The First Threads

Nathan sat in the center of the training grounds. It was a peaceful place with beautiful skies and a calm breeze. This was his first lesson.

"This is your first lesson. Now, close your eyes," she instructed. "Focus on the air around you, try and feel its energy."

Nathan followed, closing his eyes, At first, there was nothing but darkness. Then, slowly, he began to feel it—a faint vibration in the air.

"I... I think I feel something," he said, his voice hesitant.

"Good," Kaela replied. "Now, open your eyes and tell me what you see."

Nathan opened his eyes. Thin, glowing threads wove around him, connecting the world he knew— from the ground to the clouds, they were all connected. They moved like veins of light and when he reached out to touch one it vibrated a little.

"What are these?" he asked.

"The threads of fate," Kaela said. "They connect everything in this world. And as a Traveler, you can manipulate them."

Nathan frowned, pulling his hand back. "Manipulate them? How?"

Kaela knelt beside him. "Think of the threads as pathways. They connect the past, present, and future. By touching them, you can see the connections between things—how they're linked, how they influence each other. Knowing how to manipulate it all depends on you."

Nathan hesitated, then reached out again, brushing his fingers against a thread connected to a tree. Instantly, a wave of images filled his mind – A tiny seed floating in the sky, landing in a patch of grass, becoming a sapling and growing into a giant tree. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, pulling his hand back. "What was that?"

"That was the thread's memory. Every thread carries the history of what it's connected to. The stronger the connection, the clearer the memory." Kaela said, 

Nathan stared at the threads, his mind racing. "So... I can see the past?"

"And more," Kaela said, standing. "But for now, focus on sensing the threads. You need to understand them before you can manipulate them."

Nathan nodded, his eyes fixed on the glowing strands. He reached out again, this time more carefully, and touched a different thread. This one showed him a deer drinking from a stream, its reflection rippling in the water.

"This is incredible," he murmured. "But... how do I use this? How does it help me?"

Kaela's expression turned serious. "The threads are more than just memories, Nathan. They're pathways to power. By understanding them, you can shape that memory into a path for what you want. But be careful—every action has consequences. Pull on the wrong thread, and you could unravel something you didn't mean to."

Nathan swallowed hard, his excitement tempered by her warning. "So... what do I do now?"

Kaela stepped back, gesturing to the clearing. "Practice. Focus on the threads. Learn to see their full connections. And when you're ready, we'll move on to the next step. But remember, looking at the world of threads can drain you of your nova. Nova in essence is like the mana you were born with. When you are out of nova, you will start to become slow, your movements will lag, and you will become sluggish and eventually fall unconscious."

Nathan nodded, determination settling over him. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the hum of the threads. Slowly, he began to see patterns—how they flowed from one point to another. It was like learning a new language.

As the sun began to set, Nathan finally opened his eyes, exhaustion creeping into his bones. But there was a spark of excitement too—a sense of possibility he hadn't felt since arriving in this world.

"You've done well today," Kaela said, her voice softer now. "But this is just the beginning. The threads are only the first step."

Nathan looked up at her, his curiosity piqued. "What's the next step?"

Kaela's smile was cryptic. "There is none. I am not a traveler and therefore I don't know much about your skills"

"What!? So what do I do??" Nathan said

"There is nothing you can do. Yet. But for now you need to have the basics of this world down. For now, go back and rest, tomorrow will be a new day."

As Nathan stood, he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming. The threads had shown him glimpses of the past, but how does this help him? What could he possibly have to get him chosen?

And more importantly—Was this really his new life?