Rowen found himself floating above the scene, his consciousness detached from his body. He observed Alice's memories as if they were a series of vivid, moving pictures unfolding before him. At first, he saw glimpses of her seemingly normal childhood: playing in the fields, laughing with friends, and the warmth of her family. Her life was filled with the simple joys and innocence of youth.
The memory shifted abruptly to the night she ran away. He watched young Alice arguing passionately with her parents, her face a mix of frustration and determination. She expressed her desire to escape the confines of her village and her yearning for something more. The scene portrayed the pain of her decision to leave, driven by a fight over her dreams and her family's struggles.
Then, the scene skipped forward to a dark, damp dungeon. Alice was older, her spirit battered but not broken. She was chained and alone, the despair in her eyes a stark contrast to the bright, carefree child she had once been. Suddenly, the heavy door creaked open, and a hooded figure entered the room, moving with purpose.
The hooded figure, shrouded in dark robes and wearing a mask that concealed their face, seemed to emanate a strange familiarity. The figure produced a key and swiftly unlocked Alice's chains, freeing her from her prison. As Alice looked up at her saviour, Rowen's attention was drawn to a pendant hanging around the figure's neck. It glinted in the dim light, an intricate design that stirred a distant memory within him.
Rowen strained to recall where he had seen the pendant before, but the memory eluded him. The scene blurred and shifted, the clarity of the vision slipping away. As he struggled to maintain his connection to the memory, a deafening roar echoed through the air, jolting him back to reality.
He awoke with a start, the sound of the giant beast of the forest still reverberating in his ears. The cave around him was eerily quiet, save for the distant, haunting cries of the creature. Rowen quickly got to his feet and made his way to Alice, who lay on the ground where he had left her.
As he predicted, her injuries were gone. The cuts and bruises that had marred her skin had vanished, leaving behind only smooth, unblemished flesh. Her breathing was steady, and her face, though pale, was peaceful. He knelt beside her, examining her closely, noting the rapid healing.
As he watched, Alice stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked slowly, her gaze unfocused at first but gradually sharpening as she took in her surroundings. "Rowen?" she whispered, her voice weak but clear.
Alice blinked her eyes open, the dim light of the cave casting flickering shadows on the rough stone walls. She felt an odd sense of disorientation as she sat up, her body feeling strangely different. She looked around and saw Rowen standing nearby, his expression calm and focused.
"Rowen," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "What happened? I thought I was going to die. How am I healed?"
Rowen turned to her, his eyes steady and reassuring. "I managed to save you just in time," he explained. "But there have been some changes—changes that you will need to adapt to over time."
Alice frowned, trying to make sense of his words. "What kind of changes?"
Rowen hesitated, about to elaborate, when his eyes suddenly narrowed. He raised a hand, signaling her to be quiet. "There's a presence nearby," he whispered urgently. "We need to move. Follow me, and stay silent."
"Is it the basilisk?" Alice asked, wondering what happened to the monster she met previously.
"There's another basilisk around?"
"Yes, and that was the adult basilisk."
"Well, we shouldn't stay around here if we don't want to bump into it again. Let's keep moving."
They emerged from the cave into a vast, hollowed-out space underneath a gigantic tree. The interior was awe-inspiring, with thick roots and branches forming natural staircases and platforms. The ceiling of the hollowed tree was open to the sky, allowing shafts of light to filter through, casting an ethereal glow on everything below.
Alice looked around in amazement. "Where are we?" she asked in a hushed voice.
"We are underneath a huge tree," Rowen explained quietly. "It used to be the nest of a large underground creature, long abandoned now. It's a safe place, for the moment."
Alice marveled at the size and beauty of the tree roots, but her mind was still racing with questions. "Rowen, what did you mean by changes? What happened to me?"
Rowen glanced around, ensuring their immediate safety before turning to her. "You were gravely injured, Alice. I used a powerful magic to heal you, but it came at a cost. Your body has undergone some transformations, and it will take time for you to understand and control them."
Alice felt a mix of fear and curiosity. "What kind of transformations?"
Rowen took a deep breath. "Your strength, your senses—they will be heightened. You might feel different, stronger, and more attuned to the world around you. But with these changes come responsibilities and challenges. We'll work through them together, but right now, our priority is staying safe."
As Alice followed Rowen deeper under the hollowed tree, a sense of wonder began to overshadow her fear and confusion. She listened intently to his words, the reality of her transformation gradually sinking in. Magic. The idea of it was almost too incredible to believe.
She had always admired the tales of great wizards and powerful enchantments, but they had seemed like distant, unattainable dreams. Growing up in her small village, magic was something that belonged to stories and legends, not to ordinary people like her. And yet, here she was, with the promise of magic coursing through her veins.
A tentative smile spread across her face as the realization dawned on her. She could use magic. The very thought sent a thrill of excitement down her spine. She glanced at her hands, imagining the power they might hold, the spells she could cast.
"Rowen," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and excitement, "I can use magic now? Really?"
Rowen glanced at her, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yes, Alice. You have the potential for magic. It will take time and practice to fully understand and control it, but the power is there."
Alice's heart raced, the possibilities whirling in her mind. "I've always dreamed about it," she admitted, her eyes shining. "I never thought it could actually happen. In my village, magic was just a fairy tale, something we heard about in stories. I never dared to dream that it could be real for me."
Rowen nodded, understanding the depth of her emotions. "Magic is a gift, Alice, but it also requires responsibility. You must learn to control it, to use it wisely. But I have no doubt that you will."
Alice couldn't help but reflect on everything that had transpired. The incredible magic that had healed her wounds, the way Rowen had navigated the cave with such confidence, and the sheer power he seemed to command—it all pointed to something extraordinary. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Rowen might be someone very important, someone beyond the ordinary realm of warriors and healers.
There was an air of mystery around him, a sense of hidden depth that made her curiosity burn even brighter. The magic he had bestowed upon her was something she had never imagined possible, and it left her wondering about the true nature of his abilities.
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Alice looked up at Rowen, her eyes filled with both awe and uncertainty. "Rowen," she began, her voice soft but steady, "who exactly are you?"