Khal Dreikov awoke beneath a sky that stretched wider than anything he had ever known. The sun was gentle, golden, and distant, its warmth caressing his skin rather than scorching it. He blinked several times, his breath shallow with awe. The meadow around him was alive—not just vibrant in color, but resonating with an energy he could feel deep in his bones.
He sat up slowly. The grass whispered against his fingers, cool and slick with morning dew. Towering trees circled the field, their trunks as wide as city buses and leaves the size of his torso. Insects chirped, birds sang foreign melodies, and somewhere far off, he could hear the rushing of water.
But what truly unsettled him wasn't the alien beauty of the place—it was the stillness inside himself.
No panic. No pain. No thudding arrhythmia threatening to silence him at any moment. For the first time in both lifetimes, Khal's chest was... quiet. Strong.
Alive.
He placed a hand over his heart and just listened to its steady rhythm. It was more than a heartbeat. It was a drum, and every thump was a vow to live.
Suddenly, something pulsed in his mind—a wave of warmth and pressure, like a new muscle flexing for the first time.
[SYSTEM INITIATED]
Welcome, Khal Dreikov.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Primary Trait: Heart of Becoming (Growth Type) — LV. 1
Your soul defied death. Your will demanded purpose. You have been granted the right to evolve.
New Skill Acquired: Breath of Resonance (Passive)
Your body harmonizes with the world's natural flow. Increases regeneration, perception, and affinity with elemental energies over time. Growth is tied to moments of deep emotional clarity or adversity.
Khal swallowed hard. It wasn’t just words in his mind. He could feel the truth of them. His muscles felt just slightly more responsive. His breathing steadier. As though the world had accepted him—no, welcomed him.
“Okay,” he said aloud, voice hoarse from disuse. “Not a dream. Not Earth. But I’m not dead anymore either.”
He stood and turned slowly in place. There was no path, no signage, no voices to follow. Just the world… waiting.
That’s when he noticed the girl watching him.
She stood at the edge of the trees, half-shrouded in shadow. Her eyes were violet, impossibly bright, and her white cloak shimmered like moonlight. She was barefoot, carrying a crooked staff, and a strange wind tugged at her hair though the air around Khal remained still.
“You’re not from here,” she said, stepping forward, her voice a soft breeze. “You don’t smell of this world.”
Khal raised both hands instinctively. “I… I guess not?”
The girl tilted her head. “But the World Tree accepted you. That shouldn’t be possible.”
“World Tree?” Khal echoed.
She nodded once. “You were born beneath its roots. Reborn, rather. You carry something ancient inside you.”
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“No one does,” she replied with a sad smile. “But you’re here. Which means you’re meant to become something.”
Khal looked at her warily. “And who are you?”
The girl hesitated before answering. “My name is Sera. I’m a warden of the Veil. And I think you’re going to cause a lot of trouble.”
Khal laughed despite himself. “That makes two of us.”
Sera stepped closer, her staff planting softly into the ground. “Come. The Veil stirs. There’s not much time before the world notices what you are.”
Before Khal could ask what that meant, the sky rumbled—a low, bone-deep vibration like distant drums.
And the earth answered.