The morning fog clung like a second skin, damp and heavy.
Marcus woke to a strange buzzing sensation under his skin. Like tiny electric currents threading through his veins.
He flexed his fingers.
The air shimmered.
"You're waking up," Loria said, her glow flickering with excitement. "The Pulse is responding."
Marcus sat up, rubbing his jaw. "Yeah? What does that mean? Like, I'm finally not just a glorified forest pest?"
"You're learning control. Tap into the Pulse properly, and you can reshape the world around you."
"Cool. Like magic?"
"More like rewiring reality."
Marcus blinked. "Sounds expensive."
Kaelra was already awake, sharpening a blade by the campfire. Her eyes flicked up at him.
"You finally feel it, huh?"
"Yeah," Marcus said. "I think I can almost… push back."
She nodded, not looking away from her knife.
"Want to try?" she asked.
Marcus hesitated. "Try what?"
"Channel the Pulse."
He swallowed.
"What if I blow us all up?"
"Better than sitting here whining."
They moved deeper into the forest. The trees here were taller, older—their trunks thick with ancient scars.
Kaelra led him to a stone circle marked with runes.
"Place your hands here," she said.
Marcus did.
A surge shot through him—warm, electric, like plunging into a river.
He focused on a nearby rock.
It shimmered.
Then cracked—fractured like glass—and glowed bright green.
Marcus jumped back.
"That's good," Loria said. "Very good."
Kaelra raised an eyebrow. "You didn't just break a rock?"
Marcus grinned nervously. "Apparently not."
As the day wore on, Marcus practiced, shaping small twigs and stones with his newfound connection.
Kaelra watched silently, occasionally offering tips.
Her demeanor was tight, controlled, but Marcus caught the flicker of something else—pain? Regret? Fear?
"Kaelra," he said softly. "What happened to you before all this?"
She tensed.
"Nothing you need to know."
He pressed.
She sighed.
"My family… didn't survive the rot."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"I'm not just here to protect the forest," she said. "I'm here to fight whatever's poisoning it."
That night, the forest grew restless.
Shadows shifted at the edge of camp.
Marcus felt eyes watching him.
He wasn't alone.
A low growl echoed.
Kaelra's hand went to her dagger.
"Stay close."
Suddenly, a figure burst through the brush—a massive wolf-like beast, eyes glowing red, fur matted with shadow.
Marcus's heart pounded.
Loria flared brightly.
"Pulse fire!" she commanded.
Marcus clenched his fists, summoning energy.
Green flames erupted, crackling and twisting around the beast.
The wolf snarled and lunged.
The fire burned hot, but the creature didn't falter.
Kaelra shouted, throwing a spear that struck the beast's side.
It howled, retreating into the darkness.
Marcus collapsed, breath ragged.
Kaelra knelt beside him.
"You did good."
The Pulse was powerful—but unpredictable.
Marcus knew this was only the beginning.