Chapter One.

Sira's feet pounded the earth as she sprinted through the forest, the mingling scent of the woods and sweat filling her senses. Branches whipped by, narrowly missing her, but one snagged her tunic, ripping the fabric and leaving a shallow cut. She hissed and kept going. In the distance, approaching voices of men shattered the forest's peace.

The voices grew louder, and Sira found herself at the edge of a cliff, chest heaving. She scanned the rocky precipice; It was inescapable, an annoying obstacle in her escape. Frustration swelled in her as the men closed in.

"What do I do now? Think, Sira, think!"

Sira weighed her options. Jumping was dangerous, fighting was risky. Biting her lip, she muttered under her breath.

"Man, can't jump... There has to be another way" She glanced around, hoping for a bridge, but none came into sight.

"Tsk! The hard way it is then. Neith is going to murder me for this."

"There she is! Over by the cliff!" The raucous shout reached her ears, and Sira turned to see the men closing in on her.

"Well, well, talk about a pickle." She laughed.

"We gotcha now, ya dirty shit!" one of them spat.

"Running won't help, girl. Why not make things easy for yourself?" He grinned, showing off his rotten teeth. His companions drew out their weapons.

Sira clutched her pocket and took a step back. She was ready to defend herself if need be.

"Stay right there! Don't test me." she warned.

They burst out laughing.

"Do you think you can hurt us? Ha! Don't make me laugh, little miss," sneered the beardless one.

He rushed at her, raising his knife. His intentions were obvious, and Sira braced herself for a fight. She sidestepped, sending him stumbling off balance. She countered with a kick to his knee. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his knee. The rest of the group, surprised by her quick counterattack, advanced cautiously.

"Watch out, Arlo. This one's tricky." cautioned the tallest of the group.

Arlo struggled to his feet, his hand reaching for her pocket, but Sira grabbed his arm.

"Back off"

She twisted his arm, making him scream out in pain.

"Argh, fuck!" He cursed.

Desperately, he raised his dagger and stabbed her shoulder.

Sira clenched her teeth in pain.

"I said back off," she yelled, shoving him away.

Grimacing, she removed the blade, blood trickling down her skin. Her pupils flared with a scarlet mist as she dipped her fingers into the blood. It swirled, morphing into a sword.

Arlo let out a terrified scream.

"B-blood M-magic!!?" He stuttered. "T-that's i-impossible!"

The other men paused, their eyes wide in disbelief.

"It can't be real," murmured the tallest one.

Sira waved the sword. "What? This? Oh, it's real". She chuckled. "Surprised, boys?"

"You see, I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen. Now, I have to disobey my guardian to save myself.." she sighed. " I hate doing that. "

Sira frowned, taking a step forward. "You should've just left me alone. Looks like I'll have to teach one of you a lesson."

The trio held their knives defensively, their bodies shaking.

"Don't be so scared, It'll be over soon." Sira taunted, running towards them. She swung at the tallest man with a swift downward strike. The blade met his forehead, slicing through the skin. Blood sprouted out like a fountain, painting the ground red.

He gurgled and fell over, his lifeless eyes staring.

Arlo and the remaining man stared at the fallen body, shock written across their faces.

Sira turned to face them, a young woman with mediterranean skin and green eyes, standing at an average height. Her auburn hair, tied in a half-ponytail swayed gently in the breeze. Slender, yet athletic, she wore a tunic and rough trousers, worn boots protecting her feet.

"Who's next? " she challenged.

The men retreated, shaking their heads. Sira glared at them, taking another step forward. They shrieked and fled. As the wind cooled her wounded shoulder, the cut sizzled, knitting itself back together.

Sira exhaled, looking up at the sky. She closed her eyes, the breeze caressing her face. The adrenaline began to fade and the forest returned to its quiet save for rustling leaves and distant bird calls. Sira opened her green eyes, brushing wisps of hair from her face. She flickered her hand and the sword vanished into thin air.

A faint rustle in the bushes caught her attention. She moved towards it. A white cat with a horn on its head leaped out. Sira's face lit up.

"There you are, Blu! I thought you were lost, I was about to come find you." She said, petting the cat's fur. Blu purred, licking Sira's face. Sira laughed, placing Blu back on the ground. "Come on, let's go. We've got a lot of explaining to do." Blu meowed questioningly.

*****

They went deeper into the woods, the fog was chilly. Its mist twisted through Sira's hair, leaving tiny droplets that glistened like dew. She hummed a melody and the soft breeze carried it through the mist. She conjured crimson bubbles resembling miniature worlds, floating around her fingers. Blu sashayed beside Sira, her blue eyes shining brightly in the moonlight. She yawned, revealing her fangs.

After a while, they arrived at a large boulder, its surface was rugged and covered in layers of brown moss. Carved into the stone was a faded ancient rune symbol--a circular glyph with a blood droplet at its center. Neith had created this portal to hide their location. Sira lifted Blu and placed a finger in her mouth. The cat bit it until a droplet of blood came out. She placed the finger at the center of the rune. It shimmered faintly and the boulder shook, revealing a wooden door. Sira swung it open and walked inside, Blu followed. The boulder shook again, concealing the door.

It was a small compound with a tranquil pond sparkling under the moonlight. A garden with an array of beautiful flowers, each exuding its unique charm surrounded it. The duo walked past a small thriving farm located at the left. Vibrant green basil leaves released a peppery aroma, offering the potential of crafting potent potions and elixirs within the cottage. At the heart of the farm, a scarecrow stood modest. A flock of birds perched on its hat, chirping loudly.

Blu ran up the verandah, its pillars were beautifully carved. Neith, an elderly woman with silver-gray hair, rocked gently in her chair. She wore a comfortable gown and an apron paired with a soft scarf resting on her shoulder. Beside her, a staff of aged wood laid on the ground. Her glasses perched on her nose while a huge scar traced its path from her left eyebrow to her cheek.

Neith smiled warmly as Blu leaped onto her laps. She patted her head.

"I'm glad to see you back." She said.

"What a strange thing to say Neith. We live here." Sira responded, shaking her head.

She sat on the small stairs leading to the verandah. "Look, I got it. The gemstone you wanted" Sira reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag. Her small fingers removed the emerald, its texture smooth on her fingertips.

She showed it to Neith. The elderly woman gasped in delight, extending her hand to hold the gemstone. Sira waved it, pulling it out of reach. She winked, grinning.

"Oh, you should've seen their faces" She burst out laughing. "They were so sure they had me cornered, and they did have me cornered. But then, poof! I taught them a lesson".

"You met thieves?" Neith asked, her brows furrowed.

"Yeah, they wanted this thing," Sira replied, waving the emerald again.

"It was quite amusing, I really didn't know what to do. I thought I was a goner. But hey, when you're in situations like that," She shrugged.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Neith frowned.

Sira handed the gemstone to Neith. She was fully aware of the risks she took and the warnings she ignored.

"That's your way of saying you used your powers again, Aesira?" Neith asked, taking the gemstone.

"You're not a child anymore, you're twenty now." She placed Blu on the floor and stood up.

"Displaying your powers in public? You know the consequences, you can't deny that."

Sira followed Neith into the cottage. "I know, but it was self-defense, I swear."

She raised her sleeve to show Neith the fading scar.

"I even got stabbed, look."

Neith stayed silent.

Sira adjusted her sleeve and sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I should've listened."

They stepped into the parlor, greeted by the sight of a wooden clock, ticking away in the silence. The time: 7:45pm. Despite its modest size, the room was cozy. A plush rug on the wooden floor matched the worn armchair and a small table. On the table, an open book shared space with a bowl of fresh fruits and candles casting dancing shadows. Against one wall, a long sofa draped in a blue throw beckoned. Opposite, shelves held a trove of trinkets, plants and a few magical artifacts. The moonlight filtered through the slightly opened windows, causing the curtain to sway gently as the soft breeze blew in.

Sira plucked an apple from the bowl and sank her teeth into it. Blu leaped onto the table, mouth opening to take a bite.

"Hey!" Sira objected with a chuckle. "Paws off, furball."

She shot her cat a warning glare. Blu ignored her and took a chomp of the apple before darting away. Sira took another bite, leaning against the wall, observing Neith.

With care, Neith set the emerald on a pedestal. From a nearby shelf, she retrieved a phial, its glass reflecting the light as she examined it. She gave it a gentle shake, evenly mixing the contents. Uncorking the phial, she carefully poured the contents into the gemstone.

It glowed brightly, enveloping the room. Sira gasped. Even though Neith was a warrior, her sorcery skills always made Sira marvel. The emerald gemstone transformed to amber. Neith smiled, removed it from the pedestal, and placed it on the shelf in a display stand. She turned to Sira.

"Apologies?" She scoffed.

Sira grinned sheepishly. "Guess 'sorry' doesn't cut it, huh?"

Neith's expression grew more serious.

"The world doesn't operate solely on apologies, Aesira. If it did, perhaps it would be a better place."

She sighed as she settled into her second favorite seat, the armchair.

"Actions outweigh words dear" she continued.

"I'll believe your apologies when you stop being childish. But, you recognize your mistake, I'm proud of you."

Sira lowered her head, she wasn't happy. Neith was right, she needed to do better.

"Aesira.."

Her eyes met Neith's.

"Do you really understand why we keep our true identities hidden from humans and other elementals?" Neith asked.

Sira nodded,"Yeah, I do."

She moved to the sofa and sank into it. Her fingers absently toyed with a loose thread on the throw.

"It's because we're different, blah blah blah," she rolled her eyes.

Neith struck Sira's head with her staff.

"Ah!" Sira yelped, rubbing her head. It wasn't a harsh blow but it was enough to convey Neith's disapproval.

"It goes beyond that, Aesira. It's because we've been forced to live our lives in fear of dying. We're targets, always hunted, facing brutal attacks. Our people have been erased. Our heritage, our history has been wiped. We're all that's left, so we must live to survive instead." Neith concluded.

Her words were heavy.

"I didn't forget," Sira whispered, her gaze down.

Neith smiled slightly. "I know, and that's why I must remind you again. This is the last time. I won't repeat why we hide. We have distanced ourselves from the unbroken bonds that give us purpose. Our magic is both a blessing and a burden, but we must hold onto our pride and honor." she said.

Sira hadn't seen Neith so serious in a long time. She totally changed the atmosphere.

Classic Neith! Sira smirked.

This wasn't another repetition of an old legend. It was Neith's request to protect their existence. It made Sira anxious. She had a bad feeling about this.