As Torrack and Kaelith continued their climb upward through the vast cave, fragments of memories—ancient and unfamiliar—flickered in Torrack's mind. He would pause mid-step, momentarily disoriented as visions of ancient battles, forgotten civilizations, and creatures from eras long past flooded his thoughts. These memories weren't his, and yet, they now felt as though they had always been a part of him. They were the dragon's memories, slowly seeping into his consciousness, becoming intertwined with his own.
At first, Torrack found it unsettling. But as the days passed and they climbed higher, he began to accept these foreign recollections, knowing that they were now part of who he was. Sometimes, he'd stop in his tracks, eyes distant, as a particularly vivid memory surged through him. Kaelith noticed, but she didn't press him about it. She understood that something profound was happening to Torrack, and he needed time to come to terms with it.
On the third night, as they stopped to rest, Kaelith rose to her feet. "Stay here," she said, brushing dirt from her clothes. "I'll go find something to eat."
Torrack, without thinking, raised his hands and brought them together in a slow, deliberate motion. A moment later, a fully roasted lizard, its skin crispy and golden, appeared before them. The aroma of cooked meat filled the air.
Kaelith froze, her eyes wide with shock. "What... how...?" she stammered, completely taken aback.
Torrack grinned at her reaction. "I can do more now," he said with a soft chuckle. "Only basic things for the time being, but I'm learning."
Kaelith stared at the lizard in awe, unable to find the words. She was used to taking care of herself, used to gathering food for both of them during their travels, and now, Torrack had rendered that skill unnecessary. She sat back down, still processing what she had just witnessed, and cautiously took a bite from the meal he had conjured.
As they traveled upward over the next few days, Torrack continued to experiment with his newfound abilities, creating small objects, sensing the energy in everything around them. It took them nearly a week to reach the top of the cave, but when they finally emerged, they were greeted by a sight neither of them expected.
The dense fog that had once blanketed the forest was gone, replaced by bright sunlight streaming down from a clear sky. The once-dying forest was now vibrant, alive with the sounds of wildlife and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Kaelith stood at the edge of the cave's opening, her breath catching in her throat as she gazed out at the transformed landscape. The trees were taller, their bark rich and healthy, their branches reaching skyward. Flowers bloomed along the forest floor, and a chorus of birds filled the air.
Kaelith's eyes sparkled with joy as she spun in a slow circle, taking in the beauty around her. "This... this is incredible," she whispered, almost to herself. "Was the dragon keeping the forest like this before? Why?"
Torrack stood beside her, his eyes fixed on the scene. He could feel the connection between him and the land now more than ever. The strings of energy he had seen before were all around him, pulsing with life. One string, in particular, stood out—the one tied to the tree deep within the cave. He realized now that this tree was the heart of the forest, and through it, he could reach and influence everything in this land. He was its soul.
"This place… it's mine now," Torrack said softly, his voice filled with both awe and resolve. "I'll make it my own someday."
But there was something more. Torrack felt a sense of urgency building inside him, a need to move quickly. He showed this urgency to the tree, almost without realizing it, and before he could question it, something stirred in the forest.
From the dense woods, two massive beasts emerged, their forms galloping toward Torrack and Kaelith. They looked like horses but were much larger, with thick, muscular bodies and two additional arms protruding from their sides. Their fur shimmered in the sunlight, and their eyes glowed faintly with a strange intelligence.
Kaelith instinctively stepped forward, her hands raised as she prepared to summon the trees for protection, but Torrack stopped her with a raised hand. "Wait," he said calmly. "I don't think they're here to hurt us."
The two beasts thundered closer, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground. When they reached Torrack and Kaelith, they lowered themselves to the ground in a bow, their large frames looming over the pair. They offered their backs, as if inviting Torrack and Kaelith to climb on.
Kaelith turned to Torrack, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "What… what is this?"
Torrack smiled. "Ladies first," he said, motioning toward one of the beasts.
Hesitantly, Kaelith climbed onto the back of the creature, her hands gripping its thick mane for support. Torrack followed suit, mounting the second beast. As soon as they were settled, the creatures took off at an incredible speed, racing through the forest with a swiftness that left Kaelith clinging tightly to her steed.
"These things are too fast," Kaelith muttered under her breath, her face pale as she fought to keep her balance. She had already thrown up twice from the breakneck pace, but Torrack, on the other hand, was perfectly fine. He reveled in the ride, his newly sharpened senses taking in every vibrant color of the forest, every flicker of energy from the living things around him.
However, there was something missing—Lyra. Torrack still couldn't feel her presence through the ring, and it left him feeling uneasy. It was as if the connection had been severed. The energy from the ring had vanished entirely, and no matter how hard Torrack tried, he couldn't sense Lyra's spirit anymore.
A deep sense of loss tugged at his heart, but beneath it, there was a quiet certainty. Somehow, he knew Lyra was still out there, alive and well, even if he couldn't explain how he knew.
The beasts carried them swiftly through the forest, cutting what would have been a week-long journey down to a mere hour. Before long, they reached the edge of the mountain, where the forest thinned out, and the land opened into vast, rolling plains. Torrack dismounted and turned to the beasts.
"Can you take us closer to Brightwater?" Torrack asked, eyeing the horizon. He estimated it would take a month to reach their destination on foot, but perhaps, with these creatures, they could make it in less than a week.
The beasts bowed their heads in acknowledgment. Torrack, focusing on the strings of energy around him, formed a direct connection to the creatures. He could now communicate with them, even from a distance, and he could sense their location no matter how far apart they were.
Satisfied, he looked at Kaelith. "We can continue when you're ready."
Kaelith, still shaken from the ride, took a deep breath and nodded. Together, they mounted the beasts once more and prepared to set off toward Brightwater, knowing that the journey ahead would be swift, but the challenges awaiting them might be far greater than anything they had faced before.