Strength Within Yourself

Prologue: The Reason She Fled

'It's not enough... They aren't happy enough..'

A bead of sweat trickled down from her forehead horizontally, soaking a small patch of her pillow.

'No..n-no..! You were all so happy! What happened?! Why are you causing war?! Damn it!'

Her teeth were clenched up - bottom set hard against the top set. It was only a matter of time before she realized that she was dreaming. Except, this dream was not a dream.

It was a nightmare threatening to one day become a reality.

"Enviliah. Enviliah! Wake up!"
A voice called out to Envy, barely making it to her ears - but it made it.
Gasping for air, she sat up in a quick motion - eyes wide, jaw down, heavy breaths. Without noticing her own eyes watering, tears drifted down her cheeks like waterfalls upon a tall mountain; and before she knew it, her eyes squinted shut, releasing more tears that flooded her eyes.

"What if it happens..? What if I can't be the one to prevent it from happening?! These are my people!" she raised her voice, no, she began to yell at the top of her lungs, "I should be able to protect them, right?!"

She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Her head was placed in between the her knees, droopy and loose, and whines spewed from her mouth. From a distance, you wouldn't be able to tell that it was a person in the middle of that bed, wrinkling her sheets with her toes as they were curled and clenched as well as the rest of her tense body. Envy was only a dot in the distance, helpless in that moment.

That voice who woke her up was a life saver - Envy wouldn't have survived that nightmare.

That voice was no other than Lia, Envy's childhood friend. They go far back - when they were 5, now at the ages of 15.

A soft hand rubbed against Envy's back, comforting her, as sniffles began to form in Envy's nose.

"Enviliah, these nightmares have been happening every night now. Mind telling me what they're about? It might help."

Envy paused at her question - as the leader of a town, she should be strong and fearless, correct? In this moment, she felt like a black hole engulfed the courage, strength, and love within her heart.

She felt like nothingness.

"I told you to call me Envy..!" Irritated for a moment, she looked over to Lia. She then noticed the worried look on her face, then wiped the irritated one off of her own, "T-these nightmares aren't a big deal. Don't worry about me, Lia. I can handle them, but thank you for your concern."

Envy got up from her small, twin sized bed and walked to the bathroom in the cabin that they shared together, leaving Lia sitting on the bed alone, afraid that Envy wouldn't be able to take it any longer.

￣
"I, Enviliah Sterling, will not let my town, known as Hybrid, succumb to this apocalyptic chaos. Further more, I am leaving in search of something great - something greater for my people."

I stare directly into my own eyes of the mirror, a straight face was shown against the reflection as I spoke to myself. These nightmares are not just in my head - they are a threat. One day, it's sure to become a reality. What goes on in my head is war, chaotic war. Once people lose their happiness, they'll go for each other, further reaching satisfaction by making others feel pain - that's how humanity works, correct? I cannot let that happen.

I wipe the tears off of my face and continue to stare at my own reflection - a tired, yet muscly, long and deep purple haired girl with dark eyes stood in front of me. They chose me - a 15 year old girl who looks like she's in cosplay twenty-four seven who can use magic recklessly. A sudden yawn escapes my lips, and a foul odor is released into the air.

'Eehh! Sick..' I think to myself. I take my toothbrush, put toothpaste on it, and begin my day - the day I leave, and Lia is coming with me.

I know my people need me, and that's why I'm leaving - in search of something greater for them. And I know just the thing I can bring back to prevent this war that is yet to come.

I spit into the sink, and rinse my mouth. The water flowing out of the sink soothed my ears as it dripped upon the garnet sink.

"Today is the day," I whisper to myself,
"The day we flee, only for a good cause."

I wipe my mouth with the bottom of my shirt, revealing my stomach slightly. In the mirror, it reflects a healthy abdomen, but it could be better.

"I will fight. Fight for what I seek, and no one shall usurp my my path."

As I walk into my room, I still see Lia on my bed - her eyes were glossy and her knees were up against her chest, like mine were earlier. I begin to pack - weapons, clothing, and my toothbrush.

"Oi, Lia. Start packing. We're leaving. I'm writing a note to the town. It'll be hard for them, but they'll manage."

Immediately, her eyes flooded with concern, but confusion at the same time.

"W-what?! Where?! Why..?" She stuttered as she spoke, I knew she was afraid of what might happen if we fled.

Considering I'm the only one who can use magic in this town, people chose me to maintain it. My magic can keep people sane, keep a good government, and make my people happy. If I leave, they won't survive - but I won't be gone for long, they'll have to manage.

"I'll explain later, just start packing would ya?" You could hear the irritation upon my voice.

I should probably explain myself a bit more - what I'm after is called the Acidic Wisher's Stone. It grants any wish, and what I'm wishing for is to maintain Hybrid, without any threats whatsoever. This nightmare will no longer exist. But, I'm sure many others are after it as well.

I found out about this stone in a book, a book in this huge library within Hybrid. It could be a myth, but I'm going to find out for myself. It's located in the Witch's Cave. Of course there's no actual witch - I don't think - but it was known to be carved from the stones of that cave, and dipped into a flesh eating substance. But the stone soaked up the substance, and turned it into something magical. They say that a witch created the substance, but this could all be a myth. I'm still not quite sure on all these details.

"I-I'm packed..." Lia's tone was hushed and shaky - almost as if she were afraid to go with me. Did she not trust me?

"Lia, everything will be okay. Just trust me, please?" I give her a reassuring smile as I finish packing my things as well.

I approached the door handle with hesitation, fearing I might be taking a wrong turn - but I did it anyways. I opened the door, and we slid beneath it into the village.