Path of ash and stars(4)

The days that followed were a blur of grueling tests, each one more demanding than the last. The applicants were pushed to their limits, their strengths and weaknesses laid bare for all to see. Magic, Elaris quickly realized, was not about raw power alone. It was about control, precision, and the ability to bend the world to your will.

Her first spark of magic had been nothing more than a flicker, a fleeting glimpse of potential. But as she continued through the trials, she began to understand how to channel the power within her. Every night, she would retreat to the quiet corners of the city, practicing in secret, honing her skills. The whispers of the wind, the crackling of fire, and the stillness of water became her teachers.

Still, the path was far from easy. Every failure stung. Every time she faltered, she felt the weight of the world pressing against her. She was not just trying to prove herself to the mages of Elindor—she was trying to prove that she could carve out a destiny for herself, free from the shadow of her family's expectations.

One evening, after a particularly grueling trial in which she was asked to control the elements, Elaris found herself alone in the courtyard, drenched in sweat and frustration. The others had mastered the elements with ease, but she had faltered once again.

"Not good enough, Elaris," she muttered to herself, her fists clenched in anger. "Not good enough to stand beside them."

But as she turned to leave, a familiar voice called out.

"Elaris, wait."

She froze. The voice was soft, yet it carried a weight that made her pause.

She turned around to see a figure stepping from the shadows—a woman cloaked in deep indigo robes. The woman's face was hidden beneath a hood, but Elaris could sense the power radiating from her.

"You've been struggling," the woman said, her tone not judgmental but understanding. "But that doesn't mean you're not worthy."

Elaris frowned, uncertain of the stranger's intentions. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "A fellow student of the tower. I've been watching you. You have potential, Elaris. You just need to push past the doubt, the fear of failure. Magic responds to certainty, to conviction."

Elaris hesitated, unsure whether to trust the woman. "And what would you know of it?"

The woman's smile faded, and for a moment, Elaris saw something in her eyes—a depth of experience that spoke of hardships endured. "More than you think."

Elaris felt a flicker of curiosity stir within her. "What do you want from me?"

"I want to help you," the woman replied simply. "I've seen your trials, and I know you're capable of so much more. But magic, true magic, requires a price. It requires sacrifice."

Elaris's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, sacrifice?"

The woman stepped closer, lowering her hood to reveal her face—pale and ageless, with eyes that seemed to reflect the stars themselves. "Power comes at a cost, Elaris. Some pay with their blood, others with their sanity. If you wish to surpass the others here, to truly master the arcane arts, you must be willing to give up something."

Elaris swallowed hard, the weight of the woman's words sinking deep into her chest. She had already sacrificed so much to come this far. Could she sacrifice even more?

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Elaris said, her voice steady despite the storm of uncertainty brewing inside her.

The woman's smile returned, this time tinged with something darker. "Then meet me tomorrow at the edge of the tower, where the winds carry the whispers of forgotten magic. There, I will show you the true cost of power."

With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Elaris standing alone, her heart pounding in her chest.