The Forsaken Destiny

Dawn broke, painting the sky with hesitant hope, but the city remained shrouded in fear. Another nightmare haunted my sleep, its horrors replaying in my mind. No one chose this life, yet time relentlessly marched on, indifferent to our plight. My head spun, the events of last night a disturbing replay.

"Darcy, are you alright?" Claudia's hand found mine.

"Yes," I managed, blinking away the dizziness.

"Someone's knocking," she spoke, her voice low.

Together, we went to the door, a shared unease in our steps. It was Solari, her face etched with worry.

"Solari? What are you doing here?" I inquired.

"It's too dangerous outside," Claudia cautioned.

"Come in," I said, gesturing her inside.

"What happened?" I asked as we ascended the stairs.

Solari took a deep breath. "The demons were gathering. I saw them last night. They almost found me. This town... it could become deserted." Her voice trembled. "They plan to wipe us all out. Only the demon hunters and huntresses can stop them."

"This is serious," I stated, my fingers tracing my chin. "We can't let that happen."

"Do you have any ideas?" Solari queried, her eyes pleading.

I shook my head. "No, but we have to do something."

The city felt heavy with fear. Fear hung heavy over the city. A few people moved through the silent streets, but the air felt thick with dread, a chilling reminder of the danger nearby. The weight of everyone's fear pressed down, heavy and suffocating.

Claudia's voice, sharp as shattered glass, cut through the air. "But we are not as strong as those demon hunter and huntress warriors." Her gaze, steady, locked onto mine, demanding a response.

I met her stare. "They were ordinary once, just like us," I began, gesturing towards the pile of found weapons. "And if you're willing, we can use these." The rusted metal glinted dully in the dim light.

Doubt clouded Claudia's features. "But we don't know how to use them," she countered, her voice tight with worry. "And we don't own them."

I shrugged, a confident smirk playing on my lips. "Ownership is a matter of command, not just possession. We can claim them." The others exchanged worried glances, their eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"But how?" The question stayed in the air, heavy with doubt, a silent acknowledgment of the looming threat.

I closed my eyes, trying to recall the girl's command—the one who gave up her sword, choosing a better life. The memory came back: a girl in a long violet cape, her sword discarded in the scrapyard.

"I refuse ownership of this sword," she commanded, "and release all claim." The sword's light dimmed, fading to nothing.

Eyes open, I pulled out the boxes from under the bed. Lifting the sword, I saw the violet center begin to radiate. Violet smoke swirled, the metal surface mirroring my own image. A low buzz emanated from the sword, a sound I couldn't understand.

We exchanged a look, a silent nod of understanding. "I claim ownership of this sword," I declared, "to use it for saving people from the darkness of evil." The sword's glow intensified; the violet aura pulsed stronger.

The sword's weight, its energy, thrummed in my hand. A metallic resonance filled the air. The violet aura rose, surrounding me. I watched, mesmerized, as my hair—streaks of it—shifted to violet, glowing faintly. Their eyes widened, mouths slowly opening in surprise, then smiles bloomed as they glanced at each other.

Claudia moved toward me. "You were right," she commented.

"But why didn't you want to use that sword after the fight?" Solari asked out of curiosity.

"After you use this sword, your appearance will automatically revert to your old form. That's what I saw happen to the woman who gave up her ownership," I explained, and their eyes widened in mesmerized awe.

"Oh, that's what happened," Solari commented, remaining mesmerized. "I wonder why she gave up her ownership."

I exhaled heavily. "Maybe because it's dangerous, and she was sick of encountering those demons," I responded.

I stood up and peered out the window, but the surroundings seemed quiet. I noticed that a few people were strolling on the street, enjoying the sun; some were also peering out of their windows.

"I'm afraid people will stay like this because of their fear," I murmured.

I saw a young teenage girl peering from a window. Her eyes, full of fear, started to fill with tears, and her hands were trembling. I know what happened every night is traumatizing everyone.

She turned her back, leaving the window and closing the curtains. Outside, people hid their fear behind fake smiles. I closed my curtains, returning to my friends.

"What's wrong?" Solari asked, noticing my distress.

"Nothing," I replied, sitting on the floor.

"Darcy, you were going to fight those demons tonight?" Claudia asked, her eyes twinkling.

"If necessary," I said.

"Amazing!" Solari and Claudia exclaimed.

A moment of silence, then a clamor outside. We peered from the window. There was Covyn Reeve, his arrogance evident, demanding good deeds—food, anything—from people who had nothing. I hated him, wanted him gone. Many glanced from their windows, watching his cruel act. His voice, loud in the night, echoed the city's fear. His demands, a stark reminder of the terror that lurked just beyond the curtains.

Covyn Reeve glanced at each house and his surroundings. Each house closed its curtains except mine, so his eyes, like flames of fire, gazed at me as he gritted his teeth. I decided to close the curtains. I wanted to help that old lady, but I might be embarrassed; but why wouldn't I try?

I used the sword and swirled around to change my identity. I turned around until I realized that the sword even made me teleport to one location to another. I was shocked because I was already at the side of this arrogant hunter warrior.

"Hands off the old lady," I commanded, noticing even my voice change.

He glanced at me. "Oh, this pretty babe trying to be brave? That's what I want—some hot chick like you," he chuckled, insulting me.

He was shocked when I put down my sword, assuming I would slash his body in two. My eyes glowed violently, so he walked backward and even dropped the bag of fruit and a few coins.

"Leave her alone, and I will spare you!" I declared, yelling at him.

I saw in his eyes how much this insulted him, and he wouldn't let a lady just scare him like that and win in just one battle. That's how arrogant he was, and he stepped forward, walking toward me. Marcelene and Neima jumped down to the ground from two directions at the third house.

"Don't," Neima placed her hand on Covyn's arm.

He glanced at her. "Why? This is insulting me,"

Covyn snarled at her. "If you do that, forcing a win from her will make you lose more." Neima irritatedly told him, so he took a deep breath.

I yearned to fight him; his evil transcended even the cruelty of the demons who had attacked us.

His cruelty and arrogance should end now, completely and utterly.