The air inside was calm, as if the storm had never existed.
He sat up slowly."I didn't even feel it," he murmured. "Maybe… this place really is meant for me."
For a moment, he thought of staying here forever. A quiet life in silence. But reality struck quickly — there was no food, no water, nothing to keep him alive.His stomach growled. Survival came first.
Far away, in the grand halls of the Valemir mansion, music and laughter filled the air.Golden chandeliers swayed above a massive crowd. It was Lyra's eighteenth birthday — a celebration that echoed through the estate.
But in her room above the noise, Lyra sat alone, holding a small box in her hands.Inside lay a gift — simple, yet precious.
She stared at it quietly."Rafael…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "We were supposed to turn eighteen together. I already had this ready for you… but you left."
She clenched the box tightly against her chest."I swear I'll give this to you, no matter what. Until then… please, stay safe."
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to smile before stepping down the stairs, where the crowd awaited. The music swallowed her sadness, but the light in her eyes was gone.
Meanwhile, under the burning desert sun, Rafael wandered farther from the ruins. His lips were dry, his legs heavy.He hadn't eaten in days.
"Food… water…" he whispered weakly.Each step felt like his last. Yet even in that hopeless state, something stirred within him — a pulse, faint but growing stronger.
Then he felt it.A sudden rush through his body — wild, untamed energy awakening deep in his core.Not one, but two powers ignited at once.
He stumbled, gripping his chest."What… is this?"
Then he remembered Lyra's words that night before he left:
"Some powers awaken with time… others, when you're pushed to the edge of death."
A small smile formed on his cracked lips."Guess you were right after all."
Maybe it was because he had just turned eighteen. Maybe it was the brink of death. Either way, it wasn't a coincidence.
But first, he needed food.He continued walking until the endless sand turned into green — a massive forest spread before him, dense and alive.He almost couldn't believe it.
"Finally…" he breathed. "I can find something here."
He searched until he spotted a deer grazing nearby. His heart raced, but reality hit again — he had no combat skills, no weapon. The deer bolted before he could even move.
So he turned to the next necessity: water.He searched deeper into the forest until he found a lake glimmering under the sunlight.He knelt, drinking greedily, the cool water reviving him for a moment. Then, exhausted, he leaned against a tree and thought about his new powers.
"Maybe… I can use them to hunt."
He raised his hand, focusing on the tree beside him."Let's see what you can do."
The ground trembled faintly.The tree shuddered — then opened eyes and a mouth. Its bark twisted into expression.
Rafael froze."What in the world…?"
The creature looked down at him."I am a tree," it said, its voice deep and calm. "Are you the one who gave me life?"
"Wait— so my power… is life?" Rafael thought aloud, eyes wide with shock.
Curious, he decided to try his second power. "Can I… use my other ability on you?" he asked.
The tree nodded.Light shimmered faintly, then silence fell. The creature's eyes dimmed for a moment, before reopening — this time, cold and obedient.
"Master," it said in a monotone voice. "Please… give me an order."
Rafael's breath caught.His mind raced.Life… and control.
He had awakened two powers — one that gave life, and another that could enslave it.
Quickly, he released the control and returned the tree to normal. The eyes and mouth faded, bark sealing shut once more.
"What happened?" the tree asked weakly.
"Nothing," Rafael replied softly. "Thank you for letting me test my powers."
The tree rustled its branches in response — almost like a nod.
They spoke for a while longer — a strange, quiet conversation between man and tree. Then Rafael stood, gazing toward the deeper parts of the forest.
"I have to go," he said.
"May the wind guide you, life-giver," the tree whispered.
Rafael smiled faintly, then turned and walked away.The path ahead was uncertain, but his steps were no longer weak.
For the first time, he truly felt it —He was changing.And the world around him would soon change too.