Rose made his decision in silence. He had granted his powers to the tribe's thirty adult members, knowing it would drain a significant part of his essence. Immortal though he was, this process left him temporarily vulnerable, stripped of any supernatural strength. He had no need for food, water, or air, nor did he need to fear the passage of time. But he understood that to regain his strength, he needed to disappear without anyone knowing.
He chose to keep his plans entirely to himself. He had no family left to confide in; his parents had both been killed in the forest, victims of a hunting accident that had left him to grow up alone. Without attachments or family in the tribe, Rose slipped away without drawing attention to himself, careful not to create any unnecessary alarm. He did not want anyone to know of the powers he had granted, let alone his plan to recover in solitude.
In a secluded spot outside the village, Rose began digging a narrow, deep hole in the forest floor. With each shovel of earth, he focused on the future, knowing that he would emerge stronger in time. Once the hole was deep enough, he climbed down into it, positioning a heavy wooden board across the top to cover himself. He pressed soil around the edges, ensuring he was hidden completely. The damp, cool earth was comforting, a final reassurance that he would remain unseen and undisturbed during his sleep.
As he lay in his dark cocoon, Rose thought of the tribe he was leaving behind. Each of the thirty men now carried a unique power, one tailored to their own potential—fire, strength, speed, elemental control. He hoped these abilities would help the tribe defend itself against the giants who ruled this land. It was a gamble, entrusting his powers to others, but it was the only way he could think to help them while ensuring his own survival.
He closed his eyes, slipping into a deep, restorative slumber. The earth around him seemed to hum with a quiet energy, and he allowed himself to sink into the darkness, feeling his essence gradually settle within. Time would lose its meaning now. He trusted that, above him, the tribe would grow and adapt to the powers he'd bestowed, learning to harness these abilities in his absence.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks to months. Rose lay in silence, oblivious to the world above. Occasionally, he stirred, sensing his energy slowly regenerating. The drain had been immense, and he knew it would be a long while before he was strong enough to awaken fully. But he believed the tribe would thrive, that his gifts would strengthen them in the face of the titans.
Finally, as years passed, Rose's essence reached a point where he felt the call of the world again. Slowly stirring from his slumber, he pushed aside the wooden cover above him, soil shifting around him as he emerged from the earth. Blinking in the soft daylight, he breathed in the air, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
Standing alone in the quiet forest, Rose felt ready to see what his powers had brought to the tribe, and how they had fared in his absence.