It was dark. Everywhere Parvati looked was dark, not a trace of light anywhere. If she hadn’t felt the movements of her own body, she would’ve thought she had no body to begin with. It was a little frightening, but strangely enough she felt no fear. No, she felt like she was waiting for someone, for something to come. The gates creaked open and she got out her scimitar, the sandy ground shifting underneath her. The ground began to tremble as something stomped its way towards her. The dull green scales shimmered as the dragon roared. She gripped her weapon tightly. If this was a challenge, she will take it! She dashed to the right as the dragon spat out a fireball towards where she once was. She readied her scimitar and charged at its right flank. She landed several slashes before the beast turned, trying to take a bite out of her. She slashed at its face, sending it reeling. She backed up a little and held her hand out. “Flames that flicker in the darkness, surround your enemy and dance to the beat of their heart!” she called out, “Flame Dance!” Immediately the dragon was encircled by several floating flames that slowly closed in on it. Its tail swished and put out some of the flames. Parvati gritted her teeth in frustration. Looks like fire magic wasn’t going to get her anywhere, for it seemed to be immune to the flames. Perhaps light magic will do? “Sunlight, rain down. Scorch the very earth with your presence and-“ She didn’t have time to say her second spell, for the dragon turned on her and lunged. She scrambled back, losing her scimitar in the process. “Tch!” She grabbed the blade the wrong way and she could feel it cut through her skin and making it bleed. The Amazoness didn’t care, though. She needed to defeat this dragon. She readied her sword as the dragon snapped at her again. It was only a few inches, but it was a bit too close for her liking. She could hear it, people chanting in the background. Among them, she could hear her sisters jeering at her. “Is that the best you can do, runt?” “Come on, even I don’t hold a sword like that!” “Why use magic when your strength lies in your weapon. It’s absurd!” “Shut up, shut up!” she growled as the dragon snapped at her and she sliced at its face again. She retreated a few yards away, earning more jeers from her sisters. …No, not her sisters anymore. It was one voice that sounded like many. It was her mother’s. “Do you think you’re strong by retreating?” she asked tauntingly, “Face your problems head on and maybe then you could be of use to me.” “SHUT UP!” She tossed her scimitar at the dragon in rage. It bounced off its hide and landed on the ground. She was practically grinding her teeth as she started another chant. “May the ground tremble in rage as it rises up beneath your body, for from the earth you were born in and from earth you shall die in. Stalagmite’s Rage!” The ground rumbled as if there was an earthquake and the dragon find itself being impaled by the rising stalagmite. Around the colosseum, people began to cheer, demanding blood. Well, if they wanted blood, they will get it! Parvati dashed over to her sword and quickly picked it up before retreating again. “Sunlight, rain down. Scorch the very earth with your presence and make dry the blood that rests inside the body. Sunlit Wrath!” Suddenly, everything turned white and- She found herself on the floor, tangled in her bedsheets. With a groan, the Amazoness stretched and yawned. That was an oddly fun dream. She wouldn’t mind having more dreams like that, where she could practice her magic even if she hadn’t learned it yet. Letting out a huff of breath, she detangled herself and went on to make her breakfast.
