Prologue: There's a Dragon

Alice Liddell stood at the edge of the enchanted forest, her heart pounding as she gazed at the enormous dragon curled around the ancient ruins ahead. The creature's scales shimmered like liquid emeralds in the dappled sunlight, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly fire. She clutched the ornate sword she had found in the Queen's treasury, its blade gleaming with a faint blue aura. 

She took a deep breath and stepped forward, her shoes crunching on the dry leaves that littered the forest floor. The sound seemed to echo in the still air, and the dragon's head lifted, its piercing gaze locking onto her. Alice swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of fear and determination surge through her veins. 

Just then, she felt a tingling sensation at her fingertips. Looking down, she saw small sparks of light dancing around her hands. "What on earth?" she whispered, eyes widening. She had never experienced anything like this before. Tentatively, she waved her hand, and the sparks followed, forming a trail of glittering light in the air. 

With a newfound sense of curiosity, she focused on the energy in her hands. She imagined the sparks gathering into a ball, and to her astonishment, they obeyed, coalescing into a bright orb of light. She threw the orb towards a nearby tree, and it exploded on contact, leaving a scorch mark on the bark. 

"Well, that's new," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. She glanced back at the dragon, which was now watching her with a mixture of caution and interest. She knew she had to understand these abilities quickly if she were to stand a chance in the impending battle. 

Alice closed her eyes, focusing inward. She could feel a reservoir of energy deep within her, pulsing like a heartbeat. Tentatively, she reached out to it, feeling a rush of power flow through her limbs. Her senses sharpened, and the world around her seemed to slow down. She opened her eyes, now glowing faintly with the same blue light as her sword. 

She took a step forward, and in a blink, she was at the dragon's side, moving with incredible speed. The dragon roared in surprise, swinging its massive tail towards her. Alice leapt into the air, higher than she ever thought possible, and landed gracefully on a nearby rock. 

But with this power came limitations. She felt a sudden drain of energy, her limbs growing heavy as if weighted down by an invisible force. She stumbled slightly, realizing that she could not sustain such intense abilities for long. She needed to be strategic. 

The dragon lunged at her, its jaws snapping dangerously close. Alice rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sharp teeth. She steadied herself, gripping the sword tightly. She knew she couldn't rely solely on her newfound powers; she had to combine them with her wits and agility. 

Drawing a deep breath, she summoned a smaller orb of light, directing it towards the dragon's eyes. The creature roared in frustration, momentarily blinded. Seizing the opportunity, Alice dashed forward, using her enhanced speed to close the distance. She slashed at the dragon's underbelly, the sword cutting through its tough scales with surprising ease. 

The dragon howled in pain, thrashing wildly. Alice jumped back, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She could feel the energy within her waning and the glow in her eyes dimming. She had to finish this quickly. 

[Ability: Luminara] 

Luminara is a mystical energy that Alice can summon and control. It manifests as shimmering, glittering light that she can shape and direct for various purposes, including offense, defense, and utility.