“Mother told me to never do it again.”
“You shouldn’t have to hide anything, child.”
“But I hurt that man…”
“Sacrifices have to made in order to achieve greatness.”
She paused. A flicker of pressure kicked at her chest. “You think I can be great?”
A laugh. “Of course, child. You have a gift. All that matters now is that you foster it. But heed this warning, young one.”
She tilted her head to the side, confused. “What warning?”
“All who wield power risk being consumed by it; corrupted by its reach. With guidance, you could yet become a knight or a fighter, perhaps even a hero.”
Her eyes widened.
“Without, you could easily become a tyrant or a monster. A traitor…” The words trailed off into silence.
In the distance, grass rustled and twigs broke under approaching feet. She whipped around and tried to focus in the darkness, unable to make out any figures.
“I think that’s mother,” she said nervously. “Will you stay with me?”
“Not in this moment,” came the somber reply. “It would be best if no one saw me between uniforms.”
Closing her eyes, the child felt a warmth caress her face as she cradled a ball of light in her hands, the momentary illumination shining on her blood-stained hands.
“Will you watch over me?” she asked. “Will you help me?”
She looked up at where her companion had once stood and saw nothing, only the twinkling lights of the night sky. Beams from waving flashlights arced around her as the footsteps grew louder. Craning her neck, the child took in the sky and the infinite cosmos that lay beyond it. In the expansive night, a shooting star arced across the sky.
“I’ll be great,” she whispered to herself, smiling. “I’ll be incredible.”