The Maelstorm

"I imagine that I bore my chalice safely through a throngs of foes"

-James Joyce

A mass of burnt out corpses. All structures of houses drifted into embers of ashes. A once flashy yet ignorant village had disappeared along with its absolute ruler. These were the result of her overwhelming magic. Her emotions were the primordial fuel of this power. She somehow knew how it's ability. No one taught her but it was innate on herself. Before departing the rundown village, she look back for the last time, this village will be the very beginning of her unfavorable demise.

That village known as the Aspralt Village, will soon be recorded in history as the major disaster the villainess had and the painful tragedy that occur will simultaneously mark as an unfortunate calamity to every citizen. Gina picked a shabby and almost burn cloth to cover her naked body.

Her destination is unknown.

Without family and friends.

Maybe it was her confused state or the chaotic order of events that still haunting her that she didn't realize a pair of measly foot behind her track. The poor soul tried to hide himself, dress in rugged clothing. Face full of ashes and black fibers. He was only 4 years old that his stance couldn't follow her pace.

Upon stumbling, the child made a whimpering sob like when a child lost his mother in a crowded bazaar. Gina is not hardhearted to disregard this pitiful child. Although at some point he was an annoyance on her way. "What do you want child?" Her tone was stern. Not any hint of gentleness infront of this weak child.

*Hic*hic*hic

The child only made an irritating sound enough for her to walk towards her way to him. "Where is your Mom?" It was too late before she realize the degree of her question. It seems that this child is one of the children among the villagers. Did she make an orphan kid because of her power? This child...A splash of wicked taught popped into her mind. If she would allow this child to grow he might develop a hatred towards her and plot for his revenge like those scums who trampled on her. She shouldn't let him live and it shouldn't be hard to eliminate him in his current state. She draw her hand and summoned a black flames aiming on the child. However, things didn't go as she planned. The child bearing a fierce dark green hair started to reach into her hands and genuinely smiled at her showing his broken frontal teeth. He obviously didn't mean her any harm

What had she done! This child is innocent!

Brushing the snot over this child's face and picking him up they divulge their way into the forest.

The Azura Mayhem is an ominous and sinister forest. The largest and grim forest known throughout the whole kingdom. Home of elemental underling of the underworld. Upon her first step, she could sense the omnipotent ambiance of the air. The place is polluted with vile miasma. As she ventured deeper, the child behind her back fainted. The effect of this miasma is severe to the ordinary people. So she pulled the child inside her bubble black-fence. She just randomly called it a bubble fence, a high defense magic formulated from the density of her black flames. The air inside is much bearable compare to the outside, so the child will not gonna have a hard time breathing.

Now then, apportion with her keen sight, she search the very core of such wicked energy. It wasn't difficult to find it and in front of her lies the gigantic beast in slumber. Its thick shining moist-like scale is surely emitting the core of miasma. The creature is about 100ft tall with almost parallel size to a small hill. It bears its sharp fangs and enormous wings at its back. This creature is very famous to her world. The flock of equinox booklets with major topics like this are flocking the literature world. Their species are considered rare and powerful compared to others. A western dragon, which is only a mythological figure on her world lies in front of her.

Her existence infront, make it flinch and open its blazing red eye.

"Just a mere insect yet dare to awaken the mighty ruler of this forest" roared the fiesty dragon.

Gina stood aback. Stance in pure defense mode.

"This mere insect suggest a battle for the supremacy of this forest"

"Hahaha! Pure idiocy! What would I get if I partake such ridiculous plot?"

Gina grin. "You can eat me"

"A mere insect dare to challenge me well then, why don't we give it a try. After years of sleeping, I do feel hungry. Just so lucky that a food is offering to be eaten"

"Hold it!" Gina tried to snatch a few moments of this famish beast. "I haven't given my term yet…"

"Hahahahahaha" The whole forest reverberated on its laughter " you think you could defeat me?! I the mighty ruler of this place?! I guess weak existence do like to rumble all the time. What is it?"

"If I win, I want you to get out of this forest"

Just like that, she triggered the wrath of the dragon. It started to stomp its foot where she stood creating an high intensity earthquake

Gina was quick to relocate her position thanks to her overwhelming speed and the dragon was having a hard time catching up with it.

They ended having a foot stamping fight.

"Ohoho" she teases the creature "you already tired? Do you feel your joints hurting every time you move. Well, that is only a sign of old aging. You shouldn't be lazy all the time –always sleeping will only—"

Gina was cut off Midway. The fiery dragon blasted a big lump of fire on its mouth on her. If she was an ordinary person, she would already be roasted. Thanks to her black flames who eats its blazing red fire on her body. She got a few scratches though.

Well, fire eating fire. That's new to her.

"Why didn't you burn?" roar the western dragon.

"Your one rude dragon aren't you? You didn't let me finish speaking earlier"

Gina felt to be serious this time. After all she had a kid with her. The longer she take care of this thing, the harder for the kid.

She started to synchronize her will with her magic, her black flames turn to be a blazing tight rope. One whip on her and it binded the creature totally defenseless. The creature limping on the ground. Its angry. Way more angry. Its pride as a supremacy shattered as it glares at its opponent and its fury fuel an impending flames on its mouth.

[ You gonna use the same trick again huh?]

Gina summoned her vital move. A big mass of black flames began to form and it even became bigger with the miasma it's absorbing over the place.

Knowing the impending danger, the creature withdraw its fire enough for Gina to change her mind. She turn the big mass of flame into nothing less.

"I conceded. This forest shall be yours. What is your name young one?"

"It's Gina."

The dragon leave its nest and flew away. She didn't know where it's destination. The miasma surrounding the area depleted and eventually nothing left. She summoned back the bubble fence and saw the little one is still curled and asleep. It twist and scratches its face while shifting his position. Like a little rabbit. Upon sensing that someone is staring at him, he move up yawning.

So cute! Her adorable sweety!

***

Gina decided to build simple wooden straw house. Since the forest is already abundant of fruits plus there is a rich flowing stream up ahead. Together with the kid, they started living off hiding the constricting eyes of the malicious crowd. Some days she taught the kid all about wild living. Hunting meats, climbing fruit trees and catching fishes. At some point also she taught him the basic of cooking as well as washing the clothes. Their routine is basically repeating and before they know it, it's already been two years. Now it was all the kid who's doing the chores and she was left with idle and lazing while measuring the boundary of clear blue sky. All her hard work in picking these child pay off. In the middle of that she felt a wide sense of satisfaction.

That was when also she begun to roam around the city. Now that the kid is old enough not needing supervision, she roam the bustling busy crowd of the market. She encounter a lot of classes of people. She went through a weaponry shop, then a dress shop and a tavern. She wasn't even satisfied and return for the next day. However this time she felt bringing the kid with her.

She felt guilty leaving him alone while she was having the sweet time shopping. Arriving at the city market, she left the kid with other children. Having a quality time playing while still young would make up a great memory of childhood. She doesn't want that freedom to be taken way this child

"I'll pick you up later kid" she said bidding him goodbye. The kids face was struck with worrisome look. So she assure him that she will definitely be back. The kid only nod himself and went towards other children playing on the street.

She rummage again though the shops on her leeway. On her travelling she spotted a famous food tavern. Her eyes glow in excitement and join the long lines of customers. When she took her order, she got a spot on the corner and she happen to hear a loud gossip of women behind.

[Hey have you a prize reward for the villain? It had skyrocketed to 6 million now]

[Wow! That is so much! But then again were talking about her. She is as nimble as a cat and seems to have nine lives. Even the royal knights couldn't detect her.]

[Hmm, you're right if I could catch that person I'll be the richest in town.]

Tsk. She really can't enjoy herself huh?

She really can't take a break for a while. It's only this time that she knows she has bounty on her head. Lucky she was using a cardigan cloak hiding her whole face.

As she was to pay her bill, someone bump into her loosening the cap of her coat. And the one who bump her, seems to familiarize her face! Well, who wouldn't? There's a huge rewards on her head.

"You!!! So look susp—"

"No I'm not" as fast as she could she immediately exited the tavern. Later, a hold of people were chasing after her. Surely rumors travels fast in this area.

Picking the kid immediately, they entered the forest and went back home.

It was a little before 5 in the morning-an hour until there would be any lightening of the horizon in the east to mark the coming of another day. Gina was awoken by a rough steps of soldiers. She activated her extended hearing and sense that they are coming to them. Wrapping the child in her bubble flame fence, she jump into the deep forest. Trying to escape.

It was easy for her to exterminate those fools however, she can't shove that fact that the entire forest would exterminate if she decided to do so. If things would not go on her way, she'' just burn them the way she did to that village.

For now she'll escape.

[You seem to be in such unpleasant predicament...Come to my abode and I will heal your confusion] an eerie voice reverberated on her ear. On her foot she saw a bluish wil o wisp guiding her path. She hesitated if she would follow the path.

[Do not hesitate, troubled soul]

Gina sigh.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Next thing she knew she was following the long lines of blue light. They were lead to a rugged typical witch house. The only lacking in here is the candy and sweets that wasn't plastered on the wall. The door automatically open and she entered.

"Welcome, your journey must be exhausting. You have a hard time adjusting to this world? and to point out people here are not on your side right?" An old woman with long silky white hair. When she smile she could picture out the old lady in a horror movie she once saw.

Just who is this old woman? How did she know about her?

"I will be your benefactor that is sure"

"Spill it now old lady! Are you the one who curse me in this wrenched world?"

"You are barking on the wrong tree. Your fate has been tied down with your immense magic. So does without one, you will not suffer"

Even though she hate it, she gotta admit that this old hag is right. To narrow it down with all the happenings. It was only because people fear her magic.

"From what you are suggesting, it seems that you have the solution to this right."

A trickery smile form from the witch mouth.

" Of course, that is if you let me…"

Gina tried to grasp the gravity of this situation. She doesn't want to live a life being a fugitive. She wants total freedom where she could socialize with ordinary people. The decision that she will gonna consider will make a big impact on her future. She need to weigh down where will she stand in the end. A clear judgement. A pros and cons. She needs to consider those. Carefully and meticulously.

"I'm in!" Without second thought.

"Hihihi. This is not an easy process. I need to extract all your magic and sprinkle a little form of my specialty. Your new identity. For that to happen, cultivation takes a decade to process"

Decades?

If in those years, she will not be around, who will take care of the kid? She got a little worried about the future of her little creature.

"You don't need to worry about the Lil guy. I'll look for him over the years"

That settles it.

Gina gave her consent.

The old hag stamp her wooden rod with crystalline round glass over the top. It started to glow the moment and a few tiny Sparks of light came out entering her body. The light flows into her and she witness as the black particles came out of her body entering the round glass. The more the black thing came out the more she felt fatigue and mental strain and the bubble fence carrying the kid started to disintegrated.

Thoughts fall on her… what would this kid came into without her?

He has left nothing.

A sense of protection came into her sense and before she knows it, a part of black flames entered the kid's body.

Protect the kid...That was her taught saying to her.

"What are you doing?! You need to release it to the crystal"

Shut up! Old hag.

And she fall into deep slumber.

***

20 years later