You will have to beat me

I found myself growing restless as the morning wore on. The herbs were thriving, their green leaves stretching toward the sun, but the satisfaction that usually came from seeing them flourish was absent. Instead, I felt a gnawing sense of boredom, a creeping frustration that I couldn't shake.

Finally, I stood, wiping my hands on my trousers. The garden was perfect, yet I felt no joy from the sight of it.

The neat rows of herbs, the small patches of flowers everything was just as it should be, but it wasn't enough. I needed more than this routine, more than the same tasks day in and day out.

Without really thinking about it, I wandered over to the large tree that stood at the edge of the garden. Its branches spread wide, casting a cool, inviting shade over the grass beneath. I had always loved this tree; it had been my refuge on hot summer days, a place to rest and think.

I sat down under its branches, leaning back against the rough bark, letting out a long sigh. The leaves rustled softly above me, their whispering voices soothing but not enough to quiet the thoughts swirling in my mind.

I closed my eyes, trying to find some peace, but all I could think about was how stagnant everything felt, how desperately I wanted something to change.

Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep, the weariness of the morning catching up with me.

My dreams were a jumble of images Mrs. Elara's stern face, the children laughing, the wolf's glowing eyes, and Maelis's voice, telling me about the guild and the world beyond the orphanage walls. 

When I finally woke, the sun had moved higher in the sky, and the air was warmer. But it wasn't the sunlight that had stirred me it was the gentle touch on my hair.

I blinked, confused for a moment, before realizing someone was sitting beside me, their fingers gently combing through my hair.

"Elara?" I said, my voice still heavy with sleep.

"Yes, it's me," she replied softly, her voice a mixture of warmth and something else something like regret.

I sat up slowly, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure of what to say. The tension from the morning returned, thick and heavy, but there was something different in the way Elara looked at me. Her usual sternness was gone, replaced by a sadness that made my chest ache.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out before I could stop myself, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm sorry for what I said last night. I didn't mean to hurt you, or to be disrespectful. I just… I just want to help. I want to do something more."

Elara shook her head, her hand still resting gently on my shoulder. "No, Alyndra, I'm the one who should apologize. I've been treating you like a child when you're not one anymore. You've grown up, and I didn't see it. I didn't want to see it."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "But I do need to grow up, Elara. I need to find my own way, to figure out who I am. I love the orphanage, but… I'm starting to feel like I'm suffocating here."

Elara's gaze softened, a blend of sadness and understanding in her eyes. "I know, Alyndra. And I've been holding you back because I'm afraid. Afraid of what might happen to you out there, afraid of losing you. But I see now that I can't keep you here forever. You need to find your own path, even if it means leaving."

Her words, though comforting, were still tinged with the weight of her worry. I felt a lump in my throat, but I managed a grateful smile. "Thank you, Elara. I just want to do something that matters, that helps beyond these walls."

She took a deep breath, her gaze firming with resolve. "But if you truly want to leave, if you want to prove that you're ready for what lies beyond, you will have to beat me in a fight."

The declaration was like a jolt of electricity, and I stared at her in surprise. "A fight? But… why?"

Elara's face, usually so calm and composed, was now marked by a serious determination. "Because you need to understand that the world out there is unforgiving. If you can't defend yourself, you'll be at risk. I need to see if you're ready, if you have what it takes."

Before I could respond, she rose smoothly to her feet, her movements precise and controlled. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a gust of wind that roared to life around us.

The air swirled and howled, whipping up a frenzy of leaves and dust. I staggered slightly, trying to keep my footing against the sudden gale.

Elara's eyes were locked onto mine, her expression unreadable but resolute. The wind seemed to have a mind of its own, bending and twisting at her command, pushing and pulling with a force that was both mesmerizing and intimidating.

"Ready yourself," she called out over the roar of the wind. "Show me what you've got."

I nodded, swallowing hard as I stepped back, preparing for whatever might come next. The wind was fierce, and I could feel its pressure pushing against me. I concentrated, drawing on my own magic to create a protective barrier around myself.

The gentle, soothing glow of my healing magic was in stark contrast to the turbulent energy surrounding me, but it was the only thing I had to counter Elara's power.

Elara moved swiftly, her gestures precise. A powerful gust of wind shot toward me, and I barely managed to deflect it with my barrier. My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through me as I tried to anticipate her next move.

The swirling wind made it hard to focus, but I could sense her control over it, a reminder of the formidable force she wielded.

In that moment, I realized how serious this was. The fight wasn't just a physical challenge; it was a test of my readiness to face the world outside the safety of the orphanage. I had to prove to myself and to Elara that I was prepared, that I could stand on my own.

Elara's wind magic roared once more, and I braced myself, knowing that this fight was far from over.

The outcome would determine whether I was truly ready to step into a new chapter of my life or if I had more to learn before I could truly leave the comfort of the orphanage behind.