Subjected Power ( Fire and Ice )

"I ran through the woods, desperate for safety, with my family and friends hot on my heels. My lover, who had tried to kill me, lay knocked out behind me. As I fled, my vision blurred and my body grew heavy. Everything went black. When I came to, I found myself in an unfamiliar place, far from my childhood home. The room was filled with lamps and flowers, and I noticed I was floating slightly above the ground. 'Are you haunted?' a voice whispered, but when I turned, there was no one in sight. 'Who are you?' I asked aloud. 'I saved you,' a hoarse voice replied, and I spun around to face an old woman brewing tea. 'Take it and leave,' she said, walking away. 'But I have nowhere to go,' I protested. The old woman turned, her gaze piercing. I sensed she wasn't human. 'You're a cursed child,' she stated. "Don't think you can stay here " 'I need power for revenge.' 'Revenge against your parents?' she asked. 'No,' I began, but the old woman's knowing look silenced me. 'You seek power to topple those who wronged you,' she said. 'But be warned, child, power comes at a steep price. Are you willing to pay it?" "No, I want them to be subjected to my power," I said. "Your powers have been sealed; there's nothing I can do for you young one Amanda replied Aren't you Amanda the conqueror of all power?" You must have heard of me, But sensing me isn't something an ordinary person can do." She said taking a seat on the bed where I lay. "What's your name, child?" she asked. "Lavender," I replied. "Are you a plant?" she asked. "No, it's a name," I replied. "But what does it symbolize?" "Love, healing, and innocence," she said. "Your mother chose a powerful name that can make you strong again. I'll help you, but you must promise to do something in return." "Okay," I said. "Don't rush," she cautioned, standing up but still staring at me. "I'm not doing this out of charity. Your core has been sealed and can only be opened by your father. However, there's a water you must meditate in for seven days, but beware, you may die." "I can't use my power," I explained. "They say my power radiates, but I can't harness it. I want you to teach me how to use it." Amanda shook her head. "Even with a thousand lessons, you can't practice without unblocking your core, which is your foundation. Removing the blockage might kill you." "What are my chances of survival?" I asked. "Ten percent," she replied. I staggered back, shocked. "If you won't do it, you can't be my disciple," she offered, walking away. "No, I'll do it," I said firmly. "Are you sure?" she asked, turning back. I nodded. "Let's go," she said, exiting the room. I followed her to a small pond her backyard. She threw flowers into the water and instructed me to get in. "The moment I entered the water, it felt cold," "Listen carefully," Amanda warned. "You can't leave until the water turns hot. This water may look ordinary, but it's special. You can only get out if it turns hot after seven days, "Will my core be opened?" I asked. "No," she replied. "Your body must absorb the power in the pond. If you do, your core will open due to excessive power." Seven days later, I emerged from the water, exhausted. "You couldn't turn the water hot," Amanda said, and I stared weakly at her. "Your power dominated the pond," she explained. "Try absorbing it. Hold this gem tightly and go underneath the water. Don't come out until the gem shines." I stared at her, then submerged my tightly fisted hand in the water. The gem shone immediately. Amanda's eyes widened in bewilderment. The gem became unbearable to hold, burning my hands and radiating agonizing pain throughout my body. I screamed until my voice gave out and I passed out. Minutes later, I woke up near the pond, disoriented. I saw Amanda on the ground, surrounded by arrows. My father stood on the hill, ready to kill me while I laid unconscious. I rushed to Amanda and shook her, but she didn't respond. I searched for the gem but couldn't find it. My palm looked normal. "You're awake already," Amanda said, her voice weak. "Are you okay?" I asked, and she nodded. I stared at my father ,he just stood there looking at me with pain in his eyes ,he drew his bow with his arrow in his hand Let's get out of here now," she said, standing up. "We ran without stopping, never looking back. That's when I heard amanda calling my name , but it was too late. I felt a searing pain as an arrow struck me, and I scrambled to the ground. Before I knew it, the old lady had swiftly removed the arrow from my back. I turned to face my father, but she swiftly took me and we vanished into thin air..." "I stood in bewilderment, gazing around at the grand castle. 'Where are we?' I asked Amanda, but she merely gestured for me to follow her. 'This is my castle,' she said, leading me through the halls. 'Here, you will train to harness your power. Once you're ready, you'll seek revenge for me in a neighboring village.' 'I had initially intended for you to wield only half of your power,' she continued, 'but circumstances have changed. Now, you must train for ten years in the castle's academy, learning to master your abilities.'" "Years had passed, but I felt hollow. Despite gaining immense power, I'd become consumed by an insatiable hunger for more. My decade-long training in seclusion had taken its toll. Two years before completing my 10-year training, I began venturing out. Six months shy of my training's end, I returned to the castle, now a place I considered home. It was then that I received my mission: to eliminate the unknown prince, a mysterious figure hidden from the world. In my relentless pursuit of revenge, I'd transformed into a ruthless avenger." In disguise, I infiltrated the assigned territory without assistance. However, accessing the palace proved impossible, so I rented a room for the night. As I sat in the inn, a charismatic figure entered, and women flocked to him. I watched, disgusted, as he effortlessly charmed two of them. He then approached my table, dismissing the waiter's warning with a glance. "Leave her be," he said, his voice commanding. The waiter hesitated before departing. The stranger's gaze locked onto mine. "What's your name?" he asked, his eyes piercing. I stared back, sensing an otherworldly aura about him. "What does my name have to do with you?" "Why be rude?" one of the women interjected, but I ignored her. "Why must I reveal my name?" I pressed, my eyes never leaving his. He leaned in, his intensity unnerving. "Your aura... there's more to it." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I see." I stood to leave, but he grasped my hand, halting me. "Excuse me, you haven't paid," the waiter called out. "He will pay," I said, nodding toward the stranger. As I walked away, one of the women sniped, "What impunity!" I ignored her and pushed through the door, colliding with a hooded figure. His aura was unfathomable, but I brushed past him. Before entering my lodgings, I heard a voice behind me. "Wait!" I turned to face the charismatic stranger. "You forgot this," he said, offering a handkerchief. It's not mine," I declared defiantly, attempting to walk away. But he grasped my arm, his eyes locked on mine. "Don't go," he said, his voice firm. "Let me clean your face." He tried to gently wipe my face with the handkerchief, but I jerked back, my hair slicing through the fabric like razor-sharp threads. "I knew you weren't normal," he whispered, his gaze intensifying. "Let's have a drink," he suggested, his tone softening. "Why would I?" I retorted, my voice laced with disdain. "Do I look like a slut to you?" "No, you don't," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But it's an order you can't reject." "Order?" I echoed, my eyes narrowing. "Who are you to give me an order, expecting to be obeyed?" "I am the Prince of this country," he declared, his expression commanding. I raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Wow, I knew you were royalty already. You didn't have to announce it." "What are you insinuating?" he asked, his tone sharp. "I don't care if you're the Prince," I said, my voice steady. "My allegiance belongs solely to the King himself, not one of his subordinates." I turned to leave, but his words halted me. "You're bold, I'll give you that," he said. "But you're also mysterious. Who are you, really?" I glanced back, my expression unreadable. "Someone who won't be intimidated "You think you're beautiful, and indeed you are," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "And you're so endowed. After my father, I'm next in line for the throne. Yes, I'm his subordinate, but someday you'll be mine. Why don't you try being a little nicer?" I smiled inwardly. This isn't the hidden prince. He must have a reason for hiding. He wouldn't be openly flaunting his royalty. "You seem so full of yourself, Prince," I said, my tone laced with subtle mockery. "But you have nothing to fear. I serve whom I'm supposed to, regardless of who. Yet, it seems like there's someone greater than you... someone you answer to." His eyes narrowed, and darkness swirled in his hand. He controlled the wind and sand, hurling it at me. But the elements dropped to the ground, harmless, without touching me. Enraged, he tried to grasp me, but he was repelled, flying backward. I walked away, unfazed. Suddenly, archers emerged, ready to attack. I turned to the prince. "Call off your men. I'll talk to you." He signaled them to stop, but they drew their strings, prepared to fire. "Stop!" he shouted, his hands raised in command. Defying his order, they released their arrows. But every arrow dropped to the ground, harmless. The crowd gasped in awe. I sensed a stronger arrow approaching and an invincible force. Spinning around, I dodged the arrow and leapt onto the roof. There, I faced the hooded figure from earlier. Our eyes locked. I waited, intrigued His presence seemed imposing, like a dark shadow. His gaze pierced through the darkness, radiating anger. "He must be the prince's bodyguard," I thought, "but his energy feels domineering, almost... royal." "I didn't look for trouble," I said, holding up my hands in a calming gesture. But before I could finish, he lunged at me with incredible force, sending me stumbling backward. As I descended, an arrow pierced through me – a rarity in ten years. Enraged, I screamed, and the arrow flew out of me, dropping me to the ground. The hooded figure attacked, but I swiftly countered, flinging him into a nearby pool. He emerged from the water, summoning it to obey his will. A wave hurtled toward me, but I cooled the air, freezing the water mid-air. It crashed to the ground as ice. He stared at me in awe, while I seethed with rage. Without a word, he retreated, abandoning his hood in his haste. As he fled in yet another hood and tuxedo, I recognized the royal insignia on his attire. "He's the hidden prince," I realized, stunned. I grasped the hood, now a tangible connection to the mysterious figure.