THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

The morning after the strange event, Ryuu sat on a rock overlooking Feren's Hollow, the village now a distant silhouette beneath the rising sun. His heart was heavy, his thoughts swirling in a storm of confusion.

His powers were real, but what did they mean? Why had they awakened now? He knew that his life had changed, but what was he supposed to do with this newfound strength?

The village was eerily quiet, as if the earth itself was holding its breath after the catastrophe of the previous day. Ryuu could feel the weight of the villagers' stares, the unspoken words in the air.

They were afraid of him, and Ryuu could hardly blame them. After all, it wasn't every day that a young man unleashed a storm of energy strong enough to split the sky.

Ryuu stood up and turned away from the village, the decision to leave now seeming inevitable. He couldn't stay. Not after what had happened.

Elder Kaelen's words echoed in his mind. "There are forces in this world that will stop at nothing to control your power." Ryuu knew that he couldn't hide forever.

With one last glance at Feren's Hollow, Ryuu set off down the worn path that led through the dense forest. "I better start moving before I'm caught." The path was familiar, yet for the first time, it felt like the edge of the world, and everything ahead was unknown.

As Ryuu walked deeper into the forest, the sounds of the village faded behind him. The rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of twigs beneath his boots were the only sounds that accompanied his journey.

The scent of pine and damp earth filled ghe area as he walked, and the further he went, the darker the forest became. It felt like the trees were closing in around him, as if the forest itself was watching him.

He had walked for hours when he first heard the sound of movement. Quick, deliberate footsteps that didn't match the rhythm of the forest.

Ryuu tensed, instinctively reaching for the dagger he kept hidden in his belt. His hand grazed the hilt, but he didn't draw it.

Something told him that violence wasn't what awaited him in this forest.

Suddenly, from behind a thick cluster of trees, a figure stepped out.

At first glance, Ryuu thought it might be a bandit or a rogue, but the figure was too composed. She was a woman, dressed in a traveling cloak of dark leather, with a hood drawn up to conceal most of her features.

Her eyes, however, shone with an otherworldly intensity—a deep green that seemed to see through Ryuu. She wasn't a common traveler, that much was certain.

"You're far from home, aren't you?" the woman said, her voice calm but firm, as if she had been expecting him.

Ryuu hesitated. "Who are you?"

She stepped closer, her presence oddly calming despite her mystery. "My name is Aeris. I've been following you for a while now, Ryuu."

She tilted her head slightly, eyes studying him. "I knew you were coming." Ryuu's heart raced, but his instincts told him that she was not an enemy. Not yet, at least.

"How do you know my name?" He took a step back, trying to make sense of this strange encounter. "Are you with them?"

Aeris raised an eyebrow, but there was no malice in her gaze. "No. I'm not with anyone. I've been… watching. Waiting for you."

"Why?" Ryuu asked, his voice growing more guarded. "What do you want from me?"

Aeris chuckled softly, the sound like a breeze passing through the trees. "You're special, Ryuu. Your power is unlike anything I've ever seen before. The world has been waiting for someone like you."

She stepped closer still, lowering her hood to reveal striking features—pale skin, high cheekbones, and long silver hair that flowed like liquid moonlight. Her eyes glimmered with knowledge, and something more—something ancient.

Ryuu's mind raced. How could she know so much about him? "What do you mean? How do you know about my powers?"

Aeris' expression softened. "I know because I've been studying the ancient texts, Ryuu. Your bloodline is older than you think. What happened to you yesterday wasn't a random accident. It was fate, calling you back."

"Back? From where?" Ryuu's confusion deepened. His mind was a whirlwind of questions.

Aeris sighed, a look of pity in her eyes. "You don't remember, do you? That's to be expected. But I'll help you. There's much you need to learn. And you can't do it alone."

Ryuu stared at the mysterious woman. She had an air of confidence, as if she knew exactly what was happening, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Her words were full of certainty, but they only made Ryuu feel more lost.

"Why are you helping me?" Ryuu asked, the suspicion in his voice growing. "You expect me to just trust you?"

Aeris smiled faintly. "No. I don't expect you to trust me right away. But you'll need me if you want to survive.

There are others who will come after you, Ryuu. And they won't be as friendly as I am."

The mention of others sent a chill down Ryuu's spine. "Who are they?" Aeris' smile faded, and her expression darkened.

"It's a long story. But one you'll have to hear soon. For now, I'll take you somewhere safe—somewhere you can begin to understand what's happening to you."

Ryuu hesitated. The weight of his decision pressed down on him. On the one hand, he felt an undeniable pull to follow this woman, to learn more about the powers he had unleashed and the mystery of his lineage.

On the other hand, his instincts screamed at him to run, to escape the unknown.

But deep down, Ryuu knew that he couldn't go back. He couldn't return to a life of ignorance, pretending that nothing had changed.

"I'll go with you," Ryuu said, finally making up his mind. "But if I'm to trust you, I need to know more."

Aeris nodded. "Of course. The journey ahead will answer many of your questions. But you must be prepared. The road will not be easy."

With that, she turned and began walking down the narrow forest path, her movements fluid and graceful, as if she were one with the forest.

"Well, I guess I'll have to go too." Ryuu followed, unsure of where the journey would lead but feeling, for the first time, that he was heading toward something greater.