The Legend of Marvin

Elizabeth lowered her gaze, nervously playing with the sleeves of her tunic. After a moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and began her story in a soft voice, tinged with emotion:

— It was a day like any other… I was with my nurse in the palace gardens. As usual, she was telling me stories about my mother. I always loved those moments. It felt like, through her tales, I could know her a little…

Richard and Henry listened in silence, sensing the weight of this memory on her.

— Then… I heard a voice. A voice I didn't recognize.

Henry frowned.

— What was this voice like?

Elizabeth shook her head.

— I couldn't really describe it… It was strange… both gentle and imposing. It said, "It is time for us to meet."

She paused, visibly troubled by the memory.

— I didn't understand. I asked my nurse if she had heard it, but she didn't react. That's when I noticed something was wrong.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes shining with sadness.

— There was blood… blood on the ground.

A chill ran down Richard's spine.

— And then… I saw a wolf.

— A wolf?! Richard exclaimed.

Elizabeth nodded.

— Yes… A large russet wolf with green eyes. It was staring at me without moving. I didn't know where it had come from or how it had entered the palace. And then… I looked down…

She trembled slightly, clenching her hands on her knees.

— I saw my nurse… lying on the ground. Lifeless.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

— I screamed… screamed with all my strength. The guards came running… but the wolf was gone.

She lifted haunted eyes to Henry and Richard.

— That was the day I understood… That this power inside me… was dangerous.

Richard didn't dare to speak. He could see Elizabeth's pain, the guilt that still haunted her after all these years.

Henry, however, spoke in a calm and serious tone:

— This wolf… it wasn't just an ordinary animal, was it?

Elizabeth slowly shook her head.

— No… I'm certain. It was connected to my power.

She clenched her fists.

— Since that day… I have refused to use it.

Henry observed Elizabeth seriously before asking her in a composed voice:

— Tell me, Elizabeth, what was your power like before that incident?

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, thoughtful, then answered:

— Before… my power only allowed me to summon small, harmless creatures. I would create swarms of glowing butterflies… Sometimes, small animals like kittens or even owls. It was beautiful… gentle…

She lowered her gaze, her voice trembling.

— But that day… I summoned something else. A wolf. And that wolf killed my nurse.

A heavy silence settled. Henry and Richard didn't interrupt her. Elizabeth clenched her fists.

— I know very well that I summoned it. This power… it is cursed.

Richard wanted to protest, but Henry spoke first.

— Elizabeth, your mother had this power too… But never, not once, did she summon a wolf like the one you speak of.

Elizabeth lifted her head abruptly, surprised.

— What?! But… she did summon creatures, didn't she?

— Yes, Henry said, nodding slowly. Your mother could call upon powerful magical creatures. Majestic lions, giant eagles… but never a wolf.

Elizabeth looked troubled.

— Then… why me?

Henry sighed lightly, crossing his arms.

— There's something you don't know about her power… She confided in me once.

— What is it? Elizabeth asked, hanging on his words.

Henry locked his piercing gaze onto hers.

— Your mother… heard voices.

Elizabeth shuddered.

— Voices?

— Yes.

She felt her heartbeat quicken.

— But… then… Whose voices were they?

Henry watched her for a moment before answering gravely:

— The creatures she summoned.

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

— You mean… these beings… they speak to me?

Henry slowly nodded.

— It is very likely that this wolf spoke to you… and that you summoned it without even realizing it.

A chill ran down Elizabeth's spine. Her power was far more mysterious—and frightening—than she had ever imagined.

Elizabeth lowered her head, her hands trembling slightly. Her voice became weaker, almost a whisper.

— Since that day… everyone in the palace has started looking at me differently. As if I were a monster in their eyes. I told them what had happened, but no one believed me. Even my father…

She paused for a moment, as if the words were difficult to say.

— Even my father began to fear me.

Richard and Henry remained silent, listening intently.

— Only my older brother, William, continued to treat me the same way. At first, I thought my father sent me to Valdrith to protect me or help me learn to control my power… But today, I wonder if he just wanted to get rid of me. After all, I feel like I'm useless to him… Unlike my brother.

A heavy silence followed. Richard clenched his fists. He didn't know what to say, but he could see how much these thoughts tormented Elizabeth.

Henry sighed and shook his head.

— Elizabeth… it's time for you to stop being afraid of your own power.

The young girl lifted her head, surprised. Henry looked at her seriously, but also with kindness.

— And I sincerely doubt that your summon killed your nurse.

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

— But… how can you be sure?

Henry placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, looking at her softly.

— Because your power doesn't work that way. A summon cannot act on its own. It always responds to its master's will.

Elizabeth stepped back slightly, her lips trembling.

— I… I don't know if I can do it, Master Henry…

Her voice was broken, filled with a mix of fear and doubt. Richard watched her in silence. He had always seen Elizabeth as a proud and determined young woman, but now, he realized just how much this burden weighed on her.

Henry crossed his arms and declared firmly:

— Then let me help you understand this power. But for that, you must stop running from it.

Elizabeth stared at Henry, undecided. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes… but also a glimmer of hope.

Henry gave her a reassuring smile and placed a hand on her shoulder.

— There's nothing to fear, my dear. Now, let's go to the training courtyard.

Richard nodded, crossing his arms confidently.

— Yeah, and don't worry, if anything goes wrong, I'll be there to protect you.

Elizabeth looked up at him, slightly surprised, then gave him a timid smile. She had always seen Richard as an arrogant and somewhat foolish boy, but at that moment, he seemed different.

Together, they left the sitting room and walked through the great Marvin estate, descending the stone steps that led to the training courtyard. The place was vast, surrounded by sturdy walls marked by the years of training endured by generations of mages and warriors. The stone ground bore countless impact marks, remnants of the many battles fought there.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, feeling her heart race. She stepped into the center of the courtyard under the watchful eyes of Henry and Richard.

— Alright, Elizabeth, Henry began in a gentle but firm voice. Focus on your power, feel the Azalyth within you, and summon a creature as you used to… without fear.

She slowly nodded and closed her eyes. Her breathing steadied. She extended her hand and felt that strange energy awaken within her—a familiar warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

— Come to me… she whispered.

A soft breeze stirred around her, gently lifting her red hair. Tiny golden lights appeared before her, swirling like fireflies in the night. Then, little by little, a shape began to form.

Richard watched, fascinated. This was different from the kinds of magic he knew. This summoning was… alive.

Then, in one final flash, a creature appeared before them.

It was a majestic owl, with silver feathers and piercing golden eyes. It slowly flapped its wings before gracefully landing on Elizabeth's outstretched arm.

Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and saw the animal before her. Her heart skipped a beat.

— I did it… she breathed.

Henry smiled, satisfied.

— See? There was nothing to fear.

Richard, however, stepped closer, examining the creature with curiosity.

— Not bad at all, Princess. But I hope you can summon something bigger than that, because I doubt an owl will protect us in battle.

Elizabeth shot him an annoyed look, but this time, instead of taking offense, she let out a small laugh.

— We'll see, Richard. We'll see…

She gently stroked the owl, feeling a genuine sense of relief for the first time in a long while. She wasn't alone. Not anymore.

As Elizabeth prepared to leave, Henry crossed his arms and spoke in a calm tone:

— Elizabeth, do you want me to train you to master this power of yours?

Her eyes widened in surprise at the offer. Since the incident with her nurse, no one had ever offered to help her understand her power. She lowered her head slightly, hesitant.

— You… would do that for me, Master Henry?

Henry gave her a reassuring smile.

— Of course. You possess a rare and powerful gift, Elizabeth. It's up to you to tame it rather than fear it.

Elizabeth's gaze wavered between fear and hope. But seeing Henry's kind expression—and Richard's, which was more casual but still sincere—she felt a weight lift from her chest.

— In that case… yes. I want to learn to control it.

Henry nodded in satisfaction.

— Perfect. We'll begin as soon as you're ready.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and offered a small smile.

— Thank you, Master Henry.

Then she turned to Richard and, more timidly, added:

— Thank you, too, Richard.

Richard shrugged with a smirk.

— Oh, you know, I'm always ready to help a friend.

— Well… I should get going, she said, straightening up.

Henry nodded.

— Be careful on your way back. And don't forget what I told you, Elizabeth. Your power should not be a source of fear, but of strength.

She nodded silently before heading toward the exit. Richard watched her go, his hands in his pockets.

— Want me to walk you back? he asked.

Elizabeth stopped for a moment, seeming to hesitate. But in the end, she shook her head.

— No, I'll be fine. I'm not a child anymore, Richard.

— Oh yeah? And yet, just a moment ago, you were still trembling like a little girl…

Elizabeth shot him a glare, but this time, instead of getting angry, she took a deep breath and simply lifted her chin.

— Good night, Richard.

She blushed slightly and looked away before declaring that it was time for her to leave.

Henry wished her a good night and watched her go, thoughtful.

— She's starting to change, isn't she? he asked Richard.

Richard observed the door for a moment before shrugging.

— Yeah… but she's still got a long way to go.

Henry chuckled softly.

— Just like you, Richard.

The young man frowned slightly but said nothing. Deep down, he knew that this training would mark a turning point—not just for Elizabeth, but for himself as well.

He just didn't know yet how much their meeting would change their lives.