One morning, as we lay entwined, Sara traced patterns on my chest.
"Amazons have magic power ten times that of normal humans," she said softly. "It flows from Artemis's blessing. But you, Benjamin… yours is fifty times an Amazon's. On par with our anomaly Queen Elara."
I blinked. "Magic…?"
There was magic in this world?
She smiled. "indeed. And soon, we'll train you in it. But rest now. Though, your power could draw threats… or wonders."
The System rang, arousing a new tab: Magic Core Unlocked – Training Awaits.
***
Exactly three days after the Welcoming Rite, my body had finally stopped feeling like it belonged to someone else.
The constant endeavor of new connections, the lingering ache of endless nights with Sara, the overwhelming novelty of Verdant Spire; it was all starting to settle into something that felt almost normal.
"Almost," though.
I woke that morning to Sara's fingers tracing slow circles on my chest.
Sunlight filtered through the leaf-walls of our treehouse, painting golden patterns across her auburn hair and the curve of her bare shoulder.
She smiled when she saw my eyes finally open, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips.
We felt like a couple now. or is it arrogant to think so?
"Amazons have magic power ten times that of normal humans," she said softly. "It flows from Artemis's blessing. But you, Benjamin… yours is fifty times an Amazon's. On par with our anomaly Queen Elara."
I blinked. "Magic…?"
There was magic in this world?
She smiled. "Indeed. And soon, we'll train you in it. But rest now. Though, your power could draw threats… or wonders. However, your power is too great to waste in the grove any longer. We plan to hunt a chimera that's been sighted near the borders. It will force you to use it."
A chimera.
Even in my old world I'd known the stories about it: lion's body, goat's head sprouting from its back, serpent for a tail, breathing fire.
Here, it was apparently real. And apparently my first field exam.
By dawn the squad was ready: Lulu, Tamar, Heka, and a new face called Lotus.
Sara led us, sword at her hip, her expression calm but definitely alert.
Tamar scouted ahead, bow in hand, her shorter raven hair tied back severely.
Heka walked with her spear like an extension of her arm, silent and steady. Martha practically bounced, twin daggers flashing as she spun them idly. Lulu clutched her glowing staff, wide blue eyes taking in everything with quiet wonder.
And then there was that Lotus.
She brought up the rear, moving with the unhurried grace of someone who had seen every kind of danger the forest could offer.
She had grey hair braided with silver vines which framed a face etched with fine lines of experience… Yet…
Her body was still strong and unmistakably feminine: round breasts and hips beneath weathered green armor, posture straight as an ancient oak.
Golden eyes which undoubtedly held centuries of knowledge.
Ah! She caught me looking and gave a small, expressive smile that made me feel like a kid again. so embarrassing.
We descended into the Whispering Wilds as the mist still clung to the undergrowth. The air grew thicker, heavier with the scent of damp earth and something acrid: burnt wood.
Tamar dropped back beside me at one point, pretending to check her quiver.
"Try not to slow us down, god-touched," she said under her breath, sharp as ever.
She said that, but when a low branch threatened to snag my tunic, she reached out without thinking and pushed it aside, her fingers brushing my arm for a second longer than necessary.
"W-Watch where you're going, idiot."
I hid my smile. Classic Tamar, I guess. So cute.
Heka walked on my other side for a stretch, and her presence was really comforting in its quiet strength.
"Your magic feels different today," she said softly, brown eyes meeting mine. "Is it stronger. Or more like, it's waking up."
"Ahaha. Nothing so dramatic…" I laughed.
There was this warmth in her voice, the same warmth I'd felt from her during the Rite, and it lingered between us like a gentle stream.
Martha, never one for subtlety, called from ahead, "If you two are done flirting, maybe focus on not getting attacked?"
She flashed me a wicked grin over her shoulder, red curls wild in the breeze. "Though I wouldn't mind nursing you back to health later."
Lulu giggled, then immediately blushed crimson when Sara glanced back. "I… I just meant the— I mean his magic practice," she stammered, clutching her staff tighter. "You were really good with the sparks yesterday…"
"Really? Thanks. I couldn't do it without you guys help."
Sara's hand then found mine briefly, squeezing once: affectionate, but with a faint edge.
She didn't say anything, but I felt the subtle tension. The sisters' attention wasn't going unnoticed.
I hope they'd just stop the indirect sparks already.
We tracked the chimera for hours and the signs grew clearer: scorched earth, claw marks deep in tree trunks, the faint smell of sulfur.
Lotus moved to the front at one point, golden eyes scanning the trail.
"It's close," she said quietly. "And possibly angry. Something drove it from its territory."
I do hope we don't meet that something anytime soon… Oh!
The ravine appeared suddenly: a wide gash in the forest floor, mist swirling below. And then a roar came, so deep and layered, it sounded like a demonic beast. But it was only the chimera.
It erupted from the shadows opposite us.
But hell, it was massive. And nightmare's fuel.
The lion's body alone was literally the size of a truck, golden fur rippling over muscle, claws like short swords.
A goat's head protruded from its back, it's horns curled and it's vertically slit eyes mad with rage.
The serpent tail whipped through the air, fangs dripping what could only be venom, hissing flames licking from its jaws.
Then… It charged!