The sun had set by the time Saamu walked away from the smoldering ruins of his village. His mind was heavy, each step carrying him farther from the life he had known and deeper into an unknown future. The river goddess's power still surged through his veins, an unrelenting force that made him feel both invincible and fragile at the same time. He was no longer just a boy. He was something else now, a being torn between the echoes of his past and the weight of his newfound power.
Saamu's heart, once full of hope and innocence, had turned cold, and the beast within him had only just begun to awaken. He could feel it stirring in the pit of his stomach, restless and hungry, its presence like a constant, gnawing hunger that no amount of power could sate.
The sky above was darkening, casting long shadows over the landscape. The winds carried the scent of ash and earth, remnants of the village that had once been his home. But now, as he walked through the desolate, empty fields, there was only silence. The world felt hollow, the beauty of the land lost to the destruction he had caused. He wasn't sure what he was looking for maybe redemption, maybe vengeance. Or maybe he was simply searching for something to fill the void that his power had left behind.
"You're not alone, Saamu," the river goddess whispered in his mind, her voice both soothing and distant. "The power you seek is already within you. You only need to let it guide you."
Saamu stopped in his tracks. He could feel her presence, a shadow that loomed over his every decision. The river goddess had chosen him, but with that choice came a burden, a burden that no one else could carry. Her voice echoed in his thoughts, urging him to embrace the beast, to let the power consume him fully. But Saamu wasn't sure if he was ready for that. He could already feel the darkness in his heart, the pull of the beast, and he feared what might happen if he gave in completely.
He dropped to his knees in the middle of the field, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. "I don't want this," he muttered to himself. "I never wanted this."
For a moment, he closed his eyes, hoping for peace, hoping for the comfort of his mother's presence. But all he could hear was the river goddess's voice, a constant hum in the back of his mind.
"You are destined for greatness, Saamu. You will rule the world, and nothing will stand in your way."
Saamu clenched his fists, his heart pounding as the beast within him roared in response. He could feel its strength growing, and with it, a darkness he wasn't sure he could control. The power was intoxicating, like a drug that coursed through his veins, making him feel alive, but also hollow, as if each victory came at a cost.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound behind him. Saamu stood up quickly, his senses heightened. He was no longer the boy he had been. His instincts had sharpened, and his body was alert, ready for battle. The beast within him growled in the depths of his mind, demanding to be unleashed.
A figure emerged from the shadows, a man dressed in tattered clothing, his face dirty and weathered. Saamu's eyes narrowed as he studied the stranger, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the sword his mother had once placed in his hands.
"Who are you?" Saamu demanded, his voice rough, filled with both authority and wariness.
The man raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice calm. "I'm not here to fight, boy. I've seen what you can do."
Saamu's eyes flashed with suspicion. "Then you know what I've become."
The man nodded slowly. "I know. I've been watching you."
"Why?" Saamu's tone was sharp, his patience thinning. "What do you want from me?"
The man smiled, though it was a weary smile, as if he had seen too much to be afraid of anything. "I want to help you. You've got power, yes. But power alone won't keep you alive. The beast within you... it will destroy you if you let it. Trust me."
Saamu hesitated. He didn't know this man. He had no reason to trust him. But there was something in the man's eyes, a familiarity that made Saamu pause. The man didn't seem afraid, even though he had to know what Saamu was capable of.
"How do you know?" Saamu's voice softened, the anger momentarily fading as he took a step closer. "How do you know what it's like to carry this... this curse?"
The man's eyes grew sad, and for a moment, it seemed as though he was looking at something far away, lost in memories. "I've been where you are," he said softly. "I've carried the beast. I've let it take control. And I've paid the price for it."
Saamu's heart skipped a beat. "What happened to you?"
The man's gaze darkened, and for a moment, his expression seemed to falter. "I lost everything," he said quietly. "My family. My kingdom. My soul."
Saamu looked at the man, his mind swirling with questions. Was this what awaited him? Would he, too, lose everything to the beast? Would he become nothing more than a shadow of the boy he once was?
The man stepped forward, his face earnest. "You don't have to walk this path alone. I know a way to control the beast. To use its power without letting it destroy you. But you have to choose, Saamu. You have to decide if you want to be the king you're meant to be or the monster you're becoming."
Saamu's breath caught in his throat. The man's words resonated within him, striking a chord he hadn't realized was there. Could he control the power of the river goddess? Could he wield the beast within him without losing himself?
The river goddess's voice interrupted his thoughts, a low, almost seductive whisper. *"You are mine, Saamu. You will be my king, my weapon, my ruler. Embrace the beast. Embrace your destiny."*
Saamu closed his eyes, shaking his head. The pull of the river goddess was strong, but there was something else looking like a flicker of light deep within him. His mother's words echoed in his mind, a memory of love and sacrifice.
"Promise me, Saamu... You will rise above the darkness."
Saamu opened his eyes and looked at the man before him, a decision forming in his heart. "What's the way?"
The man smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Follow me. And I'll teach you to master the river. Together, we'll make sure the beast doesn't destroy you."
And so, with a sense of determination he had never known before, Saamu took the first step down a path that would either make him the greatest king the world had ever known or the most dangerous monster it had ever feared.