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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 Am I Strong Enough?

In the middle of Eldoria's charming bustle, I walked slowly along a narrow path. The morning air was fresh, and beams of sunlight slipping through the leaves cast dancing shadows across the ground. The hum of voices around me brought warmth to the air—yet my eyes were drawn to an old man who had collapsed near the corner of the street.

"Sir, are you alright?" I called out, rushing toward him. His face was creased with pain.

The old man tried to stand, but his knees trembled.

"Ah, it's nothing serious. Just tripped a little," he said with a forced smile. "But... this knee... it's hard to move."

I quickly knelt beside him, my eyes filled with concern.

"Here, let me help."

He hesitated, glancing at me with a trace of doubt.

"Child... I don't want to trouble you. Your strength's better saved for something more important."

I smiled softly, hoping to ease his worries.

"Helping someone isn't a burden, sir. So please... don't worry about it."

Eventually, he gave a slow nod. I raised my hand gently, focusing as I summoned the soft light that always responded to me.

ꦲꦥꦸꦱ꧀ꦭꦸꦏꦠꦼꦤ꧀ꦔꦏꦤ꧀ꦢꦼꦫꦶꦠꦄ꧀।

ꦢꦼꦒꦤ꧀ꦏꦱꦶꦃꦱꦏꦶꦠ꧀ꦥꦸꦤ꧀ꦱꦶꦂꦤꦄ꧀।

ꦧꦼꦫꦶꦏꦸꦮꦼꦠꦤ꧀ꦱꦼꦩ꧀ꦧꦸꦃꦤ꧀ꦗꦶꦮꦄ꧀।

"ꦲꦺꦭꦶꦁ" ꦧꦶꦱꦶꦏꦸ꧀।

Soft light, come closer,

Ease the wounds, soothe the pain.

With love, let the hurt fade,

Grant strength, and heal the soul."

"Healing," I whispered.

A gentle white glow appeared in my palm—warm and comforting. Slowly, I rested my hand on his knee. The light flowed gently, like a stream of calm water, chasing away the pain within him.

He let out a long, relieved breath, and a faint smile crept across his face.

"The pain's gone... That was incredible. You really have a gift, child."

I smiled back, my heart warm at the gratitude in his voice.

"I'm glad I could help. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Aria. Oh—right, I haven't even told you my name. I'm Alden."

I felt my cheeks flush just a little.

"I'm just doing what I can, Mr. Alden. We all have the power to help one another, don't we?"

As I continued walking, the smile on my face didn't fade. That quiet joy after helping someone always gave me new strength.

After parting with Alden, I quickened my steps. My house wasn't far from the city center, and today was important—the day I'd finally record a new song I'd been working on for weeks.

"Ah! Don't tell me I'm running late!" I muttered as I picked up my pace, anxiety creeping in.

The moment I got home, I rushed to my room, scanning for the lyric sheet I wrote last night.

"Where did I put it?" I mumbled, checking the desk and drawers. After a few frantic seconds, I found it buried under a pile of books.

"There it is!"

I quickly changed clothes, standing in front of the mirror, holding up a light blue dress.

"This one's too plain," I thought, hesitating. It was simple, but comfortable.

"But... I don't need anything flashy. What matters is that I sing with confidence."

As I fixed my hair, I stared into the mirror.

"Remember, Aria," I whispered to myself.

"This is more than just singing. This song... it's how you reach people's hearts. They need you."

I tucked the lyric sheet into a small bag and stepped outside. Eldoria's air felt crisp and the sunlight bathed the city in warmth. The streets buzzed with chatter, footsteps, and the scent of morning bread.

"Today's an important day," I told myself, heart brimming with energy.

"Today, I'll show the world what I can do—with my voice and my light."

 

When I arrived at the studio, I was greeted by the familiar hum of musicians tuning and preparing their instruments. The sound always made me feel at home—like being surrounded by family.

"Hey, everyone! Sorry I'm a little late!" I said, waving as I stepped in.

Lyra, the violinist I often worked with, smiled warmly.

"It's alright, Aria. We're just setting up. We can't wait to hear your new song!"

I returned her smile, feeling a warmth in my chest from their support.

"Thank you. I've been waiting to share it with you all," I said, stepping into the recording room.

Inside, everything was already set—microphones, stands, cables, all in place. This room always felt like a small world of its own, where I could pour every bit of feeling and hope I carried.

"Everything looks perfect," I murmured, eyes sparkling.

Joran, the studio's producer, approached me with his usual calm smile.

"Aria, I'm so glad you're here. We've been looking forward to this session—it's going to be something special. Are you ready?"

I nodded with confidence.

"Yes. Let's begin."

As the music began to play, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The first melody wrapped around me, sending a gentle shiver through my heart.

"In every light, there shines a spark of hope…"

My voice filled the room, flowing with the soft notes of the piano behind me. I allowed myself to drift into the song, letting it carry feelings I could never quite express with ordinary words.

By the time I finished the first verse, I slowly opened my eyes. Joran stood behind the control glass, his face glowing with delight.

"Incredible, Aria! Your voice… it's stronger, deeper, more heartfelt than ever. You completely mesmerized us."

I offered a small smile, relief and excitement stirring inside me.

"Thank you, Joran. I want this song to be something that touches people. Really touches them."

"And that's exactly what you're doing," added Lyra, her hand still gently holding her violin.

"Every note you sing carries weight. You truly inspire us all."

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