Path of ash and stars(5)

The next day, Elaris barely slept, her thoughts consumed by the woman's words. Power, sacrifice… was she ready for this? She had come to the tower seeking greatness, but now she wasn't sure what that would mean. Would the price be too much? Could she risk everything, even her very soul, for the magic that called to her?

She found herself at the edge of the tower just as the woman had instructed. The wind howled through the narrow alley, the sky a deepening shade of twilight, and the distant glow of the tower's lights flickered like distant stars. No one else was in sight.

The woman appeared from the shadows once again, her figure barely noticeable until she stepped forward into the moonlight. She looked at Elaris with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"You came," the woman said, her voice low and steady.

"I came," Elaris replied, her own voice tinged with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "Show me."

The woman gestured for Elaris to follow her as she walked to a secluded part of the courtyard, where the wind seemed to carry the weight of ancient magic. The air felt charged with an energy Elaris had never sensed before, thick with potential.

"This place," the woman began, "is where the tower's secrets are kept—where the old spells still linger, hidden from those who are not ready to understand them. But you… you have the fire within you, Elaris. You were born for this."

Elaris's heart raced. "What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice a whisper.

The woman's eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, a spark of something otherworldly. "All that's left is for you to take the final step—to embrace the magic, without hesitation, without fear. The first spark you conjured wasn't just a test; it was a sign of what's to come. Now, you must decide: will you accept the true power of the arcane, or will you walk away from this path forever?"

Elaris looked down at her trembling hands. She had already come so far, and yet… there was still doubt, lingering in her mind like a dark cloud. Could she really sacrifice what the woman was asking?

"What's the cost?" she asked softly, barely daring to voice her question.

The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a step closer, her eyes locking onto Elaris's. "The price is not something you will feel immediately," she said, her voice soft yet ominous. "But every choice you make from here on will carry its weight. Magic demands a toll—sometimes it asks for your time, your innocence, your very sense of self."

Elaris swallowed hard. Her mind spun. Was she ready to face whatever consequences this magic might bring? Was she ready to give up everything—her family's expectations, her future, her very identity—for the power she craved?

"I want this," Elaris said, her voice stronger now, her resolve hardening like steel. "I am ready to embrace it."

The woman's smile flickered, but there was something dark in it. "Then so be it. Reach out."

Elaris hesitated for only a moment before she extended her hand toward the swirling energy in the air. It was as if the wind itself had turned into a living entity, whispering secrets to her as it beckoned her closer. With a deep breath, Elaris reached out, allowing the raw magic to flow into her.

At first, it was nothing. A simple pulse. But then the power surged through her—sharp and overwhelming—like fire and ice intertwined. She gasped, the energy flooding her veins, her body shaking with its intensity. Her thoughts scattered, memories and emotions swirling in a maelstrom. This was more than just magic. This was something that could consume her whole, change her forever.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake. But then, just as suddenly, the pain began to ebb. The magic settled within her, filling the empty spaces, leaving behind a feeling of both profound strength and an unsettling emptiness.

Elaris lowered her hand, her chest heaving. She had done it. She had accepted the magic. And it had accepted her.

The woman watched her intently, her expression unreadable. "Now, you are one with the tower. But remember, Elaris: power is a burden. It will weigh heavily on you, and it will test your very soul. There are no guarantees in magic."

Elaris nodded, her eyes fixed on the tower in the distance. It stood there, tall and immovable, just like her future now felt. She was ready—ready to rise above the expectations that had once bound her, ready to carve out her own destiny. The path before her was clear, and she would walk it, no matter the cost.