Calde entered the small shelter, the warmth of the fire within contrasting sharply with the chill of the forest outside. The woman had been quiet as they walked, her movements purposeful, like someone who knew exactly where they were going. Calde, on the other hand, still felt like she was wandering blind, every step in this new world taking her deeper into a maze of unknowns.
Inside, the hut was simple, crafted from the same living wood and vines that surrounded them. The scent of herbs hung in the air, and several faintly glowing plants lined the walls, casting an ethereal light across the room. A small fire crackled in the center, its warmth immediately soothing, but the sense of unease that had settled in Calde’s chest remained.
The woman gestured for her to sit near the fire. As Calde lowered herself to the ground, her gaze flickered to the woman. “What now?” she asked, the uncertainty in her voice unmistakable.
The woman didn’t respond right away. Instead, she knelt by the fire, adding a few more twigs to the flames before turning to face Calde. Her eyes, dark and intense, studied her for a long moment.
“You have potential,” she said quietly. “But that’s not enough. Not here.”
Calde’s heart skipped. She wasn’t sure if it was the woman’s tone or the gravity of her words, but something about the way she said it made her skin crawl. “I have powers. Isn’t that enough?”
The woman tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “Powers are just tools. You may have magic, but it’s still raw, untamed. This world is filled with forces you can’t even imagine. If you want to survive, you need more than just your abilities.”
Calde leaned forward slightly, her fingers brushing against the cool stone of the hut. “More than magic?” she asked, feeling the weight of those words. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the idea—she had spent years isolating herself, trying to avoid real connections, but the thought of navigating a world where nothing was familiar was overwhelming.
“Yes,” the woman replied, her voice steady. “Strength, willpower, understanding the land, its creatures—those are just as important. Magic is a part of this world, but it is not the only thing that shapes it. The forest, the beasts, the elements... they each have their own will. And if you don’t learn how to listen to them, they will overwhelm you.”
Calde bit her lip, her gaze shifting to the flickering flames. “And how do I learn this? From you?”
The woman gave a small nod. “Yes. But it’s not just about learning from me. You have to feel the world. You need to trust your instincts. Magic is only one path to survival. You must understand the balance.”
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A long silence stretched between them, the fire crackling in the quiet. Calde felt the weight of the woman’s words settle in her chest, heavy with the implication that this journey would require more than she was prepared for. Her powers might be extraordinary, but they were only a small piece of the puzzle.
Finally, Calde spoke again. “I’m not sure I understand. I mean… I barely know how to control the magic I have. It feels like I’m still getting used to being here. Everything’s so… different.”
The woman studied her for a moment before speaking again. “It will take time. You’ll need to train. The more you understand the magic here, the more you can shape it to your will. But first, you need to connect with the world around you.”
Calde frowned. “And how do I do that? Just… feel it?”
“Yes,” the woman replied, her voice calm, “but not just with your mind. Your body, your senses, your magic—they all need to be attuned to this world. The magic here isn’t like the magic you might have seen in stories or games. It’s alive. It breathes. And it can respond to you, but only if you learn to listen.”
A part of Calde wanted to argue, to say that this all sounded too vague, too abstract. But deep down, she knew there was truth in what the woman said. She had already experienced the reality of this world—the beast, her magic, and now the strange connection she felt with the land itself. There was something here, something powerful and beyond her understanding, and if she wanted to survive, she needed to find a way to tap into it.
“Alright,” Calde said quietly, her voice more determined now. “I’ll try. But I’m not just going to sit around waiting for the world to show me how to survive. I need to do something.”
The woman’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “That’s the spirit. But remember, sometimes doing nothing is the most important action.”
For the first time, Calde felt a flicker of hope. The woman, despite her enigmatic manner, wasn’t dismissing her. She was challenging her, pushing her to think beyond what was immediately in front of her.
“Tomorrow,” the woman said, rising to her feet, “we start your training. The first lesson is to understand the land. Magic is tied to the elements, to the creatures, to the flow of life itself. If you can’t connect with those, you won’t survive.”
Calde nodded, her mind swirling with the weight of what she had just agreed to. She had powers—extraordinary ones. But in this world, that might not be enough. Not if she didn’t learn how to control them. Not if she didn’t understand the forces at work in this strange world.
As the woman moved to prepare for the night, Calde sat quietly by the fire, lost in thought. The weight of her past life still lingered—loss, abandonment, and the years spent locked away. But here, in this strange new world, there was a chance for something different.
Is this what I’ve been given? A second chance? she wondered.
She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in years, Calde felt the stirrings of something—hope, determination, maybe even a bit of excitement. She had been given magic, a second chance, and a guide in this unfamiliar world. There was more to learn, more to discover, but for once, she felt ready.
END OF CHAPTER 5