Alex opened his eyes, gasping for air. His body was drenched in cold sweat, clinging uncomfortably to his skin. His heart pounded against his chest, as if trying to break free. He sat there in the dim light, struggling to gather his thoughts. Only a faint glimmer of moonlight filtered through the barred window, casting pale, jagged lines on the walls of the cell. Everything around him was wrapped in silence—only his ragged breathing echoed off the stone.
He looked down at his hands. They pulsed with a strange warmth, as if fire flowed just beneath the surface, waiting to be released. He clenched his fists, but the heat didn't fade—instead, it grew, as though something inside him was trying to break out. Swallowing nervously, he reached for the clay bowl with the last of the water, sitting next to his bedding.
The moment his fingers touched the cool surface, something changed. For a heartbeat, his hands were wrapped in a subtle glow—the purest shade of green. Alex blinked rapidly, nearly dropping the bowl. The green light vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him stunned, his heart now racing faster than before.
"Am I dreaming?" he thought.
He took a deep breath and sipped the lukewarm, stale water. It had a bitter aftertaste, but it brought some relief. He set the bowl down and, without meaning to, glanced toward the other side of the cell—toward Lyra.
The elf was lying peacefully on her bedding, turned away from him, her hair spilled over the pillow like a cascade of chestnut. Her breathing was calm and even. She looked free of worry or fear—so different from the proud, hardened warrior she was during the day.
Alex couldn't look away. She was beautiful—he had seen her before, of course, but now, in the quiet and shadow, she seemed different. Softer. More real. Something tightened in his chest at the sight.
Ashamed of his thoughts, he quickly looked away. His hands were still trembling, as if the tension inside him had nowhere to go. He closed his eyes, trying to regain control over his body and mind.
Then he heard a voice.
At first, just a faint whisper—barely there. But it grew stronger, as if someone—or something—was drawing closer, seeping into his thoughts. It was a woman's voice—gentle, yet filled with unimaginable power.
"Alex..." the voice whispered, calm like swaying trees. "You're beginning to awaken.This land needs you."
His eyes snapped open, searching the cell for the source of the voice. But there was no one there. Lyra still slept, unaware. The voice came from inside his own mind—an echo of something older than time, ancient and mysterious.
Before he could react, visions consumed him. Sudden and intense, like images burned into his thoughts with fire.
He was in an ancient forest again, where the trees were towering and mighty, their roots burrowing deep into damp earth. The scent of moss, leaves, and soil filled his nose. Greenery surrounded him—vivid, alive, overwhelming. He could feel the power of the place, an ancient energy that pulsed all around him. But then, everything began to change.
The light vanished, replaced by thick, suffocating darkness. Trees burned. The ground cracked open. The air reeked of smoke and blood. He heard screams—terrified, agonized cries. He saw people—mages and warriors—fighting desperately against twisted, monstrous creatures with glowing red eyes, long fangs, and razor-sharp claws. Demons.
The images were sharp and brutal—bodies torn apart with horrifying ease. Yet there was courage, too—those who fought refused to yield, even in the face of death. Alex stood helplessly, unable to move, even though every part of him wanted to join the battle. He knew it was only a vision, but it felt painfully real.
"Don't fear what you see," the voice whispered again—gentle, but firm. "What has been forgotten will return. And you must help them."
"Who are you?" he murmured, his throat tight with fear and wonder.
"I am Gaia," the voice answered softly. "The one who awakened you. Guardian of balance. Mother of this land, which now waits for your aid."
Alex felt the heat in his hands surge again, stronger than before, as if the energy within him was begging to be released. He looked down—there it was again, that faint green glow around his fingers, lasting just a bit longer this time before fading into the dark.
"Your power is beginning to awaken," Gaia continued. "You are the start of a new cycle. It's time you discover what you were truly meant to be."
The visions vanished as suddenly as they had come. Alex was back in the cold cell, trembling, his mind spinning with images that felt unreal—and yet too vivid to deny.
He sat in silence for a long time, trying to process what he had just seen and heard. He looked at Lyra—still asleep, unaware—and felt a strange urge to go to her, to share what had happened. But he knew it wasn't time yet. He barely understood any of it himself—how could he explain it to someone else? Besides... could he even trust her?
He lay back down on his bedding, but sleep didn't return. He stared at the ceiling, where moonlight cast pale, mysterious shadows. Gaia's voice still echoed in his mind—soft yet unwavering, speaking of a destiny he had only just begun to uncover.
"A new cycle..." he whispered, as if trying to give weight to the words.
The pulsing in his hands had stopped, and his body was slowly calming down—but his mind was still racing. He didn't yet know how to make sense of everything. He didn't know what choices lay ahead. But one thing was clear—his life had just changed.
Whatever came next, Alex knew one thing for certain:
He would no longer be just a prisoner.
He closed his eyes again, letting his thoughts settle—though deep inside, he still heard Gaia's whisper.