A Thousand Year Obsession ✔

20. Don't Reveal Your Advantages

20. Don't Reveal Your Advantages

The wind rustled my hair, tossing back the curling black strands. My fingers clenched tightly around the cold white crystal, my eyes shutting softly as sweet beams of sunlight fell down over my form. I inhaled deeply, wallowing in the sweet caress of air as it tumbled into my lungs. I relaxed my mind, wiping away all thoughts, stretching out my senses to feel every little detail around me. My dress whipped out behind me, flapping against the bare skin of my legs. My breath left me in a sweet escapade, flowing out through the air. I could feel it inside me, the magic, swirling, bubbling, sparkling, twisting, waiting to come out, pressing against my prickling skin. My fingers shifted around the crystal again and I took another lengthy breath, calming my body as I prepared. I could feel the energy growing restless within me, excitement catapulting against my abdomen. My toes curled into the dirt beneath my feet before opening up again, and I briefly focused my mind on gentle colored whisps of air, picturing it in my mind exactly as I hoped it would happen.

"Morgana." A sharp whine grumbled from behind me, startling me into a surprised start, the crystal slipped from my grasp, my eyes flying open as I let out a shocked breath. "Nothing's happening."

I clenched my teeth in irritation. "If you would just be patient, maybe I could focus enough to do something."

There was an elongated sigh. "Hurry up, then, will you?"

I glanced over my shoulder at Sally's impatient form. She dropped onto the ground, crossing her legs beneath her and readjusting her silver dress. Her brown hair flickered over her face, hiding her bright blue eyes. She glanced up at me after a moment.

"What?" She asked.

I only huffed and turned back around, picking up the crystal as I resumed the process. My lips parted as I relaxed my muscles again, pulling up the magic within me, exposing it to my mind's eye. I breathed in again, shifting my feet as I prepared myself. Then I slid my eyes open again and confidently exhaled in a slow deliberate breath.

Small speckles of color followed the path of my breath from my lips, spinning and swirling in the breeze. They collided with themselves, the red, purple, gold and silver mixing together constantly, transforming with each spin they took. The wind brushed them up through the air, knocking them away to the south in quick spinning gusts.

A small smile slipped onto my lips, and Sally let out a shocked gasp.

"Woah." She breathed.

I grinned and dropped the crystal back round my neck.

"I did it!" I cried in excitement, spinning back around towards Sally. "I did it! I finally did it!"

She leapt up and grasped my hands in hers, spinning us around briefly.

"You did it!" She shrieked. "You used your magic!"

We both let out a breathless laugh.

"Come on, I have to show Mother." I said quickly, lurching away from her to start back across the field, my bare feet falling softy down onto the slippery wildflowers. .

"Wait up, Morgana!" Sally called after me. "I want to see Marian's reaction!"

I laughed but only ran faster, heading towards the welcoming stone keep that awaited me just before the horizon.

° ° °

The soft caresses of sunlight greeted me when I awoke that morning. My eyes fluttered open, brightening in the sweet light. The dried teardrops littering my cheeks were long gone, as were the chains around my wrists, leaving me feeling refreshed and strengthened. I glanced around the large bedroom, my eyes landing for a moment on the small breakfast plate sitting atop the dresser on the far wall, before flickering over to the elegant table where the vase had sat. It's smooth dark wood surface still lacked the previous decoration, but the floor beneath it also lacked the vase's remains. To my right, large French doors led out onto a small terrace, allowing in smooth waterfalls of the morning sun. To my left, dark double doors surely led out into the hall, their handles a light polished gold. The room lacked any other furniture besides the nightstand beside the bed, allowing the air to breath sweetly in the open space.