Episode 3

As Maria rushed forward, the woman's voice called out behind her. "Maria, wait! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" But Maria didn't hesitate. She pushed her way through the crowd of warriors, her eyes fixed on Erien.

Erien was stumbling backwards, his sword flashing in the dim light of the chamber. He was surrounded by at least five enemy warriors, all of whom seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Maria could see the fear in Erien's eyes, and she knew she had to act fast.

Without thinking, Maria launched herself at the enemy warriors. She didn't have a sword, but she had her fists and her determination. She punched and kicked, using every ounce of strength she possessed.

To her surprise, the enemy warriors stumbled backwards, giving Erien the opening he needed. He took advantage of the distraction, striking back at his enemies with renewed ferocity.

Together, Maria and Erien fought off the enemy warriors, their movements becoming more synchronized with every passing moment. Maria couldn't believe how naturally she was fighting, as if she had been training for this moment her whole life.

As the last enemy warrior fell to the ground, Maria turned to Erien, her chest heaving with exertion. Erien's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, Erien's face broke out into a wide grin. "Thanks for the help," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I owe you one."

Maria smiled back at him, feeling a sense of camaraderie she hadn't felt in a long time. "No problem," she said. "But now that we've won this battle, can someone please tell me what's going on?"

The woman who had brought Maria to the war room stepped forward, a small smile on her face. "Now that you've proven yourself in battle," she said, "I think it's time we told you the truth about this place... and about yourself."

Maria's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. What truth? What did they mean? And what did it have to do with her?

The woman's words hung in the air, leaving Maria with more questions than answers. She felt a sense of trepidation, as if her whole world was about to be turned upside down.

"Who am I?" Maria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's smile grew wider, and she reached out to place a hand on Maria's shoulder. "You, Maria, are a direct descendant of the ancient ones," she said. "The ones who wielded the elements and harnessed their power."

Maria's eyes widened as she processed this information. "What do you mean?" she asked.

The woman's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement. "You have the power of the elements within you, Maria," she said. "The power to control the very fabric of nature itself."

Maria felt a surge of energy run through her body, as if the woman's words had awakened something deep within her. She looked down at her hands, half-expecting to see them glowing with elemental power.

But they looked normal. Ordinary.

"How do I access this power?" Maria asked, her voice filled with a sense of wonder.

The woman's smile grew wider. "That, Maria, is what we're going to teach you."

And with that, Maria's journey began. A journey to discover the secrets of her past, to unlock the power of the elements, and to fulfill her destiny.

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