Becoming The Villainess’ Acolyte

Chapter 17: Time to fight



The rest of the day passed in a blur after Elara's words. I couldn't help but wonder if I was truly ready for the fight tomorrow. The thought of facing Elara again, with all that I had learned and endured over the past week, made my heart race. 

As I moved through the motions of the day, my mind was far away, thinking about what lay ahead. I tended to my herbs in the garden, their familiar scents usually so soothing, but today they barely registered.

What would it be like to finally leave this place? The forest had given me a taste of freedom, a taste of the dangers and wonders that lay beyond. But there was so much more to discover, so many places I had only heard about in stories.

I could imagine bustling markets filled with exotic goods, mountains reaching into the clouds, vast oceans stretching to the horizon. And with those visions came the thought of money real money that could help the orphanage, help the children live a better life than the one they had now.

As much as I loved this place, it was impossible to ignore the needs we all had. The roof leaked in the spring, the firewood sometimes ran low in the winter, and the meals were often simple to the point of being meager.

If I could venture out, find work, and bring back enough to ease those burdens… The thought filled me with both hope and determination.

When dinner time came, the dining room was filled with its usual warmth and noise. The children chattered excitedly about their day, and the older caretakers joined in with smiles and laughter.

But I barely heard any of it. I sat at the table, my hands mechanically lifting the spoon to my mouth, but I wasn't tasting the food. I was too deep in my own thoughts, my own anxieties and hopes for tomorrow.

What if I failed? What if I wasn't strong enough yet? The idea sent a cold shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to push it aside. I had to focus on the positives, on the possibilities. I couldn't let doubt creep in now, not when I was so close.

"Are you okay, Alyndra?" one of the younger children asked, tugging at my sleeve. It was little Nia, her wide eyes full of concern.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring into my bowl for who knows how long. "I'm fine, Nia," I said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about tomorrow."

She nodded solemnly, as if she understood the weight of what I was about to face. "You're going to do great," she said with all the certainty of a child who believed in the invincibility of those she loved.

"Thanks," I murmured, patting her hand. "I'll do my best."

After dinner, I excused myself earlier than usual, the weight of my thoughts too heavy to engage in any more conversation.

I headed to the bathroom, letting the hot water wash over me, hoping it would ease the tension in my muscles and clear my mind. But it didn't. The water slid off my skin, carrying away the dirt but leaving my worries intact.

I dressed in my nightclothes, the soft fabric a comfort against my skin, and climbed into bed. The room was dark and quiet, the only sounds the distant murmur of the night and the occasional creak of the old building settling around me.

I pulled the blankets up to my chin, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing too fast to allow for sleep.

What if tomorrow wasn't just a fight? What if it was the beginning of something bigger, something I wasn't fully prepared for? The thought sent a thrill through me, but also a flicker of fear.

But with that fear came the excitement, the possibility of finally proving myself, of showing Elara and the others that I wasn't just a child anymore. I could handle myself, I could handle the world. And maybe, just maybe, I could make a difference.

The hours ticked by, and sleep remained elusive. My mind replayed the past week over and over, the battles, the victories, the moments of doubt. I could feel the anticipation building in my chest, a knot of energy that refused to let go.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that exhaustion finally won out, pulling me into a fitful sleep filled with dreams of towering mountains and endless seas.

When I woke the next morning, the sun was already creeping through the cracks in the curtains, casting golden light across the room.

I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My body felt stiff, and the lingering exhaustion tugged at my limbs, but beneath that, I felt something else an undercurrent of determination.

Today was the day.

I climbed out of bed, stretching my arms above my head, and padded over to the small dresser in the corner of my room. Opening the drawers, I pulled out the clothes I had set aside the night before.

A simple tunic and trousers, both made of sturdy fabric that would allow me to move freely. They were nothing fancy, but they were comfortable and practical exactly what I needed.

I dressed quickly, then sat down at the small mirror on my desk. My hair was a tangled mess from sleep, and I carefully brushed it out, the rhythmic strokes of the brush soothing in their familiarity.

Once my hair was smooth, I began to braid it, my fingers working quickly through the motions I had done a thousand times before. The braid would keep my hair out of my face during the fight, and it was one less thing to worry about.

When I was finished, I tied off the braid with a strip of cloth and looked at my reflection. My face looked a little pale, dark circles under my eyes from the restless night, but my gaze was steady. I could see the determination there, the resolve to see this through, no matter what.

I took a deep breath, then stood up and headed downstairs for breakfast. The dining room was already bustling with activity, the children chattering excitedly as they ate. I joined them, trying to push my thoughts of the fight aside long enough to enjoy the meal.

But it was difficult. Every bite of food seemed to remind me of what was coming, every laugh and smile from the children a reminder of why I was doing this. I needed to get stronger, not just for myself, but for them. They deserved better, and I was going to make sure they got it.

After breakfast, I slipped outside to the garden. The morning air was cool and crisp, the scent of earth and growing things filling my lungs. I took a moment to just breathe, to center myself, then I walked over to the herb patch.

The familiar task of tending to the plants helped calm my nerves, my hands moving on autopilot as I watered and weeded. But even here, in the quiet of the garden, my mind kept drifting back to the fight, to what it would mean for me if I won. Or if I lost.

I had just finished trimming the rosemary when I felt a presence behind me. I turned around, half-expecting to see one of the children, but instead, I was met with a pair of bright, golden eyes.

The wolf.

He was sitting there calmly, his gaze fixed on me, as if waiting for something. His presence surprised me he had become a regular visitor over the past week, but he had never approached me like this before.

"Hello," I said softly, unsure of what else to say. The wolf didn't respond, of course, but his eyes remained locked on mine, and I could feel a strange connection between us, as if he understood the turmoil in my heart.

Before I could say anything more, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Elara approaching, her expression unreadable.

"I see he's taken a liking to you," Elara said, nodding toward the wolf.

I smiled faintly. "It seems so. He's been hanging around the garden a lot lately."

Elara's gaze softened slightly as she looked at the wolf. "He's a good judge of character," she said. Then she turned back to me, her eyes serious. "Alyndra, I've been thinking. You've made a lot of progress over the past week, and I believe you're ready to take the next step."

I looked at the wolf, who was still watching me intently. A sense of responsibility settled over me, along with a surge of excitement. This was it the beginning of something new, something bigger than anything I had known before.

"I will," I promised, my voice firm.

Elara nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, go and get ready. I'll meet you by the gate in a little while."

I watched as she turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the wolf. The air seemed to buzz with anticipation , and I knew that today would change everything.

With one last look at the wolf, I headed back inside to prepare. The time had come to face Elara in battle, to prove to myself and to her that I was ready for whatever lay ahead.

The sun was just beginning to rise higher in the sky as I made my way to the gate, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. The world outside the orphanage awaited, and I was ready to meet it head-on.

As I approached the gate, I could see Elara standing there, her arms crossed, waiting for me. The time for doubt was over. Now, it was time to fight.


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