Chapter 5 – The Awakening

Chapter 5 – The Awakening

Back at Blackridge

Earlier That Day

I ran, fast, wild, unthinking.

Something was burning inside me, something dangerous. I felt like I could tear down the world with my bare hands. Like I could kill… and burn anything that dared come close.

The moment I got home, I went straight to the washroom.

I didn’t stop to breathe. I just plunged my face into the cold water.

My skin was burning, hotter than lava. I cupped more water, splashed it on my face, shoved my hands in too.

And that’s when I saw it.

Fire.

Actual flames, rising from my hands even though they were fully submerged.

My heart stopped.

My breath caught in my throat.

What. The. Hell?

In all my life as a witch, I had never seen fire burst from my hands, never. Not until now.

I backed away, eyes wide in terror. My whole body trembled. But after a few agonizing seconds, the heat faded. My hands cooled. My breath steadied.

I stared down at them, whispering, “What the hell is happening to me?”

I didn’t realize when I collapsed into bed. My body felt drained, heavy. My mind, racing.

I dozed off.

And then came the dream.

I was drinking the brownish liquid Serah gave me earlier that day.

Suddenly, my body began to shift, twist transform.

I wasn’t myself anymore. I looked like a beast.

No… a dragon.

Wings sprouted from my back, teeth stretched into fangs, my fingers morphed into sharp, terrifying claws. My face remained human, but everything else… was monstrous.

Behind me towered a mighty dragon, flames roaring from its throat, setting the world ablaze.

Before I could scream, a soldier lunged at me with a blade.

And then, out of nowhere, a werewolf tore through him like paper. Blood splattered. The screams echoed.

I jolted awake with a scream.

Drenched in sweat. Trembling. My hands shook uncontrollably.

What kind of dream was that?

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and stood up. The room was dark now. I had slept for hours.

I walked to the living room. Serah wasn’t there.

Strange.

She should’ve been back by now. I stepped outside, Still no sign of her.

“Maybe she’s still at the market square,” I murmured.

But… this late? Something felt off.

I looked up at the sky and noticed it was a full moon.

Unease twisted in my stomach as I headed toward the market to find her.

The night air was eerily quiet, until I heard it.

A howl.

Low, deep… frightening.

It wasn’t just a wolf’s cry, it was something more. Something ancient.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in my head. I clutched it, crying out.

“Aaaahhh!” I screamed, falling to my knees. The sound, it felt like it was splitting my brain in half.

“Kyra!”

I heard Serah’s voice, faint but desperate.

She ran to me, tried to lift me off the ground—

But I was already slipping.

The world went dark.

I opened my eyes little by little and felt a warm towel resting on my forehead.

I tried to sit up, but Serah gently held my arm.

“Dear, you’re awake. You can’t get up just yet you need to rest.”

I was relieved she was back.

“Serah, why didn’t you come home on time? I was so worried.”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry for making you worry. Something happened at the market today.”

I noticed the change in her voice instantly.

“What happened?” I asked, concerned.

“Oh, Kyra… I finally saw my granddaughter—after all these years. But it didn’t last long.”

This time, I forced myself upright, ignoring how weak I still felt.

“Tell me. What happened?”

“Her parents came to Blackridge to visit a friend. They had no idea I’d be at the market. Then I saw her… my granddaughter. She was laughing, full of life, all bubbly and happy. My heart felt so light, so full after everything. But…” her voice cracked, “she didn’t recognize me, Kyra. My own granddaughter. The girl I raised, held in my arms since she was born… she looked me dead in the eyes and didn’t recognize me.”

Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

My heart ached for her. I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly.

“I’m so sorry, Serah. I’m really, really sorry,” I whispered, trying to comfort her.

I hated seeing her this way.

She slowly pulled away from the hug and gave me a warm, grateful smile.

“Thank you, dear. But enough about me what happened to you?”

I searched for an excuse. I couldn’t tell her the truth. Not yet.

“Uhmm… I wasn’t feeling too well. I just need some rest, that’s all. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“Okay, dear. Just take care of yourself.”

After Serah left the room, I quietly sneaked into hers, hoping she wouldn’t be back too soon.

Thankfully, the room was empty.

I started searching for that brownish liquid. It wasn’t on the shelf where she usually keeps her herbs.

“Where could it be?” I muttered under my breath.

I checked the other shelf and there it was.

The bottle. Just like in my dream.

I stared at it for a long time, frozen.

Scenes from the nightmare came rushing back: the transformation… the wings… the claws… the fire.

Why did I turn into a beast after drinking this?

As I stood there, completely absorbed in thought, Serah’s voice cut through the silence.

“Dear, what are you doing?”

Startled, I gasped and the bottle slipped from my hands.

It crashed to the ground.

I watched the liquid pour across the floor.

Oh no... what trouble have I gotten myself into?

I braced myself, expecting Serah to get upset but surprisingly, she didn’t.

“Oh my, Serah, I’m so sorry! I’ll clean this up right now!” I rushed to grab a towel and a bucket.

“It’s okay, dear,” she said calmly.

I dropped to my knees and began cleaning, holding my breath so I wouldn’t have to smell it. I couldn’t risk inhaling whatever was in that strange liquid. Once I finished, I quickly took the towel out and threw it away.

When I came back inside, I found Serah sitting quietly, reading a book as though nothing had happened.

I half-expected her to ask why I had sneaked into her room.

But to my surprise, she didn’t say a word about it.

“Kyra, dear, you should go and rest. It’s been a long day,” she said without lifting her eyes from the page.

“Uhm… okay. Goodnight.”

I stared at her for a second, still surprised, then headed to my room.

But I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned, my mind spinning with everything that had happened today. The dream. The transformation. The voice. The liquid. Serah’s granddaughter. All of it felt like pieces of a puzzle I didn’t yet understand.

Then a thought crossed my mind, dangerous, wild, but oddly comforting.

Maybe… just maybe… if I drank that liquid again, I could become powerful.

Powerful enough to destroy Kyrrath.

Maybe…