Astra's pov

The sky above the Isle of the Lost was an angry swirl of gray, heavy with the promise of a storm. Lightning forked in the distance, illuminating the jagged skyline for a split second before plunging everything back into gloom. The air buzzed with electricity, the kind that made my skin prickle and my heart race.

I stood on the shore, the waves crashing against the rocks below me. The cursed staff that had thrown my life into chaos was strapped securely to my back, and I could feel its weight, both physical and metaphorical. Today, it wasn’t just about the staff—it was about me.

Uma was waiting.

She stood at the edge of the dock, her turquoise hair whipping in the wind. Behind her, the water churned unnaturally, as if responding to her anger. She held her trident loosely in one hand, its gold surface gleaming even in the dim light.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Isle’s newest disaster,” Uma called out, her voice sharp and mocking. “Come to prove you’re not just another mess waiting to happen?”

I squared my shoulders and stepped forward, the wooden planks of the dock creaking beneath my boots. “I didn’t come here for a fight,” I said, though my voice sounded steadier than I felt. “But I’m not walking away from one either.”

Uma smirked, tilting her head. “That’s the spirit. Let’s see if you can back it up.”

She raised her trident, and the water responded instantly, surging upward to form a massive wave. It hovered above us, shimmering with an unnatural glow, before crashing down.

Instinct took over. I threw out my hands, and a crack of thunder split the air. Lightning arced from my fingertips, colliding with the wave and splitting it in two. The water crashed harmlessly to either side of the dock, leaving me and Uma untouched.

Her smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by something that looked almost like respect. Then she stepped forward, her trident crackling with energy.

“Not bad,” she said. “But let’s see how you handle this.”

The water behind her exploded upward, forming a dozen serpentine shapes. They writhed and twisted, their heads snapping in my direction.

I clenched my fists, feeling the storm inside me roar to life. The wind whipped around me, carrying flecks of rain as I called on the lightning again. Bolts of energy streaked from my hands, striking the water serpents one by one.

But for every serpent I destroyed, two more seemed to take its place.

“You can’t beat me with brute force,” Uma taunted, her laughter ringing out over the crashing waves. “The ocean is mine. It listens to me.”

Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit. She was right—this wasn’t just her home turf, it was her element. I couldn’t win by playing her game.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. The storm wasn’t just around me—it was within me. The power coursing through my veins wasn’t something I fully understood, but it was mine.

I raised my hands again, but this time, I didn’t attack. Instead, I closed my eyes and let the energy flow through me. The wind calmed slightly, swirling around me in a protective barrier.

“Giving up already?” Uma asked, though there was an edge of uncertainty in her voice.

I opened my eyes, meeting her gaze. “Not even close.”

The wind around me intensified, forming a cyclone that lifted me off the dock. Uma’s serpents lunged, but the cyclone swatted them away like flies.

Uma’s smirk vanished entirely. She raised her trident, summoning another wave, but I was ready.

I thrust my hands forward, and a blast of lightning surged out, splitting the wave before it could reach me. The energy didn’t stop there—it raced toward Uma, forcing her to leap back.

For a moment, the dock was silent except for the sound of the waves.

Then Uma laughed, low and bitter. “You’re stronger than I thought,” she admitted, twirling her trident. “But strength alone won’t save you.”

She lunged at me, her trident aimed straight for my heart. I dodged to the side, the storm propelling me with a burst of wind.

We clashed again and again, her trident meeting my lightning in bursts of blinding light. Each strike sent shockwaves through the air, and I could feel my control slipping. The storm inside me was growing wilder, harder to contain.

“You’re losing control,” Uma said, her voice cutting through the chaos. “That power’s going to destroy you if you’re not careful.”

“Better me than everyone else,” I shot back, though the fear in my voice was hard to miss.

Uma’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to say something else. But then the water surged again, and we were back to fighting.

I didn’t know how long we fought—minutes, hours, it all blurred together. All I knew was that I couldn’t let her win.

Finally, I saw an opening. Uma raised her trident for another attack, and I summoned every ounce of power I had left. The wind roared around me, lifting me higher as lightning crackled in the sky.

I thrust my hands forward, sending a massive bolt of energy straight at her. It collided with her trident, the force knocking her backward and sending her sprawling onto the dock.

The storm calmed instantly, the wind dying down to a gentle breeze. I landed on the dock, my legs trembling as I struggled to stay upright.

Uma groaned, pushing herself up on one elbow. She glared at me, but there was no malice in her eyes—just a grudging respect.

“Well,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Looks like you’ve got more fight in you than I thought.”

I didn’t respond, too exhausted to speak.

Uma stood slowly, dusting herself off. She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “You’ve earned this round,” she said. “But don’t think for a second that we’re done.”

With that, she turned and walked away, the water parting around her like she was royalty.

I watched her go, my heart still racing. The storm inside me was quiet now, but I knew it was only temporary.

This wasn’t over—not by a long shot.