"Come on, come on," Amberine muttered, her voice a mix of desperation and determination. She carefully poured a trickle of mana into the circles, watching as the lines glowed faintly. Her eyes widened with hope as the glow intensified, the circles beginning to harmonize. But just as quickly, the glow faded, the lines sputtering before a small puff of smoke rose from the parchment.
"Ugh!" Amberine groaned, slamming her hands on the desk. "Why does it always end like this? Just work for once!"
She glared at the circles as if sheer willpower could force them to behave. Her patience, already stretched thin, finally snapped. She grabbed the nearest piece of parchment, ready to rip it apart in a fit of rage. As she tore it, the sound of the ripping paper brought a sudden panic.
"Oh no, no, no!" she exclaimed, frantically trying to smooth out the tear. "Professor Draven will have my head if I destroy these!"
Amberine sank back into her chair, holding the damaged paper with trembling hands. "Great, now I've ruined it," she muttered, her voice tinged with self-pity. She tossed the paper aside and buried her face in her hands.
"I need a break. Maybe some food will help," she said to herself, pushing away from the desk. She grabbed her cloak and headed out of the dormitory, her mind a whirl of anxiety and irritation. The night air was cool against her flushed cheeks, a welcome relief from the stifling confines of her room. She walked aimlessly for a while before her nose caught the scent of roasting meat and spices.
"The night market," she murmured. "Perfect."
Amberine navigated the bustling streets, the sights and sounds of the market a temporary distraction from her academic woes. She found her favorite food stall, run by a kindly old man who always had a smile and a warm meal ready.
"Evening, Amberine," he greeted. "The usual?"
"Yes, please," she replied, managing a tired smile. "It's been a long day."
"Rough night with your studies, eh?" he asked, handing her a steaming skewer of meat.
"You have no idea," Amberine said, taking a bite. The savory flavor was a balm to her frayed nerves. "Professor Draven gave us an impossible task. I'm starting to think he's just messing with us for fun."
The old man chuckled. "He's known for that, isn't he? But you'll figure it out. You're a smart one."
"Smart, maybe," Amberine muttered around a mouthful of food. "But this task... it's driving me crazy."
She wandered the market as she ate, letting the familiar routine calm her mind. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she almost missed the commotion in a nearby alley. A child's cry for help snapped her out of her reverie. She turned to see a small figure being dragged away by a shadowy figure.
"Hey! Stop!" Amberine shouted, dropping her food and sprinting towards the alley.
She pushed through the crowd, her heart pounding as she followed the sounds of the struggle. The alley was dark and narrow, the perfect place for an ambush. She slowed her pace, her eyes darting around for any signs of movement.
"Let the kid go!" she demanded, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
Suddenly, she found herself surrounded. Men emerged from the shadows, blocking her path. The child was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a group of menacing figures. They circled her, their intentions clear.
Amberine's heart raced, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Really?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think trapping me in an alley is a good idea?"
The men exchanged glances, their confident smirks faltering at her defiant tone.
"Hand over your valuables, and we might let you go," one of them sneered.
Amberine laughed, a high, slightly manic sound that echoed eerily in the confined space. "You idiots have no idea who you're dealing with."
Her laughter grew louder, the sound unsettling her would-be assailants. She could see the unease in their eyes, the way they shifted nervously. "I've had a hell of a night," she continued, her voice rising. "Professor Draven's stupid test is driving me insane, and now this?"
She could feel the fire mana stirring within her, responding to her anger and frustration. Her hands began to glow, the air around her growing warmer. "If you don't come to me," she shouted, her voice a roar of fury, "then I'll come for you!"
The men hesitated, their bravado crumbling in the face of her power. One of them made a move towards her, but she was faster. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a bolt of fire towards him, the flames licking at his clothes.
"Stay back!" another shouted, fear evident in his voice.
Amberine advanced, the fire in her eyes reflecting the flames in her hands. "You wanted a fight?" she taunted. "Well, you've got one!"
She launched herself at them, her movements fueled by a mix of adrenaline and anger. The alley was soon filled with the sounds of combat, her laughter mingling with their shouts of pain and fear.
Her attackers were unprepared for the ferocity of her assault. She moved with a wild, unpredictable energy, her fire magic burning with a dangerous intensity. The men tried to fight back, but they were no match for her rage-fueled power.
Within moments, the alley was cleared. The men lay on the ground, groaning in pain or scrambling to escape. Amberine stood in the midst of the chaos, her chest heaving with exertion. She glanced around, a satisfied smirk on her face.
"Next time," she said, her voice low and dangerous, "think twice before you mess with me."
She turned and walked away, her steps steady and sure. The fire within her slowly subsided, leaving a lingering warmth in its wake. As she left the alley, she couldn't help but laugh again, a sound of triumph and release.
"I needed that," she murmured to herself, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over her. "Maybe now I can finally focus on that damn magic circle."
Amberine made her way back to the dormitory, her mind clearer and her spirits higher. She still had a daunting task ahead of her, but for the first time in hours, she felt ready to tackle it. The night's events had given her a new perspective, a renewed determination to prove herself.
As she reached her room, she paused for a moment, looking up at the stars. "Watch out, Draven," she said softly, a smile playing on her lips. "I'm not giving up that easily."
___
Or so Amberine's imagination went.
"So, the reason why you rushed yourself right to them is because of your rage towards your supplementary task given to you by your professor, am I right?" The guard asked, tending to her wounds with a surprisingly gentle touch.
In reality, Amberine's night wasn't quite as heroic. The moment she confronted the shadowy figure dragging the child, she was promptly overpowered and found herself lying on the cobblestone, nursing a few bruises. The alley was soon flooded with guards, who swiftly apprehended the criminals, including the child's would-be kidnapper.
Amberine winced as she touched the bruise forming on her cheek, her grandiose fantasies of heroism dissolving in the cold light of reality. The guard before her raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"Yes..." Amberine admitted, feeling a bit foolish. "I was frustrated, and when I saw the child, I just acted without thinking."
The guard nodded, his expression softening a bit. "Well, your heart was in the right place, even if your actions were a bit reckless. But next time, leave the heroics to us, alright?"
Amberine managed a sheepish smile. "Yeah, lesson learned."
As the guards led the criminals away, Amberine slowly made her way back to her dormitory. Her mind was a whirl of embarrassment and lingering frustration. She was too tired and sore to even think about the magic circle now.
The night air was still cool, but it no longer felt like a relief. Instead, it seemed to mock her earlier confidence. She trudged through the quiet streets, her earlier determination now replaced with a weary resignation.
She then went silently towards her dormitory, but then she remembered that she hadn't finished her food because of that incident yet.
"Maybe buying some food to soothe my injured heart and confidence would be fine," She uttered her justification weakly.
But as she turns around.
"Eh?" She uttered when she saw the sight of the girl before her. "Elara?"