Today, our esteemed Druid summoned the tribe to the central plaza to make a speech.

"My fellow tribesmen," he began, "our mighty god, the great Zholkiem spoke. To ensure our survival, we must send his divine warriors into the northern forest to retrieve a panacea. I will now begin the awakening ceremony to find the chosen ones."

The crowd stirred with anticipation. The awakening of one's magic was a ritual that defined one's destiny. Those chosen by Zholkiem were blessed with incredible talent and power.

The Druid raised his hands towards the sky. "Great Zholkiem," he intoned, "guide us in this sacred rite. Reveal to us the chosen ones."

He started to sing a mysterious song, each beat of the drum-like melody resonating deeply within the hearts of the villagers. The druid's magnetic voice rose and fell, creating powerful spiritual waves throughout the plaza. As the rhythm intensified, the air crackled with mystical energy.

A peculiar sensation washed over me. The druid's song stirred something deep within, unfamiliar yet comforting, like the gentle warmth of a mother's embrace.

As I closed my eyes, the warmth intensified, enveloping me in its comforting embrace. It was not just physical warmth, but a spiritual awakening, as if Zholkiem's divine blessing was manifesting within me.

Suddenly, gasps and whispers rose through the plaza.

I opened my eyes.

Something about me had changed. A warm energy pulsed through my veins.

"Holy shit, Ryan, you are shining like the sun!" exclaimed Fred, the tribe chief's son and my best friend.

"Quit joking, Fred. You are blinding me," I retorted, playfully shielding my eyes.

"No, I'm serious! Your light is literally reflecting off me," Fred insisted, as we continued our banter.

I looked at myself and noticed he was right. A strong golden light came out of my body, illuminating my surroundings.

I noticed the villagers staring at me, emitting a soft glow of their own. However, their lights appeared smaller and less intense compared to mine.

Our druid walked over, "young warrior, blessed by the great Zholkiem, the divine light shines upon you." he declared solemnly.

"Take this map, it will lead you to the panacea.' he continued.

Upon hearing the news, the villagers surrounded me.

"Be strong, warrior. Make us proud, and come back in one piece!" said Marcus, an old goblin warrior who lives near the tribe chief's hut.

"Don't trust your senses and concentrate on your blessing, Ryan. The forest's guardian is a master of illusion." warned Yerinca, our former Druid.

Then, Tina, my childhood friend, approached.

"Ryan, this is an amulet my mother crafted for me. Please promise me you'll come back safely and return it to me," Tina said, with blushing cheeks, as she delicately placed the wooden necklace around my neck.

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"I promise, Tina," I replied, clasping the amulet in my hand.

"Take care of yourself. I'll be waiting for your safe return." She said, putting a furtive kiss on my cheek, and running away like the wind.

Fred whistled, giving me a knowing smile, when he noticed my dazed look.

"You better come back safely man, I think Tina got the hots for you." He said, his tone half serious half playful.

"I will man,"I replied, still shocked by Tina's kiss. We had known each-other since childhood and I planned to propose to her after proving myself as a warrior but I didn't think she would be the one to make the first move. It took me by surprise.

"I will help you build the best hut of the tribe to propose to Tina, so come back alive, okay?" He continued with a more serious expression.

"I won't die, Fred, I swear." I replied thankful for his concern, he was like a brother to me.

Then I addressed the crowd, "thank you all for your support, I will return with the panacea, I promise."

On those words, I stepped toward the northern forest, leaving my tribe behind.

* * *

When I arrived, at the entrance of the forest, I realized It was a true labyrinth, with paths twisting and turning in every direction. To make matter worse, the forest was well known for being protected by a strong guardian spirit. I really hoped my divine blessing would protect me. Many warriors lost their lives in those woods because of the illusions.

Our great tribe’s Druid words resounded in my head: "Never stray from the path, for the forest is alive and will not hesitate to lead astray those who wander."

Putting his advice to heart, I carefully looked at the map drawn by the ancients to make sure not to get lost. Ever.

On the way, I came across strange phenomena. Trees morphing into enchanting female goblins, carnivorous plants turning into gold and riches, and cliffs becoming entrance to neighborhood tribes welcoming me with open arms.

Yet, each time, a strong golden light illuminated everything around me in a ten meters radius, crushing the illusion out of existence.

One particular illusion nearly baited me to my death. My esteemed mother appeared before me, her eyes filled with warmth and concern. I knew she wasn’t real, she couldn't be, she had died a long time ago. But for a moment I lost my wits. I had missed her for far too long. Just when I was about to follow her, a golden light blazed once more, shattering the illusion and revealing a cliff where she once stood.

A shiver ran down my spine. If I had taken one more step, I would have died.

The guardian of the forest was crueler and more powerful than the Druid had suggested. It could read memories and use them against you, making you fall into a sweet dream, luring you to your death.

I paused to regain my bearings. Then, I followed the path marked on the map around the dangerous cliff. The ground I walked on was uneven, with bumps and pits everywhere. Small birds and squirrels chirped, while following me, making the forest lively. The seemingly peaceful surroundings made me unsettled. Now, even the most harmless looking creature looked threatening in my eyes, and those animals looked harmless enough to put me on guard.

Suddenly, I heard something —a sound, faint but clear, carried by the wind.

A voice.

I crouched behind some bushes, peering cautiously. There, in the center of our motherland, stood a figure who should not be here. It was a human. A member of the most hated race as well as our worst nemesis.

The human was oblivious to my presence, engrossed in its task. As I listened, I realized it was singing a strange, haunting melody.

The human moved along the edge of the cliff, picking herbs with a practiced hand. Despite the danger, it appeared at ease, as if it belonged there.

I watched, confused.

How did this crazy human know this place? And what was it doing here in the middle of our territory singing this strange song?

The human continued its song. I felt a strange connection to it, urging me to step forward.

Just when I was about to reveal myself against my will, I heard a weird sound.

Crack.

Something broke.

The human fell down from the cliff at high speed.

Only, it didn’t fall in a normal way. Instead of falling in a straight line, it made an unscientific U-turn mid-air.

Before I could register what was happening, a heavy object fell on top of me. The impact was so strong it made me stagger backward. My head slammed against the hard ground again and again. My vision darkened. Then, my body tumbled over the cliff's edge, falling into the abyss below.

How can I be so unlucky? I can’t die here, I need to save my tribe !

Before my body hit the bottom of the cliff, I blacked out.