As I stood in the midst of the expansive field, chosen for the competition for its grandeur and open skies, doubt crept into my mind like tendrils of mist on a cool morning. My earlier dose of courage had evaporated.
The memory of Rachel’s captivating rain dance rather haunted me. The way she effortlessly commanded the elements, enthralling every eye and heart in the audience. Could I match that? Did I have what it takes? I could. And I did. But what do I create? The judges were still talking animatedly about Rachel’s magical display. How do I get their attention?
I clenched my fists, trying to dispel the doubts that threatened to paralyze me. “You are capable, Maya,” I whispered to myself, my voice almost lost in the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. I needed to win this competition, not just for myself but for my family, and for my pride.
A movement caught my eye, and I turned to see her Rachel with that infuriating smirk playing on her lips. She knew she had the upper hand. It was evident in the way she flaunted her victory in every subtle glance and gesture. My fingers tightened around the red scarf, a silent promise to myself.
Her smirk widened as she noticed my clenched fists, my defiant stance. She got up from her highchair, her eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and challenge. “Can Dora, the supposed royal, conjure up a spectacle that would even make a leaf flutter with awe?” Her words were laced with mockery, daring me to try and fail.
The highchairs were closer to the field, so I heard her words clearly. And I knew that she was trying to displace any shred of confidence remaining.
I felt a surge of fury rise within me then, threatening to spill over. I gritted my teeth, meeting her gaze with defiance burning in my eyes. This was more than a competition now; it was a battle of wills, of pride, and of duty.
Donning a smirk of my own, not minding that our exchange was gathering attention, I pulled Adam’s scarf from my neck, and dangled it like a piece of meat. “Hush hush, bad dog…you can have it if you behave yourself well enough.”
I cackled, as Rachel angrily hit the table with her fist. The princess was so easy to bait.
“Dora Akwoods, we are waiting for your display…”
I was reawakened to my reality when the announcer called my attention to the audience who were waiting for a display, who were waiting for something that would blow their brains out. Metaphorically.
And so, in that moment, standing amidst the field with the weight of expectations and doubts pressing down on me, I made a silent vow. I would harness every ounce of magic within me, every drop of determination, to create a spectacle that would not just rival Rachel’s but surpass it.
As the wind whispered through the grass and the sun dipped lower on the horizon, I closed my eyes briefly, centering myself. The challenge had been thrown down, and I would rise to meet it. The field lay silent, waiting, as I gathered my resolve and prepared to weave magic that would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind.
But that was easier said than done.
I couldn’t center myself properly. I was panicking, because I couldn’t think of the best thing to do.
‘El…’
Silence.
Is she serious right now? She told me she was ready!
Lost in my thoughts of despair, a movement caught my eye. There, not far from me, a young girl stood shivering despite the warmth of the day. Rachel’s magic rain had caused this. She would have least dried the people up. The girl’s discomfort tugged at my heart, grounding me in the reality of my magic’s potential to bring comfort and relief.
“One step at a time,” I reminded myself, pushing the fear away, drawing on the familiar mantra that had guided me through countless challenges. I closed my eyes, and tried centering myself for the second time, amidst the murmurs of the audience and the gentle rustling of the wind through the grass.
Focusing my magic, I directed my energy towards the water droplets Rachel had infused into the clothes of the audience members. With a deliberate gesture, I triggered evaporation, causing the water to shimmer and rise visibly into the air. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they witnessed the magic unfold before their eyes.
I watched, a smile on my face, as the people pointed at each other, as they pointed at the droplets of water rising from each other’s clothes; not as vapor, but as water.
The ‘evaporated’ water coalesced in front of me, forming a large, ethereal sphere that hovered just above the ground. The audience watched in awe as the water, once hidden within their garments, now floated before them as a testament to my control over the elements.
With a sense of purpose, I guided the sphere to gently descend, the water cascading in a mesmerizing display at my feet. People marveled as they realized their clothes were suddenly dry, the chill of dampness lifted.
Yet, deep down, I knew this was not enough. The applause and admiration from the audience echoed around me, but I remained focused on the deeper challenge before me.
‘El, help me!’
Silence.
“Is that all you have for us, Dora Akwoods?”
I’m sure that the announcer, Professor Zokel, hadn’t intended the question to be a mockery, but that’s how I saw it. And that was how Rachel saw it too.
She was sporting that infuriating smirk again. She knew I couldn’t beat her with this. I would be second. I didn’t want to be second.
“No. There’s still more.” I shouted, so that everyone could hear me. Diana and Levina whistled then, chanting my name wildly.
I sighed softly. I couldn’t disappoint my family.
‘El, what’s the matter? Why are you silent?’
Silence.
I held back tears.
Yet, the audience held its breath, waiting to see what I would do next.
Then suddenly, as I grappled with the weight of the expectations and my inner doubts, a familiar voice whispered in my mind.
“Do you trust me, Maya?” It was El, the embodiment of my magical essence.
Without hesitation, I replied, “Yes.”
We can talk about why she had ghosted me for a moment there, later. The audience was waiting.
“Then imagine yourself as mist,” El instructed gently. “Become mist.”
Mist? What was that?
However, I furrowed my brow, trying to visualize what El described. It seemed like an impossible task at first, but as I closed my eyes and focused on the threads of magic within me, something shifted.
I felt myself dissolving, becoming ethereal and weightless. The sensation was both exhilarating and unnerving as I transformed into vapor.
From this misty form, I heard the awestruck silence, and a minute later, the excited shouts of the crowd. A smile spread across my face. This was it. This was my moment to shine, to show everyone, including myself, what I was truly capable of.
‘Thanks El.’
With newfound confidence, I moved gracefully through the crowd, dropping pointers here and there, causing more shouts of incredulity to envelop and burst from the audience.
In my mist form, I effortlessly glided to where the queen’s staff lay, taking it in my incorporeal hand and waving it to the astonished audience. Laughter erupted, but the queen was less amused. She attempted to reclaim her staff, but I smoothly handed it to a guard and darted away at breathtaking speed, making sure that the train of my movement was at last visible.
“Impossible!” murmured the onlookers in disbelief.
‘El, how am I this fast? Is it magic?’
‘This speed you exhibit comes from an ancient magic, a power as old as time itself, prominent among the ancient people. I will tell you about them later.’
I, however, marveled at the connection I felt with this ancient force, feeling it course through me like a river of energy. Just what am I?
As I began to solidify back into my physical form, the crowd rose to their feet, applauding and cheering. But I was not finished yet. Fueled by the energy of the moment, following El’s final instruction to win this level, I leaped into the sky, defying gravity for a brief moment before feeling a primal urge within her.
With a shocking surge, I shifted into the form of a majestic harpy eagle, my wings spread wide as I soared above the mesmerized audience. Gasps of awe and excitement filled the air as I, now transformed, circled gracefully overhead.
‘El, what’s going on? Still magic?’
‘Yes. Ancient magic.’
The crowd erupted into wild applause, the roar of their approval echoing across the field. I had finally done it. I had, with the aid of El, transcended my doubts, tapped into the depths of my magic, and emerged victorious in a display that left no doubt in anyone’s mind.
As I landed gracefully back on the ground, I returned to my human form, my heart swelling with pride and gratitude. I looked out at the sea of faces, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment and connection.
As I stood amidst the standing ovation, the cheers and applause, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of fulfillment. This wasn’t just about winning a competition; it was about embracing my true self and unleashing the boundless potential that lay within. I could shift.
‘What else can I do, El?’
‘Time will tell.’