The incident with the wolf and the thorny vines left Arnav shaken but resolute. He understood the gravity of Joren's words – his power was a double-edged sword, capable of both protection and harm. He dedicated himself to mastering it, spending countless hours meditating, practicing control, and listening to the whispers of the forest.The clearing near the cottage became his sanctuary. He would sit beneath the ancient oak, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like supplicating arms, and close his eyes. He would focus on his breathing, trying to find the rhythm of the forest within himself, the pulse of Vitalis energy that connected him to all living things.Joren continued to guide him, sharing ancient techniques of meditation and control, reminding him of the importance of balance and understanding."Power without wisdom is a dangerous thing, Arnav," Joren would say, his voice gentle but firm. "You must learn to use your power with compassion, with understanding, with respect for all living things."Arnav tried his best to heed Joren's wisdom, but the path to mastery was long and arduous. The memories of his uncontrolled outbursts, the image of the splintered oak, the fear in his father's eyes – they haunted him, making it difficult to fully trust his own abilities.One night, a fierce storm raged outside the cottage. The wind howled like a banshee, rattling the windows and shaking the very foundations of the house. Rain lashed against the roof, drumming a relentless rhythm that echoed through the night.Arnav lay in his bed, unable to sleep. The storm mirrored the turmoil within him, the fear and uncertainty that churned in his heart. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the noise, trying to find peace within himself.Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation, a tingling in his fingertips, a warmth spreading through his body. He opened his eyes and saw a faint blue glow emanating from the crescent mark on his forehead.He sat up, startled by the sensation. The glow intensified, bathing the room in an ethereal light. He felt a pull, a gentle tugging sensation, as if something was calling him.He got out of bed and walked over to the window, peering out into the storm-wracked night. The wind howled, the rain lashed, but Arnav barely noticed. He was focused on the blue glow, the strange pull that was drawing him towards the forest.He felt an overwhelming urge to go outside, to venture into the storm. He knew it was dangerous, that he should stay inside where it was safe, but the pull was too strong to resist.He grabbed his cloak and slipped out of the cottage, unnoticed by his sleeping parents. The storm hit him like a physical force, the wind whipping at his cloak, the rain soaking him to the bone. But he pressed on, drawn by the blue glow, guided by the unseen force that was pulling him towards the heart of the forest.He walked for what seemed like hours, the storm raging around him, the trees swaying like drunken dancers. He stumbled through the undergrowth, his feet sinking into the mud, his hands scratched by thorns.Finally, he reached the clearing where the Whispering Oak stood. The tree was silhouetted against the stormy sky, its branches swaying wildly in the wind. The blue glow emanating from Arnav's forehead seemed to resonate with the tree, creating a strange, ethereal light that illuminated the clearing.Arnav approached the tree, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a sense of awe, a sense of wonder, a sense of… recognition. He felt as if he had been here before, as if he knew this place, as if it was a part of him.He sat down at the base of the tree, closing his eyes. The wind howled, the rain lashed, but he barely noticed. He was focused on the blue glow, the warmth spreading through his body, the strange pull that was drawing him deeper and deeper into himself.Suddenly, he was no longer in the clearing. He was standing in a vast, ancient forest, a forest unlike any he had ever seen. The trees were enormous, their trunks thicker than any he had ever imagined, their branches reaching towards the sky like the arms of giants. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, decaying leaves, and a thousand unknown flowers. The light was dim, filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, creating an atmosphere of mystery and magic.He looked around in awe, his senses overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the forest. He felt a sense of peace, a sense of belonging, a sense of… homecoming.Then, he heard a voice, a voice that echoed through the trees, a voice that seemed to come from the forest itself."Welcome, Arnav," the voice said. "You have answered the call."Arnav looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but there was no one there."Who… who's there?" he stammered."I am the forest," the voice replied. "I am Lysandra's legacy."Arnav's eyes widened. "Lysandra?" he whispered."Yes," the voice said. "I am the sneeze-born forest, the forest that sprang from her breath, the forest that holds the secrets of her power."Arnav's mind reeled. He had heard stories of Lysandra, the legendary mage, the woman whose name was linked to his crescent mark. He had heard tales of her sneeze-born forest, a mythical place of immense power and magic."Where… where am I?" he asked."You are within me, Arnav," the voice replied. "You are within the heart of my being.""But… how?" Arnav asked. "How is this possible?""You are connected to me, Arnav," the voice said. "You are a part of me. You carry within you the spark of Lysandra's power."Arnav's eyes filled with tears. He didn't understand everything that was happening, but he felt a deep connection to this ancient forest, a sense of recognition, a sense of belonging."What… what do you want from me?" he asked."I want to show you the truth, Arnav," the voice replied. "I want to show you the source of your power."Suddenly, the forest around him began to change. The trees shifted and morphed, their branches intertwining, their roots reaching out like grasping hands. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble, and a sense of unease washed over him."What's happening?" he asked, his voice trembling."I am showing you the past, Arnav," the voice replied. "I am showing you the truth of your heritage."Arnav watched in awe and terror as the forest transformed before his eyes. He saw images flashing before him, visions of ancient battles, of powerful mages, of a woman with a crescent mark on her forehead. He saw Lysandra, her face radiant with power, her eyes filled with wisdom."She is calling to you, Arnav," the voice said. "She is calling you to embrace your destiny."Arnav felt a pull, a powerful force drawing him towards Lysandra, towards the source of his power. He reached out, his hand outstretched, trying to touch her, trying to connect with her."I… I don't understand," he whispered."You will," the voice replied. "In time. But first, you must learn to listen. Listen to the whispers of the forest, listen to the call of your ancestors, listen to the beating of your own heart."The visions began to fade, the forest returning to its original form. Arnav felt a sense of loss, a longing for the connection he had felt with Lysandra."Wait!" he cried out. "Don't go!"But it was too late. The vision was gone, the voice was silent. Arnav was alone in the ancient forest, surrounded by the towering trees, the whispering leaves, the secrets of the past.He closed his eyes, trying to recapture the connection he had felt, trying to hear the voice of Lysandra, the whispers of the forest. But there was only silence.He opened his eyes, feeling lost and confused. He didn't understand what he had seen, what he had heard, but he knew that it was important. He knew that it was connected to his power, to his destiny.He looked around the ancient forest, its secrets hidden beneath the dense canopy of leaves. He knew that he had to return, that he had to explore this place, that he had to uncover the truth of his heritage.He turned and walked away, his heart filled with a mixture of awe, wonder, and determination. He knew that his journey had just begun, that he was on the path to discovering the truth of his power, the truth of his connection to Lysandra, the truth of his destiny.