The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the village of Romaberry.
Sharana stood at the edge of the village, her long auburn hair fluttering in the evening breeze.
She stared at her hands, frustration bubbling in her chest.
“Why can’t I do it?” she muttered under her breath.
Magic.
It was supposed to come naturally to her, just like it did for everyone else in this world.
But no matter how hard she tried, her magic always slipped through her fingers like water.
“Sharana! Dinner’s ready!”
Her mother’s voice called out from their small, cozy home.
Sharana sighed and turned away from the horizon, trudging back toward the house.
Inside, the smell of roasted vegetables and freshly baked bread filled the air.
Her father sat at the head of the table, his broad frame taking up most of the space.
Her little brother, Gabi, was already digging into his food, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
“Slow down, Gabi,” Sharana said, ruffling his hair as she sat down.
He grinned up at her, his bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“But I’m hungry!” he protested, his voice muffled by a mouthful of bread.
Sharana couldn’t help but smile.
Gabi reminded her so much of Soobin—the girl she had failed to save in her past life.
But unlike Soobin, Gabi didn’t seem to carry the weight of a past life.
He was just a carefree, energetic kid.
“Sharana,” her father’s deep voice cut through her thoughts.
She looked up to see him studying her with a serious expression.
“You’ve been quiet lately. Is something bothering you?”
Sharana hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her plate.
“It’s just… my magic,” she admitted.
“I can’t control it. Everyone else can use it so easily, but I… I’m useless.”
Her father’s expression softened.
“You’re not useless, Sharana,” he said firmly.
“Magic is like a wild horse. It takes time and patience to tame it.”
“But Gabi can already use water magic,” Sharana said, glancing at her brother.
Gabi beamed, holding up his hand.
A small orb of water floated above his palm, shimmering in the light.
“See? It’s easy!” he said proudly.
Sharana sighed, her shoulders slumping.
“Maybe you should consider joining the Magic Academy,” her father suggested.
“Or finding a master who can teach you. You have potential, Sharana. You just need guidance.”
Sharana nodded, though she wasn’t entirely convinced.
The Magic Academy was located in the heart of the Kamrupian Kingdom, far from their quiet village.
And the thought of leaving her family behind filled her with unease.
***
A few weeks later..
It was late at night when the sound of flapping wings and high-pitched screeches filled the air.
Sharana bolted upright in bed, her heart racing.
“What’s going on?” Gabi mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Before Sharana could answer, her father burst into the room.
“It’s just a small dragon raid,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
“They’re young and harmless, but they can still cause a mess. Stay inside.”
Sharana and Gabi watched from the window as the villagers dealt with the situation.
The dragons were small, no bigger than dogs, with scales that shimmered like gemstones.
They darted around, snatching food, livestocks and knocking over barrels, but they didn’t seem interested in hurting humans.
The villagers used their magic to shoo the creatures away.
“They’re kind of cute,” Gabi said, his eyes wide with excitement.
Sharana couldn’t help but smile.
The raid was over almost as quickly as it had begun, leaving the village unharmed but slightly disheveled.
***
Meanwhile, in the Kamrupian Kingdom, Queen Tia stood on the balcony of her palace, her piercing gaze fixed on the horizon.
Her advisor, Ferek, stood beside her, his dark hair glinting in the moonlight.
“The dragons are becoming more active,” Ferek said, his voice low.
“It’s only a matter of time before the larger ones start causing trouble.”
Queen Tia nodded, her expression thoughtful.
“The Ancient Three used to keep them in check,” she said.
“They shaped this world, terraformed it into what it is today. But now that they’ve retreated, the young ones are running wild.”
Ferek frowned.
“Do you think they’ll ever return?”
“I doubt it,” Queen Tia replied.
“They’ve done their part. It’s up to us to maintain the balance now.”
***
Back in Romaberry, life returned to normal after the small raid.
But Sharana couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of her mind.
“What if the next raid isn’t so harmless?” she thought, staring at her hands.
“What if I’m still useless when it matters?”
…
Over the next few weeks, Sharana threw herself into training.
Every morning, she and Gabi would head to the outskirts of the village to practice.
Gabi’s water magic was already impressive for his age, and he took great pride in showing off his skills.
“Watch this, Shar!”, his hands glowing with a soft blue light.
He summoned a stream of water, shaping it into a small, swirling vortex.
“That’s amazing, Gabi,” Sharana said, forcing a smile.
She tried to mimic his movements, but her magic fizzled out almost immediately.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Gabi said, tilting his head.
“Magic is supposed to be fun! Just let it flow.”
Sharana sighed.
“It’s not that easy for me, Gabi.”
Their father often joined them, offering guidance and encouragement.
“Magic is about more than just power,” he said one afternoon, watching as Sharana struggled to summon even a flicker of flame.
“It’s about understanding yourself. Your emotions, your thoughts—they all play a part.”
Sharana frowned.
“But how do I even start?”
“Start small,” her father said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Focus on something that makes you happy. Magic responds to your heart, not just your mind.”
Sharana closed her eyes, trying to follow his advice.
The warmth of the sun on her face.
For a brief moment, she felt a spark—a tiny flicker of Fire.
But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
“I’m trying,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“I just… I don’t know if I’ll ever get it.”
Her father smiled gently.
“You will. Just don’t give up.”
***
A messenger approached, bowing deeply before delivering his report.
“Your Majesty, we’ve received word from one of the lairs. The dragons are gathering in large numbers. Alot of our Villages might be in grave danger.”
Queen Tia’s expression hardened.
“Send the guards immediately,” she ordered.
“And inform the Magic Academy. We cannot afford to lose any more lives.”
The messenger bowed and hurried away.
Queen Tia turned to Ferek, her voice firm.
“The people of my Kingdom are under my protection. I will not let them fall.”
***
The second raid began at dusk, just as the villagers were preparing for bed.
This time, the dragons were larger—about the size of horses—and far more aggressive.
Their scales were darker, their eyes glowing with a menacing light.
The villagers scrambled to defend themselves, their magic lighting up the night.
Even Gabi joined in, his water magic creating barriers to slow the dragons down.
Sharana stood frozen, her heart pounding.
She wanted to help, but her magic refused to cooperate.
“Focus, Sharana!” her father shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.
“You can do this!”
Sharana clenched her fists, trying to summon even a spark of magic.
But nothing happened.
The frustration and fear overwhelmed her, and she sank to her knees.
“Why can’t I do anything?” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
The sound of hoofbeats echoed through the village.
The kingdom’s guards had arrived, their armor gleaming in the firelight.
They moved with precision, their magic driving the dragons back.
Sharana watched as the creatures retreated into the night, their screeches fading into the distance.
The village was safe, but the damage was done.
Homes were destroyed, livestock was lost, and the villagers were left shaken.
Sharana sat on the ground, her hands trembling.
“This is my second chance at life,” she thought, her heart heavy.
“Why can’t I protect the people I care about?”
Her father knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You’ll get there, Sharana,” he said gently.
“But you can’t give up. Not now.”
Sharana nodded, though her doubts remained.
The raids were becoming more frequent, more dangerous.
And if she couldn’t learn to control her magic soon, she wouldn’t just be useless—she’d be a liability.