Amanda continued her training with unyielding focus, immersing herself in the elements as if they were extensions of her very soul. Each day in the secluded clearing, she pushed her limits, growing stronger and more confident with every spell she mastered. Yet, beneath her resolve, a gnawing impatience festered. She knew her progress was fast, but to her, it felt painfully slow. Her thirst for vengeance demanded more. If only she knew how absurd what she was saying would have been, had anyone else heard it.
One night, she found herself wandering the edge of the forest after her training, the moon casting a silvery glow over the trees. The stillness of the night brought an eerie calm, yet she felt a presence lingering just out of sight as if she were being watched. Amanda's instincts sharpened, her senses alert.
"Show yourself," she commanded, her voice steady but cold, unlike her former self. She grew and gained pride from a mere peasant girl to a proud mage in training.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a young man around her age, with tousled dark hair and piercing green eyes. His clothes were worn, but his stance was firm, his gaze unwavering.
"You have quite the talent, girl," he said, his voice soft but with an edge. "I've been watching you for days now."
Amanda's eyes narrowed, a small flame sparking in her palm as she prepared herself. "Who are you, and why have you been spying on me?". She was cold and was ready to keep her secrets no matter what it took.
The young man raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I mean no harm. My name is Elias. I come from the western mountains. I couldn't help but notice your power… it's rare to find someone with your abilities."
She kept the flame steady, watching him carefully. "And what do you want from me?"
Elias tilted his head, studying her. "To learn. To understand. I've never seen someone control multiple elements like you do. It's… remarkable."
Amanda scoffed, though she was intrigued. "Curiosity alone brought you here? I doubt that."
A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. "Perhaps not just curiosity. I, too, have a gift, but nothing as versatile as yours." He extended his hand, and a small spark of lightning crackled between his fingers. "I have an affinity for electricity. It's powerful, but it lacks… flexibility". A rare affinity especially considering the fact that he is a mere human but he may have a mixed bloodline. Normally humans have only the 4 basic elements and small variants but families with bloodlines do have rare affinities.
Amanda felt a flicker of interest, though she kept her expression guarded. "Lightning, huh? Not bad, but it's not enough to impress me". She still kept her cold deminer not showing any traces of weakness.
Elias shrugged, unaffected by her coldness. "I didn't come here to impress you. I came because I thought we could help each other. You have talents I've never seen before, and I know things that might benefit you. If you're interested".
She hesitated. Part of her wanted to dismiss him, to send him away and keep her training private but another part of her—a practical part—recognized the value in having an ally. Even someone as driven as Amanda knew that she couldn't do everything alone. She was truly temped but she could not trust him that easily and had to think abo-
"Fine," she said finally, extinguishing the flame in her hand. "But I'm not doing this for you. If you slow me down, I'll leave you behind". She did not even take more than a few seconds to decide. what a trusting fool and will come to regret it very soon.
Elias smiled, unfazed. "Understood".
Over the following weeks, Amanda and Elias trained together in the forest, each pushing the other to their limits. Their abilities complemented each other in unexpected ways. While Amanda excelled in elemental control, Elias had a deep understanding of combat strategy, something she lacked. He taught her how to think ahead, to anticipate her opponent's moves and exploit their weaknesses. She was a fast learner and was improving at a fast rate which surprised Elias and prompted him to increase his teaching.
In return, Amanda shared her knowledge of the elements, teaching Elias techniques he'd never considered. Under her guidance, he learned to channel his lightning in more controlled bursts, honing his skills with precision. Their training sessions became a blend of sparring and study, each of them testing the boundaries of their powers.
Yet, despite their growing camaraderie, Amanda remained guarded. She never spoke of her family or the nobles who had wronged her, keeping her motives to herself. Elias, sensing her reluctance, didn't press. He was content to keep their alliance focused on power and progress, knowing that trust was not something she offered easily.
One evening, as they sat by a small fire, catching their breath after a particularly intense session, Elias glanced at her thoughtfully.
"You're driven by something… more than just ambition," he observed, his tone gentle but probing. "What is it that fuels you, Amanda?".
She was taken aback by his question and never really thought about how to tell her every growing ambition to anyone.
She looked away, staring into the flickering flames. A shadow crossed her face, and for a moment, she considered brushing off his question. But something about the quiet of the night, the solitude of the forest, loosened her resolve. She felt safe and secure, but that did not mean she was going to be all nice about it, for no no, she was a tsundere and would never admit how nice it was to open up about her past.
"My family," she said softly, her voice barely audible. "They were killed she said loudly this time. By nobles who thought themselves untouchable". With anger this time and a bit of sadness.
Elias's gaze softened, a flicker of empathy in his eyes. "I see. And you want revenge".
Amanda nodded, her expression hardening. "I won't rest until I've destroyed every one of them. They think they're above us, that they can do whatever they want without consequence. But they're wrong".
"I will show them how wrong they are, I will rip them to shreds and bathe in their blood and then burn them to ashes".
Elias didn't respond immediately as he surprised by her wording and determination. Instead, he stared into the fire, his expression contemplative. "Revenge is… powerful," he said finally. "It can drive you to incredible heights. But it can also consume you".
"I don't care," Amanda replied, her voice steely. "I'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means losing myself". I will embrace it to the end even if it means burning the world to a cinder".
Elias regarded her silently, a mixture of respect and caution in his eyes. He understood her pain, though he sensed that her journey was far more dangerous than she realized.
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Days turned into weeks, and Amanda's powers continued to grow. With Elias by her side, she learned to channel her elements with greater precision and control, her abilities reaching new heights. She began to test the limits of her magic, experimenting with combinations of fire and wind, or water and earth, creating powerful spells that left both her and Elias in awe.
One night, as they trained under a full moon, Amanda attempted a new spell—a fusion of fire and lightning, drawing on both her own power and Elias's. The air crackled with energy as flames and lightning intertwined, forming a swirling vortex of raw power. There she goes again doing something absurd, not following the rules.
As the spell reached its peak, Amanda felt a sudden surge, the magic slipping beyond her control. The vortex expanded, its energy spiraling wildly. Elias shouted, reaching for her, but before he could intervene, the spell detonated, sending both of them flying backward. She is trying to do the impossible.
When Amanda opened her eyes, she was lying on the ground, dazed. She sat up, blinking as her vision cleared. Across from her, Elias was sprawled on the ground, groaning.
"That… was intense," he muttered, sitting up and rubbing his head.
Amanda managed a weak smile, despite the pain. "Maybe a bit too intense."
Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "You're dangerous, Amanda. But I think that's what I like about you".
She looked away, hiding the faint blush that crept up her cheeks. For the first time in years, she felt something other than anger or determination small, flickering warmth that surprised her.
But she quickly buried it, focusing instead on the path ahead. She had a mission, and nothing, not even Elias would distract her from her goal.