Elara's Secret

Elara staggered back, her resolve unbroken. We continued our battle, fists and magic clashing in the arena. Neither of us would back down. My molten armor sparked as I parried her celestial magic, the ground trembling beneath us.

Elara raised her hands, summoning a glowing sigil beneath her feet. "Φαέθων!", a beam of celestial energy shot toward me. I countered with "Γαῖα Ὀργή!", causing the earth beneath us to split, blocking the beam and sending shockwaves through the arena.

She quickly retaliated with a flurry of "Ἀστραπή!", summoning celestial lightning that crackled with divine fury. I clenched my fists, my magma affinity flaring as I countered with "Πυρός Καταιγίδα!", a storm of molten lava bursting from the ground, clashing with her lightning in an explosion of energy.

The arena shook as our powers collided.

Then, in the middle of the battle, Elara’s voice cut through the chaos, low and strained, but heavy with something I hadn't expected.

“I’m the only one left,” she said, almost as if speaking to herself more than me.

I faltered for just a second, the words reaching me even amid the storm of magic we were exchanging. I didn’t stop, but the force of my next strike was softer, less intent on harm, more focused on listening.

“The only witch... of the Nightshade family,” she continued, her voice tight but clear, her eyes not meeting mine. Her magic wavered slightly, and for a brief moment, I saw her falter, a flicker of something vulnerable passing through her gaze.

I didn’t speak—couldn’t. I knew this wasn’t the time to interrupt.

“My family…” Her words were like shards of ice, each one slicing through the air, heavy with the weight of her past. “We were hunted. The demons targeted us because of our affinity. Our magic. It’s rare, and dangerous to them.” She took a sharp breath, and despite the chaos around us, I could feel the tension in her body. She was pulling herself together, even as her magic continued to pulse erratically. “When I was eight, they came... they slaughtered everyone. My parents. My siblings. My entire family.”

Her voice cracked for the briefest moment, but she quickly composed herself. Her hands trembled, her control slipping, and a flash of celestial energy shot out from her, barely missing me, but I kept my stance steady. I didn’t flinch.

“I was alone,” she went on, her words laced with bitterness. “Alone in the Enchanted Forest. And then the humans found me. They took me in. They raised me.” Her gaze hardened, but the pain was still there, buried beneath the surface. “I hated the demons. Not the humans. Never the humans. They gave me a chance.”

Her eyes were cold now, a fire burning in them that wasn’t fueled by the magic around us, but something darker. “I came back to the Enchanted Forest to find a way to save my foster mother... to heal her. She’s been sick for so long.” She clenched her fists, the strain on her face evident. “But the more I used my celestial magic, the harder it became to control. I thought it was the answer. But I was wrong.”

The celestial energy that had been crackling around her now seemed to surge uncontrollably, spiraling out of her control. The air itself was thick with power, and I felt the ground beneath my feet tremble as if the entire arena was about to break apart.

And then it happened.

“What’s happening?!” The crowd watched in horror, their panic palpable as the arena shook and the magic raged uncontrollably.

Elara’s magic exploded, a brilliant light filling the arena with an intensity that sent shockwaves through the air. My body screamed in protest, my armor crackling with the overwhelming force of her celestial magic. I tried to block the energy, but the force was too much. The aftereffects of her magic when she saved Magnus earlier had taken a toll on her body, and now it was doing the same to mine.

The pain hit me all at once. My limbs shook as if the energy had been siphoned straight from my veins. My skin felt as though it was on fire, my muscles screaming with each breath. It was as if I was being consumed from the inside out by the magic I couldn’t control. Every cell in my body screamed as I staggered, barely managing to stay on my feet.

“Elara!” I shouted, fighting to stay conscious as the world around me swirled. “Stop! You’re hurting yourself—!”

But she couldn’t hear me, her eyes unfocused, her body trembling under the strain of her own magic. I had to get to her. I couldn’t let this continue.

I charged forward, despite the agony coursing through my body, the pain in my limbs threatening to bring me to my knees. The magic that Elara had unleashed was wreaking havoc, not only on the arena but on both of us. My molten armor flickered weakly as I pushed through the waves of energy. I couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer. She needed help—more than anyone, she needed someone to stop her from destroying herself.

As I closed the distance between us, Elara staggered, her breath ragged, and I saw her stumble. She was barely holding on, her eyes wild and unfocused, as though she were lost in the storm of her own power.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close as the magic continued to lash out, sending waves of force around us. The pain that coursed through me intensified, but I didn’t care. The heat of her celestial energy pressed against my skin like fire, but I held her tighter.

“Elara!” I shouted again, my voice hoarse, barely audible over the chaos. She tried to pull away, her magic spiraling out of control, but I refused to let go.

Her body trembled in my arms, and for the briefest moment, I saw the wall she had built around herself crack. Her eyes flickered, almost as if she saw the truth in my words. But the battle still raged within her, the struggle to control her power waging in her every movement.

I could feel the toll it was taking on both of us, the weight of her magic threatening to tear us apart. But something in me refused to let go. I saw myself in her—the loneliness, the rage, the need to fight and win, even when it meant losing everything.

“You’re not alone!” The pain in my body was almost unbearable, but I clenched my teeth, holding on, grounding her with my presence. I wasn’t going to let her destroy herself.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of our labored breathing, the crackle of her magic swirling around us. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for something to change. And then, slowly, her trembling body stilled in my arms.

“It’s okay.” The energy around us began to settle, the violent pulses of magic easing, though still crackling with residual power. Her breath evened out, and her eyes—still wide with fear and exhaustion—met mine.

Her chaotic mana began to settle, lifting from her body like a fading storm.

“I understand.” I whispered again, brushing a strand of hair from her damp face, offering her a small, silent comfort.

Elara blinked, her eyes still full of exhaustion, but for the first time during this battle, I saw them soften. Something in her gave way, and for that brief moment, I knew she wasn’t alone anymore.

The violent energy around us faded, and her breathing steadied. The celestial magic that had once lashed out uncontrollably was now under her control. A sense of relief washed over me, knowing that she had regained her composure.

My body, still trembling from the intense strain, finally relaxed. The pain that had wracked my body dulled into a faint ache, but it was enough to push me to my limit. With the knowledge that Elara was finally okay, I felt my strength slip away.

I swayed in her arms for a moment before my vision blurred. The last thing I registered before losing consciousness was the feeling of her steady presence.