And so, three years passed. Each day unfolded in a similar, peaceful rhythm. She would wake up early in the morning, just as the sun began to rise, casting its warm rays to illuminate the cozy interior of their small home. Most of her days were spent with her family. She often accompanied her older sister, with whom she shared a deep passion – a love for books. Together, they read, exchanged thoughts and knowledge, and often laughed at the more absurd parts of the stories they uncovered in old tomes.
When her sister was busy with her own pursuits, Leni would help her mother with household chores. Cleaning, cooking, or tending to the garden. Her mother always appreciated her help, and the time they spent together brought them even closer. Her father, on the other hand, was often away from home. His duties as a warrior consumed nearly all his time, and he often took Leni's twin brother, Saron, with him. Saron dreamed of one day matching their father's skill and reputation.
From the male side of her family, it was mostly Aron, Saron's twin, who kept her company. Though they rarely found common topics to talk about, Aron's peculiar sense of humor could defuse any tension. He was cheerful and spontaneous, and his unexpected jokes and witty remarks made even the dullest chores – ones Aron himself was reluctant to do – feel lighter. Leni enjoyed his presence, though she sometimes felt they lacked a deeper connection.
Despite the fullness of her daily life, Leni harbored a secret. None of her family knew that for some time now, she had been secretly studying magic. It was a skill that people rarely spoke of, and when they did, it was often with disdain. Yet, Leni felt an undeniable pull toward it.
At 18, she had grown into a beautiful young woman who often drew the attention of demons. Her long, black hair contrasted strikingly with her vivid blue eyes, which seemed to pierce straight through anyone who met her gaze. Her delicate facial features gave her an air of gentleness, and the short, airy dress she often wore highlighted her youthful beauty, bringing a blush to the cheeks of shy boys. But Leni wasn't someone who cared much about appearances or the attention she garnered. Her focus remained on her passions and her family.
Everything seemed calm and harmonious – until one day changed everything. That day would forever be etched in her memory as the moment her life turned upside down, plunging her into a whirlwind of events she neither expected nor was prepared for.
***
"Leni, wake up!!!" Aron's loud voice echoed off the walls of her room, shattering the morning calm. Leni didn't even have time to open her eyes before she knew exactly what was about to happen. She tried to turn onto her side to avoid the attack, but it was already too late. Aron leapt onto her lying body with force, landing his elbow squarely on her stomach. A perfect hit.
"Hahaha! How does it feel to take an elbow to the stomach?! I've finally avenged all those days!" he exclaimed triumphantly, as if he'd just achieved something spectacular.
Still lying on her back, Leni writhed in pain, clutching her stomach. Tears welled up in her eyes as she hissed through clenched teeth:
"Heh, I see you finally managed it, sleepyhead..." she said with a grimace, feeling the pain radiating through her body.
Aron grinned widely, proud of his "achievement."
"You deserved it! Now you know what it's like to wake up with stomach pain in the morning. Besides, it's already ten, and you were still asleep. That's so unlike you!" he added with mock seriousness.
Leni sighed heavily and, with effort, pushed herself into a sitting position, still holding her stomach.
"First of all, dear brother, as a woman, I know very well what it's like to wake up with stomach pain—far more often than you do. Second, it's not my fault you're such a sleepyhead. Waking you up like that is the only method that works." She smirked mischievously, giving him a sideways glance.
Aron squinted at her before lifting his shirt to reveal his ribs.
"I'll show you 'the only method'! Look at these bruises, girl! That's your doing... Hey, don't look away! Look at this!" he shouted, grabbing her face to make her look at his "injuries."
Their bickering was interrupted by a familiar voice coming from outside the door.
"What are you two up to this time?" asked Itej, the oldest sibling, with a hint of irritation.
Leni quickly answered with an innocent smile:
"Aron's being mean to me."
"You little... What a liar!" Aron exclaimed, trying to defend himself.
Itej sighed in resignation.
"I know you're both to blame. Now, go to the kitchen. Breakfast is almost stale from waiting for you."
When they got to the kitchen, a plate of crispy bread topped with meat was waiting for them. Aron and Leni sat at the table and started eating while Itej busied herself at the stove.
"Hey, Itej, do you know where Mom is?" Aron asked, biting into a piece of bread.
"Mom's in the garden. She started work early today—it even surprised me," Itej replied without turning from her tasks.
Aron's face darkened as he set his half-eaten piece aside.
"Lately, I've been feeling... I don't know, useless. Everyone's doing something. Saron's training with Dad, Mom and you are working hard, and even Leni helps around the house. But me? I struggle with basic things, and I spend most of my day sleeping. I feel like I'm... not wanted…"
"Aaaaah!" he suddenly screamed, cutting off his confession. Itej had flicked him hard on the forehead.
"Hey, what was that for?!" he shouted, rubbing his head in outrage.
Itej sighed heavily, turning to face him.
"You're such an idiot, you know that? No one thinks of you like that, you fool. You're part of this family, just like everyone else, and I can't imagine it any other way."
Aron looked at her with relief and smiled.
"Thanks, sis. You're the best."
"Of course, I am. Now eat before... well, you know," she replied with a half-joking smile.
Aron reached for another piece, only to find his plate empty. He looked at Leni, who was finishing the last bite, her cheeks puffed full of food.
"Leni..." he said, exasperated, staring at her in disbelief.
"Yes?" she asked innocently, swallowing the massive bite that visibly moved down her throat.
Aron just sighed.
"No comment... Go get dressed and also you really can hurt yourself eating that much."
Leni grinned widely.
"You should get dressed, too," she teased.
"Oh, you! I'm different! Besides, it's weird seeing you in pajamas. You're always dressed by the time I wake up!"
"Alright, alright, I'm going. Don't get so worked up about pajamas," she said, standing up from the table.
Aron rolled his eyes, shrugging.
"It's more about the fact that you ate all the breakfast, you little demon. But whatever..." he said, resigning himself before starting to prepare more food.
Once Leni was in her room, she quickly began getting ready to leave. She grabbed a black shirt and a short white skirt from her wardrobe. Pairing them with white heeled shoes and matching socks, she paused for a moment to assess the outfit. After deciding everything matched perfectly, she tucked the clothes under her arm and headed to the bathroom, her thoughts focused on one thing: reaching her secret hideout for more magic practice.
In the bathroom, she got ready in record time. She changed into her outfit, adjusted her skirt to ensure it sat perfectly, and cast a brief glance in the mirror. Without lingering, she left the bathroom, determined to reach her secret place as quickly as possible.
As she dashed through the house, hoping to sneak out unnoticed, her mother's familiar voice called out from beneath the apple tree, where she was weeding the garden.
"Leni, where are you off to?" her mother asked warmly, not even turning from her work.
Caught off guard, Leni froze momentarily but quickly recovered and replied:
"Oh, just going for a run! I need to get some exercise," she said, trying to sound natural.
Unfortunately, not everyone was convinced. Aron , leaned out of his upstairs window with a wide grin.
"Probably off to meet some secret boyfriend…"
Without hesitation, Leni grabbed a small stone from the ground and flung it at Aron, hitting him squarely on the head.
"That's what you get!" she shouted triumphantly, tilting her chin up. Then, turning to her mother, she added:
"See you later! I shouldn't be back too late," before running off toward the hill where her hideout was located.
***
She reached the hill she knew like the back of her hand. Here, beneath a lone tree, she kept her greatest secret in a wooden box—an ancient book of magic. Kneeling on the soft grass, she brushed the dirt aside with her hand. Soon, her fingers found the smooth surface of the wood. She opened the lid and pulled out the book, which had become her most loyal companion over the years.
"Maybe today it'll finally work…" she whispered to herself, pulling the book closer and opening it to a familiar page.
It was the section dedicated to fire magic—the one art she still hadn't mastered. She had learned wind magic almost instantly, which wasn't surprising given that it was her innate element. Earth and water magic had taken more effort, but through determination and hard work, they became her strengths. Fire, however, remained elusive.
"I feel like today's the day I'll get it!" she said with conviction. "But first, a warm-up," she added, setting the book aside.
She got up, but a sudden sharp pain in her stomach forced her to curl up with a grimace. She lifted her shirt and saw a large, dark bruise.
"Damn you, Aron…" she muttered, placing her hand over the sore spot.
A soft, blue light emanated from her palm, enveloping the bruise. For a few minutes, she kept her hand in place until the pain subsided and the injury vanished without a trace.
"Water magic is irreplaceable! Hehe… All right, time for the warm-up," she said, brushing off her hands.
She ran down the hill to a flat field that was perfect for training. Taking a deep breath, she focused. With a jump boosted by wind magic, she leaped much higher than usual. Then, using earth magic, she created sharp shards that shot towards nearby bushes, their sound echoing across the hill. Moments later, she channeled energy into her hands, forming a massive water sphere that she sent skyward, scattering it into a gentle rain. To finish, she used earth magic to create stone gauntlets around her fists and struck the ground with them. A small crack formed, vibrating beneath her feet.
"Not bad!" she said, smiling to herself. "Okay, now for fire magic. Today's the day, I'm sure of it!"
Excited, she returned to the top of the hill where her book awaited. She sat down beside it and began reading the familiar text again:
*"Focus on the core. Treat the energy like blood. Slowly heat it, direct it to your hands, condense it, and release. Repeat the process, but faster …"*
Although she had read these instructions hundreds of times, she still searched for what might have gone wrong in her previous attempts. She concentrated, extended her hand, and began to try. Minutes passed—nothing. Hours passed—still nothing. Leni couldn't produce even the faintest spark.
After four hours, she collapsed to the ground in frustration but quickly brushed off her discouragement.
"Maybe not today… But tomorrow, I'll definitely get it!" she said with a smile, lifting her head to gaze at the calm ocean.
Something unusual caught her eye—a ship docked at the shore. Its mast bore a flag with the image of a massive bear with red eyes. She recognized it from her books. It was the emblem of Quri, a powerful empire from the other continent.
"What is that…?" she murmured, standing up.
She didn't have time to react. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her head as if something hard had struck her with full force. The world around her spun, her vision blurred, and everything began to fade. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, losing consciousness with a heavy thud.
***
Leni slowly opened her eyes, feeling a sharp, pounding pain in her head that made it impossible to focus her thoughts. The dampness and darkness around her only deepened her disorientation. The air was heavy, saturated with the smell of mildew and salt. She felt the room swaying gently side to side, as if it were part of something larger—a boat, a ship?
"*Waea.....hmpf?*" she tried to say something, but only muffled sounds escaped her lips. It was only after a moment that she realized her mouth was stuffed with something. A rough material blocked her from speaking, and a stiff gag kept her from dislodging it. Every attempt to move her jaw brought nothing but pain.
Panic seized Leni as she tried to move. She was lying on a cold, damp floor, completely immobilized. Strong ropes bound her tightly, biting into her skin and making every slight movement torturous. Her hands were tied behind her back, her legs secured to them, forcing her into an unnatural and painful position. The ropes seemed endless, wrapping tightly around her body and pinning every part of her down. She felt like an insect caught in a web—utterly powerless.
*"Have I been kidnapped?"* The thought cut through her rising panic. *"No... it can't be... What do they want with me?"*
Her breathing quickened, her heart pounding wildly. Desperation drove her to struggle against the bonds, thrashing and twisting in a futile attempt to free herself. Each movement sent sharp pain through her body as the ropes dug deeper into her skin, but she couldn't stop. Tears welled in her eyes, streaming down her face, though she stifled her sobs—any attempt to make a sound was muffled by the gag.
*"I can't do this… It's useless…"* she thought, her mind racing. *"I can't even use magic in this position… Even if I could, it wouldn't help! I need fire magic to burn these ropes… The one magic I can't use! Now, of all times, I need it…"*
Her thoughts spun in a chaotic spiral, but eventually, she forced herself to calm down. A deep breath, despite the gag in her mouth, helped her regain a sliver of control.
*"I need to stay calm… They didn't kill me. That's something."* The thought, though small, offered a glimmer of hope. *"But if they didn't kill me, then… they must have some other use for me."*
Leni recalled the flag with the bear she had seen on the ship before losing consciousness.
*"The Quri Empire… It all makes sense now…"* she thought with a sinking heart. *"I've read so much about that place. A nation where brute strength is all that matters, where human lives are valued only as tools or commodities. Slavery is commonplace there…"*
The knowledge pierced her mind like a blade. The horrifying truth hit her with full force.
*"I never thought something like this could happen to me… I don't want this. I *can't*…"*
Her body trembled, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Memories of the books she had read were now a painful contrast to her reality. In those stories, heroes always saved the kidnapped, restored justice, and gave hope. But Leni knew those were just tales—fantasies that had nothing to do with her current nightmare.
*"This is real. And I'm probably being taken straight to a country where the rest of my life will be spent as a slave… as an object to fulfill sexual whims of some tyrant…"*
Her hands clenched into fists, even as the ropes cut into her skin. The thought of such a fate was unbearable.
*"What am I supposed to do now?"* she thought, choking on her tears. *"I want to go home… I just want to go home…"*
Her sobs gradually subsided. She was too exhausted to cry any longer. Slowly, she rested her head against the cold wooden planks, which felt so foreign and hostile. The cell she was in was made of thick wood, like the rest of the ship. Only the window bars were metal—cold and unyielding.
*"Why is this happening to me?"* she thought, staring at the ceiling. *"What now? Am I really going to spend the rest of my life as a thing, stripped of all my rights? This is a nightmare… A sick joke from fate…"*
Her thoughts were interrupted by voices coming from the deck above. She froze, listening, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Damn, man. We've sailed all this way, and there are no monsters here. I always heard that the Serot lands were crawling with them, and what do we find? Nothing! Just one woman," grumbled a low, rough voice, filled with irritation.
"Yeah, you're right, but at least she's a looker. She'll fetch a high price for sure," replied another voice, higher-pitched, almost friendly, though its tone carried indifference.
Leni felt the blood drain from her face.
"Eh, kid, what good is one bitch? When we get back with this measly haul, they'll have our heads, you hear me? We've gotta… wait a minute… If the girl was nearby, that means there's gotta be a settlement around here somewhere," the first voice continued, now with a hint of excitement.
"What if we raided the settlement?" the rough voice suggested eagerly. "If we bring back a bunch of slaves, the boss will be thrilled!"
"Yeah, that's the ticket! Boys, let's gather the crew. We're heading to the camp where they're holed up and getting ready for an attack! Remember—don't kill the women, but loot everything!"
The sound of footsteps and the excited chatter of the crew faded as they moved towards the shore, likely heading to their makeshift camp. Leni lay paralyzed with fear, unable to catch her breath.
*"They can't do this… No! Who's going to stop them?!"*
Fury surged through her as she began to thrash and writhe, trying to free herself from the ropes. But all she achieved were deeper cuts in her skin.
*"Damn it all! It's useless!"* she thought, taking shallow breaths. *"I know I'm not at sea. I must be near the shore. I still have time to escape… But how?"*
The image of the settlement they were planning to attack haunted her. Her imagination conjured up the worst scenarios—screams, flames, destruction.
*"I can't let those bastards just slaughter everyone!"* she thought, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Leni took a deep breath, trying to calm her rising panic.
*"No… I need to pull myself together. I know what I have to do."* Determination burned in her eyes. *"I have to learn fire magic."*
That thought, as insane as it seemed, was now her only plan. It might be her last chance.