บท 2: An angel named Cassandra
Eli soared over the city, its people looking like little ants from up high. With wings sprung from her imagination, she had the power to go wherever her heart desired. Below, she could see buildings, roads, folks going about their lives, and animals dashing here and there.
"I... I can run away." She shouted, her voice filled with excitement. "I can escape!"
But the ghost interrupted her thoughts.
"Why, though? How many times you had to be bullied? To actually end up on top of that building, thinking of doing the unthinkable. Don't you want revenge?"
Eli's complexion drained of all color, and she started to shake. She was desperate to say something, but the words didn't come. After a few moments, her voice returned.
"I don't care anymore. I... I am too weak." Her voice trembled, and tears started falling from her eyes. "I am worthless. I am a failure."
The ghost chuckled at her words. "And you will see how wrong you are, Eli. In fact, you'll soon find out that you are far more powerful than you think."
Eli plopped down gracefully on the hilltop and crossed her legs into a lotus position. She muttered softly to the sky, asking if she could be powerful. Lying on the ground, she hoped for an answer "Can I really become powerful?"
The ghost appeared in smoke form, but soon it gained the shape of a young woman with wings. She was still transparent, but Eli could see what she looked like.
The ghost smirked, revealing long fangs, and said, "Of course, you can be powerful. You accepted me."
She looked at the ghost and asked."But what are you?"
"An angel. My name is Cassandra." The spirit replied, her voice echoing throughout the night sky.
"An angel..." Eli repeated. "Are you real?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Of course I am."
"Why are you here?"
Angel shrugged at first but then answered. "Maybe... To help you grow?" she said, looking unsure.
The angel was sure of her desires yet aware that the girl would likely refuse her if the truth were revealed. She knew the right moment had not yet come. So instead, she decided to tell half of the truth.
"To help you grow in power would be the right answer," Cassandra added. This wasn't a lie. However, she didn't tell her full intentions to Eli. "By accepting me, you accepted my power. My goals and even part of my being. You should be honored."
"Help me grow... Honored." She looked at her hands and clenched them into fists. She wondered if this was just a dream, so she punched her leg just to be sure.
She felt an aching pain in her leg, but she didn't care. As she stood up, she asked the angel, "What kind of powers have you given me? If you say, you want me to be better... That must mean I can do more than flight."
"Clever girl. Indeed, you can do much... Much more." Angel replied, her red eyes glowing brighter. "As for your powers, you will learn to use them with time."
His words left her speechless. She didn't know what to think.
"Y-You mean that you won't tell me?"
Angel shook his head. "Of course, I will, but not immediately. Where would be the fun in that?" she added as she laughed. "Let's just say that you can learn magic as you gain my mana."
"B-But..." She stuttered, but then her eyes sparkled in awe. "Wait. I can use mana?!"
"That's right." she nodded as she spread her arms. "The only limit is your imagination."
Eli gaped at the apparition in amazement. Since she was a child, she had always wished to practice magic but never dreamed she could unlock her ethereal energy pathways.
"I... I can use mana." She said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I can use magic."
"Want to test it?" Cassandra asked.
"A-Okay!" She agreed.
"Good." Cassandra replied. "I know you understand how to use basic magic; you just had no way to activate it. Could you try making a fireball?"
"I... I don't know." Eli looked at her own hands but soon was determined to try it. "Alright, let's do this."
Cassandra's smile turned into a grin. "Show me what you can do."
Eli hesitated at first but then placed her hand on top of another. She felt a fluttering in her stomach as if her energy were being zapped off. She felt her hands heating up and tingling with energy, and she heard a rushing noise that grew louder and louder in her ear. An electric feeling filled her body, and suddenly, she felt tingling in her hands.
"Go!" Cassandra urged her to start moving.
With a deep breath, Eli closed her eyes. Inside her mind, she felt the flicker of a flame and slowly opened her hands. On top of each hand, scattered but separate balls of fire appeared and rose from her palms to float in the air around her. With another breath, a ball of light formed over each hand like miniature suns.
"W-Whoa. They look so... Pure..." Eli said, amazed by sight. This was the first time she saw fireballs so perfect; what's more, she made them.
Cassandra chuckled before saying, "To be honest, I only planned on giving you my mana at first. But in your situation, I needed to unlock the wings early."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I mean that you will slowly unlock my angelic features," Cassandra explained. "Wings... Halo... Power... Wisdom... Everything..."
"Wait..." She gasped. "There's more I can unlock?!"
"Yes. However... Forcefully unlocking wings for you made me quite tired." Cassandra yawned and started fading away. Before disappearing, she added. "Don't disappoint me. My little angel."
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