Amanda's footsteps were quiet as she left the ruin. Her new dagger was secure at her side, pulsing with a strange, soothing energy that seemed to breathe in time with her heartbeat. Her wolf companion paced beside her, attentive and watchful.
The dagger's power whispered promises, filling her with a new, insatiable hunger for strength.
As dawn approached, Amanda found a secluded narrow valley, deep in the forest to rest. She could still feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, keeping her mind sharp and focused. For now, she had an advantage, and she knew she'd need every ounce of it to reach her ultimate goal.
Her journey back to her vengeance was no longer merely a dream; it was a path she was paving with every ounce of her magic, her wits, and now her steel. Further with her ever-mystic dagger and the forbidden elixir.
After a few hours of rest, Amanda set out again, eventually coming across a small, bustling village. Disguised in a hooded cloak, she slipped into the crowd, scanning for any source of valuable information or supplies. It wasn't long before she overheard a conversation about an ancient, powerful elixir rumoured to be hidden in the woods nearby, a vial that could grant immense strength but was guarded fiercely by monstrous beasts and treacherous traps. To clarify elixirs are rare, too rare to be even seen for centuries.
The elixir called to her, its potential unlocking in her mind as she considered its implications. If she could claim it, she would wield power beyond what ordinary magic could give her, taking a step closer to the strength she needed to face the noble houses. Amanda was no stranger to risk now; her heart thrummed with anticipation as she turned back to the woods, her wolf beside her. She was getting greedy as one elixir wasn't enough for her.
The path grew darker and more twisted as she followed the clues she'd pieced together from the villagers' whispers. Eventually, the forest opened up into a clearing, overgrown with thorny vines and surrounded by a faint, unnatural mist. In the center of the narrow valley,lay a stone altar, vines creeping up its sides, and atop it rested a small, obsidian vial.
Amanda felt the weight of the elixir's magic even from a distance. The air around it was thick, shimmering with ancient power, a pull that resonated deep within her bones.
She approached cautiously, her senses on high alert, noticing the skeletal remains scattered across the ground, a warning of what awaited those who dared seek the elixir.
Just as she reached out, her instincts screamed danger. Out of the shadows lunged a monstrous creature, half-beast, half-shadow, its eyes gleaming with a primal hatred. Amanda jumped back, narrowly dodging the swipe of its massive claws. Her wolf bared its fangs, moving between her and the beast, ready to fight.
Channelling her mana, Amanda summoned a burst of fire, sending it arcing toward the creature. The beast recoiled, but it was undeterred, snarling as it charged again. She wielded her dagger, feeling the power thrumming in her hand, and slashed at the creature, landing a searing blow across its flank. It howled, stumbling back as her magic flared, binding it in place just long enough for her wolf to leap, teeth sinking into its throat but not before injuring the wolf with a big sweep of its claws. The beast collapsed, its snarls fading into silence.
Amanda tended to the wolf's wounds and saw the wolf was regenerating so she told him to hide while following her slowly.
After being done with the wolf Amanda let out a steady breath, her gaze turning back to the obsidian vial. She reached out, her fingers grazing the cool glass. A sudden surge of energy pulsed from it, tingling up her arm as if recognizing her. It was as if the elixir had been waiting for someone like her, someone driven by ambition and vengeance. As mentioned before the demonic elixir had also requirements and so does this one but not as many or hard requirements as the demonic one. So in any hidden realm or ruins that hold rare treasure have always requirments.
Without a second thought, Amanda uncorked the vial and drank.
The moment the liquid touched her tongue, searing heat flooded her body. Her veins burned with a fierce intensity as the elixir's power surged through her, reshaping and remoulding her very essence. Shadows seemed to gather around her, embracing her like an old friend, merging with her aura. A dark, potent energy filled her core, solidifying her power, and transforming her from within. She was being empowered in any way possible.
As the pain subsided, Amanda felt different, stronger and sharper. Her senses had heightened, the world around her alive with new details she hadn't noticed before. Even her wolf stared at her with a newfound reverence, sensing the shift in her presence. The girl who had once feared the nobles now held the kind of power that would make them tremble.
A sinister smile crept across her face as she flexed her fingers, feeling the mana crackle at her command. This was only the beginning.
Hours later, as Amanda trekked through the forest, a sudden disturbance snapped her from her thoughts. From the shadows emerged a group of soldiers bearing the insignia of House Draven, one of the noble families she had sworn to destroy. Her heart surged with anticipation; they were here to capture her, to drag her back for "judgment." She couldn't have asked for a better test of her newfound power.
The leader of the group stepped forward, his voice filled with disdain. "Amanda Blackwood, by decree of House Draven, you are to surrender and return with us to face your crimes".
Amand was a bit surprised that they found her and even knew her name, but as she thought about she came to realize that as a noble family, they had the resources to find her easily.
Still even while thinking, Amanda's grip tightened around her dagger, the elixir's power still humming within her. She locked eyes with him, her voice dripping with scorn. "Crimes? You're the ones who slaughtered my family.
This is your judgment, not mine".The man's sneer faded, replaced by a flicker of fear. "Seize her!".
The soldiers charged, their weapons raised, but Amanda stood her ground. She raised her hand, and with a whisper, shadows twisted around her fingers, merging into a wave of darkness that surged forward, knocking the first wave of soldiers to the ground. The forest filled with the sound of their screams as she advanced, her wolf at her side, striking at her command.
One by one, they fell, until only their leader remained, bloodied and beaten, staggering back. He looked up at her, horror etched on his face as he whispered, "What are you…?"
Amanda's voice was cold, unfeeling.
"Your reckoning".
With a swift, final strike of her dagger, she ended him. Standing among the fallen, Amanda felt no remorse, no sympathy. Only a dark satisfaction. She had tested her new strength, and it had more than proven its worth.
With her transformation complete, Amanda's path forward was clear. The nobles had made a grave mistake, and she would make sure they paid the price.