Amanda moved through the crowded marketplace, her gaze darting from stall to stall. She kept her hood low, not wanting to attract attention. This was her first time in a real town, and she felt both excitement and fear simmering within her. She had no idea where to start, but she knew one thing for sure: if she was to survive, she needed to understand her powers.
The scent of herbs and old parchment drew her toward a small, dark shop nestled between two larger buildings. A wooden sign above the door read, "Sage's Library and Arcane Wares". Inside, dim candlelight flickered, casting shadows over shelves stacked with dusty tomes and strange artefacts. Amanda hesitated, then stepped inside, feeling a sense of anticipation. She felt something calling for her but didn't know what. In the end, her curiosity and sense of adventure won her over.
An elderly man with a sharp gaze stood behind the counter. He looked up as she entered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Can I help you, girl?" he asked in a gravelly voice.
Amanda swallowed, choosing her words carefully while looking with determined eyes. "I need knowledge… about magic".
The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze assessing. "Magic, eh? You don't look like a trained mage. Not many young folks come here asking for knowledge. Most just want a quick spell or charm".
"Sometimes even fake mage wannabes, who somehow find this shop".
Amanda noticed the last words and asked "What do you mean somehow find this shop?"
The shopkeeper smirked at her answer and saw her ignorance " I mean exactly that, do you think just anyone can find this shop".
"Let me tell ya, this shop is enchanted so anyone with tiny amount of mana will subconsciously ignore it"
Amanda surprised by this revelation still held her gaze, determined. "I need to understand what I can do. I don't know what it is, but it's… different".
The man's expression softened, if only slightly. He motioned her to follow him to a back room. The walls were lined with even more books, some so old they looked like they might crumble to dust. "Tell me, girl," he said, crossing his arms. "What exactly have you done? Magic doesn't just 'happen' to people". Then he went on to tell her how rare it is for anyone to awaken their mana. Even if you have not awakened mana, you still contain it in your body as does everything.
She hesitated, then told him about the fire that had erupted during the attack on her village, about her connection to the wind and the earth. As she spoke, the man's eyes grew more intense. A face that spoke loudly at how surprised he was, as mentioned earlier it is rare to awaken multiple elements as one is the common for species like humans, as they even struggle to master their sole element.
"Control over multiple elements," he murmured. "That's rare. Most mages struggle for years just to master one".
Amanda shifted, feeling a mix of pride and fear. She knew she was different, but hearing it from someone else made it real. "Is there a way to learn more?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The old man studied her for a long moment. Finally, he reached for a leather-bound book and placed it in her hands. "This might help. It's a basic primer, but if you're truly talented, it'll show you the path. But remember, girl, magic is not a gift. It's a burden. And power… well, power changes people". He will later come to find out how right he really was, for power did change Amanda.
"Thank you and I will try my best" she said in a low voice.
Amanda took the book, her fingers tingling as they brushed over the worn cover. She nodded, determined to learn. She wouldn't let her family's death be in vain. She would understand this power, control it, and use it to achieve her goal.
Later that night, Amanda found a secluded spot by a small stream outside of town. She opened the book, its pages filled with strange symbols and descriptions of elemental forces. She skimmed through sections on fire, water, earth, and wind, her heart pounding as she recognized the descriptions. Each element was calling to her in some way.
Closing her eyes, she focused on the stream beside her. She pictured the water moving, flowing in response to her will. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and to her astonishment, a small trickle of water lifted from the stream, hovering in the air.
She let out a gasp, and the water fell back with a soft splash. Amanda felt a thrill of triumph. She was learning, bit by bit. But she knew this was only the beginning.
Over the next few days, Amanda practised in secret, pushing herself to understand and control each element. Fire came easily, fueled by her anger and desire for revenge. Earth and wind responded to her as well, though they required a steadier focus. It all felt the same as the time she practised before coming to the town but this time more refined with the book as a guide.
Her progress was slow but steady. She felt herself growing stronger, and more confident. The fear that had once clouded her mind was replaced with determination. She would not be helpless ever again.
One evening, as she was practising with fire, a sudden realization struck her. Her powers could not just protect her; they could make her powerful. In a world where strength was everything, her abilities could turn her from a victim into someone others feared. She finally realized how she could transition from a helpless victim to something more, even she did not know.
With this thought, her desire for revenge flared anew. The faces of the nobles who had destroyed her village and killed her family burned in her memory. She clenched her fists, the fire in her hands blazing brighter.
"I will make them p-," she tried to whisper but stopped as she remembered her parent's smile and fury filled her even more, while a drop of tear dropped from her left eye.
Amanda's journey had just begun, but already she could feel herself changing. She was something more—someone with the potential for greatness or perhaps terror.
As she closed her book that night, a dark smile touched her lips. She would continue to grow, to learn, to master this power that had been thrust upon her. And when she was ready, she would return to confront those who had wronged her.
Her path was clear now, carved by flames and fury. There was no turning back. Only bloodshed