Kaito sat in the cool grass, the soft hum of nature filling the air around him. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting golden rays through the swaying canopy of trees. The world felt surreal—too vivid, too alive. His fingers dug into the soil beneath him, warm and rich, as if the land itself welcomed his presence. A fresh breeze ruffled his simple tunic, bringing with it the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers.

"So, this isn't a dream," he murmured.

The last thing he remembered was the screech of tires, the rush of adrenaline, and the crushing impact. Now, he was here, in an unknown place, gifted with a second chance at life. A name echoed in his mind: Terraviel. The voice of the deity still lingered in his thoughts, speaking of magic and opportunity.

He turned his hands over, examining them. He was younger now, his body lean but sturdy. No scars, no callouses from years of office work. His black hair was slightly longer than he remembered, and his eyesight, which once required thick-rimmed glasses, was now sharp and clear.

A rustling sound pulled him from his thoughts. His body tensed instinctively. The surrounding trees, towering and ancient, whispered with movement. He took a careful step forward, scanning the area. The landscape stretched around him in endless green—massive oaks and willows with intertwining roots, flowers peeking out from moss-covered rocks. This was no ordinary forest; he could feel an energy pulsing through it, a presence watching him.

He took a deep breath and focused. The deity had said he was given a gift—Worldweaver magic. It was supposed to be rare, something beyond elemental manipulation. But what did that actually mean? How did he use it? He closed his eyes and reached inward, searching for something—an instinct, a spark, a pull.

Then, he felt it.

Like a deep connection tethering him to the land, to the very foundation of the world. He willed the earth beneath him to shift, and to his surprise, the soil rippled ever so slightly, like a stone dropped into water.

"Whoa..."

The realization sent a thrill through him. He had control over the terrain, the very shape of the world. This power—it wasn't for combat. It was for creation. The idea of shaping the land, carving out a peaceful home, ignited a spark of excitement.

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His musings were cut short when a guttural snarl broke through the air. His instincts screamed at him to move, and he barely ducked in time to avoid a blur of fur and claws lunging at him. He scrambled backward, heart pounding, as a large wolf-like creature growled, its yellow eyes locked onto him.

"Oh, great. First day here and I'm already on the menu."

The beast circled him, its silver-gray fur bristling. It was massive—easily the size of a full-grown horse, muscles rippling beneath its coat. Kaito’s mind raced. He had no weapons, no combat skills. His only advantage was—

The ground.

He focused on the earth beneath the wolf's paws, envisioning it softening. The soil shifted like quicksand, and the beast's front paw sank unexpectedly. With a yelp, it stumbled forward, giving Kaito a chance to bolt. He didn’t stop to look back, weaving through the dense forest, jumping over fallen logs and ducking under thick branches.

The snarling grew fainter until, at last, silence returned. He bent over, gasping for breath. "Okay... survival lesson one: everything here is out to kill me."

"Not everything, human."

Kaito froze. The voice was rough but intelligent. He turned, eyes widening as he spotted an old creature sitting near the roots of a twisted oak tree. It was small, resembling a badger, but its fur shimmered faintly, and its golden eyes held an unsettling wisdom.

"Did you just talk?"

"You heard me, didn't you?" The creature stretched, yawning. "Good, that means you have enough magic to perceive spirits."

Kaito blinked. "You're a spirit?"

"Name’s Thalos. Earth spirit. Been around longer than most trees in this damn forest." The badger-like creature twitched its nose. "And you, outsider, are more interesting than the usual fools that wander in here."

Kaito sat down cautiously. "I was given something called Worldweaver magic. Do you know what that is?"

Thalos chuckled, a deep, raspy sound. "Know it? I taught it. That power of yours ain't just for pretty tricks. It shapes civilization itself. If you learn how to control it, you could raise mountains, carve rivers, build entire kingdoms."

Kaito's breath caught. Kingdoms? He had only thought of making a peaceful home, but this magic… it held limitless potential.

"But first," Thalos continued, "you need shelter. Sleeping under trees will only get you eaten. There's an abandoned village not far from here. If you survive the trip, you might just find a place to start your so-called peaceful life."

Kaito’s heart pounded. A village? A place to settle? He had nothing, no home, no possessions, but if what Thalos said was true, then maybe… just maybe… this could be his second chance at truly living.

He exhaled slowly, a newfound determination settling in. "Alright. Show me the way."

And so, Kaito took his first step toward a future he never expected—one built not on survival, but on creation.