I leaned against the frame of the bookstore’s entrance, catching my breath after the short jog from the gym. My body still hummed with energy from the workout. The transformation I’d gone through in the past few weeks was undeniable. My once-scrawny arms now held definition, and my shoulders had broadened. Even my endurance had skyrocketed as it was like my body had finally caught up to the fire ignited within me in my dreams.

Pulling the door open, I stepped into the familiar haven of books and paper. The scent of aged pages and fresh ink greeted me like an old friend, grounding me amidst the swirling chaos in my mind. Here, among the shelves, I could escape even if only for a while.

The store was quiet, save for the soft whispers of other customers and the faint classical music playing over the speakers. I made my way to the back corner, where the owner, Mr. Calloway, always set aside the latest fantasy releases for me.

“Greg,” Mr. Caloy greeted with his usual warm smile as he spotted me. His wiry frame was perched on a stool behind the counter, glasses sliding down his nose. “You’re looking… different. Been hitting the weights, eh?”

I chuckled awkwardly, running a hand through my slightly damp hair. “Something like that.”

“Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working,” he said, leaning down to grab a stack of books. “Got a few titles you might like. Some new releases in the epic fantasy section, plus that series on aura mastery you were reading last time.”

My breath hitched at the mention of aura. Lately, anything remotely connected to the concept felt personal. Like it was no longer fiction but something tied to the strange journey I was on. I thanked him and took the books, heading to my usual corner seat.

I flipped through the first few pages of a novel, but my focus wandered. My dreams, my training, the knight’s voice, they were constant now. Like a second life that refused to stay neatly tucked away in the night. And then there was my body. The changes weren’t just physical. I could feel it in the way I moved, the way I reacted to things. Faster, stronger, sharper. Even Mr. Peterson’s flying eraser hadn’t caught me off guard.

And Lydia… her strange gift, the bracelet with its faintly glowing runes. It was subtle, but I could feel something about it. A presence. Protective, maybe. Or watchful.

I sighed, closing the book and leaning back in my chair. The bookstore had always been my sanctuary, but now even here, I couldn’t shake the questions.

“Lost in thought?”

The voice startled me, and I looked up to see Lydia standing there, arms crossed, her usual playful smirk in place. Her pink hair practically glowed under the warm light of the store.

“Lydia!” I said, sitting up straighter. “What are you doing here?”

“Browsing,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “But you looked like you were solving the mysteries of the universe over here, so I thought I’d interrupt.”

I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck. “Just… thinking about stuff.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she slid into the chair across from me. “Stuff, huh? You mean the dreams? Or the fact that you’re starting to look like an action hero overnight?”

I froze, my grip tightening on the edge of the book. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb, Greg,” she said, her tone softening. “You’ve been different. And it’s not just the muscles. There’s… something about you now. Like you’re waking up.”

Her words hit too close to home, and I looked away, focusing on a random spot on the bookshelf. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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“Greg,” she said, leaning forward. “Listen to me. You’re not imagining things. The dreams, the changes—they’re real. You’re awakening.”

My heart raced. “Awakening to what?”

“To what you’re meant to be,” she said, her voice steady. “And I’m here to help. The bracelet I gave you—it’s not just a trinket. It’s a safeguard. There are people—things—that will come for you once they realize what’s happening.”

I stared at her, trying to process her words. Part of me wanted to dismiss her, to laugh it off as another one of her cryptic jokes. But the sincerity in her eyes stopped me.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Because you’re not the only one awakening,” she said, glancing around the bookstore. “And not everyone will use their power for good.”

A chill ran down my spine. Lydia leaned back, her smirk returning, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Keep training, Greg. And trust your instincts. You’re stronger than you think.”

Before I could respond, she stood and walked away, leaving me alone with a stack of books and a head full of questions.

I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist, its runes catching the light. Lydia’s words echoed in my mind: You’re not imagining things. The dreams, the changes—they’re real.

My life was changing, whether I was ready for it or not. And deep down, I knew there was no turning back.

~~~~~

Greg’s breathing was steady as he danced through the forest clearing, his sword slicing through the air in swift, practiced movements. The lessons learned in his dream had turned his unsteady hands into those of a swordsman, precise and relentless. The earthy aroma of the forest and the rustle of leaves almost lulled him into a trance. But then, a low growl broke his rhythm.

Turning sharply, Greg found himself staring into the piercing eyes of a massive bear. Its fur was mottled with dirt, and its hulking frame shifted with raw muscle as it approached. The bear's maw hung open, saliva dripping onto the forest floor as it huffed, sizing him up. Greg’s grip on his sword tightened.

"Of all days..." he muttered, stepping back slowly, his blade held defensively.

The bear roared, a deafening sound that rattled through the trees, and then charged. Greg’s instincts kicked in. He sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding a swipe of claws that could have torn him in two.

The bear turned quickly for its size and swiped again. This time, Greg parried with his sword, sparks flying as metal met claw. The force of the blow sent a shockwave up his arm, but he held firm, sliding backward to create space.

"You're hungry, huh?" Greg muttered. He dashed forward, faking a strike, then pivoted behind the bear, slashing toward its flank, not to kill, but to warn. The blade grazed its thick fur, leaving a shallow cut. The bear bellowed in pain and turned to face him, its movements growing more erratic.

Greg leaped onto a fallen log, gaining height as he pointed his blade downward. The bear lunged again, and this time, Greg shouted, imbuing his voice with mana to amplify the sound. The air trembled, and the bear froze for a split second, startled. Greg landed on the ground and slashed the air in front of the bear, the blade glowing faintly with his inner strength.

The bear hesitated, its primal instincts warning it of danger. With another roar, it turned and lumbered away, crashing through the undergrowth.

"Good choice," Greg sighed, lowering his blade. But the sound of snapping branches and snarls made him whirl around.

A pack of wolves emerged from the shadows, sleek and predatory, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. They moved like shadows, encircling the bear that had just fled. The bear was cornered now, growling and swiping at the air, but the wolves were patient, waiting for their moment.

Greg sheathed his sword. He felt a pang of sympathy for the bear. "Not today," he murmured. Stepping forward, he unleashed another mana-enhanced shout, the force rippling outward like a shockwave. The wolves paused, their heads snapping toward him.

"Pick on someone your own size," Greg said, drawing his sword again.

The alpha wolf growled, baring its fangs, and the pack advanced on Greg instead. He readied his blade, eyes flicking between the wolves. The first one lunged, and Greg met it mid-air, his sword hilt striking its side and sending it sprawling. Another came from the left; Greg sidestepped, spinning to deflect its jaws with the flat of his blade.

The bear, as if understanding Greg’s strange intervention, let out a roar of its own and charged into the fray. Its massive paw swiped a wolf away, sending it tumbling. Greg and the bear stood back-to-back now, an unlikely alliance against the pack.

"Looks like we're in this together," Greg said, grinning.

The wolves hesitated, the combined might of man and beast giving them pause. With a final snarl, the alpha wolf barked a retreat, and the pack slinked back into the forest.

As the last wolf disappeared, Greg lowered his sword and turned to the bear, which stared at him, panting but calm.

“Go on,” Greg said, gesturing toward the forest. “Before something worse shows up.”

The bear huffed, almost as if in thanks, before lumbering away. Greg watched it disappear into the trees, then sheathed his blade with a sigh.

"Next time, maybe I'll train somewhere less lively," he muttered, heading back toward the forest's edge.