Tension

The warm water of the hot spring lapped against my shoulders, soothing my aching muscles. The
chamber was quiet except for the occasional ripple as I shifted. I glanced at the walls, where faintly
glowing minerals cast soft light. Steam rose around me, and the scent of lavender lingered in the air.
My tail floated lazily in front of me, drifting with the gentle currents of the spring. I still wasn’t used to it,
and sometimes it caught me off guard.
My feline ears flicked instinctively at the sound of distant movement. It was relaxing—almost enough to
make me forget the brutal training I’d just endured, though my body was quick to remind me of how
punishing the past week had been.
Rex’s idea of teaching was pure, brute force: running laps, push-ups, and drills until I thought I would
collapse. Running became slightly easier when my healing magic worked to mend my sore muscles,
but it couldn’t fix everything. Sure, my legs recovered enough so they didn’t buckle under me, but my
heart still pounded in my chest, desperate for oxygen I couldn’t supply fast enough. It didn’t matter that
the pain in my calves faded—I couldn’t heal the strain inside my rib cage. After a couple of laps, I’d burn
out entirely. Healing wasn’t the same as building endurance; it never refilled my stamina or magically
boosted my lung capacity. It just kept me from crumpling on the ground in agony—nothing more.
Similarly, the more I used my mana to recover, the sicker I felt. I could only keep going for so long
before I had to stop and take a break. Rex wasn’t amused. “Healing doesn’t give you stamina, Aria!”
he’d bark, his frustration clear as I struggled to catch my breath. “You’re not going to get stronger if you
keep stopping!” Annoyingly, he wasn’t wrong.
Rex also tried teaching me combat, but that didn’t go much better. Every time he swung the practice
sword, I flinched instinctively, wincing at the whoosh of air. After a while, though, he muttered
something surprising: "At least you’re agile. If dodging was the goal, you’d pass with flying colors." It
wasn’t exactly praise, but I’d take what I could get.
Mao’s training was thankfully different. She’d guide me through meditation, trying to teach me to control
my mana. Normally, Mao was energetic to the point of being hyper, but when it came to teaching, she
locked in completely. Her voice would soften, and her movements became so precise it was almost
mesmerizing. She said I was doing fine, but every time I tried to clear my head, it just filled with random
thoughts.
When she introduced conjuring, I was so excited I nearly forgot how hard it was supposed to be. Kuro
made it look so effortless, but all I could summon was a lumpy stick. Mao encouraged me, saying it was
a good start, but I still felt like I’d failed. I spent the rest of the lesson daydreaming about what kind of
weapon I might create. A sword was out—definitely out. I’d already had enough of those. Maybe a
bow? Something that let me stay far away from danger. It felt like the right choice, but I hadn’t decided
yet.
The sound of footsteps broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Lottie—the little axolotl girl from
the castle—skipping into the room. The soft, frilly appendages on her head, like delicate pink fronds,
bounced with each step. Her bright eyes lit up when she saw me.
“Aria!” she chirped, sliding into the spring with a splash. “You’re always here.”
I laughed, sinking deeper into the warm water. “It’s the only thing keeping me alive after training with
Rex. You could join us, you know—maybe we’ll go easy on you?”
She wrinkled her nose in mock horror. “No thanks. I’d like to keep my legs intact,” she said with a
dramatic shudder, then paused.
I raised an eyebrow. “What, you don’t trust me to drag you back if your legs give out?”
She stuck out her tongue. “Absolutely not. Anyway, it’s so dull around here these days. Kuro won’t play
with me anymore.”
“He’s been sulking ever since he got healed,” I said, ruffling her damp hair. “He says he’s trying to quit
drinking, so he’s holed up in that little room near the west tower. Good luck getting him out.”
“Hmph. Well, will you play with me instead? Everyone else is busy.”
“Sure,” I said. “What do you want to do?”
“Let’s go to the city!” she said, her fins twitching with excitement. “You’ve never been, right?”
“Not since I arrived,” I admitted.
It hit me then how much time I’d spent holed up in the castle. The idea of stepping into the bustling
streets, surrounded by strangers, used to terrify me. But now? This new healing ability gave me hope.
Maybe, for the first time in a while, I could actually handle it.
We lingered in the spring a while longer before heading out. The city was overwhelming at first. The
streets were alive with people, colors, and sounds. Towering trees stretched high above, their branches
forming natural arches that supported shops and homes. Lanterns hung from vines, swaying gently in
the breeze.
Lottie grabbed my hand, pulling me toward a bakery stall. “Try this!” she said, handing me a pastry. The
sweet, flaky dough melted in my mouth. I couldn’t stop smiling as we wandered from stall to stall, taking
in everything. There were street performers juggling glowing orbs, stands selling colorful fabrics, and
vendors offering glittering crystals they called “mana shards.”
As we passed a group of merchants setting up their stalls, I caught fragments of an excited
conversation.
"...biggest dragon I’ve ever seen! Those leathery wings must’ve stretched wider than my house—"
"Ancient Dragon," someone corrected. "Has to be. Nothing else that size flies over the city."
Lottie tugged at my sleeve, her fins twitching with excitement. "An Ancient Dragon? Those are super
rare!" she whispered. "It’s no wonder everyone’s talking about it."
I blinked, the memory of glinting scales and that bone-chilling screech flooding back. Could it be the
same dragon I saw when I first got here? My chest tightened at the thought.
Lottie’s expression grew more serious as she added, “Most of the big monsters have been hiding lately.
No one knows why, but even the usual beasts in the forest have gotten scarce. It’s super weird. That’s
why everyone’s so excited about the dragon. Nobody’s seen one in months!"
The merchants’ voices faded as we walked on, but their words left me unsettled. I’m still traumatized by
my encounter with slimes.
As we passed another stall, a vendor called out to me. "You there! Young lady!" he said, holding up a
vibrant crimson bracelet that sparkled even in the dappled sunlight. I stopped, mesmerized by its
beauty. The deep red seemed to pulse, almost like it was alive.
"It’s stunning," I said. "But… I don’t have any money."
Before I could turn away, Lottie stepped forward. "I’ll take it!" she said, tossing a coin onto the stall’s
counter.
I blinked at her. "Lottie, where did you get all this money?"
She put a finger to her lips. "Shh, don’t tell anyone, but I… uh… borrow it from Anabella. She has so
much, she’ll never notice!"
I stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or scold her. "Lottie! You can’t just take other people’s money.
What if she finds out?"
She grinned mischievously. "That’s why you’re not going to tell her! Besides, she never checks her
stash… I don't know if she can even count."
It was late afternoon by the time Lottie and I left the city’s bustling streets behind. The crowd noise gave
way to birdsong and the gentle whisper of leaves overhead. We followed a winding path where thick
grass brushed our ankles, and soon we came upon a narrow river snaking through the trees. The water
was so clear I could see smooth, colorful pebbles on the bottom.
“Are we going somewhere specific?” I asked, glancing around. There didn’t seem to be any shops or
houses nearby.
“You’ll see.”
She slipped off her shoes, and before I could protest, she hopped into the shallows. A moment later,
her body shifted into the small, violet form of an axolotl. I gasped—no matter how many times I saw her
transform, it still took me by surprise.
She paddled toward a tree root protruding into the water and disappeared beneath it. “Lottie?” I called,
my heart thudding. I stepped closer, peering into the rippling current. A few moments later, she
resurfaced, gripping a rusted key in her tiny amphibian hands.
“Ta-da!” she chirped, her voice higher when she was transformed. She crawled back onto the bank,
returning to her humanoid shape as she landed on her feet. “This way.”
I followed her to a large, gnarled tree by the riverbank. She pushed aside a cluster of moss, revealing a
hidden knot where the key fit perfectly. A click sounded, and the bark shifted with a low groan, forming
a doorway.
I blinked at the hidden doorway, impressed by how cleverly it was concealed.
Lottie just shot me a triumphant smile. “Come on in!”
She ducked through the entrance, and I carefully followed, stepping inside The interior was chaotic but
cozy—drawings covered every patch of wall space, while piles of blankets made a nest-like corner.
Little shelves were crammed with trinkets: shiny rocks, dried flowers, folded paper shapes, and more.
The air smelled faintly of damp earth, river water, and something sweet—maybe a leftover pastry Lottie
had stashed away.
“Welcome to my domain!” she announced proudly, hands on her hips. “Normally, no grown-ups
allowed. But you’re special.”
I laughed, turning in a slow circle. “It’s amazing. Did you make all this yourself?”
She nodded. “Mao helped a little bit at first, but yeah—it’s pretty much mine. I’m good at sneaking
around to find things people throw out, and then I make them into… well, this.”
I took a few steps forward, my eyes catching on a bright crayon drawing of Lottie wielding a sword
much taller than she was, facing off against a scowling dragon. “You’re a really good artist.”
She beamed. “Thanks! I like making up adventures. Sometimes I pretend Kuro’s the grumpy hero, and
I’m his brave sidekick. Other times”—she held up a newer drawing—“I’m fighting baddies all by myself.”
I smiled. “You should add me in there sometime, flailing a wooden sword.”
“That would be a sad drawing,” she teased, nudging me with her elbow. “Hey, speaking of you… where
are you from, anyway? You never really talk about it.”
I paused, trying to keep my face neutral. I could still picture the place I came from—a world away, quiet
and ordinary, nothing like this land of magic. “Oh, just a small village,” I said, hoping my hesitation didn’t
sound too obvious.
“Quiet. Lots of trees... and grass and stuff,” I said, my voice faltering. Even as the words left my mouth,
I cringed internally at how unconvincing it sounded. Thankfully she's just a kid.
She tilted her head, studying me curiously. “Do your parents live there?”
“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a nod. “They wanted me to come here to learn magic.”
“That’s so nice,” she said, giving me a bright smile. “I bet they’re proud of you.”
“I hope so,” I murmured. Guilt flickered in my chest, but I pushed it down.
Lottie reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’ve got me now. We can be family too if you want.”
Her words tugged at something deep inside me, and I felt an unexpected warmth bloom in my chest.
“Thanks, Lottie. That really means a lot. I'll try and be the best big sister”
She turned away. “Anyway, make yourself at home! Check out the drawings while I—wait.” She went
still, her expression darkening as she raised a hand for silence. “Do you hear that?”
I froze and listened. Outside, muffled voices drifted through the walls. They were loud and slurred with
laughter, an unsettling mix of aggression and drunken humor. Through a narrow slit in the bark, I
caught sight of three men staggering down to the river’s edge, where they started relieving themselves
in a crude, careless display.
Even from here, I could smell the alcohol on them. One finished first, turning to shove another with a
mocking grin. Their playful roughhousing quickly grew more aggressive, echoing with drunken taunts.
“Let’s stay quiet,” Lottie whispered, moving behind me.
A sudden lurch sent one of the men stumbling—he slammed against the tree with a loud thump,
making my heart jump. For a moment, they didn’t notice anything, too busy shoving and cackling. But
the second push landed squarely on the trunk, cracking a section of the bark and widening a small hole
near the door.
“Hey,” one of them slurred, blinking hard as he peered at the gap. “What’s this?”
“Back up,” I hissed, but it was too late. The splintered wood drew the first man’s attention, and he pried
at the opening until the door scraped open. The other two crowded behind him, reeking of booze and
cheap cologne. One had a row of feathers along his arms, eyes narrowed like a hawk about to swoop;
another had doglike ears that twitched with twitchy excitement; and the third, a lanky figure with floppy
bunny ears, watched with a calculating gaze that made my stomach twist.
Outside, they’d been arguing in low, drunken voices about some ‘boss’ who’d sent them on a fool’s
errand, complaining they’d found nothing worth taking. Now, they peered into the cramped hideout with
a collective sneer.
“Look at that,” said the bunny-eared man, tapping a dirt-crusted boot against the damaged tree trunk.
“Didn’t figure we’d run into anything interesting this far out.”
The dog-eared man’s lip curled. “Could be we just got lucky. Word around the tavern is there’s a castle
kid who can turn into some kind of fish-lizard.” His eyes flicked over Lottie’s frilly fins, and a slow grin
spread across his face. “Never thought I’d find her hiding in a tree.”
My heart thundered as I caught the fear in Lottie’s gaze. “Stay back,” I warned, trying to steady my
voice. “We don’t want any trouble.”
The feathered man snapped his fingers at the dog-eared one, nodding in Lottie’s direction. “You see
that? An axolotl brat. The boss’d pay a good sum if we brought him something that rare. He always
wants fresh curiosities for his collection.”
Lottie pressed behind me, trembling, but her chin jutted out in defiance. “Leave us alone,” she hissed.
“This is my hideout.”
“Or what, little girl?” the feathered man sneered. “You’ll wave your hands and scare us away? Looks
like you’ve barely got a spark of magic between you.”
I swallowed, feeling my mana sputter in the pit of my stomach. “I’m warning you—”
“Warning me?” the bunny-eared man echoed with a mocking laugh. “I’ve heard that one before. You
castle types think you’re so tough until you’re out here on your own.”
The dog-eared man’s eyes flicked toward Lottie again, practically salivating at the idea of capturing her.
“We could be nice,” he said in a low, slick tone. “Just hand over the kid. We’ll say we never saw you.”
He paused, letting a menace hang in the air. “Refuse, and things get ugly real fast.”
Panic sparked through me. “Touch her, and you’ll regret it.”
“Big talk,” drawled the feathered man, shifting his weight. “You can’t even stop shaking.”
Lottie’s fins quivered, but she held her ground. “Aria, don’t listen to them,” she whispered, voice tight.
“They’re just a bunch of—”
Before she could finish, the dog-eared man snarled a word under his breath, and a gust of wind burst
through the hideout. It slammed me into the wall, knocking the air from my lungs. Pain shot through my
shoulder, and I gasped, trying to draw on any scrap of magic. My fingertips sparked red for a split
second, then fizzled into nothing.
Lottie shifted into her axolotl form, climbing high in the interior of the tree, but the feathered man lunged
with surprising speed, half-flying on newly sprouted wings. He seized her with a triumphant grin.
“Get the brat,” the bunny-eared man barked. “We’ll be in good standing with the boss after this.”
Lottie’s terrified gaze locked onto mine. Pain throbbed through my body, sharp and unrelenting, as I
tried to push myself up. My healing magic flickered to life, but it wasn’t fast enough to keep up with the
damage. Darkness crept at the edges of my vision, my chest tightening with every ragged breath.
I feel like I might pass out.
I reached for any solution, my heart pounding so hard it was a wonder my ribs didn’t crack. Kuro had
warned me never to use it, but what choice did I have now? My magic was weak, my body barely
holding on. That dark magic I possessed—could it save us? It felt like my only shot.
Just when that chilling energy began to stir in my chest, the dog-eared man stepped into view, his grin
set like he was about to stomp on a bug. Before I had time to cast a single spark, his boot slammed into
my jaw. Light erupted behind my eyes as pain radiated through my skull. I tumbled hard onto the dirt
floor, my teeth clenched so tight I thought they might crack.
Somewhere above, Lottie writhed in the feathered man’s grip, her small fronds twitching frantically as
she flailed, her cries sharper than any blade. She slipped free for half a second—hope flared in my
chest—only to be brought down by a vicious kick from the bunny-eared man. She crumpled in a
trembling heap, and that sight ripped through me like lightning. I tried to push up, tried to ride that rush
of anger into something useful, but the world was spinning. Everything hurt.
Red sparks flickered at the edges of my vision, a silent, desperate urge to fight back that burned
against the helplessness weighing me down. I clung to it like a lifeline, knowing it might be my last
chance to act. Another blast of wind magic howled through the cramped hideout, hurling me against the
tree as if I were nothing more than a rag doll. My head collided with the trunk in a sickening thud. There
was a warm trickle at the back of my neck—blood, probably. My healing magic stirred faintly, but it was
like trying to hold back a flood with a single bucket. The pain refused to subside, and each shallow
breath only fed the gnawing panic clawing at my chest.
Voices swirled around me, dripping with twisted amusement. They were grabbing Lottie, manhandling
her as if she were a rag doll. Every muscle in my body wanted to tear them apart, but I couldn’t even
make a fist. The darkness at the corners of my eyes grew, swallowing the room bit by bit.
One of them laughed—a cruel, hollow sound that echoed in my skull. Lottie’s scream pierced the air,
then faded like a memory slipping through my fingers. There was a wild panic beating against my chest.
I needed to save her. I needed to do something. But my limbs felt like lead, and the spinning wouldn’t
stop.
The last thing I saw was Lottie’s tear-streaked face, her eyes wide with terror and locked onto mine.
Blood pounded in my ears as the dog-eared man’s twisted smirk hovered above me, a haunting image
seared into my mind. My chest pounded, a silent scream echoing within me as my vision blurred. I tried
to hold on, but the darkness claimed me.
Then everything went black.