Amara rose from the forest floor, her breath shaking like a leaf trapped between two storms, as the world slowed around her. The presence of the ghost grew inside her chest; it was neither peaceful nor violent, but rather an ancient being that was having trouble recalling its own name. Her eyes gleamed slightly, revealing a power she had never intended to awaken, and Kweku took a step back. The adversaries encircled the clearing, but none of them dared to move first since they sensed that they were up against more than simply a girl. Amara felt the spirit's energy melt through her bones like molten silver as she slowly raised her hand. Not to give in, not to let pandemonium loose, but to make a decision, she told herself in a whisper. The power awaited her order for the first time.
Like a second shadow made of stars, the spirit lingered after her. Child, make your own decision. Her heart began to beat twice as its voice thundered softly inside of her. With his gaze fixed on her face, Kweku tightly gripped his sword, trusting her while not knowing what she was turning into. With his aura pulsating with red fury, the opposing leader moved forward. "She is blending together. "Stop her before the fusion is finished!" he yelled, driving his staff into the earth. Chains of red energy sprang skyward like ravenous snakes as the earth burst open. Amara remained unflinching. Rather, she touched the air with her palm, and for the first time, she sensed the spirit's might lessening—not to subjugate her, but to bolster her strength.
Amara raised her palm and took a deep breath as the chains swung toward her, cutting through the clearing with lethal speed. The shackles were broken before they could strike by a living shield of silver energy that erupted from her chest. The enemy formation was rocked by shock. Unbelieving what she had just done, Kweku averted his eyes from the sudden brightness. "How, Amara?" he muttered. She was unaware of the solution. Her spirit hummed with controlled enthusiasm. It is not my will, but yours. You're waking up by yourself. Her heart was pounding. The power was responding to her decisions rather than seizing control of her. She became aware that she was not its receptacle for the first time. She was joining it as a partner.
With an unusual speed, the leader roared and charged forward. He swung his staff with enough force to shatter a boulder, but Amara moved out of the way before it made contact, acting on an unidentified intuition. The second blow was intercepted by Kweku, who charged in to defend her. The metal clashed furiously, burning crimson. "Remain behind me!" he yelled. Amara, however, didn't pay attention. She moved forward once more, her fingertips drawing bright symbols in the air that she instinctively knew but had never learned. The ghost whispered amazement. The old script has been opened by you. It has been centuries since this was done. Amara continued. She finished the sigil with a sweeping motion, and as invisible energy moved beneath their feet, the entire area shook.
Emerging from the ground, roots twisted upward like serpents composed of pure moonlight and living wood. As the enemy soldiers fought to free themselves, they wrapped around their ankles and pulled them back. Shock swept across the battlefield. Startled, even the spirit within her hesitated. This power is not mine. You own it. Amara's chest constricted as memories she didn't possess flashed through her head, fleeting pictures of women with similar markings calling forth uncontrollable natural powers. A bloodline that has been latent up until now. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She was more than a vessel. She was descended from the first binders, who used to seal the spirits personally. She was now reawakening that heritage.
With a cry of rage, the enemy leader wrenched free and used unadulterated force to tear apart the roots. "You believe that having power makes you untouchable?" he shouted. His body erupted in a red aura that became brighter until the ground underneath him became dark. In an instant, Kweku moved to stand between Amara and the leader. He snarled, "You'll go through me first." The leader grinned. "Happily." Amara moved forward and lifted her hand once more, silver light circling her fingers as he attacked. "No," she muttered. "He's facing me." Inside her, the spirit pulsed desperately, not sure whether to help or run. You don't comprehend how old this enemy is, child. Don't undervalue—"I'm not," she muttered. "I'm taking a stand."
With a roar, the leader charged, his red aura cutting through the air like a blade. As the jungle grew darker under his influence, Amara let out a breath and centered herself. She created a broad arc of shimmering silver light by pushing her palms outward. The force of his blow rippled across her barrier like waves crashing against a precipice. Her arms ached, but she didn't waver. Kweku was amazed to see the earth crack beneath her feet, but she resisted falling. "Amara!" he exclaimed. "Let me assist you!" She gave a headshake. "The spirit will take this blow if I don't." Snarling, the leader applied more pressure. "Girl, break!" Amara had fiery eyes. "I don't shatter."
Amara let her power explode with a scream that split the night, yet she did so with complete knowledge of her birthright rather than angrily or carelessly. The red glow was completely engulfed by a flash of silver light. With enough force to rock the forest, the leader was hurled backward and crashed into the woods. There was silence. The surviving adversaries were freed by the roots and fled in fear, their trust in their commander destroyed. As she fell to her knees, Kweku ran to her side and caught her. "Amara, what did you do?" he muttered. She shuddered, fatigue coursing through her body. "I made a decision," she murmured. "And the spirit made a decision alongside me." The moon shone above them, seemingly recognizing the emergence of something fresh.