Waking up

Larin woke with a sharp intake of breath, his body surging upward in reflex. The weight of strong hands forced him back down, pressing him gently but firmly into the shallow waters of the spring. His instincts screamed at him to fight, his muscles tensing in resistance, but the hands did not yield. His vision swam, flickering between reality and the hazy remnants of unconsciousness. His body ached, his mana reserves felt dangerously low, but he was alive. 

Then he heard a familiar voice. "Young Larin, you did well. But that was risky."

His vision cleared, and he found himself staring up at Cindris. Her usually fluid form was more defined, her wooden skin glistening faintly from the moisture of the spring. Beside her stood another Dryad, taller and older, her presence more commanding. Her bark-like skin was darker than Cindris's, the patterns on her form more rigid and ancient. Tiny, delicate vines adorned her hair, glimmering with minuscule leaves that seemed to shift in response to her movements.

"You are awake," the older Dryad said, her tone neutral yet observant. "You struggled when we healed you, so we had to restrain you. Your body was trying to fight back."

Larin took a deep breath, the warmth of the water soaking into his wounds, easing the ache in his limbs. His mind caught up to his reality, remembering the desperate escape, the brutal fight on the warship, and the final explosive blast that sent him plummeting to the earth. He had survived. Barely.

Cindris smiled, but there was a weight to it, something close to concern. "Larin, meet Lopita, my senior. She was the keeper of this spring long before I was born into form."

Lopita gave a slow nod. "It has been a long time since I have returned here," she said, her voice low and rich like rustling leaves. "I see it is well-tended, though the world around it grows more restless."

Larin exhaled, adjusting his posture, feeling the cool water lap against his exposed skin. His fingers curled into the soft earth beneath the water. The tension of battle still lingered in his muscles, the adrenaline fading into a dull exhaustion. "I… I did it," he murmured, his voice rasping from fatigue. "The warship… I destroyed it."

Cindris nodded. "Yes. It fell and burned, killing most aboard. Your work dealt a great blow to the Kirat forces."

Larin felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. His actions had mattered. He had struck at the heart of the enemy and survived. But the price… The faces of Voro and Gunan flashed in his mind. The blood. The screams. The pain.

Lopita observed him silently before speaking again. "Your injuries are not critical. Your mana is already recovering at a faster rate than we expected. You are growing into your abilities, far faster than most."

Cindris's gaze softened. "You have stepped into a new threshold, Larin. You are no longer simply learning the Sinlung Arts. You have become a True Magi."

Larin blinked. The words hit him harder than he expected. "A… True Magi?"

Cindris nodded. "Kirat calls them Cosmic Magi, but that is an incomplete understanding. You are not simply adapting to mana, you are becoming something beyond human limits. The first step toward greater magic."

Lopita studied him for a long moment before adding, "If you continue, you will meet beings whose mere presence can make planets tremble."

Larin swallowed, the weight of her words pressing against him. He had always known the world was vast, that there were powers far beyond his understanding. But hearing it from someone as ancient as Lopita made it real in a way that sent a shiver down his spine.

Larin looked at her carefully. There was something about her presence, something so still yet undeniably vast. Unlike the Dryads he had met before, she gave off no mana signature, no telltale sign of power. It was as if she existed beyond what normal senses could grasp. He hesitated before speaking. "You… you hide your mana, don't you?" 

Lopita's lips curved slightly. "Naturally. You are learning well."

Cindris smiled at Larin's realization. "What you sense is correct. The more one grows, the less they must display. The greatest threats are those unseen."

Larin absorbed this quietly, then exhaled slowly. "Then I still have a long way to go."

Lopita simply nodded. "Yes. But your path is clearer now."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, the trickling of the spring the only sound filling the space.

Then Lopita's expression turned more serious. "I was the guardian of this spring perhaps five hundred cycles ago. We do not count time as humans do, but I can tell you this—Sinlung is watching you closely."

Larin frowned. "Why now? Why take such an interest in me?"

Cindris answered, her voice gentle but firm. "Because you are a bridge, Larin. Between humans and the land, between the old world and the chaos that is coming."

Lopita's gaze darkened. "Your battle was a success. But the war is still happening. Other places are not as fortunate as you. Your people bleed even now."

Larin clenched his fists. He knew that was true. The war did not end with his victory. The Kirat would regroup. More forces would come. And there were still the unanswered questions—why was an Auquan warship there? What did it mean?

"You should return to Tlangthar soon," Lopita continued. "Your place is not here in this moment. The war is waiting for no one."

Larin exhaled sharply, nodding. His body still ached, but he forced himself to his feet, the water dripping from his skin. He had rested long enough.

Cindris touched his arm lightly. "Be careful, Larin. You are walking deeper into something vast."

Larin met her gaze, something steeling inside him. "I know."

With that, he stepped out of the spring, his mind already racing toward the battles ahead.