Calde stumbled through the forest, her legs unsteady from the fall. Her body was sore, the shock of the impact still lingering in her bones. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst was the overwhelming sense of wrongness that clung to the air. The world felt unfamiliar in a way she couldn’t explain. The trees towered above her, their trunks thick with moss and vines that seemed to pulse with life. The shadows they cast were too dark, too alive. And in the eerie silence that surrounded her, she could swear she heard something watching her. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. She had no idea where she was, how she had gotten here, or what the hell she was supposed to do now. The ground beneath her feet was soft, the earth giving way as if it were alive, the scent of damp leaves and rich soil filling the air. It felt like a dream, but not the kind of dream where everything was pleasant and surreal. No, this felt like a nightmare. She wanted to scream, to shout for someone—anyone—to tell her this wasn’t real.

But there was no one.

Get a grip, Calde, she thought, her mind racing. You’ve survived worse. You’re fine. You’re alive.

The word alive felt heavy on her tongue, like a cruel joke. What did it even mean to be alive when your life had just been turned upside down in a blink of an eye?

She forced herself to keep moving, her bare feet brushing against the soft underbrush as she walked deeper into the forest. There was no path, no clear direction. She could only hear the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of twigs underfoot.

The silence felt suffocating, pressing down on her. She didn’t like being alone—not this alone. Sure, she’d been a shut-in for years, avoiding human interaction, but this was different. This was isolation in its purest form. No familiar sounds. No city noise. Just... nothing.

And the growl. That growl.

Her stomach churned at the memory. She knew it wasn’t just any animal. It was something big. Something dangerous. Something that could tear her apart in an instant if it caught her.

She needed to be smart. She needed to figure this out, quickly.

The moment of clarity passed just as quickly as it had come. The growl echoed again, louder this time, reverberating through the air like a warning. Calde froze, her breath caught in her throat. She could feel it—the animal—somewhere behind her, its presence as heavy as the darkening forest around her. It was getting closer.

She turned, scanning the area, her instincts screaming at her to run. But where?

Think. Focus. You have powers, she reminded herself. You don’t have to run.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Her heart beat faster, and for a split second, her thoughts raced. She didn’t know how to use her powers. She didn’t know how to control them. What if she messed up? What if she made things worse?

Focus, she told herself again. The thought of being hunted was too much to handle. The creature could be on her in seconds. She glanced down at her hands, still amazed at their new softness, their newfound strength. It was like looking at a stranger’s body. But this body was hers now, and it came with powers—powers she didn’t fully understand, but powers nonetheless.

"Creation magic..." she muttered, feeling her voice shake.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to visualize the kind of food she could summon. But no—this wasn’t the time for food. It was time for something that could protect her. She reached into her mind, hoping for something, anything to form out of thin air.

The world seemed to grow still as she focused, the air around her shimmering with energy. Her heart raced as she thought of a shield—something to protect herself, even if it was just for a moment.

And then, as if the world was listening to her thoughts, something appeared.

A shield of solid, glowing energy, like glass but stronger, materialized in front of her. The shield hummed with power, a faint blue light illuminating her surroundings. Her breath caught in her throat. It worked.

It worked.

She turned just in time to see the creature barreling toward her, its massive jaws snapping. Her instincts screamed at her to move, but she didn’t. She stood her ground, staring down the beast.

Space magic... she thought, but nothing happened. Panic flared in her chest. She had no time to focus on anything else. The beast lunged, and she instinctively held up the shield, her body trembling.

The beast collided with the shield with an ear-splitting roar. Its claws scraped against the surface, leaving deep, glowing scratches. The creature snarled and pawed at the shield with maddened strength, but it was held back. For now, at least.

Calde’s heart pounded, her grip tightening on the shield. The force of the beast’s attacks was immense, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she would even be able to hold it.

But then, the growl shifted. The beast backed away, sniffing the air, confused.

Luck. The thought clicked in her mind like a bolt of lightning.

Her luck. She had infinite luck.

The creature howled once more, its confusion evident as it paced back and forth, unable to understand where its prey had gone. Calde stepped backward, her hands shaking, but she was safe. For now. The beast still hadn’t tracked her.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she lowered the shield, the magic dissipating into the air. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. The rush of adrenaline slowly faded, leaving a numbness in its wake.

The world around her seemed to breathe again, the silence returning, but now it felt more... menacing.

Her stomach growled again, but she ignored it. There were more pressing matters now. Space magic, she reminded herself, her heart still racing. She can teleport.

She needed to test it. She needed to figure it out.

With a deep breath, she focused on the distant trees, visualizing herself there. The world around her seemed to bend for a brief second, and then—nothing. She was still standing where she had been.

Focus, she said to her self again, frustration beginning to build. She couldn’t afford to fail now.

Calde closed her eyes, trying once more, and this time, the world shifted. A burst of cold air wrapped around her, and when she opened her eyes, she was standing several feet away. She’d done it.

Space magic... It wasn’t perfect, but it worked.

Her mind reeled from the combination of everything she’d just experienced. The shield, the teleportation, the beast. She barely had time to process it all.

But there was one thing she did know—this world wasn’t going to be easy. It was dangerous, and she had to be ready for whatever came next.

Her fingers brushed the edge of her cloak, the weight of the world settling in her chest. But for once, she thought, I’m not going to be the one who runs.

She took a deep breath, glancing back at the direction she’d come from. The beast was still nowhere to be seen.

“I’ll be ready,” she whispered to herself, “This time... I’ll be ready.”

And with that, she walked deeper into the forest, uncertainty weighing her down like a stone—but determination, fiercer than ever, pushed her forward.

END OF CHAPTER 2