Chapter 4: Training Begins
Rylan woke before dawn, the faint glow of morning just brushing the horizon. The events of the previous day were still fresh in his mind—the Razorback's roar, the bird's brilliant golden glow, and that moment of triumph. But as the fire in his chest settled, a question gnawed at him.
What now?
The bird sat on the windowsill, watching the sunrise. Its once-dull feathers now held faint streaks of gold, shimmering softly when the light hit them just right. Rylan approached quietly, careful not to startle it.
"You really are something, huh?" he murmured, leaning on the sill. The bird chirped softly in reply, tilting its head.
Rylan opened the tattered book again, flipping back to the Golden Eye of Potential entry. His fingers traced the words. "Its path lies hidden to all but those who dare look."
"That Razorback… that was the first step," Rylan muttered. "But what's next? How do I help you evolve further?"
The bird let out a sharper chirp this time and flapped its wings, hopping onto his shoulder. Rylan frowned. "What? You want me to follow you?"
The bird chirped again, louder, and nudged him with its beak.
Rylan sighed, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Alright, alright. Lead the way."
Into the Whispering Woods Again
The forest was quieter than usual, as though the beasts hiding in its shadows sensed something had changed. Rylan kept his steps light, his eyes scanning for movement. The bird flew ahead, darting through the branches, pausing now and then to chirp back at him as if encouraging him to keep up.
"You could've bonded with someone more athletic, you know," Rylan grumbled as he clambered over a fallen log.
The bird ignored him, leading him deeper and deeper into the woods. Rylan frowned as the trees grew denser, their trunks gnarled and ancient, the sunlight struggling to break through. He had never ventured this far before.
Finally, the bird stopped, landing on a mossy rock near the edge of a dark clearing. It chirped once, its golden eye gleaming in the dim light.
Rylan stepped closer, his breath catching. In the center of the clearing lay an old stone pillar, half-buried and covered in vines. Strange symbols were carved into its surface, glowing faintly with a golden hue—similar to the glow in the bird's feathers.
"What… is this?" Rylan whispered, stepping forward.
The bird chirped and fluttered down to perch atop the pillar, its feathers shimmering brighter. Rylan knelt, brushing his fingers over the runes. They pulsed under his touch, warm and alive.
The Trial of Light
Suddenly, the clearing darkened. The sunlight vanished as though a shadow had fallen over the forest. The air grew heavy, thick with an oppressive weight. Rylan stood abruptly, his pulse quickening.
"Hey… what's happening?"
The bird let out a sharp, warning cry, its wings flaring. Rylan turned, and his heart froze.
From the shadows surrounding the clearing, shapes began to emerge. Beasts—half-formed and wreathed in darkness—slid forward, their glowing red eyes fixated on him. There were wolves, snakes, and even a massive bear-like form, all unnatural and terrifying.
Rylan stumbled back. "No, no, no. I'm not ready for this!"
The bird screeched and shot into the air, its golden feathers blazing like a small sun. The beasts hissed and recoiled, but they didn't retreat. Instead, they closed in, surrounding the pillar and Rylan.
"Adversity."
The word rang through his mind, unbidden. The book had been right. If this was the next step to unlocking the bird's potential, he would have to face it head-on.
Rylan's fingers clenched. He couldn't run—not this time.
"Alright," he muttered, his voice shaking. "If this is what we need to do… then let's do it!"
The bird let out a triumphant screech and dove toward the first shadow-beast, its golden glow brightening with each flap of its wings. Rylan watched in awe as the bird's light seared through the dark wolf, causing it to dissolve into smoke.
"It works!" he shouted. "Keep going!"
But the other beasts were smarter. As the bird attacked, a snake-like shadow lashed out from behind, aiming for the bird's wing.
"Watch out!" Rylan yelled, grabbing a nearby stick and swinging wildly. The stick struck the shadow-snake's head, causing it to shriek and recoil.
The bird circled back, its glow intensifying. It dove again, targeting the larger beasts one by one, while Rylan scrambled to fend off those that tried to sneak closer. The clearing turned into chaos—light clashing with darkness, Rylan's breaths coming in ragged gasps.
One by one, the shadow beasts fell.
Finally, the last creature—the massive bear—let out a guttural roar and lunged toward the pillar. The bird shrieked, flying straight up before diving like a golden comet. It struck the bear in the chest, light exploding outward like a burst of fire.
Rylan threw up his arms to shield his eyes. When the glow faded, the clearing was silent once more. The pillar pulsed brightly, and the bird fluttered down to land on Rylan's shoulder, breathing heavily.
Rylan blinked, his vision clearing. The dark beasts were gone. The golden runes on the pillar now glowed steadily, as though satisfied.
"You did it," Rylan breathed, staring at the bird. "We did it."
The bird chirped softly, nudging his cheek. Its feathers had changed again—now streaked with brighter gold, the glow running through its wings like molten veins. It looked stronger, more confident.
Rylan grinned. "You're evolving. This is real."
He reached into his bag, pulling out the book and flipping to the next page. More runes were sketched there, alongside a phrase that made his breath catch:
"The path of light demands courage. The path of strength demands sacrifice."
Rylan frowned. "Sacrifice? What does that mean?"
The bird chirped, its eye glimmering faintly as if it already knew the answer.
Rylan sighed, tucking the book away. "One step at a time," he muttered. He looked at the pillar one last time before turning back toward the village.
They had survived this trial. But deep down, Rylan knew this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 4