The Wilderness
Elara goes deeper into the dense forest, her cloak pulled tightly around her to keep warm. The forest is thick with ancient trees, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that blocks out much of the Sunlight. The air is damp and filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls. Elara's steps are heavy, each one a struggle as exhaustion begins to take its toll.
Her mind races with thoughts of her parents and the kingdom she left behind. The image of Prince Eamon's smug face haunts her, fueling her determination to survive and reclaim her home. But as the days pass, the physical toll of her journey becomes harder to ignore. Her body aches, and her stomach growls with hunger. She hasn't eaten a proper meal in days, surviving on what little she can find.
Since Prince Eamon drained her of her powers, they have reduced drastically, leaving her weak and vulnerable to attacks.
As night falls, the temperature drops, and Elara shivers under her thin cloak. She finds a small clearing and decides to set up camp. Gathering a few dry twigs, she manages to start a small fire. The flames flicker weakly, casting long shadows around her. She sits by the fire, staring into the flames, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger, sorrow, and determination.
Her eyelids grow heavy, and despite her best efforts to stay awake, she drifts into a restless sleep. Her dreams are filled with images of her parents, their faces filled with sorrow, and the kingdom she once called home. She sees herself standing before the grand gate, the heavy doors closing behind her with a resounding thud.
Suddenly, she is awakened by a loud noise. Her heart races as she looks around, trying to identify the source. The forest is dark and foreboding, the shadows playing tricks on her eyes. She stands up, her body tense, ready to defend herself if necessary. But the noise doesn't come again, and she slowly relaxes, realizing it was just a branch falling.
She sits back down, but sleep eludes her. The fire has died down to ashes, and the cold seeps into her bones once again. She wraps her cloak tighter around herself, trying to stay warm. Her thoughts drift back to her parents, and she wonders if they are safe. She knows she must keep moving, but her body is exhausted, and she feels herself growing weaker. She then manages to use a little strength to keep herself warm.
As dawn breaks, Elara forces herself to her feet. She extinguishes the remnants of the fire and continues her journey. The forest seems endless, and each step feels heavier than the last. Her vision blurs, and she stumbles, catching herself on a tree trunk. She leans against it, breathing heavily, her strength nearly gone.
Her magic, once a reliable source of energy, now feels like a distant memory. She tries to summon even a spark, but it's as if the well has run dry. Panic sets in as she realizes she's truly alone, without even her powers to protect her. All alone, tired, hungry, and thirsty, she walks a few miles and sees a river. Just as she's about to kneel and scoop a handful of water, her vision blurs, and she faints.
3 hours later
Stranger:(using his powers to summon the river) It's kinda cool. Best have a drink.
After drinking, he notices someone by the edge of the river.
Stranger: What is that?
He goes closer and finds out it's a girl.
Stranger:What is she doing here?
The stranger summons the river again, raises her head, and the water forces its way into her mouth and down. Elara shakes and opens her eyes, but her vision is still blurry.
He carries her into the mystical forest; night is fast approaching. He lays Elara on the ground then quickly, makes a bed with soft grass, and lays her gently on it.
He makes fire with his magic. After a while, she wakes up.
Elara: (Waking up, notices she is on a bed of grass, which amazes her, and then sees the stranger sitting close to the fire, backing her) Who are you, and where am I?
Stranger: (Without looking back) Safe.
Elara: (Getting up and going to where the stranger is, but can't see his face as it is covered with a cloak, then notices that the fire isn't burning but is just there for warmth) Who are you?
Stranger:(coldly)A stranger. Glad to see you're better now. I'll leave before sunrise.
Elara: Wait, you can't go. I don't even know where I am.
Stranger: (Scoffs) Then how did you know the Elyria River?
Elara: I don't know; it just came from the blue, I guess.
Stranger: You guess? Listen, girl, I...
Elara: (Getting a bit upset) Elara.
Stranger: I didn't ask you. I saved you only because you were vulnerable and certainly not to ask me questions.
Elara: (Angry) Then you should have left me vulnerable rather than keeping me safe and being rude to me.
Stranger: Attention, attention, attention - that's what all you ladies seek.
Elara:How dare you! (Out of anger, she summons a gust of wind with her powers and lauches it at him, which makes the him angry).
Stranger:(Enraged) The mistake I made today was saving you. (Summoning the Elyria River's healing waters forming a water explosion.)
Elara:(Dodging the blow, then destroys the grass bed without leaving a trace) Whoa
Stranger:(Unleashing a blast of dark energy) You should have stayed in your lane, instead of insulting me with your comeback!
Elara: (Too weak to dodge, the blow hits her, draining her further) Aaah!
Stranger: (Summoning razor-sharp vines to bind her) After displaying your feeble magic, you can't even stand back.
Elara:(Tossed across the clearing by the vines) Aaah...what... Leave me alone!
Stranger: (Approaching Elara, raising her head, revealing his piercing emerald eyes) You started this. Now you're weak and vulnerable, just like before.
Elara: (Panting) Let go of me, please.
Stranger:You should have thought of that before having the nerve to fire at me.
Elara:(Panting) Me? You started talking rudely, talking about stupid attention and...
Stranger: There you go again, seeking what you want.
Elara:(Angry) I don't know you, and you don't know me. You should have talked nicer instead of tossing me like I'm a ball or something.
Stranger:Well, that's definitely what you are from the looks of it.
Elara:(Getting furious and summoning crystalline shards that threw the stranger to the far side of the river) How dare you?
Stranger: (Recovering from the blow) Okay, that's it.
He heads towards Elara with force, grabs her by the neck, and hits her against the wall.
Stranger: (Angry and still holding her by the neck) You picked the wrong person to fight today.
Elara:(Amidst coughing) Like I said, you should have left me when you had the chance.
Stranger:(Still strangling her) You are going to wish you didn't cross paths with me.
Elara:(With a little bit of energy, she manages to toss the stranger to the other side and runs towards the river's waterfalls.)
Stranger:Oh no, you don't.
He uses his powers and builds a water wall that blocks Elara from entering the river.
Elara: (Turns back) Let me go.
Stranger:(Smirking angrily) I'll let you go with a warning because I have other important things to do.
He grabs her and gives her a long, straight, deep injury by the side of her ribs.
Elara: (In pain) I... How... Aaah.
Stranger:This is just a stern warning.
He releases her, and she falls from the waterfall into the river. The stranger disappears as the river tosses her over rocks,she had sustained bruises here and there. As the river calms down she is able to swim to the edge.
Elara: (Coughing and in deep pain) Aaah.
Boy:(In the distance) So please remind me why we are here again?
Girl: (Sighs) Like I said, we are here to behold the forest entrance.
Boy:(Scoffs) Yeah, right.
Elara: (Coughing)
Girl: You hear that?
Boy: Look, by the edge.
They run to help her. As Elara sees them, she tries to talk but instead spits out blood.
Girl:(Shocked)We have to help her.
Elara blacks out due to intense pain. The girl carries her to her home.
Girl:Any luck?
Boy:Still trying, but it's delaying (Using his powers to heal her bruises, but the mark by the ribs isn't easy.) Well, I think I have been able to subdue the shadow mark.
Girl:Subdue?
Boy:That's a shadow mark, a sign of dark magic.
Elara:(Opening her eyes and sees them)
Girl: Hello there.
Elara: (Tries to get up, but the mark's pain increases, and she holds it) Aaah.
Boy: Easy.
Elara:(Still in pain) Who are you?
Girl: I'm Liora, and this is Damon. And you are?
Elara: I'm Elara. Nice to meet you too, but where am I?
Liora: (Confused) Wait, you don't know where you are?
Elara: Yes.
Damon:Then how did you get here?
Elara:I don't know. I happened to wake up by a river, and when…
Liora:Then how did you get that mark?
Elara:Well, I had been strolling for long in the dense forest, then I fainted beside a river. When I woke up, it was dark, and a stranger was sitting by the fire. (Scoffs) He was awfully rude. Then he said things that didn't make sense, and we fought, and that's how I got the mark.
Damon: But who would do something like that?
Liora: Can you give us a face?
Elara:He wore a cloak that covered his face.
Liora:That's bad… So you don't have powers?
Elara:I do.
Damon:Then why didn't you defend yourself?
Elara:I was drained, okay? (She starts crying) I was so weak and vulnerable. He was so rude and heartless.
Liora:(Embracing her) It's okay.
Damon: Now that you are awake, I can heal the mark, but it will still be there. Don't get too stressed and focus on inner peace before launching an attack.
Elara:(Sniffing) I will, thanks so much.
Damon places his hands over the mark, and a soft, golden light emanates from his palms. The light pulses gently, and the shadow mark begins to fade, though a faint outline remains.
Elara:(Amazed)But how did you do that?
Liora:Well, Elara I have studied you a little to know you are not from these parts, so I'll ask a question which is. Have you heard of the protectors?
Elara:Yes, I have. Powerful, extraordinary beings.
Damon:All done. How do you feel?
Elara:Better, thank you.
Liora:Well, you just happened to be in our territory.
Elara: (Looking around) Your territory? What do you mean?
Liora (Smiling) Welcome to the realm of the Protectors.