Alma Reddington recalled the dream that had reshaped her life as vividly as yesterday’s sunrise. In it, she had been hurled into the cosmos, a torrent of emotions flooding her being. In that boundless state, truth had become tangible, and when she reached out to touch it, the resonant roar of a bear had echoed throughout her very soul. This wasn’t a random vision; it had been induced by the potent synergy of spider venom and a glowing mushroom. The dream had illuminated her path, revealing her true purpose, imbuing her with a profound sense of destiny. Knowing her sisters wouldn't comprehend, Alma had simply said her goodbyes. Before leaving the city, she made one last stop at Forgea Torqueburn’s workshop, placing an order that had widened the seasoned blacksmith’s eyes.
That had been months ago. Now, it was finally complete. Alma looked up into the sky, where a hot air balloon, a silent leviathan against the blue, drifted steadily towards her. It carried her order. Alma reached up, grabbing onto the thick rope dangling from its belly. These delivery devices were mechanical marvels; once given a location, they could automatically drift towards their destination, navigating the capricious winds with an uncanny intelligence. Alma wasn't technically minded enough to grasp their intricacies, but she knew its powerful steam-powered motor was a crucial part of her request. She pulled on the rope, but the balloon, caught in a stiff breeze, didn’t budge. “Hey, a little help here!” Alma yelled, her voice carried on the wind.
The response was a heavy grunt, the rumble of a great beast stirring from slumber. Ursa Major, her colossal companion, slowly lumbered towards her. With a giant paw, he expertly yanked the rope, bringing the air balloon gently to earth. “Thank you, dear,” Alma said, her voice soft, affectionate. “Inside here is a gift for you.”
Since her transformative dream, Alma had discovered a potent ability: the power to tame bears. It seemed many girls possessed such strange, innate talents. Viper Mossbrook commanded snakes, Ravonna Snowdrift communicated with ravens, Archana Veilstorm held sway over spiders, and Sable Tanzanight moved effortlessly among panthers. There were even whispers of sisterless girls taming mice and raccoons. Before the Noble Families had colonized this land, giant beasts had reigned supreme. Though many had been hunted to near extinction, the fallout from the Great Calamity seemed to have forged an unexpected link between some of the people and these mighty creatures.
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The Great Calamity. It still haunted Alma’s nightmares. She had been old enough to witness the full, devastating extent of the disaster. It had followed a bloody civil war, transforming a vast northern portion of their city into a wasteland riddled with the undead. For Alma, the Great Calamity wasn’t a historical event; it was an ongoing nightmare, and her purpose was to finally end it by eradicating every single abomination.
It had taken weeks to tame Ursa Major. First, Alma had meticulously built trust, offering food and water while maintaining a safe distance. Slowly, she had closed that gap, always remaining calm, non-threatening. Once the giant bear grew familiar with her proximity, she was able to reach out and pet him. Alma had noticed a painful thorn embedded in his paw; after she carefully removed it, the two had become inseparable.
Ursa Major sniffed at the large wooden crate the balloon had delivered. With a sharp snap of Alma’s fingers, he ripped the top clean off. Alma reached in, first pulling out a thick instruction manual filled with diagrams detailing how to connect the air balloon’s motor to the rest of the contents. “Okay, this stuff is too heavy for me to take out. Mind giving me a hand?” Alma looked to Ursa Major, who obeyed without hesitation. The giant bear carefully extracted an assortment of metal: iron plates, gears, and portions of armor, crafted to his immense size.
“Now put it on,” Alma instructed. As she flipped through the pages of the manual with one hand, she skillfully disconnected the air balloon’s motor with the other. Then, she climbed onto the bear, who, with surprising dexterity, had already donned the intricate armor. She found the designated spot for the motor and connected it. A puff of steam erupted, and the armor hummed into life, glowing with an internal power. Ursa Major let out a loud, accepting roar, a primal sound laced with a new sense of might. With the power of Iron, Alma knew she possessed the ultimate weapon to eradicate everything in the wasteland. She looked up at her towering war machine, with a fierce, determined light in her eyes, she asked: “Ready to go on an adventure?”
