Albert
For Albert, it was just another evening guarding the gates. Nothing ever made it this far out into the boonies, but the chief had insisted someone take up the role of guard for the small village. The chance of an attack was practically nonexistent when the only ruin had been cleared decades ago, and with how isolated they were in the forest the only real threat was the lack of close villages or cities for trade.
Sure they had the grand garden and a small farm to raise livestock, but it wasn't nearly enough for forty people to live off of year round even if they made use of the forest. If it wasn't for the seasonal merchants the village would've been long abandoned by now.
Yet the village's livelihood was the least of Albert's concerns. As soon as this season’s harvest rolled around, he planned to visit the capital. Permanently.
Staying here in Silverpine village wasn't half bad, but the merchants had already persuaded him to leave with their vivid descriptions of the grandeur that existed beyond the forest of Ellinia. Why should he spend any more of his time wasting his life in this tiny village when he could take up residence in the bastion of opportunity that was the capital? He had gone through the village's coming of age ritual last year, and his life was as good as his own now.
On the other hand his guard buddy, Frank, seemed to be perfectly content with his job and role. Maybe it was because of the fact he had a family here, or because his age was beginning to catch up to him, but either way Albert couldn't understand his reluctance to leave Silverpine. Perhaps the bonds of community and the comfort of routine held a different appeal for him.
At least he made a good partner for conversation, given that was all they could really do for the long hours of their shift. He had long retired from his job as chief hunter, but his stories still carried the excitement of his former youth. Some parts were obviously exaggerated, but Albert could care less. It was all he had to pass the time.
Today was no different, yet another shift in the guard post, and Albert found himself listening to Frank's tales again. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over Silverpine, Albert couldn't help but ponder his impending journey to the capital and the allure of the unknown.
But his focus was shattered when he perceived a voice within his mind. A faint whisper, almost elusive, yet undeniably present. He shouldn't have been able to hear anything short of a yell over Frank's gruff voice, but he was sure it was there. Oddly enough, the old man, too, fell into silence, signaling his awareness of the female voice.
”Help!” it pleaded, a stark contrast to its hushed tone. Still, Albert sensed a subtle pull to heed its request. Though confined to his mind, the sound seemed distant—maybe originating from the forest? A spirit, perhaps? No, spirits belonged to children's tales. This isn't the forest of Baphomet. Albert thought to himself.
Yet, Albert couldn't conjure an alternative explanation. No one in this town had The Gift or any supernatural powers for that matter. Should he investigate? Or remain here, leaving the pleas unanswered? Seeking guidance, he turned to Frank for a decision.
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”I don't know what that was, but better safe than sorry. We can go check it out, and if there's no damsel in distress we come right back.” Frank suggested, his voice carrying a hint of concern.
Albert, now reassured by Frank's pragmatic approach, nodded in agreement. Together, they ventured into the darkened forest, guided only by the mysterious plea echoing in both their minds. The dark enveloped them, and the unknown awaited their exploration.
Kyraa
Perfect. I silently contemplated, my gaze fixated on the approaching humans.
Carefully orchestrating every detail, from the bait to the ambush concealed in the shadowy forest, I did my best to minimize their visibility despite the little sunlight that remained. While risky, the rarity of psychic powers made it unlikely that such a small settlement was aware of their use.
Imitating the voice of a female scientist, I had appealed for assistance, aiming to attract the guards' attention, as it was their duty to protect.
It was then that I realized emotions could be conveyed as well, albeit subtlety. Transmitting a sense of eagerness to help would hopefully allow that same sentiment to be reciprocated by the two recipients of my mental communication.
With my limited physical strength, direct confrontations against several humans meant certain defeat and likely death. Ambush tactics were my chosen strategy.
The humans had taken the bait, emerging from their guard posts. Now, I just needed to exert myself, physically, and disarm them. Though the ultimate goal was their demise, extracting information took precedence—gather intel first, then eliminate.
Hidden behind a pair of trees close to each other, I guided my prey subtly, whispering left or right as I listened to the approaching footsteps. Armed with nothing but a fairly large stone, I made preparations to deal a crushing blow to whichever human passed through the two trees first.
If their anatomy was anything like mine, a solid hit to the head should knock them out. Long enough for me to impair them completely at least.
Albert
Albert knew something was wrong when he entered the forest, and he was sure Frank felt the same way. It was quiet, much too quiet for his liking. If he ignored the subtle voice giving out direction, nothing but silence penetrated the forest floor. It was as if all the animals had fled, save the birds high in the air.
How did their rescue target discover their location? Despite them entering the forest, the voice remained distant, but now it guided them with precision. Supernatural powers were clearly at play, yet Albert couldn't shake the urge to help the girl who had recently cried out for assistance.
It wasn't until Albert heard the sound of a rock meeting a skull other than his that he jolted back to awareness and came to understand their oversight.
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The Gift
The Gift is the basic principle through which magic manifests itself. Not to be confused with psychic or other supernatural forces, the gift is the name given to the ability some people have of handling magical forces. The Gift is an exceptionally rare ability, and very few people are born with it. Only 1 out of every 100 humans have it – although the percentage of those who go on to become true spellcasters is even smaller.
It is not clear why there are only a few bearers of the Gift. But whatever the case it has been established that there is a true difference between those born with the Gift and the rest of all living beings.