As Kael made his way deeper into the woods, the pulse of the relic within him still hummed with unnatural energy. The wind carried the scent of fresh rain, a reminder that the wilds were ever-changing, unpredictable. The creature he had just slain was not the first beast he'd encountered, but it was the first one that had pushed him to his limits.
The wounds on his arm stung with each movement, but Kael pressed on, the determination in his heart burning brighter than the pain. He couldn't afford to slow down—not now. Not when he could feel the path ahead calling him, urging him to push farther into the heart of the forest, into the very soul of this strange world.
Kael came to a halt at the base of a massive tree, its bark twisted and gnarled as if it had been growing for centuries. The air here felt different—charged with something ancient, something alive. As he stood there, he could feel the pull of the relic, stronger than ever, urging him to take a step forward.
Without fully understanding why, Kael obeyed.
The moment his foot touched the ground in front of the tree, the world seemed to shift. The air grew thick with energy, the wind carrying a strange, otherworldly hum. Kael's vision blurred for a split second, and then, when it cleared, he saw it—a mark, glowing faintly on the trunk of the tree.
It was a symbol, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar at the same time. The relic inside him reacted to it, its pulse quickening as if recognizing something ancient within the mark. Kael reached out, his fingers grazing the surface of the tree, and as he did, the mark flared to life.
A surge of energy rushed through him, powerful and disorienting. He staggered back, barely able to keep his balance as the world around him twisted. The trees seemed to sway, their shadows lengthening, stretching into the horizon. The air vibrated with a frequency that made his teeth ache.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the sensation faded. Kael's breath came in shallow gasps as he tried to steady himself. His mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. What was this mark? And what did it mean for him?
As Kael stood there, still reeling from the strange encounter, he heard a rustling sound behind him. He spun around, instinctively drawing his spear. But this time, there was no beast in sight.
Instead, a figure stepped from the shadows—a tall woman, cloaked in dark furs, her eyes sharp and observant. She moved with the grace of a predator, her presence commanding yet calm.
"You've touched the mark," she said, her voice low and steady.
Kael narrowed his eyes, keeping his spear at the ready. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled faintly, as if she had been expecting this question. "I am not your enemy," she replied. "But you are on the path now. And the path you walk is one that few can understand."
Kael's grip on his spear tightened, his instincts screaming that something important was unfolding before him. "What do you mean?"
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his with a knowing gaze. "The wilds are not just a place of danger. They are a place of transformation. And you, Kael, have been marked by them."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine at the sound of his name. "How do you know who I am?"
"The relic inside you speaks to me," the woman answered. "It is ancient, and it is powerful. And it has chosen you."
Kael took a step back, trying to process the gravity of her words. The relic had chosen him? He had assumed it was simply a tool, something to aid him in his survival. But this… this was something else.
"I'm not sure I understand," Kael admitted, his voice thick with confusion.
The woman studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp. "You are on the edge of something far greater than you realize. The wilds are waking, Kael. The path you walk is one that will change everything."
The words hung in the air, heavy and ominous.
Kael didn't know what to say. He felt as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. There was so much more to this journey than he had ever imagined. And the relic, the mark, this woman—everything seemed to be leading him toward something he couldn't yet grasp.
But he knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back now.