Ray found himself wandering outside the village, his feet carrying him farther away from the familiar training grounds and the sounds of clashing weapons. The crisp air of the countryside filled his lungs, and though he had no real destination in mind, something had drawn him here. He walked in silence, his mind turning over the events of the past few days. Their training had been intense, and the weight of his companions' pasts—especially Amy's—sat heavily on his mind.
But as Ray walked deeper into the woods, he felt... something. A soft, whispering voice, faint yet insistent, calling his name.
"Ray... Ray..."
He stopped, glancing around in confusion. There was no one in sight. The village was far behind him now, and the thick trees loomed all around. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling, but the voice persisted, pulling him forward.
"Ray... come closer..."
Unable to resist, Ray followed the voice deeper into the woods, his curiosity piqued. After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at a small clearing. In the center of the clearing, resting on a moss-covered stone, was a small, glowing orb. It pulsed with a soft, golden light, almost like it was alive. Ray stared at it, feeling an odd pull toward the object.
The moment his eyes locked on the orb, the voice calling his name ceased. The forest was silent, but Ray could feel the energy radiating from the orb, washing over him in waves. Despite not having magic, he could sense the immense power it held.
Hesitant but intrigued, Ray stepped forward and reached out to touch the orb. As his fingers closed around it, the light within the orb flared brightly, filling the clearing with blinding brilliance. Then, just as quickly, the light dimmed, and the voice went silent.
Ray stared at the orb in his hand, half-expecting something else to happen. But the forest was still, and the orb no longer glowed. It was small and smooth, barely the size of his palm, yet it felt incredibly powerful.
"Was that... all?" Ray murmured, unsure if he had imagined the whole thing.
He shook his head and, thinking it was just some strange artifact, threw the orb toward a nearby tree. To his shock, the orb struck the trunk of the massive tree, and the entire tree split apart with a deafening crack, collapsing to the ground.
Ray stood frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief. "What... What was that?"
The orb had shattered the giant tree without him putting any real force behind the throw. It seemed to have done more damage than any weapon he had ever used. He quickly ran over to where the orb had landed and picked it up, still feeling its incredible weightlessness in his hand.
"I need to show this to the others," Ray muttered, turning back toward the village.
---
Back in the village, Ray found Amy, Rhyuji, and Hagon still at the training grounds. Amy was practicing with her whip, Rhyuji was honing his sword skills, and Hagon was doing strength exercises. When Ray approached, holding the orb, they stopped and looked at him curiously.
"Hey, guys," Ray called out, holding up the glowing orb. "Do any of you know what this is?"
Amy walked over first, her eyes narrowing as she examined the strange object. "Hmm, looks like some kind of material... but it's glowing. Where'd you find it?"
Ray explained how he had heard the voice and discovered the orb, and how it had shattered the tree with almost no effort.
"Let me see," Amy said, reaching out to take the orb. But as soon as her hand touched it, her face twisted in surprise. "What the—! It's... heavy! Too heavy!" Amy strained, unable to lift the orb from Ray's hand. "I can't move it!"
Rhyuji, curious, stepped forward. "Let me try." He reached for the orb and attempted to lift it, but his face also tightened in concentration. "It won't budge. What is this thing?"
Even Hagon, with all his incredible strength, tried to lift the orb but couldn't. It was as if the orb was rooted to the spot, far too heavy for any of them to move. But when Ray casually picked it up again, it felt as light as air.
"It's like... it's only light for me," Ray said, bewildered. "I don't understand."
Amy's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "This orb is clearly meant for you, Ray. It's reacting to you somehow. Maybe it's enchanted? Let me take it to the forge. I'll try to work it into something more useful."
Ray handed the orb to Amy, and though she struggled to carry it, she managed to haul it back to the forge. Hours passed as she meticulously worked the orb, hammering and shaping it until, finally, she presented Ray with a newly crafted ring made from the orb's strange material.
"Here," Amy said, handing Ray the ring. "I managed to forge it into this. Try it on and see what happens."
Ray slipped the ring onto his right finger. It felt warm, almost alive, but not heavy at all. "It's just a ring now, right?" he asked, flexing his hand.
"Try punching something," Amy suggested, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Ray glanced around the forge and spotted a large stone. With a shrug, he walked over to it and threw a punch. His fist collided with the stone, and the massive rock shattered into countless pieces, sending cracks spiraling out across the floor.
Rhyuji and Hagon's jaws dropped in disbelief.
"No way..." Rhyuji muttered.
"That was... incredible!" Amy shouted, practically bouncing with excitement. "It must amplify your strength, even though you don't have magic! But... it's still a mystery why only you can use it."
Encouraged by their reactions, Ray picked up a sword and swung it at a nearby stone block. The block split cleanly in half, but the sword in his hand shattered from the force.
Amy sighed. "I guess the sword wasn't strong enough to handle the power. I'll have to forge something sturdier for you."
Over the next few days, Amy worked tirelessly to craft a sword that could withstand the orb's power. She experimented with different materials, but each one either broke or couldn't handle the strain. Finally, they realized they would need to venture beyond the village to find stronger, more durable materials.
"I know where we can find what we need," Amy said. "But we'll have to get permission from Ramon first."
When they approached Ramon with their request, the legendary warrior listened intently. After a moment of consideration, he nodded. "You have my permission. Go and find the materials you need, but remember your promise. You're not leaving for another journey yet. You are to return to the village once your task is complete."
Ray, Amy, Rhyuji, and Hagon agreed. With Ramon's blessing, they prepared to leave the village in search of the materials needed to forge Ray's new sword. Dylan, Ramon's current disciple, would accompany them on their journey.
As they left the village, the group felt a renewed sense of purpose. Though they were only going to gather materials, the prospect of strengthening Ray's new abilities brought excitement to their hearts.
The road ahead was uncertain, but with their newfound bond and Ray's mysterious ring, they felt ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.
And so, they set out, leaving the safety of the village behind, knowing they would return stronger than before.