In the days that followed, Amanda's focus sharpened on one goal: mastering the magic she had been gifted with. She secluded herself, embracing solitude, and began pushing herself through every incantation, every elemental command, until her hands moved as naturally as breathing. Her drive, her obsession to become stronger, consumed her. She focused solely on getting stronger and mastering her magic.
She concentrated on the core elements first. Fire, water, earth, and wind responded effortlessly to her commands, but she didn't stop there. She dabbled in rarer and more complex elements, some considered unattainable by anyone without decades of practice. Ice crackled beneath her fingertips, lightning surged through her veins, and even shadows seemed to yield to her will. In her heart, she felt an insatiable hunger for more. She was not like everybody else for she had a talent for more than basic elements. She had rare affinities and many more but she did not know that as of yet.
Her nights were filled with visions of retribution, of watching those who destroyed her family crumble beneath her power. The small, flickering lights of her campfire reminded her of the village homes she'd left behind. The life she had once known felt further away with each passing day, and with it, any remorse faded. It fueled her resolve to get stronger and to get revenge.
One evening, as she practised by a riverbank, an unexpected presence startled her. A beast appeared from the thicket, a large wolf with fur as dark as night, its eyes glimmering with feral intelligence. Amanda froze, but rather than pounce, the creature circled her, studying her. She was weirded out as she had never seen a beast like this.
"What are you?" Amanda whispered, keeping her voice calm as she readied herself for a fight.
The wolf snarled, but it was not of aggression. It lowered itself, almost as if bowing, acknowledging the energy emanating from Amanda. She could feel it, her aura, thick and potent, radiating from her without any conscious command. She had begun to command an unspoken authority, her presence unmistakably powerful even to creatures. She could command the natural mana and her connection to mana in it self was akin to an authority.
Curiosity piqued, Amanda reached out with a careful hand, and the beast allowed her touch. In that moment, something changed. Her power pulsed, instinctively reaching out to the creature, and she felt a connection, unlike anything she had known. It was as if the wolf had become a part of her, bound to her will, loyal.
Experimenting further, Amanda used her mana to solidify the connection, creating a tether that pulsed with her heartbeat. She had formed a bond, an allegiance that tied the creature to her. It was an exhilarating revelation. With allies like these, her rise to power would accelerate. She would make this world kneel. She did not know yet, but she had made a pact with the beast, which is only possible for a rare type of mages known as summoners. summoners form bonds with spirits, monsters, or beasts, and Amanda's successful pact with the wolf shows she has a natural aptitude for this ability.
Days passed, and Amanda continued her journey with the wolf by her side, her first loyal beast. The pair became inseparable, travelling through rough terrain and dark forests. She sensed an unspoken intelligence in the wolf, and its companionship became a reminder that she was no longer alone in her mission.
Eventually, Amanda found herself on the outskirts of a small town—a place rich in gossip, where tales of danger and hidden treasures thrived. Cloaking her presence, she slipped into the shadows, eavesdropping as townsfolk shared rumours of an ancient ruin located not far from the village. They spoke of treasures and power sealed within, powerful artifacts that would grant its possessor unimaginable strength. ancient ruin in Pandora, ancient ruins are remnants of past civilizations or powerful beings, often holding potent artifacts, forbidden knowledge, or lingering magical energies. They are ranked based on danger and value from common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary and lastly mythical.
The thought excited her. An ancient ruin could provide exactly what she needed to elevate her power further. But it would be dangerous; such places were guarded by curses, traps, and beasts beyond mortal comprehension. For Amanda, however, it was merely the next step. She was confident that she could tackle the ancient rune.
As night fell, she headed toward the ruin's location, the wolf trailing at her side. The path was thick with underbrush and winding trees, and the silence pressed down upon them. But Amanda felt no fear, only the electric anticipation that coursed through her veins as they approached the entrance—a doorway carved into the side of a rocky cliff, partially hidden by ivy and thick moss.
Amanda's instincts screamed caution, yet she walked forward without hesitation, her wolf pacing beside her, alert. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. A thick, ancient energy permeated the atmosphere, filled with the weight of long-lost magic. It tugged at her senses, inviting her deeper.
Slowly, Amanda advanced, each step echoing off the stone walls. Her fingers brushed against the worn carvings, symbols of power etched by a civilization long gone. She whispered incantations under her breath, casting subtle spells to detect any traps. The ruin was alive with energy, pulsating with magic that felt… hungry. She still did not hesitate. While she was doing all of that, an unseen magic scanned her body to confirm that she worthy to enter. Which in her was a success as one of the requirements was, one had to have multiple affinities at least 5.
In the center of the chamber, a pedestal stood illuminated by a soft, eerie glow. Atop it lay an object, something metallic, partially covered in dust. Amanda's heart raced as she approached. It was a dagger, its blade etched with intricate symbols, glowing faintly as if responding to her presence.
Reaching out, she grasped the weapon, feeling the cold weight of it in her hand. In that instant, a surge of mana flooded her body, as if the ruin itself were welcoming her, acknowledging her as its rightful heir. Visions flashed before her eyes: images of battles, ancient rituals, scenes of unfathomable power. The dagger, she realized, was more than a weapon. It was a key, a relic tied to powers she had yet to comprehend.
But there was more, something more profound.
Beside the pedestal, she noticed a dark, thick vial placed within a small stone alcove. Her hand reached for it, sensing its allure even before her fingers brushed its surface. The vial, sealed tightly and marked with ominous symbols, held a viscous, red liquid that shimmered with foreboding energy. The ancient magic around her pulsed, as if warning her. She knew instinctively what this was, a demonic elixir, a powerful substance that could change her forever. Change her race to something else, something more sinister and evil.
A chill of excitement raced through her. This elixir was dangerous, forbidden, and offered her exactly what she sought and power without limits. She realized this was no ordinary magic, but a dark transformation, a path that could unlock her true potential. Taking the elixir would push her closer to becoming something beyond mortal, a demon. No, No far from even a demon for she would become a progenitor demon of a race long gone. A race from epochs forgotten.
With reverence, she carefully tucked the vial into her satchel. She now held two powerful relics: a dagger that thrummed with magical energy and the elixir that promised transformation. Her heart pounded with anticipation. She would not use it yet, not until she was ready to accept the consequences.
As Amanda exited the ruin, the weight of her resolve solidified. She had found her first true weapon and a symbol of the journey she was beginning. Holding the dagger close, she knew there would be no going back. The girl she once was had faded, replaced by something darker, fiercer, unstoppable. For she was destined to do something more.
And so, Amanda stepped into the moonlit night, her heart and mind set on the path that lay before her, now armed with the means to claim her vengeance, regardless of the cost.