When I opened my eyes, the world around me felt sharp and clear, every detail vivid and demanding my attention. I could feel my senses stretching out like threads into the wilderness, pulling in information, feeding me what I needed to know to survive. The ground beneath me was cool and rough, the smell of earth and wet leaves filling the air. One thought, raw and urgent, pulsed through my mind: food.
Hunger gnawed at me, and instinct urged me to act. My eyes scanned the clearing, taking in every leaf, every shadow, as I searched for anything that could fill the ache in my belly. Suddenly, my gaze lifted skyward, where a giant eagle circled far above, its golden eyes catching a glint of the sun as they focused intently on me. Even from this distance, I could sense its curiosity, the way it observed me like a hunter sizing up prey.
A grin spread across my face, fueled by a fierce, unexplainable confidence. There was something stirring within me—a power both ancient and instinctual. I sensed that I could reach out, grab hold of this eagle's mind, bend it to my will. The realization was exhilarating, making me feel both vulnerable and powerful at once.
I reached for that strange new feeling in my chest, that sense of strength and command. I drew in a breath and let my mind connect with the eagle's, reaching across the empty space between us. "Come," I commanded, my voice quiet but steady, the word vibrating with intent.
To my amazement, the eagle obeyed. It descended from the sky in graceful, slow circles, as though unable to resist my pull. Closer and closer it came, its talons extended, the gleam in its eyes shifting from curiosity to confusion, as if the mighty bird itself did not understand what was happening. When it finally landed just a few meters away, I could feel our minds connect, a link solidifying between us. I didn't fully understand how I was doing this, but I knew one thing with certainty: this eagle was now bound to me.
"Go and hunt," I told it. The eagle's eyes flashed with acknowledgment before it leapt into the air, wings beating powerfully as it rose to seek out prey.
For a while, I lay there, my eyes fixed on the horizon as I waited, hunger still clawing at me. But this waiting felt different. My instincts whispered that I had done enough for now, that my task would be completed by another. While I waited, I felt the magic within me surge, restless and demanding. So I began to experiment, pushing my abilities in small ways, testing the strength I could already sense.
Small rocks scattered around me began to tremble as I concentrated, rising into the air with ease. It felt thrilling, almost as if I were lifting the stones with nothing but my thoughts, with no effort at all. Then, with a flicker of concentration, I crushed one of the rocks into fine dust, letting the grains slip through my fingers. There was a rawness to the power I held, and I sensed that this was only the beginning.
But these small stones—simple, ordinary—were too weak, too fragile to test my true limits. I closed my eyes, settling into a stillness, feeling the pulse of magic thrumming inside me. With each breath, I focused on channeling this energy through my body, training it to move as smoothly and naturally as my own limbs. My awareness expanded, stretching farther into the forest. I could feel the presence of small animals, hear the soft rustling of leaves, even sense the flow of a distant river. And still, the eagle flew, hunting on my behalf.
Hours passed, and finally, I felt a surge of excitement as the eagle approached. When it landed, its talons clenched around the body of a creature larger than I'd expected—a massive boar, its coarse fur bristling even in death. The eagle set the boar down and tore into it, then paused, holding a chunk of raw, bloody meat in its beak before it turned and offered the food to me.
I took it without hesitation. The taste was strong, metallic, and wild, like nothing I'd ever eaten before. My body craved it, demanding strength and sustenance, and I ate the raw meat with the hunger of a predator. As I swallowed, I felt my senses sharpen even more, the power within me pulsing as though awakened by the taste of fresh, bloody life.