Luna's POV
Near my head, the fireball exploded.
"Duck!" I was already flinging myself to the ground when Master Orion yelled. In addition to singeing my hair and leaving black marks on the stone wall, the magical fire whooshed over me.
"What was that?" I stumbled to my feet after gasping.
"Shadow magic," Master Orion uttered somberly. He was an elderly man with gentle eyes and a long gray beard, but he appeared afraid at the moment. "You were just attempted to be killed."
We were in the hidden chamber beneath the palace library, where Master Orion instructed servant children in magic. We were the only ones who knew about it, so it should have been safe. However, a shadow creature had discovered us somehow.
"Where did it go?" I looked around the room and whispered.
"It's still here," Master Orion declared. "Any dark corner can conceal shadow creatures. We must get you out of here."
However, the shadows on the wall began to move on their own before we could. They grew and twisted into the shape of a massive creature with sharp claws and glowing red eyes.
The shadow creature hissed, "Luna Brightwater," with a voice like shattered glass. "The Heart of the Phoenix. You can't stay hidden from us forever."
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" I said, but I could feel the same tingling in my hands even as I was speaking.
The creature said, "Your power calls to us." "You smell like it to us. Like honey and lightning, sweet and powerful."
With its claws outstretched, the shadow monster lunged at me. I screamed and shielded myself with my hands. My palms swelled with ice, forming a wall between the creature and me. It wasn't just any ice, though. It was crackling with energy and glowing with blue light. It was struck by the shadow creature, which screamed and vanished into black smoke.
"Impossible," exhaled Master Orion. "You made spirit ice. That is only possible for the strongest mages."
"Spirit ice?" I gazed at my hands. The glowing ice wall remained. "What is spirit ice?"
"Ice touched by pure magic." It can defend against dark magic and eliminate shadow creatures. Master Orion's eyes widened in wonder. "Where did you learn to do that, Luna?"
"I didn't discover it. It simply occurred."
Master Orion approached the ice wall and gave it a light pat. "This is amazing. You no longer only manage water. You're in charge of magic itself."
I uttered the words, "I don't understand any of this," with fear and frustration. "Why am I experiencing this? Why am I desired by shadow creatures? And what's this Phoenix Heart thing they're always bringing up?"
For a long time, Master Orion remained silent. Then he motioned for me to join him as he took a seat on one of the antique wooden chairs.
"Luna," he whispered, "I have to tell you something." "I probably ought to have told you this years ago."
"What?"
"The Phoenix Heart is more than a single individual. It's a prophecy. A myth as old as magic itself." He gave me a serious look. "According to the prophecy, a mage with the ability to control all four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—will emerge when the world is in grave danger. This mage will have the ability to either save everyone or ruin everything."
My heart began to race. "You believe that I am this Phoenix Heart person?"
"I believe you may be. Water and ice, or frozen water, are already under your control. Since you produced spirit ice tonight, you are interacting with the fifth element, which is pure magic."
"Fifth element?"
"Earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. All five are under the Phoenix Heart's control." Master Orion bent forward. "Have you ever had the impression that you could manipulate anything other than water, Luna?"
I recalled the altercation I had in the training room with Prince Kai. I had thought I could reach out and calm his fire magic when it had gone crazy. As if I could sense the fire's emotions.
"Maybe," I muttered. "I feel like I can sense other people's magic sometimes."
"That's it!" Master Orion's gaze brightened. "That's the clue! All forms of magic can be sensed and controlled by the Phoenix Heart."
"But why me? I am not unique. I only work as a servant."
"The Phoenix Heart will rise from the lowest place to the highest destiny, according to the prophecy. It makes perfect sense for a servant to rise to the position of the world's most powerful mage."
I was feeling overpowered. "This is excessive. I can't be some fabled wizard. I have very little control over my own water magic."
Master Orion said softly, "That's because you've been holding yourself back." "You believe what you've been taught—that your magic is weak. But your magic is strong, Luna. It is so powerful that it frightens you."
"What if I hurt someone?"
"What if you save everyone?"
We heard footsteps on the stairs to our hidden room before I could respond. Waving his hand, Master Orion leaped to his feet. He swiftly hid the magic books we had been using, and the glowing ice wall disappeared.
"Quick," he muttered. "Act like we're just discussing everyday topics."
Princess Stella entered through the open door. I let out a gasp. How did she discover our hidden chamber?
"Well, well," she smiled icily. "What's in here? An old wizard teaching magic to a servant girl?"
Princess Stella appeared even more stunning up close, but she was flawed. Her smile was too piercing, her skin too flawless. Her eyes, in particular, gave the impression that they belonged to someone much older and more dangerous.
Master Orion bowed and said, "Your Highness." "This is only a basic reading lesson."
"Old man, don't tell me lies." Princess Stella's voice made my skin crawl, even though it was as sweet as honey. "The magic in this room is odorous. Powerful magic. Strange magic."
She moved to the spot where my ice wall had been and rubbed the stone with her finger. Her fingertip was covered in frost when she withdrew her hand.
"Spirit ice," she uttered quietly. "How fascinating."
I noticed something frightful in her eyes when she turned to face me. Hunger. As if she wanted to devour me.
She said, "Luna Brightwater," as if my name were delicious. "I've been anticipating our meeting."
"Your Highness, I'm not sure what you mean."
"Oh, I believe you do." She moved in closer. "I believe you are fully aware of who you are. Additionally, I believe you are fully aware of my desires."
Master Orion intervened and said, "Princess Stella, maybe we should continue this conversation somewhere more suitable."
She said, "You're right," but her gaze remained fixed on me. "You and I will have a proper conversation tomorrow night at the engagement party, Luna. Only the two of us."
"She's just a servant," objected Master Orion. "She's not welcome at royal parties."
Princess Stella smiled menacingly and said, "Oh, but she does." "This party is in dire need of her. A little amusement."
She started to walk away but stopped at the door. "By the way," she said, "you might want to watch out for shadow creatures more closely." "They have been very active around the palace lately and are drawn to strong magic."
After she departed, Master Orion and I sat for a while in silence.
"She knows," I muttered at last.
"Yes," replied Master Orion. "She is fully aware of who you are."
"What will I do? Tomorrow night, I can't face her. She has too much power."
Master Orion remarked, "You're more powerful than you realize." "But there's more, Luna. I haven't told you about the prophecy of the Phoenix Heart."
"What?"
"The Phoenix Heart isn't the only thing that the prophecy says will save the world. Additionally, it predicts that someone will attempt to steal the power of the Phoenix Heart. Someone who will stop at nothing to become the most formidable mage in existence."
My blood froze. "You believe Princess Stella is attempting to usurp my authority?"
Master Orion grimly remarked, "I don't think Princess Stella is who she pretends to be." "And I believe she's going to try to take everything away from you tomorrow night."
He got up and moved toward a secret chest in the room's corner. He extracted a tiny crystal that emitted white light from it. He handed it to me and said, "This is a protection crystal." "It will protect you from evil magic. However, Luna, if Princess Stella tries to harm you tomorrow night,..."
"What?"
"Don't hesitate. Make use of all the power you possess. Because she won't simply ruin you if she takes your Phoenix Heart magic."
As he completed his sentence, Master Orion's eyes were filled with fear. "The world will be destroyed by her."