The market buzzed with life as merchants called out their wares and shoppers moved from stall to stall. Thalia, once again dressed in her commoner disguise, strolled through the bustling streets. Her cloak hood concealed her silver hair, and her eyes darted around, searching for anything of interest.
She paused at a fruit stand, picking up a ripe apple, when a pair of guards stopped near the stall. Their conversation caught her attention immediately.
"Did you hear about the Zania Forest incident?" one guard asked, his tone low but tense.
The other guard nodded, his face pale. "How could I not? The reports are everywhere. Over twenty beasts found dead in a single night. Some of them were high-ranked, too."
Thalia's hand froze mid-reach for another apple. Twenty? In one night?
The first guard shook his head in disbelief. "It's insane. Even the heads of the top three families couldn't handle that many beasts alone. They'd need an entire battalion to pull something like that off, and even then, they'd lose people in the process."
The second guard crossed his arms. "The military of the Acantha, Sasaki, and Leighton families are investigating, but they're baffled. No one's seen anything like it before. Whatever—or whoever—did this isn't normal. It's like the beasts were taken out effortlessly."
Thalia's heart pounded in her chest as she pretended to browse the fruit. She glanced at the guards from the corner of her eye, careful not to draw attention to herself.
"It couldn't have been a beast either," the first guard continued. "The wounds weren't natural. They were precise—like a blade or... magic."
"Magic?" the second guard scoffed. "Only a few people in this kingdom have the kind of power it'd take to pull that off, and they're not sneaking around forests killing beasts."
The two guards moved on, their voices fading as they disappeared into the crowd.
Thalia stood frozen, the apple still in her hand. Her mind raced as she processed what she'd just heard.
They're talking about me...
Every night for the past few days, Thalia had been venturing into Zania Forest with Suiryu, testing her water powers and honing her abilities. What she thought had been simple exercises turned out to be far more significant than she realized.
She tightened her grip on the apple. So killing beasts is supposed to be difficult? Even for the strongest families? But I've been doing it so easily...
Suiryu's amused voice echoed in her mind. "Why are you surprised? You're the next master of water spirits, little master. Your power is unlike anything this world has seen in centuries."
Thalia frowned, keeping her expression neutral as she walked away from the stall. "But I didn't think it was this unusual. I thought... maybe others could do it too, with the right training."
Suiryu chuckled. "Others can't channel the spirits of water to purify mana and turn it into unlimited energy. Nor do they have me."
Thalia sighed inwardly, her thoughts a mix of pride and apprehension. If the top three families are investigating, I need to be careful. I can't let anyone connect me to this.
---
As she continued through the market, Thalia felt the weight of her newfound knowledge settle on her shoulders. She had been playing a dangerous game without realizing it. What had seemed like harmless practice was now attracting the attention of the most powerful families in the kingdom.
But instead of fear, a spark of excitement lit within her. If I'm already this strong without formal training, how far can I go? What else can I achieve?
By the time she returned to the estate, Thalia's determination had solidified. She would continue her nightly excursions, but with greater caution. And she would push herself harder, learning to control her powers and unlocking her full potential.
She wasn't just a girl from another world anymore. She was Thalia Astoria, the next master of water spirits, and she was ready to carve her place in this world—no matter the challenges ahead.