There are things in life that arrive without warning.
Like the wind suddenly rushing through the quiet gaps, or the first raindrops falling in the long dry season. That is how I feel now—when something foreign, unseen, yet so real, slips into my body.
I tremble.
Not from fear. But because my body feels unfamiliar, even to myself.
A cold sensation rises from the tips of my toes, spreading like a stream of water, creeping into my bones. Then, a warm shiver runs from the back of my neck, climbs up my head, spins around my crown, and slowly descends to envelop my heart. I can feel it. Every inch of me is changing.
Both sensations come at once—silent, shapeless, formless. But the effect... is like a storm in a narrow room. It stirs everything.
"W-W-What is this...?" I cry out. Yet, my voice is barely audible even to myself.
The sky seems to crack with the whispers of the spirits. The earth trembles, and leaves fall without reason. The air becomes thicker, and time slows. I stand in the midst of the chaos, yet... feel so alone.
It is as though the world is giving me space to listen—to truly listen—to myself.
Then, the voices come.
Soft. Full of warmth. But also frightening, because they are so honest.
"We are here, Anggi."
"We will give you strength."
I do not answer. But I know, they understand the trembling of my heart. They hear every beat of doubt, and perhaps every whisper of old wounds I've hidden all this time. The Water Spirit and the Wind Spirit that had once stood beside me... they didn't just enter my body, they entered the deepest parts of my soul. A place I might not have even known existed.
I feel... naked before them.
All my memories appear, one by one. Of Glafelden. Of Almira. Of the scent of roasted octopus that always lingered at the tip of my nose when returning from the library. Of my laughter with Shella. Of Indra's loud, firm voice. And of my friends who had also been swept into this world. And, of course... of Dimas. My friend. My companion since childhood.
The spirits do not ask anything. But for some reason, I know they know everything about me. Like the power of memory readers possessed by Goddess Allina.
But I know, they are judging. Is my heart strong enough to contain them? Am I honest enough with myself?
I take a deep breath.
And for the first time in my life, I speak to myself, without doubt:
"I want to be strong. I want to protect them all and not lose anyone who is precious to me."
As I say this in my heart, something within me opens. Like a hidden secret door. Then the power—cold water yet calming, wild wind yet gentle—flows in. Gently. Without force. Without pain. The only thing I feel...
Peace.
Tears fall in silence.
Not because of sadness. But because... somehow, I know that I am no longer alone.
Both—the elemental spirits—have become part of me. Like companions dwelling in my breath and pulse. Like a silent song that is no longer silent.
From afar, I hear the sounds of war rising again. The rumble reminds me of reality. But something is different now.
I try to gaze at the palm of my hand.
My fingers tremble slightly, not from fear, but because something is new. Something I have never felt before. The power... it feels alive. It pulses beneath my skin, like a vein with its own thoughts.
I do not know why, but my body seems to know what to do.
It is as though I had forgotten all this time, and now... I am just remembering.
Slowly, I raise my hand to the side. Then, without much thought, I swing it forward. My movement is light, like brushing dust from the air.
And that is when the miracle happens.
Whooshhhhh...!!
The wind explodes from the tip of my hand.
Not just any wind. Not a gentle breeze like a spoiled afternoon. Nor a storm wind howling aimlessly. This wind... has a soul. It sweeps the ground gently but surely, lifting dry leaves from the earth like a swarm of butterflies that had been sleeping and suddenly flew into the sky.
I step forward again, swinging my hand—this time a little stronger. And the wind that forms rushes forward in a swirling curve. The air around me changes. The nearest Hanarusa tree groans softly, its branches swaying wildly, and its leaves fall one by one like raindrops in autumn.
Ckrrrrrrhh...
I hear the distinct sound of leaves tearing from their stems—as if the tree is letting go of its body, knowing who calls it.
In an instant, hundreds of green leaves float in the air, dancing in a perfect spiral. They do not fall to the ground immediately, but swirl around me. Some brush my face, soft like a mother's caress from childhood.
I am mesmerized.
"This... my power? How can this be?" I whisper softly.
"This is the Divine Blessing given by Goddess Allina. We are only helping you unlock your Esze potential and temporarily enhance your magical power."
"But I never imagined the power could be this great. It seems to have something to do with Haier-Elvian, Anggi."
The voices of the two elemental spirits appear in my head. At once answering my question.
This power... comes from me. But it is not entirely mine. I could say it is a loan. A gift from Goddess Allina through the invisible wind, and the ungraspable water. But they trust me.
My body may be doing this for the first time, but somehow... every movement feels natural. Like breath. Like steps. Like something that has been written since the beginning, just waiting for the right time to be read.
I gaze at the whirl of leaves surrounding me. They still dance, circling my body like a shield.
And in my heart, a question slowly arises:
"If just one wave of my hand can create this... then what else can I do after this?"
A smile forms on my face. Not from arrogance. But because for the first time, I am not afraid of my own power.
My hand still raised.
The whirl of leaves slowly settled, returning to the earth like rain exhausted after running far. But I remain frozen. My eyes still fixed on the palm of my hand—like it is the first time I have truly seen it.
Because now, for the first time, from my own hand... I can feel this power.
No, not just feel it.
I see it. I hear it. I even smell it.
As though the Esze power is alive.
It slips through my blood, dances with my breath, and merges with my heartbeat. Not like before. Not like before, when I had to focus all my concentration, relying on my magic staff, speaking incantations carefully so no letter would be wrong.
Now... not anymore.
I don't need a magic staff.
No long incantations.
I only need... intention and...
Desire.
And that power will come, as if it knows the way home.
My hand trembles gently. This time, not from nervousness or fear, but from awe. I feel like someone who has walked their whole life with a cane, then suddenly realized their legs are strong, healthy, and can run as fast as the wind.
I look down at the ground. Then I raise one palm, letting my fingers open. No staff there. No intermediary.
Then with a simple thought, I imagine drops of water.
And as if answering the call, droplets of dew begin to form from the air. At first, only two or three. But in the next second, they unite to form a clear water sphere, floating above my hand. Moving slowly, following the rhythm of my heart.
I lift my head, looking at the sky.
"I... can...?" I whisper, almost unheard.
Even I can hardly believe those words came from my mouth.
The water above my hand sparkles. Like living crystals speaking without sound. Each drop reflects the starlight, dancing with the wind that faithfully circles me. I flip my hand, and the droplets split, forming a new, more intricate thread—like the unfinished sky calligraphy.
My emotions are mixed.
Amazed. Awed. Happy. Scared. Touched.
All vying within my chest. I feel small... and large at the same time. Like the universe is smiling at me, telling me that all the wounds and fatigue I've carried... were not in vain.
"So this... is the Divine Blessing?" I ask softly, to no one in particular.
Maybe to the sky.
Maybe to Goddess Allina, who is watching me from beyond the mist of the world.
Or perhaps... to myself. To the little girl who once could only gaze at the stars and silently pray, hoping that one day she could protect those she loved.
And now... I can.
I truly can.
I turn my body, ready to step toward the sound of battle echoing from afar. But before I even take a step, someone's hand grips my wrist from behind.
"Anggi..." the voice is faint. Heavy. Full of doubt.
I turn.
Dimas.
His gaze... Oh God, I can barely look at him for more than a few seconds. His eyes are full of worry, as if he has just lost something and isn't ready to lose anything again. His hand grips mine tightly, like the last rope he wants to tie me down with, afraid I might go somewhere that could take my life at any moment.
"I must go, Dimas," I say quietly.
He is silent. He exhales deeply. His face is melancholic. Almost like a child afraid to be left by his mother in the market.
I squeeze his hand in return. Slowly. Then, I draw closer, so he can hear my whisper.
"Dimas, look at me."
He lifts his face. His eyes are wet.
"I am different now. I will not go to die. I am going... to live. To make others live."
Without saying anything, I lift one palm. There, water droplets begin to gather, forming a small ice flower that spins slowly. Then with a gentle movement, the wind lifts the ice flower, making it hover briefly between us before evaporating into soft mist.
"You've seen it before, haven't you? I have new power. I'll make sure to roast that ugly bird and cook it with Padang sauce," I say with a faint smile.
Dimas watches it without blinking. His jaw tightens. But then he takes a deep breath, lowers his head slowly. As if surrendering—not to the situation, but to his trust in me.
"Then..." he says faintly, "...promise me. Don't die!"
I smile. And without waiting any longer, I turn and run toward the battlefield.
My steps hit the ground of the scorched forest. Each leap makes the air around me feel heavier, denser.
And the closer I get to the heart of the battle... the quieter the world becomes.
I slow my pace.
And there, I see it.
Corpses.
So many Elvian soldiers lying lifeless on the ground. Some charred, unrecognizable. Others still whole, their eyes wide open as if unwilling to die. Their armor scorched, full of holes, mixed with blood and earth. Some still clutched their swords, even after their breath had ceased. Others leaned against their comrades, as if not wanting to go alone.
Among them, arrows are scattered, broken and lodged everywhere. Dull spears. Broken shields. Traces of magic spells still mark the earth, forming irregular circles, like failed summoning rituals.
The wind around me carries the stench that pierces my nose.
The smell of burnt flesh.
The smell of blood.
The smell of death.
I hold my breath. But not because I can't stand it. But because... my body wants to remember it. To keep it. So that I don't forget this is the price that must be paid. This is the reason I must fight.
And when I look up, I see the Hanarusa trees—the massive trees that usually stand tall—now fallen, helpless. Their trunks scorched, wounded by Strigifavorus's fiery breath. Their branches broken, blackened, like charcoal that hasn't burned out. Flames still lick some parts, dancing cruelly in the night that should be quiet.
The sky above is full of smoke. The stars are hidden behind the soot. The moonlight seems reluctant to shine upon this place.
But I step forward. One step at a time.
Treading on earth soaked with wounds.
Passing bodies that will never move again.
And through the smoke... faintly, I begin to see the form of Strigifavorus. The monster stands proudly in the distance, with wide wings, its eyes blazing red. Its body is covered in hard scales, as tough as stone. Its fiery breath has burned hundreds of lives, and it still shows no sign of satisfaction.
But this time... I do not tremble.
Because I do not come as a victim.
I come as someone who carries new strength.
As the last hope.
As Anggi, the Haier-Elvian girl.