The Awakening of Power

Time passed in the unforgiving tunnels, and the gnawing ache of Eliana's new existence settled like an old wound, one that had scarred over yet never fully healed. Her body had adapted to the physical labor, her mind had sharpened into a tool of calculated survival, but there was something else now—a strange stirring within her. A subtle, almost imperceptible hum beneath her skin, a whisper of energy she couldn't explain. At first, it was nothing more than a flicker—a momentary pulse when her anger boiled over or when the pain of a blow became unbearable. But over time, that flicker began to grow.

One evening, as she sat in the dimly lit chamber the goblins used for rest, she stared at her hands. Dirt was caked beneath her nails, her skin marred with bruises and cuts. But there, just for an instant, she saw something else. A faint glow, barely noticeable, like embers dying in a fire. She clenched her fingers into a fist, trying to summon it again, but nothing happened.

"Trying to call the stars, little wretch?" a gruff voice sneered from the shadows.

She tensed but didn't turn. She knew that voice. Karsh, one of the older goblins, a sadistic creature who delighted in tormenting the weak. He had been watching her ever since she arrived, always waiting for the moment she would break.

Eliana remained silent, but Karsh wasn't done. He stepped closer, his clawed fingers gripping her shoulder tightly. "You should forget whatever trick you think you've learned," he hissed. "It won't save you. Power means nothing here unless you can kill for it."

She refused to react, even as his grip tightened, nails biting into her skin. But inside, something stirred again. A warmth, coiling deep within her ribs. Not fire. Not light. Something else. Something ancient.

Then, the moment came.

It was during one of the many brutal beatings she endured at the hands of Vorn that it first manifested. He had struck her across the face with the back of his hand, sending her sprawling to the floor. Blood dripped from her lip, and she wiped it away, tasting the bitter salt. Her vision blurred, her body trembled with rage, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she let the fury consume her. As Vorn loomed over her, mocking her weakness, she felt the pulse again—stronger this time—deep within her chest.

A sharp, searing heat exploded from her fingertips. It was like a bolt of lightning, an electrical charge so powerful it sent her sprawling back, eyes wide with shock. The blast of energy knocked Vorn back, sending him crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud.

The room went silent.

For a moment, Eliana just stared at her trembling hands, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The heat in her chest was fading, but the shock of what had just happened lingered. She had done that. She, the once fragile lady of House Valerius, had summoned something—a surge of power. But what was it? Magic? A gift—or perhaps a curse?

Vorn groaned, still dazed from the force of the blast. Slowly, he staggered to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he realized what had happened. Eliana could see the fury in his gaze, the dangerous glint of recognition. He had seen something in her. He knew. And now, he would not let her forget it.

"You think that little trick is going to save you?" he snarled. "You're nothing. Weak."

But Eliana, despite her fear, felt a sense of certainty. She wasn't weak. Not anymore. The power was hers now. A flame had been lit inside her, and she knew she could never go back to the way things were.

The goblins in the room backed away slowly, eyeing her with a mixture of fear and curiosity. They had heard the stories—the whispers of goblins who evolved into something stronger, something more brutal. Hobgoblins. Those goblins who had survived countless battles and bloodshed, who had fought their way to the top, had grown larger, faster, and more vicious. But even hobgoblins weren't the pinnacle. There were rumors of a final evolution—an evolution that could turn a goblin into something truly terrifying. An orc.

Later that night, Karsh found her again.

"You think you're special now, do you?" he sneered, circling her like a predator. "Power is dangerous, girl. If you can't control it, someone will take it from you."

She met his gaze without flinching. "Let them try."

His grin widened, teeth yellowed and sharp. "Good. That's the first thing you've said that I actually respect." He leaned in, voice lowering to a whisper. "But if you want to survive, you'll need to be more than just angry. You'll need to kill."

Eliana didn't answer, but she knew he was right. Power alone wasn't enough. She had already endured so much—she had been stripped of everything, her humanity, her life, her family. But now, she realized, she had the chance to take it all back. To not just survive but to rise above it all.

And to do that, she would need to evolve.