"Where are you going?"

Meyara rolled her eyes seeing a boy slightly younger than her blocking her path. "None of your business. Get out of the way!"

"I can help you,” the boy said. His silky hair waved flawlessly as he lowered his head to meet Meyara's eyes. From his appearance, he didn't seem like the son of the poor families that thronged Deterville. Maybe he was one of the Chief’s relatives.

"No, you can't. I don't even know your name,” Meyara answered coldly. She tried to leave but he insisted on blocking her way.

“I’m Adriel. So come on, this way."

Meyara blinked her eyes, confused as to why this little stranger had approached her and offered help she never even needed?

Adriel seemed familiar and had a positive energy surrounding him. Meyara didn't feel any hatred for him but she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable because the boy spoke so softly to her. It was as if Meyara was a fragile girl who had lost and really needed help. She was much stronger and braver than that. No one can underestimate her.

So to regain her dominant position, Meyara called Adriel loudly until the boy turned his head with a confused face.

“You’ll be more useful if you go elsewhere,” she said matter-of-factly. “I think it will be a bit troublesome for me to handle it myself.”

***

"Are you sure this is the way? I don't think I've ever come here before,” Glory asked for the umpteenth time. Getting more and more agitated each time they walked past so many large trees blocking her view. With all her might, she tried to pull her hands that were still gripped by the old woman, but to no avail. She started to wonder, why did that old woman have so much more strength than she should have at such an advanced age?

Perhaps the old woman was also a mage with some kind of superpower, or maybe she had casted a spell on Glory?

The goodwill to help she had had before was now gone. Replaced by insecurity and fear. She could sense something was not right. Bad thoughts invaded her mind, making every hair on her skin stand on end in alarm.

“E-excuse me, could you answer my question? You haven't said a word since we left,” she protested, though her voice sounded wary. "Besides, I don't think I could go this far. I haven't told my mother, she must be worried about me.”

“Oh, little girl. You're not as patient as I thought, but don't worry, we're almost there." The old woman finally said something, but that only frightened Glory even more.

She could be wrong, but for a moment, Glory saw the old woman smiling slyly at her. But when she tried to look again, nothing had changed. Except that there were no more tears left in the other’s eyes.

"How strange," Glory whispered to herself. “Is she not worried about his grandson? She should be more agitated because we wasted time on the way to her house."

Her question was answered fairly quickly when she felt the old woman let go of her hand only to push her down. Glory screamed in pain as she tripped and fell into the river in front of them. Drops of water splashed everywhere. Her arms swinging wildly, trying to grab onto anything nearby to save her life. The river was much deeper than she thought, there was nothing underneath to step on. And the strong waves didn't help either.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, little girl," whispered the old woman. Her voice trembled as her hands clenched tightly in front of her body. "I don't know what else to do. She took my sweet Boris. Maybe if I sacrificed someone else, she would give him back to me. I'm sorry. I'll pay for my mistake in another life.”

"No! You can't do this! Help me!" Glory wanted to cry but even breathing was difficult. Water entered her mouth as she spoke. She coughed and coughed violently while her body alternately sinking and floating. Her energy drained quickly. There was no way she could save herself.

Maybe Glory should accept that this is the end for her. She would never experience what it was like to be a teenager. She may never even be ten years old. Her determination to become a more powerful mage than Meyara vanished as her breath slowly stopped.

"That's why you should never trust people easily."

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Glory didn't even know who the voice belonged to when she suddenly shot up. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting as she saw the waves of color that surrounded her. Meyara stood proudly on the river bank. Her small hand was raised as she chanted an incantation to produce colored waves that carried Glory, while her other hand was placed right in the center of the sinister old woman's body. The woman went berserk while throwing various curses that Glory had never heard of.

Touching the ground had never felt so heavenly as this moment. Glory sighed in relief as she landed beside Meyara, ignoring the shame that naturally got to her. Her hands and feet kept moving, feeling the texture of the ground beneath her body. Trying to convince herself that she really had survived.

Meanwhile, no matter how great Meyara's magical powers are, she was still a little girl. Her body wasn't strong enough to withstand the impact of the immense power she suddenly released. So that when the old woman lunged at her, Meyara fell without any significant defense.

“Meyara!” Glory shouted after she fully realized what was going on.

Meyara groaned as she pushed the old lady off her body. “No need to panic. She's just an ordinary woman. She can't hurt me except physically."

Glory snorted at that. “You remain arrogant even at a time like this. I guess you don't need my help either, do you?"

"Yup."

"You stupid girl who doesn't know how much suffering there is in this world!" the old woman swore. “What's wrong with dying early? Why don't you let me go just this once! I only have Boris in this world after my children are gone!”

"Don't carelessly open your mouth, it's very annoying," Meyara replied. There was not the slightest bit of fear on her face. Quickly, she picked up a handful of dirt, and threw it at the old woman. In a second, the dirt stiffened, clawing at the face of the old woman who immediately screamed.

Her screams were painful to hear, cutting through the air so sharply that Meyara and Glory had to tightly cover their ears. Residents who were around came in droves carrying various agricultural tools in hand. It didn't take long for them to realize that the two little girls were in danger.

Adriel who was in the front row then approached Meyara in a hurry. "Are you okay? Sorry, it took me so long to find people nearby.”

"Don’t be sorry. It was easier than I thought. She really is just a desperate old woman and not the creature I thought she was." Meyara answered calmly. Only her hands were busy cleaning dust and dirt from her clothes. “I guess I still have to check further. It's still out there, attracting people."

"What are you talking about?" Adriel took a step back in fright. “Is it about people who mysteriously disappeared recently?”

"Again, this is none of your business." Meyara snorted in annoyance, but then she frowned. "And that's none of my business either. I'm just curious, but I never want to solve it. There's no benefit I can derive from it.”

"Thanks for the help, Meyara, Adriel," a slightly shabby-looking man approached them. “We were just going around to make sure no one crossed the village boundary without permission after hearing of the many missing people recently. You almost got into trouble because we weren't in the village, I’m sorry.”

Glory, who was silent before, spoke softly. "It's okay. I'm just a little shocked but not hurt. Where did Boris actually go?"

"Boris has been missing since yesterday, looks like he left when the attention of the men on patrol was distracted by the sound of screaming coming from the fields."

"He left of his own accord?" This time it was Adriel who asked.

“We're not sure. It could only be confirmed by a mage who could see the energy trails from the footprints Boris had left behind. But as you all know, adult mages are away.”

"I'm sure Meyara can do it," said Adriel enthusiastically. “After all, she is a talented mage.”

"I do not involve myself in this matter." Meyara answered without hesitation. "I've bothered enough to save Glory who can't do anything right."

“I never asked for your help!” Glory denied even though her voice was still rough from all the shouting and coughing.

“Really?” Meyara taunted her. “Then what about the screaming and crying I heard just a moment ago? Is it a ghost?”

"Anyone who drowns will panic like me!"

"No, it's not me. I would have easily saved myself with my extraordinary brains and abilities."

Glory's face was red with anger. This was humiliating. At first she thought she could make peace with Meyara who was willing to save her, but she was wrong. Meyara was still an arrogant child who didn’t care about other people. Maybe she saved Glory just because she was bored and had nothing better to do.

“Just wait! One day you will regret your bad attitude, Meyara. You will definitely know how it feels to be powerless.”

Meyara chuckled at this. She turned to the shabby-looking man who was still there, watching the debate between Glory and her. The other residents remained silent as they didn't know what to say about the whole situation. Only Adriel was trying desperately to relieve the suffocating tension between the two little girls.

Without saying a word, Meyara turned and left. Leaving people to say bad things about her, she didn't really care. All she had to do was study and train harder, so she could do and achieve whatever she wanted. Those people would have nothing to say against her after she ruled the world.

Adriel saw Meyara leave with a sullen face. Worry was written all over his face, but he decided not to approach the girl, because he knew he was not worthy enough to make Meyara appreciate his presence.

Not now. Maybe someday.

***