Torrack and Kaelith had been traveling steadily, their journey marked by frequent stops every two hours. Kaelith's discomfort with extended rides on the large beasts necessitated the pauses, but they were used wisely. It had been three days since they had left the dense wilderness of the Forest of Valdrum behind them. In that time, Torrack had grown stronger, both in body and in his newfound abilities.
With every stop, Torrack trained, experimenting with the strange power coursing through him. His focus had shifted to creation—he had learned to form weapons, like spears, bows, arrows, and daggers, from thin air. Though he could not destroy what he created, the process was becoming more intuitive. Unwanted creations were left behind, a trail of strange objects marking their path across the landscape.
In an effort to ease their travel, Torrack had also fashioned saddles from his imagination, constructing them to better suit their beasts. His ability to create objects was expanding, but what intrigued him more was the connection he could form with living things. By forming "strings" that tethered him to the creatures, he could sense their needs, feel their emotions, and communicate with them directly. This link had allowed him to communicate with Kaelith's beast, ensuring their journey was smoother.
However, Torrack had discovered a limit to his power. He could only maintain five strings at a time—one to the great tree back in the forest, one to Kaelith, and two to the beasts they rode. Beyond this, the strain became too much, and the strings would vanish. It was a subtle reminder that his abilities, though growing, were still not without boundaries.
His ability to sense auras had also improved drastically. Torrack could now feel the energy of living beings from miles away, easily avoiding travelers and wild beasts that might delay them. His physical strength had increased many times over, and he felt unstoppable. He had tested this strength during one of their breaks by lifting a boulder that no ordinary man could move and punching a tree so hard that it shattered, leaving a gaping hole in the trunk.
Kaelith watched his feats with awe, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Torrack, this is not normal. You're getting too strong, too fast. You'll have to hide this from people—they'll think you're not a man, but some beast in disguise."
Torrack nodded thoughtfully. Kaelith was right. His new abilities were not something he could flaunt. The implications of his strength, speed, and magical abilities were profound, but they could also be dangerous if the wrong people learned of them.
He could now create anything he wanted, though only small objects for the time being. There was a limit on how many he could create within a certain period, as his energy would deplete with each act of creation. It would take him several hours to fully recover after a large exertion. Torrack had also discovered that he could now leap instantly to any of the locations where his strings were tethered. He had practiced jumping between the beasts and the great tree miles away, and even back to Kaelith.
"I need to test this further," Torrack muttered as he thought ahead to his return to Brightwater. The thought of using his strings to tether to the king or even to his home in Sirco was tempting. But thoughts of Sirco stirred memories of his family, and he made a mental note to visit them soon.
The journey continued, and after about an hour of riding, Kaelith's beast began to slow down. Torrack noticed the change immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked, focusing on the string tethered to the beast. He felt its pain radiate through the connection, and his heart sank.
He dismounted and walked over to inspect the creature's leg. A massive cut had formed, and it was starting to show signs of infection. The beast must have been enduring the pain for some time, not wanting to slow them down. Torrack knelt beside the wound, his mind racing. Memories stirred within him, and he recalled a time long ago when he had seen a dragon heal a human. The memory was faint, but the instinct was undeniable.
Without thinking, he placed his hands over the wound, and a warm, golden light began to emanate from his palms. The light flowed into the cut flesh, and Torrack watched, almost in a trance, as the wound knitted itself together. In mere seconds, the injury was gone, as if it had never existed.
Kaelith gasped. "Incredible!" she exclaimed, staring at Torrack in amazement as he opened his eyes.
"I just followed my instinct," Torrack said, still somewhat dazed. "Somehow, I felt like I could do it."
Kaelith's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've changed, Torrack. I don't know if this is all for the better, but... you're something different now."
Torrack remained silent, contemplating her words as they prepared to continue their journey. His powers were growing, and with each new discovery, the line between man and something else blurred. There was a time when he would have questioned these abilities, but now, with everything he had experienced, they were a part of him. He would use them, but he knew Kaelith was right—he would have to be cautious.
They set off again, traveling steadily toward Brightwater. Torrack's mind wandered as they rode. His thoughts drifted back to his family in Sirco. How were they doing? Were they safe? The world was becoming more dangerous by the day, and he hadn't been home in so long. He felt a pang of guilt and longing, knowing he needed to return soon. But first, there was the matter of the king and the looming rebellion. His path was set, but he would not forget his home.
As they rode, Torrack's hand rested on the beast's side, and he silently promised himself that once his mission in Brightwater was complete, he would go to Sirco and see his family.
Another two hours passed as Torrack and Kaelith continued their journey. They were preparing to stop for another break when Torrack sensed something unsettling—a massive concentration of auras several miles ahead. There were so many that they seemed to blend together, impossible to count. The sheer number overwhelmed him for a moment, but he quickly focused.
Torrack's instincts told him to investigate. With a mere thought, he communicated to the beasts, guiding them in the direction of the auras. His connection extended beyond the animals now—he had also formed a mental link with Kaelith. She immediately understood what he was sensing.
"There's a huge gathering ahead," Torrack informed her telepathically. "I'm going to see what this is."
As they approached, the distant figures became clearer, and Torrack's sharp vision confirmed his suspicion. A large army stood before them, their banners flying high—banners of the revolution. Torrack's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of the enemy forces.
"We'll leave the beasts behind for now," he said to Kaelith, who nodded in agreement. They led the creatures into a forested area, instructing them to follow from a distance. Torrack's connection would keep them in constant communication.
His plan began to form. "We'll blend in with the army," Torrack said, already crafting military outfits for himself and Kaelith using his powers. In a matter of moments, they were dressed like soldiers of the revolution. Their goal was to infiltrate the ranks and gather information.
As night fell, most of the soldiers in the camp began to relax. Some stood on patrol, but many had either fallen asleep or drunk themselves into a stupor. Torrack and Kaelith took advantage of the chaos, slipping into one of the tents. They acted as if they had always been part of the group, seamlessly blending into the background.
Morning came, and to Torrack's relief, no one had noticed their arrival. No suspicious glances, no questions. Their plan was working. They moved separately through the camp, each gathering information and communicating through their mental link. Torrack remained hyper-aware of Kaelith's situation, ready to act if she was in danger.
By afternoon, the two met outside the camp, where the beasts waited in the shadows of the trees. Kaelith's expression was grim. "Torrack, we have to do something."
Torrack's face was stern as he nodded. "They plan to attack Sirco. Their goal is to kill the king and all the dukes."
Kaelith's eyes widened. "We can't let that happen."
"I agree," Torrack said. "But if we stay infiltrated, we can get closer—right into the heart of their plans. We'll follow them into the city, and when the time comes, we'll strike."
Kaelith hesitated for a moment, but she knew Torrack's instincts were sharp. "Let's do it. We'll make sure Sirco and the kingdom are ready."
Torrack turned his gaze back toward the camp. His resolve was stronger than ever. The revolutionaries were planning something catastrophic, but he would not let their plans come to fruition. He would protect his home, the kingdom, and his family