I woke up with a start, my head spinning and my body aching. I was lying in my own bed, covered in bandages, with no memory of how I got there. As I tried to sit up, I felt a sharp pain in my side, and I winced.

"Take it easy, little brother," Lirien said, walking into the room with a bowl of soup in her hands. "You were hurt pretty badly."

"How did I get here?" Thalos asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"You don't remember?" Lirien teased, grinning at me mischievously. "Well, let me remind you. We were in the forest, gathering mushrooms for soup, and you got attacked by that creature with the crown of horns."

I winced as I remembered the pain of the attack. "I remember that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Luckily, I was able to distract the creature with my illusions, and you led it off into the woods," Lirien continued. "I found you lying on the ground, bleeding from your side. I had to drag you all the way back here."

She handed me the bowl of soup, and I began to eat, feeling the warmth and nourishment spread through my body. I looked over at my mother, who was stitching up my wound with a look of concentration on her face.

His sister Lirien appeared in the doorway, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, how are the mushrooms?" she asked, a sly smile spreading across her face.

I groaned. "They’re really good in the soup"

"They had better be amazing" Lirien teased, playfully poking me in the leg.

I managed a weak smile.

"You were lucky," she said, looking up at me. "That wound could have been much worse. You have your sister to thank for saving your life."

I nodded, feeling grateful and ashamed at the same time. "Thank you, Lirien," I said, looking at her with admiration and respect.

"Don't mention it," she replied, smiling at me. "Just promise me that you'll be more careful in the future. You can't keep putting yourself in danger like that. Now go back to sleep, you need to heal.”

"I will," I said, determined to keep my promise. "I've learned my lesson."

I slept again, but poorly.

I woke up feeling different. The wound on my side was healing, but there was something else...a change that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I didn't want to worry my family, so I kept it to myself.

But as I slept, I began having strange dreams. Dreams of dead animals, their lifeless bodies strewn about the forest floor. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I didn't know what the dreams meant, but they left me feeling uneasy and unsettled. And the feeling persisted even when I was awake, as if some dark cloud had settled over me, casting a shadow on everything I did.

I shared my dreams with Lirien, hoping she could shed some light on the situation. But she shook her head, telling me that she had asked around but no one knew what kind of creature it was.

As I lay in bed, trying to make sense of everything, Lirien brought me more soup made with the mushrooms we had gathered. I smiled weakly, grateful for her presence. As I ate, I realized that the mushrooms really were delicious. They had a deep, earthy flavor that filled me with warmth and comfort.

But even as I savored the soup, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about me. Something had shifted inside me, and I didn't know if I would ever be the same again.

As days passed, my body slowly began to recover from the injuries inflicted by the creature. But my mind remained clouded with confusion and doubt. The dreams of dead animals continued to haunt me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different, something had changed.

My sister Lirien did her best to cheer me up, bringing me soup and fresh water each day, but I could sense her concern. She knew that something was bothering me, but she didn't press the issue, allowing me to heal at my own pace.

As my physical wounds began to heal, I started to feel a strange sensation in my body. It was as if there was a new energy within me, a power that I couldn't quite understand or control. Sometimes, I would feel a sudden surge of strength or clarity, but other times, I would feel completely drained and exhausted.

During this time, I began to experiment with my powers, trying to understand what had awakened inside me. I would sit alone in my room, closing my eyes and focusing my mind, trying to harness the energy within me.

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At first, it was difficult and frustrating. But with each passing day, I felt myself growing stronger and more in control. I could feel the energy flowing through me, like a river rushing through my veins.

Despite my progress, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still something missing, something that I hadn't yet discovered. The dreams of dead animals continued to plague me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had awakened a power that was beyond my control.

I sat up in bed as Lirien entered the room. She had a look of excitement on her face, and I could tell she had found something interesting. "What did you find?" I asked.

She sat down next to me on the bed and took my hand. "I found the dead deer you described from your dream," she said. "It had a broken leg just like you said, and it was lying in the bottom of a ravine, just like you said.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. The dream had felt so real, and now Lirien was telling me that it was based on a real animal. "What does it mean?" I asked, feeling a sense of unease.

Lirien's eyes were shining with excitement as she spoke. "Thalos, I think you might be a necromancer! The dreams you've been having, and then finding that deer just as you described it... it all adds up. Think about it, Thalos, you could have incredible powers!"

I felt a mix of emotions as Lirien spoke. Part of me was scared at the idea of having dangerous powers, but another part was thrilled at the thought of having magic. I couldn't deny the excitement that was building inside me.

But at the same time, I was still recovering from my wounds and feeling unsure of myself. I didn't know if I was ready to take on such a huge responsibility, especially if it meant delving into the realm of the dead and disturbing the natural order of things.

"Lirien, I don't know if I'm ready for this," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I don't know if I'm meant to have these powers, or if I could handle the consequences if I did."

Lirien looked at me with understanding in her eyes.

Lirien asked for my permission to bring a necromancer named Gideon to confirm her suspicions. I hesitated at first, unsure of the risks involved. But Lirien's enthusiasm and Gideon's reputation as a protector of the dead in the village graveyard convinced me to allow him to visit.

Gideon arrived at our small house just a few days after Lirien's suggestion. He was a tall man with a serious face and a stern demeanor. As he entered the room, I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy around him.

He asked about my encounter with the creature and listened intently as I recounted the details of the attack. He examined my wound, pressing his fingers against the tender flesh as I winced in pain. He muttered something under his breath and pulled a small jar of salve from his bag, applying it carefully to my injury.

As Gideon worked, Lirien watched him with fascination. She asked him questions about his work, about the dead in the graveyard, and about the nature of necromancy. Gideon answered her calmly and patiently, explaining the intricacies of his craft and the responsibilities that came with it.

As he finished treating my wound, Gideon turned to me and spoke in a grave tone. "Thalos, I believe your sister may be right. You have a gift for necromancy, and it is not something to be taken lightly."

I was taken aback by his words. Necromancy had always been something dark and mysterious, something that was feared and reviled by the villagers. I had never imagined that I could be a part of that world.

Gideon continued, "With the proper training and guidance, you could become a powerful necromancer. But you must be careful, Thalos. There are those who would seek to use your power for their own gain, and you must be vigilant against them."

As Gideon finished speaking, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The thought of having a unique gift was thrilling, but the idea of being hunted for it was frightening.

Lirien looked at me with a mix of excitement and pride. "I told you, Thalos. You have a gift, and it's something special."

As Gideon gathered his things and prepared to leave, he looked at me one last time. "Remember, Thalos, with great power comes great responsibility. Use your gift wisely, and always be mindful of those around you."

I spent most of my days lying in bed, listening to Gideon's stories about the dead and the art of necromancy. At first, I had been fascinated by the strange power I had awakened, but as I learned more, I grew frustrated with my limitations.

Gideon was patient with me, explaining how to control my power and use it to communicate with the dead. But I found that every time I exerted myself, my dreams grew weaker, and my power felt different from what Gideon had described.

It was as if my power was a distant echo of true necromancy, a faint whisper that I could barely hear. And the more I used it, the more I realized that I wasn't quite a necromancer.

I began to feel like a disappointment, like I had awakened a power that I couldn't fully understand or control. I longed to be like Gideon, to have a true mastery over the dead and the power to bring them back to life.

As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with me. Why couldn't I be like Gideon? Why was my power so weak and different from true necromancy?

But despite my frustration, I continued to listen to Gideon's stories and learn what I could.

As the days went by, I slowly regained my strength and was finally able to stand and walk again. However, my side still hurt and I had to use a walking stick to support myself.

My sister Lirien had made the stick for me herself. It was a sturdy piece of wood with a carving of a deer etched into it. As I leaned on it for support, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her care and attention.

With the aid of my new walking stick, I was able to venture outside once more. I slowly made my way through the village, greeting the other residents and soaking in the fresh air and warm sun.

As I walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration at my lack of progress with my powers. Despite Gideon's guidance and my daily efforts, I still couldn't quite grasp the concepts of necromancy.

My dreams had grown weaker and less vivid, and using my power was nothing like how Gideon had described it. Instead of feeling a rush of energy and power, I felt drained and weak after each attempt.

But I refused to give up. With Lirien's support and encouragement, I continued to practice and learn, determined to uncover the true nature of my powers.

And as I walked with my new walking stick, I felt a sense of determination growing within me. I may not have understood my powers completely yet, but I was determined to figure it out, one step at a time.