Up in the mountain, at Old Jasmine Village, Jea and her companions settled into their new routine. Athena had begun her magic practice under the watchful eye of Elder Igo, a wise old woman with a deep connection to the elements. Jea and Juan watched from the sidelines, both curious about the progress Athena was making—and about their own roles in this strange, magical world.
Jea couldn't help but notice something peculiar. As she stood there, watching Athena struggle to wield her magic, she saw threads of light in the air. They shimmered and swirled, connected to Athena's attempts, but they seemed too elusive to grasp. Jea could see the magic. She could feel its presence—but she had no idea why she could see it while others couldn't. It was like the magic had always been there, hidden in plain sight.
Despite the threads of magic hanging in the air, Athena couldn't seem to wield her powers the way she hoped. She struggled, her magic slipping through her fingers like water, no matter how hard she tried. Elder Igo, patient as ever, gave her gentle advice, but after weeks of practice, Athena was still unable to control the magic.
"I can feel it, but I can't do anything with it," Athena sighed, frustration in her voice.
Instead of pushing herself further, Athena decided to teach Jea the skills she'd learned back in her village. "If magic isn't working, maybe I can teach you something else," Athena said with a small smile.
So, instead of casting spells, they focused on physical training. Athena taught Jea sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, and archery—the skills she'd used to survive in her own kingdom. Juan joined in too, practicing with them, and soon the trio was training together every day.
Athena stomped away from the old village, her fists clenched tight. "Why can't I do it?" she muttered to herself, the frustration bubbling in her chest. She couldn't summon even a drop of her magic, and it was driving her mad.
She headed to the waterfalls, hoping the magical energy there might spark something. The rushing water sparkled under the sunlight, and the air felt alive with power. Standing near the edge, she stretched out her hands, focusing all her energy.
"Come on, just a little," she whispered, her voice shaking. She concentrated harder, but nothing happened. No swirl of water, no shimmer of magic. "Ugh!" she groaned, dropping her hands.
Behind her, she heard a laugh.
"Talking to the water now?" Juan's voice called out.
Athena spun around, glaring at him. "What are you doing here?"
Jea appeared beside him, grinning. "We saw you storm off and figured you could use some company. Or a distraction."
"I don't need a distraction," Athena huffed. "I need to figure out why my magic isn't working."
"Well," Juan said, pulling off his boots, "maybe you're trying too hard. Sometimes you just need to relax."
Before Athena could argue, he jumped into the pool below the waterfall with a loud splash. Jea laughed and followed, wading into the water and letting it rush over her legs.
"Guys, this isn't some fun field trip," Athena protested, though she couldn't help but smile a little.
"Come on, Athena!" Jea called out. "The water feels amazing. It's, like, super charged or something."
Juan popped up from under the water, shaking his hair like a wet dog. "Yeah, it's magical or whatever. Maybe this is the boost you need."
Athena sighed, her frustration softening. "Fine, but just for a minute." She slipped off her shoes and stepped into the pool. The cool water rushed over her feet, and she couldn't deny it felt... nice.
Jea splashed her. "See? Isn't this better than sulking by yourself?"
"Hey!" Athena laughed, splashing her back.
Juan joined in, and soon the three of them were laughing and soaking wet, caught up in a full-blown water fight. For a moment, Athena forgot about her magic, her worries washed away by the fun and laughter.
As they rested by the edge of the pool, Athena leaned back and looked at the sky. "Thanks, you guys. I didn't think I needed this, but maybe I did."
"Anytime," Jea said, tossing a pebble into the water. "But seriously, you're going to figure it out, Athena. Magic or not, you're pretty amazing."
"And if not, at least you've got us," Juan added with a grin. "We're your backup plan."
Athena rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed. For the first time in days, she felt lighter, like maybe she could face whatever came next.
Weeks passed, and Jea's skills sharpened. She was quick with a sword, and her agility in combat had improved. She felt the thrill of a successful strike, the weight of the sword in her hand.
One day, after a long training session, Juan smiled at her. "You're getting good," he said, impressed.
"Thanks," Jea replied, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I never thought I'd be able to fight like this."
Meanwhile, Athena wasn't giving up on her magic. She had slowly started making progress. She could speak to animals now, something that had taken her weeks to master. She'd even communicated with a bird who'd perched on her window one morning, asking it to bring her a flower she could use for her next spell.
Still, Jea was focused on what she could do. One day, Elder Igo asked her to help him with something unusual. The village was under threat from a massive cricket swarm, and they needed help quickly. The villagers were panicking as the crickets attacked their crops, and many of them didn't know how to stop them.
"Jea, can you help us?" Elder Igo asked.
Jea hesitated, unsure of what she could do. But then, she remembered the magical plants Athena had shown her. She recalled the healing plants the elder had taught her about, the ones that could calm and control the swarm.
For hours the Village faced a devastating attack from a swarm of giant crickets that devoured their crops and provisions, leaving the villagers in despair. In a frantic bid to survive, the people fled to seek refuge, while the village elders attempted to use their magic to fend off the relentless creatures, but their efforts proved futile.
Without thinking, Jea ran to the garden and started picking the plants, using the knowledge she had stored in her mind.
To her surprise, the plants worked. She arranged them in a pattern around the village, and the crickets slowly stopped swarming. The villagers, amazed, began to cheer.
"You did it!" Juan said, looking at her in awe. Juan felt a surge of pride and joy as he watched Jea earn the respect of both the elders and the villagers. For the first time, they truly embraced Jea as one of their own, recognizing the wisdom and courage that had saved them all.
But the real shock came when Elder Igo approached her. His face was full of surprise. "I've seen magic before, but this... you're not just skilled at healing with plants—you're born to heal," he said in disbelief. "You have a gift. You can connect with these plants in a way no one else can."
Jea was stunned. She had never thought of herself as someone with magic, but now it was clear that her ability to heal was something special. She had learned quickly, absorbed the knowledge from the plants, and helped the village when it was most needed.
"Maybe I do have magic," Jea whispered, looking at the plants that had saved the village.
And while Athena continued to train, slowly mastering her magic, it was clear that Jea had a different path. They were both learning, growing stronger with each passing day. Together, they were becoming more than they ever thought possible.
The village was safe for now, and as the weeks passed, both Athena and Jea realized something important: their destinies were tied together. Magic and combat, healing and strength—they needed each other to face whatever challenges lay ahead. And with Juan by their side, they felt ready for whatever the world would throw at them next.
A few hours later, the trio decided to return to the waterfalls, a secluded and tranquil spot perfect for honing their skills. With the soothing sound of cascading water in the background, they prepared to help Athena practice and refine her magic, eager to unlock her full potential.
The laughter by the waterfall faded as a loud BOOM echoed across the village, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Athena shot up, her heart racing.
"What was that?" Jea asked, wide-eyed.
Before anyone could answer, panicked screams filled the air. Villagers ran past the trio, their faces pale with terror.
"Run!" a young man yelled, waving his arms. "There's a giant bird attacking the village!"
A cricket, now a giant bird? Jea frowned. Jea couldn't shake the growing unease in her chest. Earlier, it had been a swarm of giant crickets ravaging their crops, and now a massive bird was attacking the villagers' livestock. The pattern was troubling, as if nature itself was turning hostile. "This isn't normal," Jea muttered, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Something—or someone—must be behind this."
Juan's friend, Kai, appeared, panting and shouting their names. "Athena! Jea! Juan! Get out of here! It's massive—it's eating the pig!"
Even Yhan Yhan, Athena's lion, whimpered and scurried to hide behind her leg. "What kind of lion are you?" Athena muttered, her voice tense. Yhan Yhan let out a feeble roar that sounded more like a squeak.
The trio bolted back toward their hut, dodging villagers and overturned carts. From above, the enormous shadow of the bird loomed, its piercing screech rattling their ears. Athena glanced up, her stomach twisting. The bird was easily twice the size of their hut, its razor-sharp talons clutching a struggling goat.
"This isn't good," Jea said, her voice shaky.
Juan grabbed a pitchfork leaning against the hut. "We need a plan. Fast."
"Let's trap it," Athena said, trying to keep calm. "I'll use my magic."
"You've been struggling with your magic," Jea pointed out.
"I don't have a choice!" Athena snapped, her eyes fixed on the monstrous bird circling above.
Before they could act, the bird swooped down, its talons catching Juan by the shoulders. He let out a startled yell as it lifted him into the air.
Athena focused intently, her hands glowing with a soft, ethereal light as she summoned her magic to trap the giant bird. Sweat beaded on her forehead; the creature was fast and unpredictable. Just as she conjured a shimmering net of energy, the bird shot upward, its massive wings slicing through the air.
Before Athena could react, the bird let out a piercing screech and dove back toward the village with alarming speed, its talons glinting like daggers in the sunlight. "I won't let you hurt them!" Athena yelled, steeling herself for another attempt, her magic crackling to life once more.
"Juan!" Jea screamed.