"Lucianna, what's our plan?" I asked, my voice shaky due to the fast-paced ride.
She turned to look at me, an amused smile on her lips. "I'll tell you, but you'll have to loosen your grip a bit, Max. You're squeezing the breath out of me."
Caught off guard by her request, I released her from my tight embrace. We were dashing through the bustling market of Tarvernia, prompting a flurry of apologies from us towards the confused bystanders.
"Now," she began, her voice steady despite the rapid pace we were moving at. But her words were cut short when she noticed something. Ahead of us, a female elf, whose radiating aura and demeanor screamed 'thief,' was in conversation with a plump human man. In a swift movement, she used a magical capsule similar to Lucianna's to summon her own horse, then sped away in a flurry of dust and hooves.
Without missing a beat, Lucianna spurred our horse to accelerate, the gap between us and the thief closing in gradually. The thrilling chase was on.
"Do we have any weapons or spells to stop her?" I asked, looking at Lucianna.
Her eyes were focused on the road ahead, her hands tightly gripping the reins. "I'm a bit preoccupied right now," she replied. "I need to concentrate on maintaining this summon."
As she spoke, the horse and carriage began to flicker in and out of existence. A slurred voice from inside the carriage indicated that Matterinna wasn't faring well. "I think I've had too much to drink," she groaned, her words slurred.
Illyanna tried to comfort Matterinna, patting her back in an attempt to soothe her. Meanwhile, Lucianna turned to me, her gaze serious.
"It's up to you, Max," she said. "You need to conjure something to stop the thief."
"But I don't know how to use magic," I protested, panic edging my voice.
Lucianna merely smiled at me, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Just listen to my instructions," she said, her voice soft yet determined. "Be prepared, Max. I believe in you."
"First, you need to grab some of the magical cards from my coat's left pocket," Lucianna instructed, her voice echoing in my ears as the carriage bounced around.
As I reached over from behind to search for her pocket, a sudden bump in the road caused my hand to accidentally land on a very different destination. Lucianna let out a surprised noise and I could feel my cheeks burn hotter than the midday sun.
"I-I'm so sorry!" I quickly stammered, withdrawing my hand as if I had touched a burning ember.
Lucianna just laughed a little and reassured me, "It's okay, Max."
Finally managing to fish out the magical cards, I held them tight in my hands. "What's next?" I asked, a newfound determination surging within me.
"Close your eyes and concentrate," she began, her voice as calm as a still lake. "Picture your soul reaching out to your fingertips. Mana is fueled by emotions."
I did as she instructed, clenching my eyes shut and forcing myself to concentrate. I imagined my soul, a gentle, shimmering light, travelling down my arm to my fingertips. But, to my disappointment, only a weak fizzle emerged from my hand.
Seeing our moment of vulnerability, the thief quickly scribbled something on her magical cards. In the blink of an eye, a barrage of apples took flight towards us.
Lucianna managed to dodge most of them, her hands moving the reins with precision. But a few stray apples collided with my head, sending a throbbing pain through my skull.
"Are you okay?" Lucianna's voice was full of worry.
"I'm fine," I managed to mutter, steadying myself, determined to not let this setback stop me.
"Take a deep breath, Max, and calm down," Lucianna instructed, her words acting as my guiding beacon amidst the stormy sea. I did as she told, drawing in a breath deep enough to fill my lungs.
"What's your dream, Max?" Her question made me hesitate for a moment. "What's your ultimate goal in life? Think about it, and let it fuel your intentions. Let your emotions guide you."
As I closed my eyes once more, images began to take shape in the dark expanse of my mind. Flashes of happy faces—my family. Laughter echoing in my ears, the warmth of love wrapping around me like a comforting blanket, that simple, profound happiness.
To my surprise, Lucianna seemed to be able to see it too. The vivid imagery of my happy memories, my hopes and dreams, somehow manifested around us, casting a warm glow on the carriage and horse.
"Max," Lucianna said, her voice brimming with something akin to admiration, "You'll become a formidable force, driven not by a thirst for power, but by the pursuit of happiness."
"I... I want to protect my family," I admitted, the words pouring from my lips like a liberated river. "I want to be happy." Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks in silent trails.
"Good," Lucianna whispered. "Now, focus all those emotions into a single fingertip."
As I followed her instructions, a vibrant, rainbow-hued aura began to swirl around my fingertip. It felt warm, like holding a piece of the sun, and it danced with the rhythm of my heartbeat.
"Good job, Max," Lucianna praised, a sense of pride clear in her voice. "Now, focus on what you want to create. Concentrate on it, and let it become reality."