The first thing Julian noticed was the smell of earth and moss. His head throbbed as he opened his eyes, blinking away the blur. Overhead, the canopy of a dense forest filtered the sunlight into a soft, green glow. He was lying on a bed of leaves, his clothes torn and muddy.
Disoriented, Julian pushed himself up to a sitting position, wincing at the pain in his side. He tried to recall how he had ended up in the forest, but his memory was fragmented. The last thing he remembered clearly was walking home from the university library, his backpack heavy with books on ancient mythology and medical practices.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
The forest was eerily silent, save for the distant chirping of birds. Julian struggled to his feet, clutching his side. As he did, he noticed a faint, blue glow emanating from his right hand. Panic surged through him as he raised his hand to inspect it more closely.
"What... is this?"
The glow pulsed softly, almost as if it were alive. Tentatively, he placed his left hand over it, expecting the worst. Instead, a soothing warmth spread through his body, easing the pain in his side. Julian gasped, pulling his shirt up to reveal a nasty bruise that was rapidly fading.
"Am I... healing myself?" he wondered aloud.
A rustling sound made him spin around, and he instinctively raised his glowing hand in defense. From behind a tree, a small, rabbit-like creature with antlers emerged. It stared at him with large, curious eyes.
Julian lowered his hand, the glow dimming. "What are you?"
The creature sniffed the air, then cautiously approached him. It nudged his leg with its tiny antlers, and Julian couldn't help but smile.
"You're not dangerous, are you?" he said, crouching to pet it. The creature nuzzled his hand, and he felt another pulse of warmth. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.
"Magic... This is magic."
Before he could process this revelation, a loud crash echoed through the forest, followed by a roar that sent chills down his spine. The creature bolted, disappearing into the underbrush. Julian stood up, his heart pounding.
"Whatever that is, it doesn't sound friendly," he murmured, backing away from the direction of the noise. But curiosity gnawed at him. If he had magic, perhaps he could help someone in trouble.
Gathering his courage, Julian followed the sound, weaving through the trees with surprising agility. As he drew closer, the roars became louder, more distinct. He finally reached a clearing and froze at the sight before him.
A massive, wolf-like beast with dark, matted fur was attacking a group of travelers. They were clearly outmatched, their weapons doing little to deter the creature. One of them, a young woman with a bleeding arm, caught sight of Julian.
"Help us!" she cried, desperation in her eyes.
Without thinking, Julian stepped forward, his hand glowing brightly. The beast turned its attention to him, snarling. Julian's heart raced, but he focused on the warmth in his hand, willing it to grow stronger.
"Stay back!" he shouted at the beast, thrusting his hand forward. A beam of blue light shot out, striking the creature in the chest. It howled in pain, staggering backward.
The travelers stared in shock as Julian approached the injured woman. "Hold still," he said, placing his hand over her wound. The glow intensified, and within seconds, the wound closed, leaving only a faint scar.
"Thank you," she whispered, tears in her eyes.
Julian nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. He turned back to the beast, which was struggling to get up. With another blast of light, he sent it fleeing into the forest.
As the travelers gathered around him, their expressions a mix of awe and gratitude, Julian realized that his life had changed irrevocably. He didn't know how he had come to possess such power, but one thing was clear: he was no longer just a student. He was a healer, and perhaps more. And in this strange, new world, that made him both a beacon of hope and a target.
"Who are you?" one of the travelers asked, still in awe.
Julian looked at his glowing hand, then back at them. "I'm Julian," he said. "And I think I have a lot to learn.