Amanda left the forest, each step echoing the heavy silence left behind by Elias's death. The pain was raw, simmering, but it was already starting to change into something else—a cold, relentless drive. The memory of his dying words flickered in her mind, a weak reminder of the person she used to be. She had always tried to keep her compassion, her humanity, but now those feelings felt like chains. And she had no patience left for chains.
The town on the horizon, the same one she'd once seen as a sanctuary, was now nothing more than a means to an end. A place to train. To grow her power. To test the darker abilities she'd hesitated to explore. Her magic, still new and raw, pulsed beneath her skin, aching to be used. She could feel it responding to her emotions, the rage, and the quiet hunger for revenge. The angrier she got the more her power grew.
As she approached, the townspeople stared, their faces a mix of curiosity and fear. Her once-soft gaze was now steely and unyielding, and her aura seemed to have changed, a faint shimmer of something… darker. Her focus was on the task ahead—she would build herself into a weapon. And if that required sacrificing some remnants of herself, she was willing. She had nothing left to lose and only revenge as her only path, a path meant to make rivers of blood flow. The blood of all who stood in her way.
At the center of the town square, a local gang known for preying on the weak was collecting "taxes" from a gathering crowd. They laughed and shoved, taunting the villagers who pleaded for mercy. Amanda felt a flicker of her old self, a pang of sympathy for those who suffered. But it was fleeting. These people were not her responsibility; she owed them nothing. Yet, they could serve as useful tools.
Approaching the gang leader, she caught his eye and, with a single, cold glare, commanded his attention. He was a large man, built like a bull, and smirked at the sight of her—small, delicate-looking, and alone. He laughed, shoving a villager aside and crossing his arms as he sauntered toward her.
"Well, well. What's a girl like you doing here all by herself?" he sneered. "Looking to pay your dues?"
Amanda's lips curled into a faint smile. "Something like that."
Without another word, she unleashed a burst of magic, a bolt of searing fire that struck the ground at his feet. The flames licked dangerously close, and the man jumped back, his smirk fading into a look of uncertainty.
The townspeople gasped, and Amanda felt a thrill rush through her—power at her fingertips, ready and waiting. She was enjoying their look of fear.
"Who… who are you?" the man stammered, his voice faltering.
"Does it matter?" she replied coolly, advancing a step. "What matters is what I can do to you."
With a flick of her wrist, she sent another flare of magic, this time grazing his arm. He yelped in pain, clutching his burnt skin, while his men looked at each other in bewilderment. They'd expected a simple shakedown, an easy way to assert control, but Amanda was shattering their assumptions with each move.
"Leave," she said, her voice steady and unwavering. "Or I'll give you more than just a scratch".
The leader snarled, his pride wounded, and tried to retaliate. But she was faster, her magic sharp and precise as she dodged his strikes with ease, retaliating with bursts of flame and crackles of lightning that kept him on the defensive. Her movements were fluid, her control over the elements becoming sharper, more deadly. This wasn't a fight; it was a demonstration of her power. She was a bully or more like an adult overpowering a child.
The gang members, realizing they were no match for her, began to retreat, abandoning their leader as he fell to his knees before her, bruised and burned.
"Mercy…" he whispered, his voice shaking.
Amanda's gaze softened for a moment, a tiny remnant of compassion flickering in her eyes. But the memory of Elias, his lifeless body left behind, was still fresh. Her anger swelled again, and any urge for mercy disappeared. She wanted to feel the strength in her hands, to know that she was no longer weak or vulnerable.
"No," she said softly, letting a final surge of magic sweep over him. His scream faded as he slumped to the ground, unconscious but alive—barely.
The townspeople stared, their expressions a mixture of awe and fear. She turned to face them, letting her magic subside, her eyes cold and unreadable.
"You'll be safe now," she said, her tone detached. "But remember this: I'm not here to protect you. I have my own reasons, and I won't hesitate to use you if necessary".
She knew her words would instill caution, maybe even a sense of dread. But it didn't matter. She couldn't afford attachments, not anymore. They were distractions, weaknesses that could be exploited.
As she left the town, she felt the effects of her actions settling into her soul, reshaping her. She had embraced her power and chose to wield it without restraint. The whispers of darkness around her felt like an invitation, a path opening before her, promising strength but at the cost of her humanity.
The pain of losing Elias was still there, but now it served as more fuel to her revenge, urging her forward. With each step, she vowed to never let anyone hurt her again, to never be vulnerable. The nobles who had taken everything from her would pay. They took her family and now even her friend. They had started this path for her, and she would end it in blood and flames.