Agnes: The Invisible Heroine of Arcadia
As dusk fell in the small town of Arcadia, a golden ray of light sprinkled over the rooftops from a not-so-far distance. The focal point of this divine light was nothing but a small humble wooden abode tucked between sturdier concrete houses. This is the house of our protagonist, Agnes.
Agnes was an ordinary teen with extraordinary abilities. She was born with the gift of imagination so intricate and vivid that anything she painted came to life. As an infant, she made flowers bloom on her cradle’s drapery with her finger doodles, turning it into a lush garden. Grown wiser with age, she was careful with her creations avoiding any potential havoc.
Her mother, Laura, a strong, charismatic, and beautiful woman, was her only kin, her guide, hiding her abilities from the superficial world. Together, they spent their evenings under the celestial show of shooting stars, painting the night sky using hand-made paint brushes made from the tail feathers of Phoenix, a mythical creature traditionally believed to set itself on fire and born again from its ashes.
One day, a mischievous, cunning Raven, Rado, who lived in the neighbourhood, observing the unusual golden radiance from Agnes's house, decided to uncover the mystery. Posing as a turtle dove, he infiltrated the house and was mesmerized by the magic he saw and sensed the immense power within Agnes.
Environmentally conscious, Agnes, distressed by the frequent forest wildfires, wished to use her powers to prevent them. And so, she created water demi-gods. These demi-gods could summon rain clouds whenever they sensed a fire in their surroundings. Her creation provided some relief to the problem, however brought her powers in endangered exposure.
In his desperation for power, Rado seized Agnes's Phoenix feather brush. He painted a dark creature that mirrored his attributes: manipulative, shrewd, and power-hungry. This creature, The Dark Eagle, dominated the minds of everyone in Arcadia, casting a shadow of fear and intimidation.
With no memory of their past and manipulated by the fear, the people of Arcadia were helpless. Agnes, unaffected by the spell because of her abilities, was anxious to help her town out of the bewitched state. With Phoenix feather brush missing, she resorted to using her hair as a replacement, creating a brush.
The challenge was how to confront the Dark Eagle without revealing her secret to the world. Then she remembered the disappearing demon she once ‘thought’ of painting but never did, out of fear. This mystical creature, with a mere touch, could render anything invisible temporarily. With a leap of faith, she painted him and he came alive, instantly understanding his purpose.
He touched Agnes, turning her invisible, and together they headed towards the Dark Eagle. The creature, startled by a sudden change in the atmosphere, failed to comprehend the source. The invading fear among people began to diminish. Agnes, seizing the moment, splashed paint on the Demon, making him visible to the Dark Eagle.
Distracted by the surprise, the Dark Eagle made a desperate move attacking the demon. Seizing this opportunity, Agnes invisibly made her way to the Dark Eagle and painted on him a furious storm, a storm so fierce that it washed away his existence entirely.
Her painting exorcised the spell cast on Arcadia. Rado, now powerless and scared, fled the town. The residents, having no recollection of the happenings, were oblivious of the courage of their saviour. Agnes returned home, willing to sacrifice her artwork to safeguard her secret and her town.
This powerful tale of Agnes reinforces the belief that sometimes, the greatest of heroes are the ones we fail to see. Despite her abilities being hidden from the world, she never hesitated to bring it to good use when needed.