Ava, you don't belong here
Ava's POV
“Pigs will always be pigs!” Lara, Jocelyn’s friend, sneered. She was my third most hated person since I came here. Just like Gwen, she was a witch, but instead of being friends with her, she bullied her. It made no sense. How could someone treat their own kind like that?
Lara Croft, the daughter of the Minister of Agriculture, was a spoiled brat. Her father, head of their witch clan, gave her a sense of superiority. But to me, she was just another bully, worse than Jocelyn.
I ignored her remark. I wasn’t going to let them ruin my day.
“Gwen, let’s go. I can’t wait for you to show me the Nohte market!” I said, excitement bubbling inside me.
Gwen, clearly glad I didn’t let their words get to me, nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”
We left the two troublemakers behind, their sneering words echoing in the hallway. The guards quickly shooed them away, reminding them this was the King’s quarters. That served them right.
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NOHTE MARKET
Nohte Market was unlike anything I could have imagined. It was alive with people everywhere, sounds from all corners, and the smell of food and spices filling the air. The place was busy and noisy, but I loved it.
“Wow, this place is amazing,” I whispered, taking in the sights around me.
Gwen smiled, “I knew you’d like it.”
The market was crowded, with people bumping into each other as they moved around. But despite the crowd, I loved it, the food, the smells, the colors. We even stopped by a fae stall, where I tried to get some of the tastiest looking meat and cheese I had ever seen.
But just as I was about to dig in, Gwen grabbed my hand, pulling me away.
“Ava, we need to leave,” she whispered urgently.
“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked, confused.
“In Nohte market, everyone knows not to eat at a fae stall,” Gwen said pulling me further from the stall.
"Why, Gwen? Does something happen if a person eats at their stall?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Yes, Ava. A lot could go wrong. At a Fae stall, everything comes with a cost. Just because it seems cheap doesn't mean there's no price to pay," Gwen explained.
I glanced back at the stall, confused. The fae who sold us the food seemed so nice.
“But she seemed so kind…” I muttered.
Gwen shook her head. “Looks can be deceiving.”
I sighed and followed Gwen through the busy market, deciding to trust her judgment. This world was still full of mysteries I didn’t fully understand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARCANE ARENA
The Arcane Arena was grand, far more impressive than I expected. It was huge, with seats that seemed to stretch on forever, all filled with excited people waiting for the competition to start. The arena reminded me of something out of a history book, but with a mystical touch.
As I stood there, trying to take it all in, I felt nervous. The competition was about to begin, and I knew I had to be ready. This was my chance to test my newfound powers. I need to know I am ready for what's to come.
The first round started with a fight between a centaur named Liam Hale and a fairy named Charles Dawn.
Liam was a sight to behold. His upper body was muscular and strong, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jaw. His horse body was sleek and powerful, his chestnut coat gleaming under the arena lights. He was known as one of the most powerful centaurs in the realm. Liam's father is also a minister in Raphael’s court.
Charles, the fairy, was much smaller and lighter, but he had a graceful way about him. His wings shimmered, and he moved with a speed that made it hard to keep track of him. Despite his smaller size, there was something about him that told you he was not to be underestimated.
Liam made the first move, charging forward with the speed and force of a storm. His hooves kicked up clouds of dust as he closed the distance between them, his spear sliced through empty air, and he snorted in frustration, turning sharply to face his opponent almost striking him with his spear.
But Charles was quicker. His wings carried him into the air just as Liam struck, and in a blur of motion, Charles created multiple copies of himself, confusing Liam.
Liam slashed at the illusions, but he kept missing. His frustration grew, and he started to strike harder, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t hit the real Charles.
That’s when Charles made his move. Using his magic, he summoned vines from the ground, wrapping them around Liam’s legs. Liam roared in anger, ripping the vines apart with his strength, but it was too late. Charles had already disappeared, only to reappear behind Liam. With a blast of wind, Charles knocked Liam off his feet, almost out of the arena.
The crowd gasped as Liam hit the ground hard. Charles wasted no time, casting a spell that trapped Liam in an enchanted barrier.
Liam struggled, but he couldn’t break free. Realizing he had been defeated, he nodded in respect to Charles. Charles, ever the trickster, gave a small smile and floated gently to the ground.
Watching them, I realized this competition was going to be harder than I thought. It wasn’t just about power, it was about strategy and using your strengths wisely. I exchanged a look with Gwen, and we both giggled nervously.
“We better get ready for our turn,” I said, trying to push down the fear bubbling inside me.
Gwen smiled back. “I’m ready. I’ve been practicing, and I know I’m stronger now.”
I nodded, feeling a little more confident with her by my side. The next round of the competition was about to start, and I knew we had to stay focused.
But just as we were getting ready to take our positions, I heard a voice. A voice I hadn’t heard in years. My heart skipped a beat, and my blood turned cold.
“Ava… you don’t belong here.”
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
It can’t be. Not him.
I turned slowly, my body trembling as the figure stepped into view.
The past I had tried so hard to leave behind had finally caught up to me.
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