There was wind in that place. The group of humans sat around what could perhaps be called a campfire—but it wasn't quite that yet. It was merely a pile of dry leaves and branches burning unevenly. The crackling sound of the fire contrasted with the quiet calm of the night around them. They didn't understand exactly what it was, but they knew that staying close reduced the cold, and the trembling in their bodies began to fade.
One of the young men moved his hand closer to the flames, hesitating for a moment before feeling the pain. He quickly pulled it back, letting out a short, instinctive sound. The others immediately leaned in, watching. The skin had changed—slightly reddened, different. They didn't understand pain, but they understood danger. Their eyes met, and without needing words, a silent understanding formed among them: don't get too close.
The blonde-haired woman looked back at the fire, frowning slightly.
"It's getting smaller…"
The more serious-looking man slowly stood up, shifting his gaze between the fire and the scattered branches around them, as if connecting something. Without hesitation, he began gathering pieces of dry wood and throwing them onto the flames. The fire reacted, growing again, more alive. The others watched for a moment before gradually starting to imitate him.
As time passed, their bodies began to feel heavy. The ground was hard and uncomfortable, but there was no choice. One by one, they lay down until sleep took them. The fire continued to burn, and throughout the night, some of them briefly woke—just enough to notice the fading glow. Almost instinctively, they added more branches and leaves, keeping it alive a little longer.
Still, as the night went on, the flames gradually weakened until they died out completely, leaving only embers. The faint heat they emitted was enough to keep them warm. And in that silent night, something had already begun to change.
Ariana was too focused on observing the humans. She wanted to reveal herself to them, but in their first days of life, she chose to let them manage on their own. Only then could she truly know if Arcadia was capable of sustaining human life.
Dawn approached, and while Ariana drifted into her own thoughts, in a distant region of Arcadia, something began to happen.
On an isolated island, a small mass of energy began to form.
It was not an ordinary island, but the corrupted island Ariana had created by mistake.
In that place, almost nothing existed. The vegetation was twisted, deformed, as if forced to grow the wrong way. Much of the soil was dark and barren, making survival nearly impossible for any form of life. Above the island, dense storm clouds gathered constantly, split by lightning that struck without end.
Even so, something was there. A dense concentration of mana permeated the entire region, likely fueled by the relentless storms that struck the island.
And it was that energy that began to take shape.
At the center of the island, a small mass of purple energy pulsed slowly. It was not yet alarming—nothing that would catch Ariana's attention.
After all, throughout Arcadia, the presence of mana was already becoming common. And until now, Ariana had never considered that island a problem.
When daylight fully arrived, the humans began to wake one by one. They rose slowly, looking around and stretching. Their bodies were already responding instinctively—the sound of their stomachs growling, their throats dry, a discomfort that bothered them.
Ariana had ensured that Arcadia would have plenty of fruit-bearing trees. At least for now, they had something to eat. Still, fruit alone would not be enough forever; at some point, they would need more to grow stronger and survive in that environment.
The group began to move through the clearing, exploring their surroundings. The two girls walked together toward a nearby tree. It was a banana tree. They observed the fruits with curiosity.
"My stomach… it hurts," one of them said, lightly pressing her abdomen. Her eyes then fixed on the fruit. "That looks… good."
Something about it drew her in.
Without thinking much, she pulled one of the bananas and took a bite. Instantly, her expression twisted.
"Bad…"
She pulled the fruit away for a moment, examining it more carefully, until she noticed the outer layer. With a slightly clumsy motion, she peeled it.
She tried again.
This time, her eyes widened slightly.
"Good…" she said, now with certainty, already grabbing more fruits.
The others, noticing her reaction, approached.
"What is that?" one of the young men asked.
"I don't know… but it's good," she replied, chewing while holding more fruit.
It didn't take long for the others to begin imitating her.
Watching the scene, Ariana couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
The rest of the group quickly followed their example, picking fruits and trying them for themselves. Some hesitated at first, but soon necessity spoke louder. Little by little, the discomfort in their bodies faded, replaced by a new sensation—lighter, more stable.
They still didn't understand what it was.
But they understood that it was necessary.
As they ate, some began to wander through the clearing, observing the environment more carefully. The serious-looking man remained alert, his gaze scanning every detail around him, as if trying to understand that place better. Others simply followed, still guided more by instinct than by conscious decision.
Ariana watched everything in silence.
There was something satisfying about that scene. The way they learned, adapted… how, little by little, they began to take their own steps without any direct interference.
It was exactly what she wanted.
Far away from there, beyond the newly formed forests and mountains, something continued to take shape.
The small mass of purple energy pulsed irregularly, absorbing the surrounding mana with increasing intensity.
There was still no form.
There was still no consciousness.
But there was already… presence.
And unlike humans—
it did not learn.
It only grew.