see him again. But if you keep this up, you’ll destroy yourself before that day comes."

I looked down, ashamed, feeling the weight of her words. My hands were still trembling, and the ground beneath me felt like it was swaying.

Lira knelt lower, wrapping one arm around me and lifting me slowly. "Come on," she said softly. "Let’s get you inside before you fall over again."

She helped me inside, easing me onto the mat by the fire. My body ached all over, my arms trembling from the strain I had put on myself. She knelt beside me, brushing hair away from my face, her eyes soft but serious.

"I know a shortcut," she said quietly, almost like she was afraid I might refuse to listen. My eyes widened, hope sparking in my chest despite the pain.

"A shortcut?" I croaked. "You mean... I can get stronger faster?"

She nodded slowly, her fingers pressing lightly to my wrist. "Yes... But it’s risky, Lisa. Extremely risky. If your body isn’t ready... if you push it too far... it could cost you your life." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

I swallowed hard, ignoring the trembling in my chest. "I don’t care. I... I can handle it. I want to learn everything, fast. I can’t wait."

My body ached in every corner, but I couldn’t stop talking. "I... I want to maximize my power... the shortcut... I can do it! I won’t die!"

Lira shook her head firmly. "No. You cannot. The shortcut is too dangerous. If you fail... you’ll die. I won’t let that happen. You’ll go at your own pace. Learn everything, little by little."

I pouted, frustration bubbling up. "But I can! I won’t die! I just want... to be stronger, faster... better!"

She crossed her arms, clearly done arguing, and muttered a soft chant under her breath. I blinked, my words caught in my throat. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I could protest again, I sank into darkness, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Lira knelt beside me, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Rest, Lisa," she whispered. "You’ll get there... I promise. But not like this."