Amanda and Elias continued to train together, their days blurring into one as they honed their abilities. Together, they shared more than just spells and techniques; there was a bond of shared purpose and an unspoken trust that grew with each passing day. For Amanda, who had rarely let anyone close, Elias's presence offered an unexpected comfort—a strange warmth that reminded her of life before tragedy and vengeance had clouded her heart as she opened up her heart to him.
On a particular day, after hours of relentless sparring, the two of them took a rare moment of rest beside a small river in the woods. Elias, a faint smile on his face, was showing Amanda a simple attributeless spell, encouraging her to feel the flow of the mana around her, to draw power from it effortlessly. She watched him, a small smile creeping onto her lips, the atmosphere light as if a hint of normalcy had found them in the depths of their journey.
But their peace was short-lived.
A sudden rustling in the bushes snapped Amanda's attention. Emerging from the shadows were three soldiers, clad in the familiar crest of the noble families that haunted Amanda's past. Her blood ran cold as they stepped forward, their gazes sharp and calculating. She clenched her fists, feeling a mix of dread and rage bubbling within her.
"Well, well," one of them sneered. "Looks like we found some little traitors".
Elias immediately positioned himself in front of Amanda, his hands glowing faintly as he prepared to cast. "Stay back, Amanda. I'll handle this".
She glanced at him, her heart pounding. "Elias, don't be reckless". Even though she said that she still felt happy that he stood up for her and was willing to protect her.
But he was resolute, his jaw set as he summoned a wall of made of lightning between them and the soldiers. For a moment, she saw the determination in his eyes, a silent promise that he would protect her, no matter the cost. It was both reassuring and terrifying. She felt a pang of fear, a sensation she hadn't allowed herself in a long time. Elias was more than an ally, he had become her friend, her confidant.
Before she could react, one of the soldiers broke through the wall with a powerful blast of earth spikes. Elias pushed her aside, taking the brunt of the attack. He stumbled, clutching his side, a pained expression twisting his features as the spikes stabbed him in multiple places.
"Elias!" she cried, her voice breaking.
But he didn't falter. Summoning his remaining strength, he launched a flurry of lightning attacks, forcing the soldiers to momentarily retreat. In that instant, Amanda felt a surge of fury, a dark power within her stirring in response to the threat against the only person she had begun to care about. She finally lost it as the last string holding her sane snapped.
Drawing on her mana, Amanda summoned a storm of lightning, channelling it toward the soldiers with a force that made the ground tremble. Two of them fell instantly, but the third dodged, his movements quick and calculated. He darted forward, a blade flashing as he closed in on Elias. And now you might be wondering where did the lightning come from, didn't she only have 4 elements which was a cheat already? Well, the answer to your question is obviously plot.
Elias barely had time to raise his hands in defence before the sword struck. A sickening silence followed as he staggered backwards, his eyes wide with shock. Amanda felt her breath catch as he crumpled to the ground, blood staining his tunic, his face contorted in pain.
"No," she shouted, rushing to his side. As she felt like her heart was bleeding by just seeing it, it felt like she was being stabbed by multiple knives.
She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she tried to press against the wound, to stop the blood that was seeping through her fingers. But it was futile; the injury was deep, too severe as she did not even know any healing spell in the first place other than basic treatment. Elias looked up at her, his gaze soft, almost peaceful despite the pain.
"Amanda," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Don't… don't give up. You're stronger than you know".
Her throat tightened, a painful lump forming as she struggled to hold back her tears. "Elias, please, don't leave. I can't do this without you".
But he only managed a faint smile, his hand reaching up to touch her cheek, a silent gesture that spoke of his trust, his belief in her. "You'll… you'll find your way. Promise me… you won't let this break you".
She nodded, unable to speak, her heart shattering as his hand fell limp. The light faded from his eyes, leaving only a haunting stillness. She held him, her mind numb, the weight of his loss pressing down on her like a suffocating darkness.
As the final soldier fled, Amanda barely registered his retreat. Rage pulsed through her veins, a fierce and unyielding fire that consumed her grief, transforming it into something sharper, colder. She could feel her heart hardening, any lingering softness replaced by a merciless resolve. Elias's death was a wound she would carry forever, but it would also be her fuel, her reminder of the price that had been paid. Now she would not anything likes this ever happen as she hardened her heart even more to not a mere ice but an unmeetable metal one.
Standing up, she gazed at the forest, her expression steeled with a new determination. The nobles had taken everything from her, and now, they had taken Elias. There would be no mercy, no forgiveness. She would become stronger, and unstoppable, and she would see them pay. She would make them suffer a thousand times more than what they did to her family and Elias.
With one final look at Elias, Amanda whispered, "I promise." And with that, she turned away, leaving behind the last remnants of her old self as she walked into the shadows, her path darkened, but her resolve blazed like a fire that would never be extinguished.