A Twist of Fate (Book #1 of the Fated Series)

F O U R

·・✩₊˚.⋆☾ ⋆⁺₊✧・·

"So there's been no developments, with your magic I mean. Like not even a tiny flicker or anything?" she prodded, and slowly the bad thoughts resumed again. I could almost feel the sunlight dimming and the trees growing still.

"Literally, zero. I was kind of hoping to ask you how you discovered yours, maybe it would help," I suggested. Laurie was one of the first who had become awakened from our year, making her an ideal source of guidance. 

I had been told our magic potential was believed to solidify around the age of eighteen, so time was running out for me to find my essence and element.

There were plenty of faelins who were unbound, so it shouldn't have been a big deal for me. However, the next monarch had to be bound, with no exceptions. Our society prided itself on being able to wield magic, so it only made sense that our leaders would be able to demonstrate a high ability of power. Having zero magic whatsoever was becoming a problem for me, as my parents were expecting me to lay my claim for the throne soon.

The issue lay with being unawakened—to possess no magical ability within your soul. Some would say you had no soul if you had no essence, which I wasn't sure I agreed with. 

Being seventeen and unawakened was hard feat. I felt like everybody was judging me, whispering about me as I walked past. Although I had my parents' protection in many ways, I saw how everyone regarded and treated Amara, who was from a low-ranking noble family. Her being unawakened was a big scandal, especially after her parents had pulled her from Mystics class.

I was determined to find my essence before it was too late.

"Hmm, well, it just sort of happened," Laurie replied. Great, very helpful. I couldn't help but scoff at her response. She stifled a giggle and cleared her throat, trying to be serious. I rolled my eyes playfully and couldn't help a small smile tug at the corners of my mouth.

"Yeah it's kinda hard to explain, let me think for a moment." I watched as her lips pursed in thought, her gaze drifted off to become distant, as if she was reliving a memory from long ago.

"I guess, I've always felt a connection to water," she began. "Even when I was very little, before I found my essence. I was just mesmerized by water, the way it moved, rippled, or trickled between stones." Her eyes remained on the distance, where the wisterias cascaded down the walls. 

"One day I was sitting by the water, maybe I was ten or so." Woah, she was very young. "And I was sitting in the grass, just on the edge of a small pond with my feet in the water. There was ducks swimming by, and I felt at peace, a homely feeling."

"My finger was tracing the ripples in the water and I felt a spark of some sorts ignite within me. It's kind of hard to explain exactly how I manifested it. But I took my hand out of the water and looked at my palms, and then I saw it, a tiny flicker of my essence had formed in them."

"It wasn't long after my awakening ceremony that I was able to make the water ripple without touching it," Laurie said, a hint of pride in her voice.

"My mother said that was the only thing I wanted to do—to be around water—either playing in it or watching it. She had a hard time getting me to do anything else, so it wasn't a shock that water became my element—it was like it was already a part of me."

Laurice smiled, turning so her eyes met mine. "Sometimes, your element chooses you as much as you choose it, so trust your instincts Delle." Her words were warm and comforting, like a cozy embrace. I returned her smile, a surge of pride swelling in my chest. 

As she spoke, I could almost see the little girl she once was, discovering her essence by the pond. It was hard to explain, but I was genuinely happy for her. The way her magic had blossomed so effortlessly was truly beautiful and inspiring.