Fury Beast

I stepped into my room, my heart heavy with disappointment. The fair had been something I had looked forward to for weeks, and yet, as I closed the door behind me, all I felt was an overwhelming sense of letdown.

I had asked Liam, my dear friend, to accompany me to the fair. We had spent a wonderful time at the waterfall earlier, laughing, splashing, and forgetting the world around us. It had been a very good day, a day that had given me hope that the fair would be just as magical.

But as we reached the entrance of the fairgrounds, something changed. His once warm smile turned cold, his laughter faded into an awkward silence. It was as if a curtain had fallen between us, shutting out the connection we had shared just moments before.

I tried to engage him in conversation, to recapture the easy friendship we had shared by the water's edge, but his responses were short, distant. It was like talking to a stranger, a stranger who held my heart in his hands.

My disappointment deepened as we wandered through the bustling fair. The colorful stalls, the cheerful music, and the tantalizing aromas that should have lifted my spirits only served as a reminder of the distance that had grown between us. I had expected us to explore the fair together, to share laughs and create new memories. Instead, I felt like I was walking alone in a crowd.

As we passed by a group of jesters performing tricks, I stole a glance at Liam, hoping to see a spark of the friend I knew so well. But his eyes were distant, his attention elsewhere. It was as if I didn't even exist in his world.

When I finally couldn't bear it any longer, I turned to him and asked, my voice betraying the hurt that had settled in my chest, "Is something bothering you, Liam?"

He looked at me, his gaze meeting mine for a fleeting moment. His voice was devoid of the warmth I had grown accustomed to, his words cutting through the air like a gust of icy wind. "I'm just not in the mood for this."

And that was it. With those few words, the disappointment that had been simmering inside me spilled over, flooding my heart and clouding my eyes. I had wanted this day to be special, to be filled with laughter and joy. Instead, I felt like I had lost a piece of something precious.

I gave him a forced smile, trying to hide the pain I felt. "Alright, Liam," I said softly, my voice tinged with resignation. "If you need some time, I understand."

As I sat on the edge of my bed now, my thoughts swirled in a mix of confusion and sorrow. I thought back to the times Liam and I had spent together, the laughter, the shared secrets, and the bond we had formed. It was hard to reconcile those memories with the distant version of him I had encountered at the fair. What had changed? What had caused this divide between us?

I knew that people changed, that friendships evolved, but this sudden shift felt like a blow to the heart. I had always turned to Liam in times of happiness and sorrow, and he had been there for me, a constant presence in my life. But now, that constant seemed to be slipping away, and I didn't know what to do.

As I gazed out of the window, the sun dipping below the horizon, I felt a heavy ache settle in my chest. The fair had been a disappointment, not because of the attractions or the lack of entertainment, but because it had highlighted the growing distance between me and someone who had once been my closest companion.

I wiped away a stray tear that had escaped my eye, my fingers trembling with the weight of my emotions. I wasn't sure how to address this, how to bridge the gap that had formed. But one thing was certain – I didn't want to lose Liam, not the Liam I had known and cherished.

With a sigh, I stood up from the bed and walked over to my desk. I picked up a quill and a piece of parchment, my heart guiding my hand as I began to write a letter. It was a simple message, an invitation to meet, to talk, to understand what was going on.

As I sealed the letter with wax, I couldn't help but hope that this would be the first step towards healing whatever rift had formed between us. The fair might have been a disappointment, but perhaps it was also a turning point, maybe it would be water under the bridge once we talk about it.

I placed the letter on my desk, ready to be delivered to Liam the next day. And as I crawled into bed, I closed my eyes with a silent prayer that our friendship would find its way back to the laughter and warmth that had once defined it.

I woke up feeling more than a little stiff and turned my gaze to my desk. There was no letter to be found so I knew that little rascal came here and read it.

A mix of frustration and anticipation churned within me. I had hoped that Liam would read the letter and understand the importance of the conversation I wanted to have. But now, knowing that he had likely read it and left without a response, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment.

I got up from my bed and walked over to the desk, my fingers tracing the edge of the parchment where the letter had been. I sighed, realizing that this was not a situation that could be easily resolved. Liam's distant behavior and his apparent avoidance of the topic were clear indicators that something was bothering him, something he wasn't ready to share.

With a heavy sigh, I sat down at the desk, my gaze fixed on the spot where the letter had been. I picked up the quill and dipped it in ink, my thoughts flowing onto the parchment as I wrote a new message.

"Liam,

I hope you received my letter. I understand if you need time to sort through whatever is bothering you. Just know that I'm here whenever you're ready to talk. Our friendship means a lot to me, and I don't want whatever is between us to remain unresolved.

Take care,

Seraphina"

I sealed the new letter and placed it on the desk, deciding to leave it there for him to find. I knew that I couldn't force him to open up, but I also wanted him to know that I was willing to listen and support him whenever he was ready. Now that the sadness lingered long enough, I was starting to get angry, I needed to vent out my frustration.

The anger that had been simmering within me boiled over, and I needed an outlet. My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides, my frustration seeking release in a physical form. I knew just the place to go—into the heart of the estate's forest, where the trees stood tall.

With each step I took, my anger grew. The crunch of leaves beneath my boots was a satisfying rhythm, a beat that matched the pounding of my heart. I could feel the tension in my muscles, the energy that begged to be unleashed.

As I entered the dense forest, I scanned the area for the perfect target. My gaze settled on a massive tree, its trunk thick and imposing. With a deep breath, I approached it, my fists still clenched at my sides.

My anger fueled my magic, a surge of power that coursed through my veins. I could feel the energy enveloping me, reinforcing my muscles and making me feel invincible. This was the outlet I needed, a way to channel my frustration into something tangible.

I raised my fist, my gaze locked on the tree. I could see the lines of magic that I had woven around it, strengthening its structure to withstand my blows. And then, without hesitation, I struck.

My fist connected with the tree, and the impact reverberated through my body. A shockwave of energy radiated from the point of impact, the tree's trunk trembling from the force. But it held strong, the magic-infused reinforcement preventing it from giving way.

A surge of satisfaction coursed through me as I pulled my fist back, readying for another strike. I unleashed blow after blow, each one hitting the tree with a resounding thud. It was cathartic, the physicality of it allowing me to release the pent-up emotions that had been weighing me down.

The tree held its ground, my reinforced strikes barely leaving a mark. But I didn't care about the damage—or lack thereof. What mattered was the release, the way each punch allowed me to vent my anger and frustration.

Time lost its meaning as I continued my onslaught, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat trickled down my brow, mixing with the dirt and grime that clung to my skin. The forest echoed with the sounds of my blows, a symphony of anger and determination.

Finally, as exhaustion began to seep into my muscles, I delivered one last powerful punch. The tree groaned, its roots creaking, and then, with a mighty crack, it started to lean. I stepped back, watching as the massive tree began to topple, its descent slow and majestic.

The impact as it hit the ground was thunderous, the ground shaking beneath my feet. A cloud of dust and debris billowed into the air, the aftermath of my furious assault. I stood there, chest heaving, a mix of satisfaction and fatigue washing over me.

As the dust settled, I surveyed the fallen tree. With a weary but content sigh, I turned away from the fallen tree and made my way back through the forest. The tension that had once gripped me had loosened its hold, replaced by a sense of clarity.

As I walked back through the forest, the echoes of my exertion slowly fading, a mixture of emotions swirled within me. The fallen tree was a tangible reminder of the power I held, but it was also a symbol of my inner turmoil. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at my own actions, questioning the validity of my emotions and the way I had chosen to release them.

The realization hit me with a weight that matched the fallen tree itself. I had let my anger dictate my actions, allowing frustration and disappointment to drive me to the edge. While the physical exertion had offered a temporary release, it hadn't truly addressed the underlying emotions that had led me here.

I stopped in a small clearing, surrounded by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. The world around me seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for me to come to terms with my own thoughts.

With a heavy sigh, I sank to the ground, allowing myself a moment of stillness. I closed my eyes, the memory of the fair and Liam's distant demeanor replaying in my mind. It was a bitter pill to swallow, acknowledging my own shortcomings and the ways in which I had let my emotions control me.

"I'm really a little girl, huh?" I muttered to myself, my voice carrying a mix of self-deprecation and resignation. "Throwing a tantrum like this... how petty."

I opened my eyes and took a deep breath, the forest air filling my lungs. The fallen tree was still there, mocking me for acting in such an unsightly behaviour and I decided to get closer to it, to not avoid my mistake.

I stood before the shattered remains of the once-majestic tree, my heart heavy with regret. My hands, still tingling from the destructive fury that had driven me, were now stained with the sap of a life I had ended with my own anger. The leaves that once rustled in the wind now lay in a scattered mess, like the pieces of my composure shattered by my own impulsiveness.

"This is different from the time I was fighting against the wolves. I did this for my own twisted satisfaction."

I had always prided myself on my control, my ability to keep my emotions in check. But today, that control had slipped through my fingers like sand, leaving only the bitter taste of disappointment.

As I looked at the tree, its broken form a stark reminder of my own shortcomings, my mind drifted to King Daigo. Known for his merciless rule and swift executions, he was the embodiment of unchecked anger and power. People whispered stories of his temper, of lives ended over the pettiest of slights.

And now, as I gazed at the destruction I had wrought, I couldn't help but draw a painful parallel between myself and the king I so despised. How different was I from him in this moment? Was my anger any less destructive? I had let my emotions take control, just like he did. The tree, once a symbol of life and growth, now shattered thanks to my lack of restraint.

A bitter irony settled in my chest as I imagined a future scenario – a future where the tree could have represented someone who angered me. Would I lash out again, letting my anger consume me, just as I had done today? Would I become a tyrant in my own right, ruling with fear and anger, just like King Daigo?

Tears stung my eyes as I realized the truth – I was not so different from the very person I condemned. I had allowed anger to blind me, to turn me into something I never wanted to be. With a heavy heart, I sank to my knees beside the broken tree, my hands trembling as I traced the jagged edges of the bark.

In that moment, surrounded by the wreckage of my own mistakes, I made a silent vow. I would not let anger control me. I would learn from this, strive to be better, to rise above the destructive impulses. "I'm sorry, little one."