Under the faint glow of the manastone, a set of green eyes watch their other half drift into a fitful slumber. Instinct is what they are called. They have no other name, nor do they understand the meaning of names. What they do understand is that they are incredibly lucky that their other half has so much knowledge to draw upon. In the short time they've been together, Sam, as the voice calls itself, has saved their life many times. Their quick thinking had saved them from the beast that hunted them. Their understanding of the world's voice had saved them from the injuries of their fall. Their forward thinking and cautious planning had saved them from starvation. Instinct owed Sam their life.
So, when the world's voice came back and showered them with their accomplishments, Instinct found themselves understanding the words on the cards. Instinct wished that Sam was awake, but the slumber they were in was not one to be awaken from. It was filled with dreams of sadness and loss, of others who Sam had known. So Instinct read the words.
Instinct didn't understand the words they read, but a quick glance through Sam's memories found definitions and meaning for the words. Instinct moved on to make the selections that it understood would shape the future of their life. Sam was asleep still, their dreams taking a better turn.
<0/1 Chosen>
Instinct didn't really have much to go on. The words speed and strength meant little in the concept of healing. Though, if they could heal faster that would be ideal. Less time spent licking wounds meant less time hurting. Pain, as they say in Sam's memories, is a powerful motivator.
<1/1 Chosen>
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
The next card was easy to choose.
<1/1 Chosen>
If fire was going to be their main offensive option in a fight, why not make it as powerful as possible. Instinct already knew some of the dangers of fire, having healthy fear of it. Seeing Sam manipulate it so freely, despite the consequences, was quite frightening. Maybe it was just Instinct's instinct that warned it of fire. That thought spiral was put to a stop when the next card appeared soon after the last disappeared.
<0/1 Chosen>
Now Earth magic was the tricky one. It was the one that felt the most natural to Instinct. The feeling of molding the stone was similar in how it felt to burrow through soil. Instinct felt that they were made to manipulate this element. It resonated with them, deep in their core. So when given the choice between more or faster manipulation of the very world around them, Instinct wanted both. Wanting to pick both didn't make the card change. A feeling of indignation rose from within them.
<0/1 Chosen>
Why not be able to pick both. The question was unanswered. A glance around their new room had their eyes rest on the manastone set into the wall. The work put into making a decoration. The thought of Sam wasting their time to make more decorations. That thought made the choice easy for Instinct.
<1/1 Chosen>
The final card disappears without a replacement showing up behind it. Another glance at the empty walls around them gives Instinct a thought.
Instinct could add a decoration as well. Just to try it out. See what it's like.
So without waking their other half, they get closer to the side wall. They stretch their neck and start a picture. A self portrait. The start of their story. The start of Sam's story.
It starts off rough, just a few squiggly lines. The image starts to take shape, though. It becomes more coherent. The one squiggle starts in a cave. It is surrounded by almost identical shapes, now distinguishable as their unknown siblings. Overlooking their domain is a seven headed hydra, majestic and elegant. Mother.
Instinct works, adding to the wall. Sam's dreams bleed over, adding their hysterical clarity to Instinct's work. Majesty sundered, then ferried away. The height of purity snuffed out. The overwhelming evil chasing, until the embrace of the uncaring stone saves them.
Their mana runs dry when Instinct is about to start on the prayer. They distinctly remember the prayer, the sorrow and hope put into some nonsense words. Being a newborn, Instinct does not know whether beings like that could exist, but it helped Sam. Instinct thinks it will be useful to not forget. So they immortalize the words into the stone.
"God of Scales and Fangs and Eyes of Gold, hear me now. Ferry the souls of my siblings into your majestic court. Ferry the soul of Mother into your embrace. May the soul of your servant stay here and do your mighty works. By Scales and Fangs and Eyes of Gold, I will live!"
By this point, the carving of words becomes child's play to Instinct. Above the words Instinct finished with the divine being they envisioned at those words. Sam's jumbled memories helped give shape to the three headed hydra. It had a halo on each head, and its mouths were baring fangs.
Instinct fell into slumber from the exhaustion.