Time passed, and my body continued to grow. My magic, too, began to evolve in strange and fascinating ways. At the age of four, I was still a child, yet there was a hunger inside me—an insatiable thirst for knowledge and power. I didn't fully understand it then, but I could feel it, like a strange pull in my chest, urging me to explore deeper into the world of magic.
One evening, as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting an ethereal golden light across the land, I stood on the balcony of our home. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it a faint sense of something ancient, something waiting to be discovered. My parents were away, and I found myself drawn outside, unable to resist the call. I wasn't alone, though.
"Do you feel that?" Zai's voice echoed in my mind, soft and mysterious as always.
I turned, and there it was—the shimmering wolf-like creature, standing at the edge of the forest, its form barely visible in the fading light. Its glowing eyes watched me, as though waiting for something.
"Feel what?" I asked, my voice small, though my heart raced in anticipation.
Zai didn't respond immediately. Instead, the air around me seemed to hum, vibrating with an energy that I could almost taste. It wasn't the gentle flow of magic I was used to; this was something more intense, more dangerous. The wind picked up, swirling around me, teasing my hair, tugging at the fabric of my simple clothes.
"It's the mana," Zai finally said, stepping closer, its form becoming clearer in the dim light. "It's calling you, Oroz. You can sense it, can't you?"
I nodded, though I didn't fully understand what it meant. The energy in the air felt... alive, like it was reaching for me. I raised my hand instinctively, and as if responding to my thoughts, the air swirled in front of me, coalescing into a faint, glowing orb. The orb flickered like a candle flame before dissipating into nothingness.
"What was that?" I asked, stunned.
Zai's glowing eyes were filled with approval, but also something else—an underlying caution. "That, Oroz, was your first step. Your magic is tied to the elements of this world. It will take time to master, but the power you seek is within you. You just need to learn how to listen."
Listen? To what? I was only four, but the words made sense in a strange way. Magic wasn't just something to wield—it was something to understand, to commune with.
Zai didn't wait for me to process this information before moving on. "Come," it urged, turning to lead me deeper into the forest. "There's something I want to show you."
I followed, my small feet quickening as the curiosity in me swelled. Zai led me to a secluded clearing, where the trees formed a natural circle, their branches intertwined high above, creating a canopy of leaves that shimmered with an ethereal light. At the center of the clearing lay a pool of water, its surface smooth and mirror-like, reflecting the stars above.
"This is the Heart Pool," Zai explained, its voice low and reverent. "It is a place of power, where the magic of this world flows strongest. Only a few can truly access its depths, but I believe you are one of them."
I looked at the pool, mesmerized by the way the water seemed to shimmer with life. It was as though the very essence of the world itself was reflected in its depths. Without thinking, I knelt beside the pool and dipped my fingers into the cool water.
The moment my fingers touched the surface, the water rippled, sending waves of energy coursing through my body. My breath caught in my throat as visions flashed before my eyes—images of faraway lands, of creatures beyond imagination, of people with powers unlike any I had ever seen. And in the center of it all, there was a figure—a man, or perhaps something more, standing tall and regal. His eyes were familiar, yet I had never seen him before.
"Who is he?" I whispered, my voice shaky as the visions began to fade.
"That," Zai said softly, its voice heavy with meaning, "is someone who will play a part in your journey. But for now, do not worry about him. The pool has shown you what you need to know."
I pulled my hand from the water, my heart racing. The vision had left an impression, an unfamiliar weight pressing down on my chest. Who was that figure? And why did I feel like I was destined to meet him?
Zai watched me closely. "Do not seek answers where there are none, Oroz. The world is vast, and there are many paths to walk. You must first learn to harness your magic before you worry about your destiny."
I nodded, though the questions still lingered in my mind. As Zai began to lead me back home, I couldn't shake the feeling that something important had just been set into motion. My magic was awakening in ways I hadn't expected, and there was a connection between me and this world—one that felt ancient, almost predestined.
The next few years passed in a blur. My training intensified, and with it, the magic within me grew stronger. My mother continued to teach me, while Zai remained a constant presence, guiding me through the basics of controlling my abilities. I learned to shape fire, to manipulate the winds, and even call upon the earth itself. But there was one element that eluded me—water.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to bend water to my will. It was frustrating, like a missing piece in a puzzle I couldn't quite solve. I spent countless hours by the Heart Pool, attempting to connect with the element, but it remained elusive.
It was on the eve of my sixth birthday that something finally changed. I stood beside the pool once again, my fingers hovering just above the water, when I felt a presence behind me. Turning, I saw my father standing in the clearing, his dark robes blending into the shadows of the trees.
"You've come a long way, Oroz," he said, his voice both proud and cautious.
I looked at him, my eyes filled with determination. "I still can't control water, Father. I don't understand why."
He smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "Not all things are meant to be understood in the beginning. You must learn patience, Oroz. Water is not something to control—it is something to flow with, to understand. When the time comes, it will reveal itself to you."
I didn't fully understand his words, but there was a wisdom in them that settled in my heart. My magic, my destiny—it wasn't something I could force. It would come to me when I was ready.
As I closed my eyes, letting the cool night air wash over me, I felt the magic of the world surrounding me, embracing me. And in that moment, I knew—my journey was far from over. There was more to discover, more to understand, and more power to unlock. And no matter how difficult the path would be, I was ready to face whatever came next.