The battle had left nothing but ruin. Solene stood in the wreckage, her chest heaving as the glow from her sigil started to fade. The bright light that had once surrounded her was now just a faint shimmer, like embers struggling to stay alive.
Her mind caught up with the destruction. The burned buildings, the bodies of those who had tried to stop her, guards, sorcerers, men who wanted to kill her. Her hands shook as she looked down at them, the power still rushing through her.
What have I done?
Her breath came in quick gasps. Horror filled her as she glanced over the battlefield. The smell of burning flesh and charred stone filled her lungs, choking her. The weight of what she'd done was unbearable. She couldn't believe all these damage happened by her own hands. She trembled as tears filled her eyes, threatening to flow down her eyes.
Suddenly, she heard running footsteps, shouts in the distance. More were coming. Reinforcements.
Fear rushed through her. She couldn't stay. If she did, they would catch her, imprison her, experiment on her, or worse, kill her.
With one last look at the destruction, she turned and ran, her breathing fast and uneven as she disappeared into the shadows of the ruined city.
A few moments later, several officers arrived at the scene. Their faces were filled with shock as they took in the destruction around them. The smell of burned bodies and the remnants of guards and sorcerers who had tried to stop her filled the air.
Among them, a woman in shining black armor stepped forward, Lady Vera Luthien. She looked over the wreckage with an unreadable expression, folding her arms across her chest. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Impressive? Maybe," she said quietly, though the destruction around her didn't shock her. "But this? It's nothing compared to the power of King Malrik Draven."
The officers glanced at each other, unsure.
Lady Vera's voice grew colder. "She's powerful, but raw, untamed. No Hollow, no matter how gifted, will ever surpass the king." She turned to the officers. "Send word to the palace. The king needs to know. We're dealing with something new, but she's no match for His Majesty."
With that, she turned and walked away, her gaze sharp as the officers nodded and rushed to carry out her orders.
In the deepest chamber of the grand palace, King Malrik Draven sat on his throne of black stone. The air was thick with the smell of burning incense and old magic. Elder Cassius Veldane, cloaked in dark robes, stood in front of him.
"The girl must be found, Your Majesty," Cassius said smoothly. "We can't let a Hollow with this much power roam free. You know what she could become."
The king's fingers tapped slowly against the armrest of his throne. His face stayed calm, but something unreadable flashed in his eyes. "Is it true? Did she really burn those beasts alive?" he asked after a long pause.
Cassius smirked. "It's worse than that, my king." He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "She doesn't just use power. She absorbs it, changes it, and grows stronger. If we don't stop her, she could become something we can't control."
Malrik's jaw tightened. "And you think we should let her live?"
Cassius chuckled darkly. "Live? No. We should capture her. Use her power for your own gain. Imagine what you could do with her strength."
Malrik studied him, his thoughts turning. He had ruled for years, sustained by both his power and dark magic that drained the energy of captured Hollows, keeping him strong. But this girl… she was different. Something beyond their understanding.
"And if she can't be controlled?" the king asked.
Cassius's smile widened. "Then we destroy her before she destroys us."
Malrik exhaled slowly, his fist tightening. "Send every force we have. Find her."
The flames in the chamber flickered wildly, as if obeying his command.
Solene ran deeper into the forest, her breath heavy and her legs weak from exhaustion. Branches and thorns scraped at her skin, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. The fear of being caught, and the horror of what she'd just done, pushed her forward until she couldn't run anymore.
Finally, she collapsed against a thick tree.
Tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks as she hugged her knees to her chest. Everything was a mess. Nothing made sense. Just hours ago, she was an ordinary girl, trying to survive. Now, she had become something she didn't understand. She had killed, burned creatures alive.
She held her trembling hands out in front of her, trying to call the fire back. She focused, clenched her fists, hoping something would happen. But nothing. No fire, no magic, no power.
Her hands fell to her lap, and another wave of frustration hit her. Was it all a lie? Had she imagined everything?
Tears spilled down her face as she whispered, "What is happening to me?"
She tried again to summon the fire, but still nothing. Panic tightened her chest. Why couldn't she do it now? Why had it worked in the arena, but not here? She was lost, alone, and powerless.
Frustration bubbled up, and she screamed into the empty forest, "Why is my life such a mess?!" Her voice echoed in the stillness. She didn't know where to go or what to do. Everything she had known was gone. The simple, safe life she had with Lira felt so distant now. Now, she was sure the whole city was after her. There was nowhere to hide, no one to turn to. She was truly alone.
She hugged herself tightly, trying to calm her breathing, but the weight of the unknown was crushing. What was she supposed to do now?