Shield of Destiny

The usual buzz of chatter and laughter echoed through the campus as students rushed between classes, their voices blending into a steady hum. It was just another ordinary day—or at least, that's what Elara had thought as she sat at her usual spot in the university courtyard, quietly sipping her water between classes.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the sprawling campus. But Elara's focus wasn't on the surroundings; her mind was consumed with something she couldn't shake—Lysander's strange words from earlier that day. The way his eyes had lingered on her, how he seemed to sense something about her, something she didn't understand.

She had tried to brush it off. He was just a guy. It didn't matter. She had enough to deal with in her own life, her part-time jobs, her classes, and simply trying to make it through each day without thinking too much about the emptiness of it all.

But today was different. Today, something was in the air—something thick with energy that she couldn't explain.

Elara sat down on the bench under the large oak tree, trying to focus on her textbook. The words blurred in front of her eyes as a strange pressure began to build inside her chest. A quiet, tingling sensation spread through her limbs, making her heart race. Her fingers tightened around the pages of the book, but the sensation didn't go away. In fact, it was getting stronger.

She looked around nervously, noticing that some students were staring at her, their expressions confused, even a little alarmed. A small group of people had gathered near the fountain, pointing at her as if something was wrong. Elara's anxiety spiked, and she stood up, quickly tucking the book under her arm and moving to leave the area.

But the pressure only increased. It was like something was *calling* to her—an invisible force pushing against her. Her breath hitched as a low, electric hum vibrated through her body.

**What is happening to me?** Elara's thoughts raced, her heart pounding in her ears.

Her eyes darted around the courtyard, and that's when she saw it: a strange, glowing aura flickering around her hands. The edges of her fingers seemed to shimmer, as if a faint protective barrier was forming. The light wasn't harsh, but soft, like a shimmering shield. The students nearby gasped, their eyes widening as they watched in disbelief.

"What's happening to her?" someone murmured.

"Elara, are you okay?" A familiar voice broke through the noise.

Lysander. His voice was like a lifeline, pulling her from her confusion. She turned toward him, her breath shaky as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Lysander was standing just a few feet away, his eyes fixed on her with a mixture of concern and something else—something Elara couldn't quite place. His gaze was intense, but there was an undeniable wariness there, as if he knew something was wrong, something he wasn't saying.

"I—" Elara stammered, but her voice faltered as the light around her hands began to pulse.

Lysander took a step closer, his gaze flicking between her and the strange energy enveloping her. "Elara... what is this?"

"I don't know," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. "I don't know what's happening. I swear I didn't do this. It's just... happening."

The pressure in the air grew heavier, and the ground beneath Elara seemed to tremble slightly. Her chest tightened, as though the force was coming from deep within her. The shimmering light around her hands flickered, and suddenly, with a sharp burst of energy, the light erupted into the air in a small explosion, sending a shockwave through the courtyard.

Students screamed, ducking and covering their heads, and the air crackled with residual energy. Elara stood frozen, her hands still outstretched as she tried to catch her breath, completely overwhelmed.

"Get down!" Lysander shouted, his voice sharp with authority. He lunged forward, grabbing Elara by the wrist and pulling her behind a stone pillar as the shockwave rippled past them. The world around them seemed to slow, and Elara could barely comprehend what had just happened.

When the energy subsided, Lysander released her wrist, his grip still firm, but not as tight as before. He stared at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. His voice was low, almost to himself as he muttered, "That wasn't... normal."

Elara's heart thudded in her chest as she glanced at her hands, which were still trembling, but no longer glowing. "What... what was that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to... I don't even know what happened."

Lysander didn't immediately answer. Instead, he looked at her, his eyes narrowing, as if trying to decipher something he didn't fully understand. For a moment, he was silent, as though weighing something in his mind. Then, with a deep breath, he spoke again, but this time, his voice was more controlled, almost distant.

"It's alright, Elara," he said, though there was a hint of unease in his tone. "I don't know what just happened, but you're not... like everyone else, are you?"

Her breath hitched, a chill running down her spine. **Did he know?**

"I don't know what you mean," she said, struggling to keep her composure. "I'm just... normal."

"Normal?" Lysander echoed, his tone softer now. He studied her intently, and Elara could almost feel the weight of his gaze on her. His next words were quiet, but they hit her like a bolt of lightning. "You're not normal. You're something else. You have something inside you... something powerful."

Before she could respond, a loud shout interrupted their conversation.

"Lysander!"

A group of students was huddled near the entrance of the courtyard, staring at the scene in awe and fear. Their eyes flicked from Elara to Lysander, and then back again. Elara felt exposed, like they could see right through her, and she quickly glanced at Lysander for some kind of reassurance.

But Lysander was already moving toward the crowd, his expression hardened, masking any uncertainty. He turned to Elara briefly before speaking to the onlookers.

"It's nothing," he said firmly, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Just a... technical malfunction. Nothing to worry about."

Elara watched in stunned silence as Lysander managed to calm the crowd with a few words. But his gaze never left her. As the students dispersed, Lysander turned back to her, his expression now unreadable.

"We need to talk," he said quietly.

Elara nodded, her mind racing, her heart still pounding in her chest. She had just awakened something—something she wasn't ready for, and now, Lysander knew. **And that was just the beginning.**

---

Lysander walked with her to a quiet corner of the campus, his steps deliberate, yet filled with an energy that made Elara's stomach churn. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, and she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was shifting.

"I don't know what that was," she whispered, her voice shaking. "But I swear, I didn't do it on purpose."

Lysander glanced at her, his expression softening slightly, but the intensity in his eyes remained. "Elara, there's something about you," he said. "Something... different. You have power. I felt it the moment I met you."

Elara recoiled slightly at the word *power*. Was this some kind of joke? She was nothing special, just an orphan girl trying to get by.

"Power?" she asked, incredulous. "I don't even know what you're talking about. I'm just trying to survive."

"You're more than that," Lysander said quietly. "And I think you're just starting to realize it."

---

As they stood in the quiet corner, the weight of the unspoken truth hung heavy in the air. Lysander's words, his knowing gaze—everything seemed to be shifting around her. Elara had just begun to scratch the surface of something far bigger than herself, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was prepared for what was to come.