Amanda and Elias continued to train together, the days bleeding into one another as they honed their skills. Amanda's focus was as sharp as ever, but the presence of Elias added something unexpected comfort, perhaps, or the relief of not having to shoulder the burden of her journey alone. She didn't trust easily, and she certainly hadn't intended to let anyone get close. But Elias, in his quiet, persistent way, was beginning to feel like more than just an ally.
One evening, after a particularly gruelling session, they sat by the fire in silence, watching the flames dance and crackle. The forest around them was dark and still, an untouched world that seemed to hold its breath as they sat together. Amanda glanced over at Elias, who was nursing a bruise on his arm, his face flushed with exhaustion.
"You should be more careful," she said, unable to keep a hint of concern out of her voice.
Elias raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Careful? Coming from the girl who almost blew us both up with her little fire and lightning experiment last week?"
Amanda rolled her eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, maybe I need to work on that spell a bit more. But seriously, you don't have to push yourself so hard. I know you're not as experienced with elemental magic". unknown to her it hurt Elias even more than the bruise.
He shrugged, looking at her with an intensity that made her feel exposed. "I'll keep up, Amanda. I want to be strong too. If I'm going to stand by your side, I need to be able to hold my own".
Amanda blinked, taken aback by his words. She wasn't used to people wanting to support her, let alone someone willing to put in the same effort, the same risk. She had grown up believing that she could rely only on herself, that trust was a weakness that could get you killed. But here was Elias, looking at her with a fierce determination that was strangely comforting. She felt happy but still did not outwardly display it.
They lapsed into silence again, each lost in thought. Amanda watched the flames, feeling a mixture of gratitude and fear swirling in her chest. She was afraid of relying on someone, afraid of letting someone into her life when she was so focused on vengeance. But Elias was persistent, breaking down her walls with quiet kindness and a stubborn refusal to give up on her. She was like a hard cold ice wall slowly melting into a warm river.
"Why are you so determined to stay?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely more than a whisper. She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on the fire.
Elias was silent for a moment as if he hadn't expected the question. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but unwavering. "Because I believe in you, Amanda. I see what you're capable of, and I know there's more to you than just revenge".
Amanda felt her throat tighten, a painful lump forming as she struggled to find words.
She wanted to argue, to push him away, but the warmth in his gaze made her pause. It was a foreign feeling, this sense of being understood, and it both frightened and comforted her.
"You don't know me," she said, a hint of bitterness creeping into her voice. "You don't know what I've been through". She did not want to admit it and stubbornly lashed out.
Elias nodded, his expression gentle but firm. "You're right. I don't know everything. But I know enough. And I know that even if you're driven by revenge, that's not all there is to you."
She scoffed, turning her face away. "You're wrong. Revenge is all I have left. It's the only thing that keeps me going". She stubbornly said while still denying her feeling, like a typical tsundere.
Elias reached out, his hand hesitating before he placed it gently on her shoulder. "Amanda… I know it hurts. I can't imagine what you've lost. But if you close yourself off completely, if you let revenge consume you, you might lose the part of you that makes you… human".
The words hit her like a blow, the truth of them cutting through her defences. She had been so focused on her goal, so consumed by her hatred, that she hadn't allowed herself to feel anything else but here was Elias, reminding her that she didn't have to be alone in her pain. That she didn't have to lose herself entirely to achieve her goals. She could accept some help and she did not need to be alone.
For a long time, she didn't say anything, struggling with the emotions that churned inside her. Part of her wanted to reject his words, to push him away and continue on her solitary path. But another part of her—the part that was tired, that was lonely—wanted to believe him.
"Maybe," she whispered, barely audible. "Maybe you're right". Finally accepting it.
Elias's grip on her shoulder tightened, a reassuring warmth spreading through her. "You don't have to face this alone, Amanda. I'm here. And I'll stay, as long as you'll let me".
Amanda closed her eyes, the weight of his words settling over her like a blanket. She didn't know if she could truly open herself up, if she could trust someone enough to let them in. But Elias was giving her a choice, a choice she hadn't realized she wanted. He was offering her more than just his strength; he was offering her companionship, a lifeline to hold onto in the darkness.
After a while, she opened her eyes, looking at him with a newfound sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Elias," she said softly, the words strange but sincere. "For everything". She expressed her emotions as her ice wall slowly smelted.
He smiled, the warmth in his gaze making her heartache. "Anytime".
For the first time since the loss of her family, Amanda felt a flicker of hope, a small, fragile thing, but enough to remind her that maybe, just maybe, there was more to her journey than vengeance. That perhaps, along the way, she might find something or someone worth fighting for beyond her past.
As the fire crackled softly in the darkness, Amanda and Elias sat together in silence, a quiet understanding passing between them. Their journey was far from over, and the path ahead was filled with challenges. But now, for the first time, Amanda felt like she wasn't facing it alone.
And as she drifted off to sleep by the dying embers, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in years a small but precious gift, offered freely by someone who saw her not just as a weapon, but as a person.
Oh, how naive she was, for nothing ever went as planned, and soon her world would start to fall apart in ways she never expected.