Klera's Mom Point of View
"you are not the only one who can bend this place to their will." I murmured to her.
I manipulated the water swirling around her, drowning her further. She gasped for air. I finished the battle with my final spell.
"Water Magic: Whale's Tail!"
Spell explanation:
(Water Magic: Whale's Tail is a devastating Water spell that channels the raw power of the ocean to create a colossal wave, shaped precisely like a whale's tail, The wave rises from the depths with a deafening roar, a towering wall of water that crashes down upon the target with breathtaking force. The impact is devastating, a torrent of water that washes over the target, inflicting immense damage and leaving them battered and disoriented. The force of the wave can even knock back targets, sending them tumbling across the battlefield.)
Her eyes widened in alarm as she saw the monstrous spell take shape, growing larger and more menacing with each passing moment. My downward sweep of my hand unleashed it. A monstrous massive whale tail slammed into her, the impact throwing her unconscious into the churning water. When I saw that she could no longer fight again.
I then dispelled the miniature ocean I had conjured. As the water gradually receded, we both descended. I lowered my protective water cocoon, the battle won. She was unconscious, her body covered in bruises in the ground.
Klera's Point of View
I raced back to Mother, the Marksman and Priest at my side, their magical weapons are ready. Finally, reinforcements had arrived. My heart hammered with fear and desperate hope.
Upon reaching Mother, we found our opponent unconscious and severely bruised, a stark contrast to the terrifying power she'd wielded moments before. Relief washed over me seeing Mother unharmed, her strength radiating like the sun breaking through storm clouds.
"Mother!" I shouted, rushing to her side.
"I was so worried about you," I said, my voice laced with concern.
"I'm alright, my child," she reassured me.
"We apologize for the delay, Madam," the priest said, his magic scepter held loosely at his side. "We're relieved you're unharmed."
Mother nodded. "It's alright. Secure her and take her to the Arcane Court of Justice for questioning."
"As you command, Madam." the priest bowed slightly. "Is there anything else we can do to assist you at this time?"
"No, thank you for your help, young adventurers," Mother said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Then, if there's nothing else, we shall be going," the Marksman added, carefully carrying the unconscious young woman. The adventurers departed, their figures silhouetted against the fading light.
Fast forward
Later, under the night sky, we gathered in the village square with our fellow villagers. The villagers showered Mother with praise for saving the village from further destruction, though several homes, including ours, had already been consumed by the black flames.
"We gather here tonight to thank our beloved hero who saved our village!" the village chief announced.
A thunderous applause erupted, the cheers of "Undine Ward!" echoing through the square as they celebrated Mother's victory.
"My fellow villagers," Mother began, her voice ringing with emotion, "Thank you for your gratitude. This is my atonement for failing to protect our village two years ago. My husband and I kept our identities as adventurers secret, seeking a peaceful life and to keep our children safe from the monsters. But now that he is gone, I vow to protect our village for as long as I live."
"Long live the people of Seer Village!" Mother declared, her voice ringing out across the square, the place echoed by a chorus of grateful voices.
After the celebrations ended, a weary silence fell over the village. The lingering scent of smoke, acrid and sharp, clung to everything. We made our way home, our steps slow and heavy, the joyful sounds of the square fading behind us. Peering out from the relative safety of our home, we surveyed the damage. The black flames had scorched part of our ceiling, but our house was more fortunate than many others.
"It's alright, my darlings," Mother murmured, pulling us both into a tight embrace. "Just a little scorch mark. We'll be fine."
As we stepped inside, Mother stopped me at the doorway. Her gaze was intense, her voice hushed. "You really want to enroll at the Academy of Five Pillars?" she asked, her hand resting on my shoulder. "Then promise me this: promise me you'll survive, that you'll succeed." She handed me a purple amulet. "It was your father's amulet," she said. "We hid our identities as S-Tier adventurers—your father a Psychic, me a Mage—to shield you from the dangers of our profession. We wanted a peaceful life, a happy family. But now that I've revealed our past, I know we'll face danger. Promise me you'll learn to fight, to protect yourselves."
Tears welled in my eyes as I hugged her tight. "Yes, Mother," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I promise. I won't let you or Father down."
"Let's eat, my sweeties, and rest. Long day," Mother said. We went into the kitchen. Alera sat at the table, unusually quiet, her usual playful energy gone, replaced by a tense stillness.
"Okay, Mother! Do you think I'll be a priestess, a mage, a swordsman, a marksman, or maybe... a psychic?" I wiggled my foot excitedly at the table, already picturing myself wielding magical abilities.
"I want to be like Father, a real psychic!" I added, my eyes shining with ambition.
"What's a psychic?" Alera asked, tilting her head. "I want to become a Priestess," she added, her voice filled with a quiet determination.
Mother smiled, her eyes twinkling. "You'll find out next week at the Academy of the Pillars. They'll explain everything you're curious about, and maybe even reveal some surprises."
"Okay!" I exclaimed, my heart bubbling with excitement, the possibilities stretching before me like a vast, unexplored landscape.
"The Academy of the Five Pillars, here I go!" I exclaimed, feeling like a child bubbling over with excitement.