Previously
Amelia took a deep breath and focused her thoughts. She realized that she did have a power of her own, a power that could help in this situation. She closed her eyes and tapped into her mana, feeling it surge through her body. She could feel the air around her humming with energy as she drew upon her magic.
Suddenly, she heard a growl, and her eyes snapped open. She saw a Dire Wolf lurking in the shadows, preparing to take aim at Willow. Without thinking, she lifted her hands and sent a blast of air towards the wolf. The blast was larger and stronger than any she had ever produced before, and it hit the wolf square in the chest, knocking it back several feet.
As the wolf stumbled, Willow saw his chance and struck, delivering a devastating blow that sent the creature tumbling to the ground. The other wolves, sensing that the tide of the battle had turned, began to retreat.
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Amelia had never experienced anything like this before, the sudden surge of power that had come over her in the heat of the moment. She had never been in a fight before, and the realization that she had just attacked a creature with her mana left her feeling shaken. But at the same time, she couldn't just stand there and do nothing while Willow fought for her.
As the wolf stumbled, Willow saw his chance and struck, delivering a devastating blow that sent the creature tumbling to the ground. The other wolves, sensing that the tide of the battle had turned, began to retreat.
Now, only Willow and Amelia were left standing among the carcasses of their attackers. Willow's chi had protected him from the air bullets, but he was still panting from the exertion of the battle.
Amelia was staring at the dead wolves, looking sickened by the sight. Willow walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.
Amelia shook her head. "I've never seen anything like that before," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't believe they were trying to kill you."
Willow smiled wryly. "It's all in a day's work for an adventurer," he said. "But I'm glad you were able to help. That air bullet was pretty impressive."
Amelia blushed slightly. "I didn't really do anything," she said. "It was just a reflex."
Willow nodded. "Still, it was helpful. You saved my life."
Amelia looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. It's just that...I feel like I owe you something."
Willow shook his head. "You don't owe me anything," he said firmly. "I helped you because it was the right thing to do. You don't have to feel guilty about it."
Amelia looked up at him, her eyes wide. "But I do feel guilty," she said. "I've been living my life for so long as a slave, and now I'm free, and I don't know what to do with myself. And now you're hurt because of me."
Willow's expression softened. "I'm not hurt," he said. "I'm fine. And as for what you should do with yourself...well, that's up to you. You're free now, you can do anything you want."
Amelia looked thoughtful. "I've always wanted to be a healer," she said quietly. "I used to take care of the other slaves when they were sick, and I always felt like I was making a difference."
Willow nodded. "That's a noble profession," he said. "And there are plenty of people out there who could use your help."
Amelia tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean that you have a special gift for magic," Willow replied. "Your mana is incredibly potent, and I believe you have the potential to learn all sorts of magic - defense, attack, and healing. With your gift, you could become a powerful magician and you could help so many people.""
Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. "Me? A magician?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Willow nodded. "Yes, you," he said. "But you'll need training, of course. Don't worry though, I'll help you in any way I can."
Amelia nodded eagerly. "I'll do it," she said. "I want to learn everything I can about magic."
Willow smiled at her enthusiasm. "That's the spirit."
"Hey, Sir. . .Willow?"
"You can drop the sir, but yeah, what can I help you with?"
"It's just. . .well," Amelia hesitated to speak but decided she needed to say what she wanted to say. "I just can't believe all of this is happening right now. It's like a dream, and I hope I never wake up from this if it were."
"Really," Amelia smiled for the first time since they had met. "Thank you," she said again. "For everything."
Willow smiled back. "No problem," he said. "But we should probably get going. It's not safe out here and we have to go check up on a special someone."
"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.
***