The forest clearing was bathed in the soft, golden light of early morning as Ryan Hanley stood motionless at its center, shirtless while wearing a black trousers he had gotten from Riei.
His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and measured.
To an outside observer, he might have appeared to be doing nothing more than enjoying the crisp morning air.
But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing.
Ryan focused inward, reaching for the well of spirit energy that resided deep within his core.
He could feel it there, a swirling vortex of power that pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
Slowly, carefully, he began to draw that energy outward, guiding it through the pathways of his body.
As the spirit energy flowed through him, Ryan's senses sharpened.
He became acutely aware of every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind, every minute shift in the forest around him.
