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Alessia ran through the woods, the pack of wolves on her heels. She noticed off to her left a ravine with a rope bridge and instantly turned, and ran to the bridge. She made her way across the rickety bridge and turned, pulling out her knife she began sawing at the ropes that held the bridge up.
With a twang the first rope gave way and the bridge shook, the wolves stopped for a second then continued their way forward. She began sawing at the second rope but knew she would not be fast enough. The wolves crept closer until they stopped and sniffed the air, they looked up and began to move backward, but not fast enough and a fireball crashed down, destroying the bridge and knocking Alessia back 15 feet where she hit a tree and sank down unconscious.
She woke up in a warm cabin with a splitting headache and turned to see a bearded man wearing a long cloak sleeping in a chair facing her. She tried to sit up, but the movement caused her headache to act up and she stifled a cry of pain. Though she was quiet the man sat up and looked at her,”It is good to see you awake young child, I am Gelwin, the wizard.”
He grabbed a bag filled with ice and handed it to her, then continued,”I do apologize for injuring you, my spell got a bit out of hand, I could have sworn I used the right amount of...” He trailed off as she looked at him in awe. He shyly looked away, not used to the absolute adoration he saw in her eyes. She spoke up, ”My name is A-alessia,” she stuttered, ”t-th-thank you for saving me.” Her stomach made a loud growl and she looked embarrassed, but Gelwin merely laughed, ”My, does your stomach speak bear?” She burst out giggling but was interrupted with another grumble. Gelwin smiled gently,”Would you like some soup?” She nodded and he grabbed a bowl from the counter and filled it with soup then noticing it was cold he whispered a spell and it began to steam he grinned even more and gave it to her, and she guzzled it down without taking a breath then set the bowl down on her bed and held the ice pack on her head.
Gelwin glanced out the window and noticed how late it was getting, ”Do you have a family you need to get back to?” She shook her head sadly, ”My mommy and daddy died in the war.” His face grew somber as he remembered the damage the war had caused, but drew his head out of his thoughts as he remembered that he had a guest.
He smiled gently at her, “You can stay at my place for now, until we find out what to do.”
She nodded then winced as it set off her headache. Gelwin gently pushed her down and told her to sleep, and she did just that.
10 years later
Alessia stretched as she finished her morning training, then went inside to the cabin and started making breakfast. She hummed as she worked, making pancakes for 2. Once she finished she called out, “Breakfast’s ready!” Within seconds she heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Gelwin, her adopted father came into the room, “Morning Less', what’s for breakfast?” She grinned and held up the plate that was heaped with steaming pancakes, “Don’t forget to wash your hands, I don’t know what you have been experimenting on and I would rather not get sick again, after the last time.”
Gelwin groaned goodnaturedly, but did as she asked, “I have the best cook in all of Ontrosdale, maybe the world, you do spoil me so.” He said as he grabbed several pancakes and drenched them with syrup. Alessia blushed, “Don’t tease me, there are many people who are better than me.”
He lifted one eyebrow, “I see, and who may that be?” she thought for a minu te then grinned, “I don’t know, yet. If you would let me go to the city for once I could tell you” Gelwin just shook his head, “You know what I have said.'' but then realised that she was laughing, “I know, I’m joking” He too began to laugh.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Alessia quickly went to answer it. At the door there was a young guard who looked panicked, “Is the wizard Gelwin here?” Alessia nodded as Gelwin came to the door. The guard turned to Gelwin, “There is a dragon attacking the city, the king commanded me to find you, please help us.”
Gelwin nodded then turned to Alessia, “I guess we are going to the city today.” She nodded, “Give me a second, let me grab my armor.” With that she ran off towards the back of the house. The guard looked confused, “Are you allowing her to fight?” Gelwin nodded, “Yes, it will be good practice for her.” She returned a few seconds later fully clad in armor, wielding a blade that seemed to glow.
“Shall we go?” Gelwin asked the astounded guard, who blinked then nodded, “This way, I have a horse, but I did not expect to bring another so you will have to double up.” Alessia shook her head, “I have my own steed.” Then she whistled and a pure black horse came out of the bushes and she hopped on, and they set off.
The ride to the city was swift, the urgency of the situation pressing upon them. Smoke billowed in the distance, rising above the city walls in dark, curling tendrils. The dragon's roar echoed over the landscape, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Alessia tightened her grip on the reins, her heart pounding. She had trained for years under Gelwin’s guidance, but this was her first real battle, her first chance to prove herself outside their secluded home. Yet, she knew what the people would say. They didn’t trust her, an orphan raised by a wizard, an outsider. But she would show them.
As they approached the city gates, the guards stood aside for Gelwin but hesitated when they saw Alessia.
“Are you sure she should be here?” one of the armored men asked, his voice laced with doubt.
“She is my apprentice,” Gelwin said firmly. “She belongs here.”
The guard looked unconvinced but did not argue. Instead, he waved them through. The city was in chaos. People ran for shelter, guards scrambled to form defensive lines, and in the center of it all was the dragon—a massive creature with scales the color of molten gold, its wings casting a great shadow over the town square. With a single sweep of its tail, it sent a group of soldiers sprawling.
Alessia slid off her horse and drew her glowing blade. “What’s the plan?” she asked, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her stomach.
Gelwin’s eyes narrowed. “We drive it back. I’ll contain it with magic, but you and the guards must force it to retreat.”
Before she could respond, the dragon turned its gaze toward them, its slit-pupiled eyes locking onto Alessia. It let out a deafening roar and surged forward.
Alessia moved on instinct. She dodged to the side, rolling beneath its swinging tail, and slashed at its underbelly. Sparks flew as her blade met scales, but she had expected that—it would take more than a single strike to wound a beast like this.
Gelwin chanted behind her, his staff glowing with arcane energy. Runes flared to life in the air, forming a barrier that kept the dragon from advancing further into the city.
The creature shrieked in rage and snapped its jaws at Alessia. She ducked, her sword flashing as she struck at its leg, aiming for the softer flesh between its scales. This time, her blade found its mark, and the dragon let out a pained cry.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, from the gathered guards, there was a murmur of approval. Perhaps, just perhaps, they were beginning to see her as more than an outcast.
But the battle was far from over. The dragon reared back, its chest glowing with the telltale sign of incoming fire.
“Shield yourself!” Gelwin shouted.
Alessia braced herself as the dragon’s flames erupted toward her.
She raised her sword just in time, channeling her energy into the blade. The runes etched along its surface flared brightly, and as the fire engulfed her, a shimmering barrier expanded outward, deflecting the worst of the blaze. Even so, the heat was near overwhelming, and she gritted her teeth, holding firm.
Gelwin stepped forward, raising his staff. "Now! While it's recovering!" he commanded.
Alessia didn't hesitate. She sprinted through the dissipating flames, her blade singing through the air as she aimed for the dragon’s exposed throat. But the creature was quicker than expected. It twisted away, its tail sweeping toward her with bone-crushing force.
She barely managed to leap over it, but the movement cost her balance. She landed hard, rolling to av oid the dragon’s follow-up strike. Her heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet, gripping her sword tighter.
The guards finally sprang into action, rallying around her. Arrows whistled through the air, bouncing harmlessly off the dragon’s armored hide. A few struck between the scales, eliciting angry roars, but it wasn’t enough.
"We need to drive it away!" one of the captains called out. "Our weapons do little against it!"
Alessia wiped sweat from her brow, her mind racing. Then, an idea struck her. "Its eyes!" she shouted. "Aim for its eyes!"
Gelwin, catching onto her plan, extended a hand. A burst of blinding light erupted from his palm, momentarily stunning the dragon. It let out a furious screech, its head whipping back in pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Alessia dashed forward, leaping onto a pile of rubble to propel herself higher. With a final battle cry, she plunged her sword deep into the dragon’s left eye. The beast roared in agony, thrashing wildly.
“Fall back!” Gelwin ordered, and the soldiers obeyed, retreating as the dragon, now half-blinded, took to the skies with a final, pained shriek. It wheeled once over the city before disappearing beyond the mountains.
Silence fell over the city, save for the heavy breaths of those who had fought. Alessia pulled her sword free, her chest heaving. She turned to face the guards, expecting more skepticism, more distrust.
Instead, she found stunned expressions—and a few nods of approval.
Gelwin approached, clapping a hand on her shoulder. "Well done, Alessia."
A soldier hesitated before stepping forward. "You fought well," he admitted gruffly. "Perhaps we misjudged you."
She exhaled, a small smile forming. It wasn’t full trust, not yet. But it was a start.