The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the mouth of the cave, but today, it did little to lift Shiv's spirits. Veylin stood before him, the once-powerful wizard's ethereal form flickering faintly. Shiv could feel it—this was the last day. A deep sadness had settled within him, weighing heavily on his chest. He had grown attached to the old wizard, his mentor and guide, who had taught him more than just magic over the past month. Veylin had been his only companion in this strange world.
Veylin, sensing Shiv's sadness, smiled gently. "It's time, Shiv. My purpose here is complete. I've taught you all I can, but this is not the end—it's the beginning of your journey."
Shiv looked down, trying to mask the sorrow in his eyes. "I just... I don't want to lose you too," he said softly, his voice tinged with the pain of loss he had felt before.
Veylin stepped closer, his ghostly hand hovering near Shiv's shoulder. "I understand, boy. I know the feeling of being alone all too well. But you are stronger now, and you have something few others possess—your heart and mind are untainted by the limits of this world. You have an extraordinary gift, and it will carry you far."
Before Shiv could respond, Veylin began to weave a complex pattern in the air, drawing mana into a glowing circle between them. His eyes glowed with wisdom as he transferred all of his knowledge into Shiv, the magic flowing into him like a stream of pure energy. Shiv gasped as the weight of centuries of knowledge flooded his mind—spells, techniques, histories, and secrets of the world.
When it was done, Veylin reached into a small pocket of air, pulling out a magical bag. "This," Veylin explained, "is no ordinary bag. It's a magical inventory, capable of holding anything you need. And now, it is marked by your mana, meaning no one else can see it or open it." He handed the bag to Shiv, who accepted it with trembling hands. "Inside, you'll find my belongings—books, artifacts, things that will aid you on your journey."
Shiv could hardly speak as he took the bag, the weight of Veylin's legacy now in his hands.
"Shiv," Veylin said, his voice softer now. "This is not goodbye. You must keep living. Be happy. Explore the world and meet new people. This is what your parents would want for you, and so do I."
Shiv's throat tightened, and he simply nodded. As much as he wanted to argue, he knew Veylin's time was over. The old wizard had given him everything he could.
With a final wave of his hand, Veylin cast a spell on the Ferrir cub, transforming the magical beast into the shape of an ordinary puppy, adorning its neck with a simple-looking but powerful magical necklace. "This will hide your companion's true form. The world isn't ready to see a Ferrir roaming around with a human," Veylin said with a wink.
A gust of wind swept through the cave as Veylin prepared his final spell. With a sad but proud smile, he waved his hand once more, sending Shiv and his cub away from the dense, dangerous forest where they had been training. The world around Shiv blurred for a moment, and then he found himself standing at the edge of the forest, the towering trees behind him now seeming distant and far away.
Veylin's parting words echoed in Shiv's mind: "Keep living. Be happy."
Taking a deep breath, Shiv looked down at the puppy that had once been a fearsome magical beast. It wagged its tail, looking up at him with innocent eyes. Shiv smiled, feeling a mix of sadness and excitement. His journey had truly begun.
The first sign of civilization came in the form of a merchant caravan winding its way along a dirt road. Shiv approached cautiously, not wanting to startle them. The lead merchant, a stout man with a friendly face, noticed him first.
"Ho there, stranger!" the merchant called out. "What brings you to the middle of nowhere?"
Shiv gave a small smile. "I've been living in the mountains with my grandfather. He passed away recently, so I've come down to start my journey."
The merchant's expression softened, nodding in understanding. "Ah, I see. Well, you look like you could use a lift. Where are you headed?"
"I'm not sure yet," Shiv admitted. "Just... to the nearest village, I suppose."
The merchant chuckled. "A man without a plan, eh? Well, we're headed to Greendale, the nearest village. You're welcome to ride with us."
Shiv hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Thank you."
Before letting Shiv join, one of the merchants pulled out a small device and waved it over him, scanning him quickly. "Just making sure you haven't committed any crimes," the merchant explained with a wink. The device blinked green, and the merchant nodded approvingly. "You're clean. Hop on."
As they traveled, Shiv found himself growing more comfortable with the group. The merchants were talkative and curious, asking him about life in the mountains. He kept his story simple, telling them about his grandfather and the isolated life he had lived. They seemed satisfied with his answers, though one of them, an older woman, gave him an appraising look now and then, as if sensing there was more to him than he let on.
One evening, as they set up camp, the merchants were struggling to light a fire for cooking. Shiv, seeing an opportunity to help, pulled out his magical stove—a compact device that ran on fire mana. With a flick of his wrist, the stove ignited, and soon the camp was filled with the warmth of a steady flame.
The merchants stared in amazement. "What is that?" one of them asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Shiv smiled. "Just something I made."
The merchants were intrigued, asking him about the stove and other devices he had. He showed them his magical flashlight and other small gadgets he had created during his training. One merchant, particularly impressed, offered to buy the stove and proposed a deal for more such devices.
Shiv politely declined, explaining that he didn't need money. Veylin had ensured that he wouldn't lack funds, and besides, Shiv had little interest in becoming a merchant. Still, he gave the merchant his stove and flashlight as a token of gratitude for helping him on his journey. The merchant, though surprised, accepted the gifts with a grateful smile.
When they finally arrived at the village of Greendale, the guards at the entrance stopped them. "ID, please," one of the guards said, looking sternly at Shiv.
Shiv frowned, realizing he had no form of identification. "I don't have one."
The merchant who had befriended him stepped forward. "He's with me," he explained. "Just came down from the mountains. His grandfather passed recently. He'll need to register at the Merchant Guild."
The guard nodded, waving them through. "Make sure you get him sorted with an ID at the Guild."
Once inside the village, the merchant guided Shiv to the Merchant Guild, a large building bustling with activity. After a brief explanation to the clerk, Shiv was registered and issued an ID. The process was quick, and soon Shiv had the necessary paperwork to move freely within the village.
With his new ID in hand, Shiv bid farewell to the merchants and began his search for an inn. The village was small but lively, with streets lined with shops and houses. After a short walk, he found a modest inn and checked in, grateful for a warm bed after weeks of sleeping in caves and the wilderness.
As he lay in bed that night, his mind wandered back to Veylin, to the forest, and to the dragon's heart that now beat in his chest. He was no longer the same person who had stumbled upon his grandfather's house and found a portal to another world.
He was something more.
With a deep breath, Shiv closed his eyes, ready for whatever came next. His journey was only just beginning.