ALORA'S POV.
The plan was simple; stay out of sight, don't attract attention, and always keep your eyes low.
People shouldn't know anything about me or the abilities that I possess… the abilities I wish I didn't possess.
I had no idea what to call them, but I had settled for 'curse'. Years of hiding and isolation had driven me to this, to see it as a curse and nothing more.
Cindermere was a small town, it wasn't long until rumors started spreading about me. They would often whisper about how weird I was and how I was the biggest sadist in town. Living alone in a hut with no family or friends was sure to make tongues wag, but I paid no heed to them as long as my biggest secret remained a secret.
"Good evening, Alora." The baker, a beautiful woman in her fifties, smiled as I stepped into her shop.
I returned the gesture, "good evening. I'm here for.."
"The regular, I know." She chuckled, pulling out an already packed bag of bread which she slid over to me on the counter.
I paid her and headed straight home for my usual dinner routine after a long day.
The moment I stepped out of the bakery, I could sense a shift in the wind, even though it was just a little bit. The smell of gas, mixed with dust and weariness wafted through the air. Something was coming, and I knew exactly what it was.
The binding trials.
It was supposed to be a ceremony, everyone saw it as one, everyone but me. To me, it was torture, because it was an awful reminder of my mother's death and of the fact that I had to keep my true self hidden for life.
If I could, I wouldn't be part of the trials, but the price for that would be death.
Everyone had to attend the trails in Valsus, the kingdom's capital. In a few days, I would have to journey with everyone else to Valsus, and even though it wasn't very far away, it was still a journey I was better off not making. Even though the trials kept us all safe, I still didn't like to witness it.
A groan escaped my lips as I made my way down the sidewalk of the quiet street, a few carriages breezing over almost soundlessly.
"Did you hear?"
I turned my head to the direction of the voice, and found three girls sitting in front of an old coffee shop. They were whispering, but I heard them, a trait I wished I didn't have.
"They found two more of them in the capital city, those forbidden creatures."
My heart fell. I knew exactly what they were talking about. My steps slowed as I listened.
"What do you think is going to happen to them?" The one with shiny black hair asked, a hint of fear and concern in her tone.
"The same thing they do to others, execution."
My heart sank lower than it should, and I swallowed, holding the bread tighter like I wanted to squeeze life out of it. Hearing these stories, the execution stories of people with magical abilities always left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Since magic was outlawed and destroyed, fear became my second skin, forcing me to look twice before taking a step. These kinds of stories made things even worse. I wished I was normal.
"Look at her." I gasped when their heads snapped towards me, each one not bothering to hide the scowl on her face.
"Sometimes I suspect her, you know."
"Yeah, there's something fishy about that weirdo."
They cackled, and I gulped, averting my gaze.
"She's just so off-putting, I'm sure she's one of those things.." black hair raised a brow, curious. The others agreed with her, all shooting glares at me.
Heat rose to my chest, faster than it should, and that was my cue to leave. I squeezed my palms, took a deep breath and crossed the street as quickly as I could. I would ruin my own life by letting them drive me to anger, so I hurried home.
They had their suspicions about me, everyone in Cindermere did, but I never gave room for anything but baseless rumors. They couldn't prove anything, and I planned to keep it that way.
I promised my mother before her death that I would find out what happened to her, and laying low was the only way.
When I got to my hut, I set the bread down and went to whip up some eggs for dinner. I never owned a match box, all it took for me to turn on the stove was a flick of my fingers.
But that was the most I could, anything else would have me under the queen's blade in a second. I had to suppress my powers, the only way to keep myself safe.
"Maybe I'll make a friend this time around at the trials." I mumbled to myself, breaking my two last eggs into the pan.
I had to restock, good thing because payday was only a week away. The only job I could get at seventeen was a housekeeping job, and it was okay for me.
"It's so lonely these days, no one to talk to." I continued. I had to be the only teenager without a friend.
I ate in silence when I was done cooking. But my mind drifted off, focusing on the upcoming binding trials.
Every year, I spent so much time searching for the truth about what happened to my mother in Valsus, but I never found anything. Perhaps things would be different this year, and I would find one clue.
I had just tossed the last piece of bread into my mouth when the lights suddenly went off, like it was swallowed the thick darkness that surrounded me.
"Not again." I groaned. Another power cut.
I moved quickly even in the dark, pulling out my candles and placing them all around the hut. It would take a while for the power to come back on, so I had to improvise.
I didn't want to do it, but who would notice if I used my powers just this once to light a bunch of candles?
I huffed and flicked my thumb on my index finger. The candles lit up, the buzzing sound causing a small grin to appear on my chapped lips. Instead of warm, yellow lights, they were mildly purple, and brighter.
"That should do it." I sighed and moved to clear the kitchen table but then a knock on my wooden door stole my attention.
I froze for a moment, wondering who it could be. No one ever visited, especially not at this time.
"W.. who is it?" I questioned, taking only one step towards the door, my heart already racing.
"Open the door, citizen!" A hoarse, gruffly voice thundered, and my jaw fell instantly, my chest tightening.
The queen's guards!? My heart sank.
What did they want with me?