ALTHEA
It has been a week since I told mum and Miguel about my ability. With the drug I was able to make, their body is now much healthier and they don't look so malnourished.
I decided to step out and explore the world myself, even though I still have Althea's memory, I still want to see for myself.
After they left for their respective works. I got ready to leave the house. My first stop was the market.
The market is... Only one way to put it, a battlefield. You can't walk around without being accused of theft.
I barely stepped past the first row of stalls before a sharp voice called out.
"You there! Stop right now!"
I turned, surprised to see a burly merchant pointing straight at me. A young boy, no older than ten, dashed past me with a loaf of bread clutched in his hands.
The merchant, however, had already decided I was the thief.
"Trying to run, are you?" He stormed toward me, his thick hand reaching for my wrist. I stepped back quickly, avoiding his grasp.
"I didn't take anything," I said calmly, but my words fell on deaf ears.
"Liar!" His voice drew attention, and soon, other merchants and shoppers were staring. Some muttered amongst themselves, while others looked ready to call the guards.
I sighed. So much for quietly exploring.
Before things could escalate, the real thief—the little boy—tripped a few feet away. The loaf of bread tumbled from his grasp, landing in the dust. His wide, fearful eyes met mine.
I knew that look. Hunger. Desperation.
The merchant must have spotted him too, because he turned, face red with rage. "You little brat!" He lunged for the boy.
Before I knew it, I moved.
I stepped in front of the child, my hands raised in a calming gesture. "There's no need for violence," I said. "How much is the bread?"
The merchant scoffed. "More than a street rat can afford!"
I pulled a silver coin from my pouch—the money I had found in Althea's belongings. "This should be enough, right?"
His greedy eyes gleamed as he snatched the coin from my hand. "Hmph. Fine. But if I catch either of you stealing again, I'll call the guards." He stomped back to his stall.
I turned to the boy, who was still crouched on the ground. "Here," I said, picking up the bread and brushing off the dirt before handing it back.
He hesitated before taking it. "Why did you help me?"
"Because you were hungry," I said simply.
He looked at me for a long moment, then suddenly grinned. "Thanks, miss! I owe you one!" Before I could say anything else, he took off, disappearing into the crowd.
I watched him go, shaking my head with a small smile.
Well, that was an interesting start to my day.
After exploring the market enough, I walked into the woods. If I want to practice my powers, I need a quiet and secret spot. After walking for a while, I found a spot that was nice enough. The clearing was surrounded by towering trees, their leaves filtering the golden sunlight that trickled down like scattered gems. It was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
This will do.
I took a deep breath, stretching out my fingers as I focused inward. The energy within me hummed, eager to be released.
Back in my old world, magic was something of fantasy. But here? It was real. And it was mine.
I started with something simple—channeling my energy to the surface of my skin. A faint glow formed around my fingertips, flickering like candlelight before fading.
Still unstable...
I tried again, this time reaching for a more precise control. I focused on a nearby rock, envisioning it rising from the ground. The energy pulsed through me, warm and tingling, and then—
CRACK!
The rock shattered instead, fragments flying in all directions. I barely had time to shield my face as dust clouded the air.
Crap. That was not what I intended.
I coughed, waving a hand to clear the dust. Control. I need control.
If I was going to use my abilities properly, I had to master them. Not just in bursts of raw power, but with precision.
I took another deep breath, calming my thoughts before trying again.
This time, I concentrated on lifting a single leaf. A small, simple task.
The leaf trembled, then slowly, carefully, rose into the air. It floated gently, swaying in the breeze before settling back onto the ground.
I grinned. Better.
As I continued to practice, I realised that I had fire magic, water, air and earth, basically the elementals and some subdivisions like ice, lightning or electric.
Freaking awesome.
I continued to practice until I decided that I have done enough for the day. I sat down, hungry. So I decided to feed myself.
Imagining a bowl of spaghetti, and a bottle of lemonade. I sat to eat. It tasted so heavenly.
I finished eating and stood up willing the bowl and bottle to disappear. I walked into the forest, trying to explore and see if I can get some fruits around. Maybe wild berries or something.
*At Bellmere Manor*
Lord Bellmere was sitted in the large room, his wife Evelyn Bellmere and children, three females and two males namely Lucian, the eldest male, Siera, the eldest female, Elara and Emily who are twins and Cassian the youngest of the family.
The three females were bawling because of the news that one of them has to marry the Northern Duke, Alistair Ravenshade who is known as the 'Demon Duke'.
They did not want to marry a man with such a bloodlust image.
"Father, I don't want to marry that man." Siera cried out and her sisters, also nodded in agreement. "You will not, I will not allow my beautiful daughters to be taken by that barbaric tyrant." Lord Bellmere assured his spoilt daughters.
"But the king said..." Elara was saying. "It doesn't have to be you three, Althea is there." Evelyn, their mother said.
The three daughters immediately wiped the tears off their faces. "Althea will get married to him?" Emily asked. "Of course, she has your father blood and it is said to be of his bloodline." Evelyn replied.
"Will she agree?" Lucian asked. "She has no choice and to make sure she does, I know just what to do." Lord Bellmere said.
He then ordered the guards to get Jane, and lock her up. Only when Althea agrees to marry the Duke will she be released.
Althea came back from her exploration to see Miguel pacing impatiently in front of their small house.
" Miguel." Althea called out. He looked up and closed the distance between them. Althea noticed that he looked troubled. "What happened?" She asked.
"Lord Bellmere took Aunt Jane. I heard he wants you to marry the Duke and would only release her if you agree." Miguel said to her.
Althea looked at the manor looming in the distance with narrowed eyes. Seems like his beloved daughters don't want to get married and she has to take the fall.
Dropping the small bag, she left to the manor. Althea marched toward Bellmere Manor, her steps purposeful and unwavering. Anger simmered beneath her calm exterior. How dare they? Using Jane as leverage to force her into marriage with the so-called "Demon Duke" just because their precious daughters refused?
She wasn't some pawn to be played with.
The manor was as lavish as ever, but she had no time to admire the wealth that had never once been used to help her mother or cousin. She knew exactly where Lord Bellmere would be.
Her footsteps echoed as she stormed into the large sitting room.
Lord Bellmere sat at the head of the room, flanked by his wife, Evelyn, and their daughters, who now looked far too pleased with themselves. Lucian stood off to the side, watching with equal pleased expressions. Cassia, on the other hand actually likes his big sister, probably the only sister he likes and he looked worried.
"Ah, Althea," Lord Bellmere drawled, setting down his goblet. "I was just about to send for you."
Althea ignored him. Her gaze swept the room until she spotted a silver tray on the table—a knife resting atop it. Without hesitation, she grabbed it, running a finger along the sharp edge before twirling it effortlessly in her palm.
Gasps rang out as Evelyn and the girls recoiled, clearly unnerved by her casual handling of the weapon.
"Where is my mother?" Althea asked, voice cold.
Lord Bellmere smirked. "Safe. For now. But you know the conditions of her release."
Althea hummed, tilting her head as she balanced the knife between her fingers. "You want me to marry the Duke in place of your daughters."
"You have our blood," Evelyn said stiffly. "You are just as much a Bellmere."
Althea let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, now I am? That's funny. I don't recall being treated as such before."
Siera scoffed. "You should be honored! Do you know how many women would kill to marry a duke?"
Althea's grip on the knife tightened. "Then why don't you, dear sister?"
Siera paled.
Lord Bellmere sighed, his patience waning. "Enough of this. Do you agree or not?"
Althea met his gaze with steel in her eyes. Then, before anyone could react, she pressed the tip of the knife to her palm. A thin line of blood welled up.
Evelyn gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Ensuring I get what I want." Althea's voice was calm, but her magic hummed dangerously beneath her skin. "You want me to marry the Duke? Fine. But I have conditions."
Lord Bellmere narrowed his eyes. "You dare to bargain?"
"I do," she said smoothly. "You will provide me with a proper dowry. Gold, land, whatever the other noble daughters would have received. I will not leave this house empty-handed."
"Absolutely not—"
"Or," Althea interrupted, pressing the knife harder into her palm, "I could simply bleed out right here. Then you can explain to the king why none of your daughters were sent to the Duke."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Lord Bellmere clenched his jaw. "What else?"
"A carriage to go with me to the North, and my mother and cousin come with me."
The twins gasped. "You can't be serious!"
Althea turned to them, smiling sweetly. "Oh, but I am. After all, family should stay together, don't you think?"
Evelyn looked horrified, but Lord Bellmere was trapped. If he refused, he risked the king's wrath.
Althea left the room and found where her mother was and helped her out. She noticed that her face was swollen, definitely from a slap.
They got to their cottage. Althea healed her mother , the skin returned back to normal and she also healed herself of the cuts she made to threaten the piggy lord.