The night was still, the kind of stillness that made the world feel like it was holding its breath.
Sharana lay in her bed, the soft hum of the village settling into silence after the chaos of the dragon raid.
Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to rest.
The image of the dragons—their glowing eyes, their sharp claws—played over and over in her head.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
‘Why can’t I do anything?‘ she thought, her frustration bubbling up like a storm she couldn’t control.
Eventually, sleep claimed her, but it was not a peaceful rest.
***
Sharana found herself standing in a vast, endless void.
The ground beneath her feet was neither solid nor liquid, but something in between, shifting like water yet firm enough to hold her weight.
The air was thick, almost tangible, and it hummed with a low, resonant frequency that made her bones vibrate.
Above her, the sky—if it could even be called that—was a swirling tapestry of colors, shifting from deep indigo to fiery orange, as though the heavens themselves were alive.
“Where… am I?” Sharana whispered, her voice echoing in the emptiness.
“You are where you need to be,” a voice replied, deep and resonant, yet soft, like the rumble of distant thunder.
Sharana spun around, her heart racing.
“Who’s there?”
From the swirling colors, a figure emerged.
It was neither man nor woman, but something ethereal, its form shifting and shimmering like a mirage.
Its eyes—if they could be called eyes—were pools of light, piercing yet gentle.
“You are not weak, Sharana,” the figure said, its voice echoing in her mind rather than her ears.
“You are… too strong.”
Sharana frowned, confusion knitting her brows together.
“Too strong? That doesn’t make sense. I can’t even summon a spark of magic. How can I be too strong?”
The figure tilted its head, its expression unreadable.
“Your power is like a river, wild and untamed. It flows within you, but you have not yet learned to channel it. You try to grasp it with your hands, but it slips through your fingers. You must learn to build a dam, to guide it, to control it.”
Sharana’s frustration flared.
“How? I’ve tried everything! I’ve practiced, I’ve focused, I’ve—!”
“You have tried to force it,” the figure interrupted, its tone firm but not unkind.
“Magic is not a tool to be wielded by force. It is a part of you, as much as your breath or your heartbeat. You must learn to listen to it, to understand it. Only then will you be able to manifest it fully.”
Sharana’s shoulders slumped.
“But how do I even start? I don’t know where to begin.”
The figure stepped closer, its presence both comforting and overwhelming.
“You have already taken the first step. You have acknowledged your fear, your frustration. Now, you must let it go. Magic is born from emotion, but it cannot thrive in chaos. Find your center, Sharana. Find your truth.”
Before Sharana could respond, the figure began to dissolve, its form melting into the swirling colors of the void.
The ground beneath her feet shifted, and she felt herself falling, the world around her blurring into darkness.
Sharana woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest.
The first rays of sunlight were streaming through the window, casting a golden glow over the room.
She sat up, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.
The dream—or vision, or whatever it was—felt so real, the voice still echoing in her mind.
‘You are not weak. You are too strong.‘
She clenched her fists, her resolve hardening.
“I won’t give up,” she whispered to herself.
“I’ll find a way.”
Downstairs, the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the air.
Sharana’s mother was bustling around the kitchen, her hands moving with practiced ease as she prepared breakfast.
Her father sat at the table, a cup of steaming tea in his hands, while Gabi was already halfway through his meal, his cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk’s.
“Morning, Shar!” Gabi said around a mouthful of bread, his eyes bright with excitement.
“Guess what? Dad said we’re going to the Magic Academy today!”
Sharana froze, her hand halfway to the breadbasket.
“We?”
Her father nodded, his expression serious but kind.
“You’ve been struggling for too long, Sharana. It’s time you got the guidance you need. And Gabi… well, he’s been pestering me about it for weeks.”
Gabi grinned, his mouth still full.
“I wanna learn more water magic! And maybe even fire magic!”
Sharana’s stomach churned with a mix of emotions—relief, excitement, but also a flicker of annoyance.
‘Why does Gabi have to come along?‘ she thought, though she quickly pushed the thought aside.
She couldn’t deny that having her little brother with her would make the journey less lonely.
Her mother placed a plate of food in front of Sharana, her eyes soft with understanding.
“You’ll do great, sweetheart. Just remember what your father always says—magic is about more than just power. It’s about heart.”
Sharana nodded, though her mind was already racing ahead.
The Magic Academy was her chance, her opportunity to finally unlock her potential.
But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the journey ahead would be anything but easy.
The road to the Kamrupian Kingdom was long and winding, cutting through dense forests and rolling hills.
Sharana and Gabi walked side by side, their father leading the way.
The air was filled with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, the world alive with the energy of early spring.
“Look, Shar!” Gabi exclaimed, pointing to a cluster of glowing mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.
“They’re so cool!”
Sharana smiled despite herself.
Gabi’s enthusiasm was infectious, and it was hard to stay annoyed with him for long.
“They’re called Lumishrooms,” she said, recalling a lesson from her father.
“They glow because they absorb magic from the air.”
Gabi’s eyes widened.
“Whoa! Do you think I can eat one?”
“Absolutely not,” their father said, his tone firm but amused.
“They’re highly toxic. Stick to the snacks your mother packed.”
Gabi pouted but didn’t argue, his attention already caught by a butterfly fluttering past.
As they walked, Sharana’s mind drifted back to the dream.
‘Find your center’, the voice had said.
‘Find your truth’.
But what did that even mean?
She had always thought of magic as something external, something to be mastered.
But now, she wondered if she had been looking at it all wrong.
By the time they reached the kingdom, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the towering spires of the Magic Academy.
The building was a marvel of architecture, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of dragons, turtles, and rhinos.
Students in flowing robes moved about the courtyard, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
Sharana’s heart swelled with a mix of awe and nervousness.
This was it—the place where she would finally learn to control her magic.
“Let’s find a place to stay for the night,” her father said, his voice pulling her back to the present.
“We’ll get you settled in tomorrow.”
But as they approached the academy gates, a voice called out to them.
“Hey! Are you new here?”
Sharana turned to see a girl about her age, her dark hair tied back in a braid and her robes slightly askew.
She had a friendly smile and a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
“I’m Verma,” the girl said, extending a hand.
“I’m a second-year student. Do you need help with anything?”
Sharana hesitated, then shook Verma’s hand.
“I’m Sharana Thama. This is my brother, Gabi Thama, and our father, Aswha Thama. Me and my little brothere are here to get enroll in the academy.”
Verma’s smile widened.
“That’s great! You’re in luck—if you get admitted, you’ll get free lodging in the dorms. Come on, I’ll show you around and help you with the paperwork.”
As Verma led them through the academy grounds, Sharana felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something extraordinary.
That evening, after the paperwork was done and they had shared a meal with Verma, Sharana stood by the window of their temporary room, staring out at the academy courtyard.
The dream still lingered in her mind, the voice’s words echoing like a mantra.
You are not weak. You are too strong.
She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them head-on.
This was her chance to prove herself—not just to others, but to herself.
And she wasn’t going to waste it.