THE WARRIOR'S PATH
1373 Words
Chapter 11: The Warrior’s Path
Nelly was running—she could feel the wind brushing against her skin as the ground beneath her feet shifted with every step. The landscape around her was surreal: a blend of familiar fields and enchanted forests, as though she was walking the line between the ordinary world and the magical one. But there was something else—something powerful that thrummed beneath her feet. In the distance, her mother stood, watching her intently.
“Nelly, focus,” her mother’s voice called out, echoing across the dreamscape. Her figure was cloaked in light, shimmering white hair flowing down her back. She looked ethereal, like she belonged in this strange world. Nelly, however, felt uncertain. No matter how much she strained, she couldn’t move as freely. Her energy manipulation powers were still a mystery to her.
“I’m trying,” Nelly muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth. She concentrated, willing the air around her to bend to her will. She could feel the energy swirling within her, but it felt slippery, just out of reach. The more she tried, the more it seemed to evade her control. Her mother, sensing her frustration, smiled gently.
“You have the power, Nelly. It’s already inside you. You just need to stop doubting yourself.”
Nelly sighed, feeling defeated. She wanted to make her mother proud, but every attempt felt like a failure. The dreamscape around them flickered slightly, and Nelly’s mother stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
“Remember, the competition will reveal who is ready to defend the palace. Five warriors will be chosen. If you want to succeed, you must trust yourself and your power.”
Before Nelly could reply, the scene began to fade, and her mother’s face slowly blurred until she could no longer see it.
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Nelly jolted awake, her heart racing as she blinked in the dim light of her room. She could still hear her mother’s words echoing in her mind: "You must trust yourself." She sat up in bed, her mind swirling with doubt. The competition was fast approaching, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready.
She glanced at the small mirror near her bedside. A lock of white hair was peeking through the brown she had used to hide it. With a quiet sigh, she tucked it back in, making sure none of her roommates would notice. Anaya and Nadia were still asleep, their breathing soft in the quiet room.
Morning Preparation Just as Nelly was beginning to drift back to sleep, the sound of Nadia bustling around woke her up fully. Nadia had always been the early bird. She was already preparing herself for the day’s challenges, her energy seemingly boundless despite the stress of the upcoming competition.
“Hey,” Nadia whispered, poking Nelly with a smile. “Ready to get our butts kicked today?”
Nelly chuckled half-heartedly, still shaken by the dream. “You sound way too excited for this.”
“Well, of course! I’m hoping to be one of the five winners,” Nadia said, grinning. “Think of it—us, warriors of the palace! You have no idea how amazing that would be.”
Nelly gave her a weak smile. The idea of being one of the five chosen warriors was thrilling, but it only added more pressure. She hadn’t even mastered her power yet, and her mother’s words kept playing in her mind.
The Competition Arena Later that morning, Nelly and her friends made their way to the grand competition arena. The air buzzed with anticipation as all the students gathered. Some were already practicing their elemental powers—fire flickered in the hands of one student, while another manipulated water into intricate patterns. Nelly felt a pang of insecurity as she saw how controlled and focused everyone seemed.
Standing across the arena, Joseph surveyed the crowd, his eyes scanning for someone in particular. When he finally spotted Nelly among the students, a small, fond smile touched his lips. He had faith in her, even if she didn’t realize it yet. He knew how important this competition was—not just for the palace but for Nelly’s growth. But as much as he wanted to protect her, he also knew she had to do this on her own.
Esther, on the other hand, stood at the other end of the arena, surrounded by her loyal group of bullies. Her expression was cold and calculating, and she watched Nelly with thinly veiled contempt. “She doesn’t belong here,” Esther muttered under her breath. She was determined to humiliate Nelly during the competition, to make her regret ever standing up to her.
The public training for The competition was announced to begin, and the first challenge was elemental control. Nelly's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward with her friends, Nadia and Anaya by her side. The task seemed simple—control an element in a way that demonstrated skill and creativity.
One by one, the students showcased their powers. A girl manipulated flames into the shape of a phoenix, and a boy created a swirling vortex of water. When it was Nelly’s turn, her mind went blank. She stared at the space in front of her, willing her energy to manifest, but nothing happened.
Nadia gave her a gentle nudge. “You’ve got this, Nelly.”
Taking a deep breath, Nelly closed her eyes and focused on the memory of her dream. “You have the power. It’s inside you.” Slowly, she felt a familiar energy start to build within her. This time, instead of trying to control it, she let it flow freely. Her hands began to glow faintly, and the air around her shifted.
There was a murmur of surprise from the audience as the energy around Nelly shimmered. But instead of controlling a single element, the energy seemed to ripple through everything—air, water, even the ground beneath her feet. It wasn’t a traditional display of elemental power, but it was powerful, and the judges took notice.
Esther narrowed her eyes, clenching her fists. “What is she doing?” she hissed, watching with growing jealousy. She knew Nelly had something special, something different, and it infuriated her.
Esther’s Sabotage After the first round ended, Esther wasted no time in putting her plan into action. She approached Nelly with a fake smile plastered on her face.
“Well done, Nelly,” Esther said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I didn’t expect you to last this long.”
Nelly, sensing the malice behind Esther’s words, said nothing. She wasn’t about to let Esther get under her skin again. Nadia stepped up beside her, glaring at Esther. “We’re just getting started.”
Esther’s eyes darkened as she turned to walk away, her bullies trailing behind her. “We’ll see about that.”
Nelly’s Struggle and Dream As the day wore on, Nelly found herself growing more anxious. Her mind kept drifting back to her mother’s words. She couldn’t tell anyone about the dreams, not even her friends. She didn’t want them to worry—or worse, think she was going crazy.
That night, after a long day of competition preparation, Nelly lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The white streaks in her hair were becoming harder to hide, and she knew she couldn’t keep it a secret forever.
Sleep eventually claimed her, and once again, she found herself in the strange dream world with her mother. This time, the landscape was darker, and her mother’s expression was more serious.
“Nelly, you must be careful,” her mother said, her voice urgent. “Your powers are growing, but so is the danger. You will face challenges you’re not prepared for, but you must be strong. The palace needs you. Your destiny awaits, but you have to survive the competition.”
Nelly woke with a start, her heart racing. She felt a deep sense of dread settle over her, but there was no time to dwell on it. The competition was far from over, and she knew Esther wouldn’t stop until she had her revenge.
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Chapter 11
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- Writer
