The morning sun crept over the city as Tau stepped outside, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. The ring on his finger glowed faintly, a constant reminder that his life had changed overnight. But as much as the Jewel filled him with excitement, it also left him with questions.
"What now?" he muttered, staring at the faintly glowing ring. He flexed his fingers, watching how the light pulsed in time with his heartbeat. "What's the point of having this thing if I can't even figure out what it does?"
Tau started walking, his feet carrying him out of the city almost on instinct. He knew where he was headed but didn't entirely understand why.
After a while, the buildings gave way to dirt roads, and the noise of the city faded into the quiet rustle of leaves. Tau found himself at the edge of a dense forest, the trees stretching high into the sky like watchful sentinels.
The forest wasn't unfamiliar to him. As a kid, he'd often wander here to escape the monotony of life. But today, it felt different. The ring's glow seemed to brighten as he entered, as if urging him forward.
"Alright," he said, gripping his fists. "Let's figure this out."
He walked deeper into the forest, the light from the sun barely piercing through the canopy. After a while, he stumbled into a small clearing—a plain where the trees parted to reveal open sky. It was quiet, almost eerily so, and the ground was soft beneath his feet.
"This will do," he said, taking a deep breath.
Tau extended his arm, his palm facing outward like he'd seen Jewel users do in videos. "Alright, ring. Do your thing."
Nothing happened.
He frowned and tried again, this time shouting random words. "Activate! Fire! Laser beam! Do something!"
Still nothing.
After a few more attempts, Tau started flailing his arms, stretching and shouting in frustration. "Come on, just work already!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. His voice echoed in the clearing, but the ring remained as still as ever.
Breathing heavily, Tau collapsed onto the ground, leaning against a large rock. "This is stupid," he muttered. "Why did I even think I could figure this out? I don't know what I'm doing."
For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the ring. The glow seemed to mock him, a constant reminder of his failure.
That was when he heard it—a low growl from behind him.
Tau froze, his breath hitching in his throat. Slowly, he turned his head.
A bear.
It was massive, its dark fur blending into the shadows of the forest. Its eyes locked onto Tau, and its growl deepened, rumbling like distant thunder.
"Oh, crap," Tau whispered, scrambling to his feet.
The bear stepped closer, its movements slow and deliberate. Tau's mind raced, his body trembling. "Okay, okay, stay calm," he muttered to himself. "You just need to—"
Before he could finish the thought, the bear lunged.
Tau's heart stopped as he saw the massive claws swinging toward him. But then… nothing happened.
He blinked. The bear, which had been inches away, was now several feet back, growling in confusion. Tau looked around, his back still pressed against the rock. He hadn't moved—he was sure of it.
"What the hell?" he muttered.
The bear roared and charged again, its claws slashing through the air. This time, Tau watched carefully. As the claws came within inches of his face, the distance between them suddenly stretched. The bear's attack didn't land, and once again, it found itself farther away.
"What's going on?" Tau said, his voice shaking.
The bear hesitated, its growl turning into a frustrated snarl. It charged a third time, its massive body barreling toward Tau. This time, it came even closer, its claws nearly brushing his skin. But just as before, the distance between them warped, sending the bear several feet back.
Both Tau and the bear were now frozen, staring at each other in confusion.
"Am I… doing this?" Tau wondered aloud, looking down at the ring.
The bear growled again, but before it could make another move, a loud crack echoed through the forest. A man stepped into the clearing, a rifle slung over his shoulder.
"Get back!" the man shouted, aiming at the bear.
The bear roared in frustration but seemed to recognize the threat. It backed away slowly, disappearing into the trees.
Tau slumped to the ground, his legs trembling. The man approached, lowering his rifle.
"You alright, kid?" the man asked, his voice gruff.
Tau nodded weakly. "I… I think so."
The man frowned, glancing around the clearing. "What the hell were you doing out here alone? That bear could've killed you."
"I was…" Tau hesitated, glancing at the ring. "I was just trying to figure something out."
The man raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you're lucky I showed up. Next time, don't wander into the forest without a weapon."
Tau nodded again, his mind still racing. The bear's attacks, the sudden shifts in distance—it didn't make sense.
But one thing was clear: the ring wasn't useless.
As the man helped him to his feet, Tau glanced down at the glowing band on his finger.
"I don't know how," he thought, "but this thing saved my life."
And with that realization came another: the ring wasn't just a symbol of power—it was something far greater.
It was a second chance.