Previously
"Who?" Amelia asked, curiosity in her voice.
Willow chuckled. "You'll see," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's a surprise."
Amelia grinned, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have met someone like Willow. He had saved her from a life of slavery, fought off Dire Wolves to protect her, and now he was taking her to see someone special. She felt grateful and excited all at once.
As they made their way through the forest, Amelia took the time to observe her surroundings. She had never really had the opportunity to explore nature before, having spent most of her life in captivity. She marveled at the tall trees, the chirping birds, and the clear blue sky. It was a beautiful day, and she was happy to be alive and free.
But it was then, that everything felt off. Amelia had always been sensitive to the blue particles which she later learned as mana, and had even recently branched out to be sensitive towards the flow of the myriad energies itself.
Which was why, when she felt the extremely dominating and sharp pressure suddenly bearing down towards her, she felt like someone had struck her in the head with a hammer. The last thing she saw before fainted was the visage of her savior Willow whose beautiful face contorted in frustration as he caught her in his arms.
"R. . .un."
Then, she blacked out.
***
Raegis stood in the center of the chamber, her eyes closed and her body still as stone. Her silver hair flowed down her back, the strands shimmering in the dim light of the room. She had just won and absorbed one of the [Gate of Steel], an inheritance left behind by The Steel, a god, and the power coursing through her body was almost overwhelming.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense silver light. She lifted her head, and her body began to tremble with a power that was not her own. The ground shook beneath her feet, and the air crackled with energy.
With a fierce cry, Raegis lifted her arms and summoned forth a tempest of steel. The room exploded into chaos as she unleashed her power, and the walls shook and crumbled under the force of her will.
But even as the room fell to pieces around her, Raegis remained calm and focused. She knew that this power was not hers to keep forever - that it was only a fleeting glimpse of the divine power that had once belonged to The Steel.
Then, as she broke free from the [Gate Of Steel], she declared her return into the world. The very air around her began to tremble as she stood up, her silver hair and eyes glowing with a brilliant, otherworldly light. The trees around her swayed and bent in the wind created by her power, and the ground itself shook beneath her feet.
Amelia and Willow looked on in amazement as Raegis's power continued to grow, her body now surrounded by a fiery aura that crackled with raw energy. Birds scattered from the trees, and small animals ran for cover as the power emanating from Raegis reached a fever pitch.
Suddenly, Raegis let out a roar that shook the forest to its very foundations. It was a primal sound, one that spoke of untold power and unleashed fury. Amelia and Willow were thrown back by the force of it, but they managed to keep their footing and watched as Raegis unleashed her full power.
The trees around them began to wither and die, unable to withstand the incredible force that was now pouring out of Raegis. The very ground beneath their feet cracked and groaned, as if struggling to contain the massive amount of energy that was coursing through it.
As Raegis continued to unleash her power, the sky above them began to darken, as if a storm was brewing. Lightning crackled and danced across the sky, and thunder rumbled ominously in the distance.
Finally, Raegis let out one final roar, and the energy around her dissipated, leaving only the faintest traces of light in its wake. And yet, even as she felt the power beginning to fade, Raegis knew that she would never forget this moment. The feeling of raw, untamed power coursing through her veins - the feeling of being one with something greater than herself - was something she would carry with her always.
With a final burst of energy, Raegis let out a triumphant roar, and the tempest of steel around her dissipated into nothingness. She stood, panting and trembling, but with a fierce grin on her face. The forest was silent once more, except for the sound of birds chirping in the distance.
Now, Raegis was now more powerful than ever before. She had done it. She had won the [Gate of Steel], and in doing so, had taken her first steps on the path to greatness.
Raegis stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Willow. She was eager for his praise, for his acknowledgement of her new power. But as she got closer, she noticed something strange. There was a red-headed girl lying on the ground, unconscious.
"What happened?" Raegis asked, her voice low and concerned.
Willow turned to her, his expression stern. "Your awakening was too much for her," he said, his voice laced with frustration.
Raegis felt a pang of guilt. She had been so focused on her own power that she hadn't even noticed the girl. She stepped closer to Willow, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to cause any harm."
Willow sighed heavily, his frustration melting away. He placed a comforting hand on Raegis's shoulder. "It's alright," he said. "But you need to be more careful in the future. Your power is immense, and it can be dangerous."
Raegis nodded, her eyes still fixed on the girl. She felt a strange pull towards her, as if she needed to protect her. "Who is she?" Raegis asked.
Willow hesitated for a moment before responding. "Her name is Amelia," he said finally. "She's a. . . .traveler, like us."
Raegis looked back down at Amelia, studying her carefully. She noticed the locket around her neck, and a flicker of recognition passed through her. She had seen that symbol before, but she couldn't quite place it.
"She's human," Raegis said, a note of surprise in her voice.
Willow nodded. "Yes, she is," he said. "But she's also special. She has a gift for magic, unlike anything I've ever seen before."
Raegis's eyes widened in surprise. She had heard stories of humans with magical abilities, but she had never actually met one. "What kind of magic?" she asked.
Willow shrugged. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "But I think it's a combination of defense, attack, and healing. She has a rare gift, and we need to make sure she learns how to use it properly."
Raegis nodded, her mind still reeling from the revelation. She couldn't wait to see what kind of power Amelia had.
Raegis nodded, her mind still reeling from the revelation. She approached Willow with a shy and tentative step, her silver eyes downcast as she spoke in a soft voice. "I...I have awakened a new ability," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Willow smiled encouragingly. "That's great, Raegis. What ability did you unlock?" he asked.
Raegis lifted her eyes to meet Willow's, her silver hair falling in gentle waves around her face. "It's called [Counter]," she replied simply.
Willow's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "That's an impressive skill. How does it work?" he inquired.
Raegis bit her lip nervously before answering. "I can deflect any attack that comes at me with a greater force than the attacker used," she explained.
Willow nodded thoughtfully. "That's perfect!" he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "That's an excellent skill to have but be careful not to rely on it too much."
"Imm." Raegis said softly. She swooned as Willow gave her multiple pets on her head.