The next morning, as sunlight gently poured into the room, Lucas woke up peacefully—his mind still clouded by memories of yesterday's trial.
Just then, Luna burst in, eyes shining with excitement. She threw her arms around him and exclaimed,
"Lucas! You passed the test! Congratulations!"
For a moment, joy lit up his face. He had done it—he had passed. But beneath the surface, something still gnawed at him.
"How could I have passed?" he wondered. "My final attack never even hit Grandpa. What does it mean?"
Trying to shake off the unease, Lucas stepped toward the dining table. As he approached, he saw Grandpa sitting there, calm as ever, his presence filling the room. In a voice deep and thunderous, Grandpa spoke:
"Lucas... you've passed your test. But now, the time has come. You must leave this place—today, by noon."
Lucas froze. He had always known this day would come. Someday, he would have to venture beyond the safety of this place. But not today… he hadn't thought it would be today.
He sat down to eat, but every bite tasted like uncertainty.
" Am I truly ready? "
he thought." Am I strong enough now? Can I really cross that dark, unforgiving jungle… alone?"
As noon crept closer, the air grew heavier. Just as he was about to step out, Grandpa called him back once more.
"Lucas," he said, his voice quieter now but no less powerful, "I know what you're thinking. Doubts are natural. But don't let them stop you."
He reached out and placed something in Lucas's hand—a strange mask that shimmered faintly—and along with it, a small folded scrap of paper.
Lucas unfolded the paper… and gasped. Before his eyes, it transformed into a glowing, animated map.
"These," Grandpa said, "will guide and protect you. This is the Mark of Relief. When you travel through the jungle, it will shield you from the wild beasts… and the darker magical forces that lurk in the shadows."
He pointed to the map. "And this… is the Magical Map of the Firewood. Wherever you go, it will reveal the terrain around you, adapt to your path. I've already marked the route to Emberfall ."
Lucas stood still, a storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
"This is it,"
he whispered to himself.
"The beginning of my true journey."
With determination burning in his eyes, he took his first step into the unknown. But just as he moved forward, a voice called out from behind—soft, yet urgent.
"Lucas!"
He turned sharply. There, standing in the golden light of the setting sun, was Luna. She hurried to him, her eyes glistening with unspoken emotion. She held out a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
"Take this," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I made it for you… so you won't go hungry for at least three days. Promise me you'll eat and take care of yourself."
Lucas looked at the bundle, then at Luna. A warm smile broke through his seriousness.
"Thank you… for everything."
He turned again, this time without hesitation, and began walking toward the forest. Each step echoed like a drumbeat, fading slowly into the thickening shadows of the jungle.
From a distance, Luna and Grandpa watched in silence. The trees swallowed Lucas bit by bit, until he was nothing more than a memory in the mist.
Finally, Luna spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "Grandpa… will you teach me now? Teach me how to control magic?"
Grandpa's eyes remained fixed on the forest. A faint smile curved his lips, and he gave a slow, knowing nod.
"Yes," he said.
But deep inside, his thoughts churned.
"I gave Lucas the marks… and that map… not just as a guide, but as protection. I don't want anything to happen to that boy. His powers… they could shake the very foundations of this world. But no matter how great they are—he's still just a child."
The wind whispered through the trees, as if the forest itself was listening, waiting for what was to come.
Lucas was venturing deep into the heart of the jungle, each step echoing with the crunch of leaves and the whisper of ancient trees.
His eyes stayed fixed on the map in his hands—an old, weathered parchment glowing faintly in the dim jungle light.
"This map… it shows me everything," he murmured in awe. "Every path, every turn. I can even tell which trail is shorter… and which one could lead me astray."
As the sun reached its peak, casting golden spears through the dense canopy, Lucas found a quiet spot and sat down. From his bag, he pulled out a meal Luna had lovingly prepared. Taking the first bite, a smile spread across his face.
"No matter what happens," he whispered to the trees, "Luna's food will always be the best in the world."
That simple joy gave him strength, and after the last bite, he stood up, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Day turned to dusk, and dusk into night. Now, he was alone—truly alone. The forest was alive with distant howls and eerie rustling. Shadows danced around him, and the weight of solitude began to press down.
A flicker of fear crossed his heart. But he clenched his fists and told himself,
"No matter what comes… I will face it. This journey is mine. Mine alone."
Lucas laid down, placing his bag beside him, and drifted into uneasy sleep. Unknown to him, eyes watched from the darkness—glowing eyes of beasts and monsters. Yet, not one dared to come closer.
An invisible force pulsed in the air around him—a protective aura radiating from the strange mask his grandfather had once gifted him. It shimmered faintly under the moonlight, holding back the wild and the wicked.
As dawn broke, the jungle came alive with the symphony of birdsong. Lucas stirred, waking peacefully, unharmed and untouched. He sat up, amazed.
"How is this possible?" he wondered. "In a forest like this… no magical creatures? No dark masters?" But he shook off the thought.
"There's no time for questions. I have a mission… and I will complete it."
And with that, Lucas stood once more—stronger, braver, and ready for the unknown that awaited him beyond the trees.
Lucas was making his way through the dense jungle, but something felt off. The usual symphony of chirping birds and rustling animals had vanished.
The forest was dead silent. Not even the wind dared to whisper. A strange chill ran down Lucas's spine.
"Why is it so quiet?" he thought, uneasily. "Where are the birds? The animals? This… this doesn't feel right. Am I the only one alive in this whole jungle?"
Though a sense of dread tugged at his heart, he forced himself to walk straight ahead. The deeper he went, the eerier it became.
Suddenly, he stumbled upon an area where trees lay shattered and broken—ripped from their roots as if something enormous had stormed through. Lucas stared in disbelief, but tried to ignore the unease clawing at his mind.
Then, it happened.
His legs froze. It was as if the ground beneath him was holding him hostage. A cold, heavy force pressed on his body like an invisible storm.
"What… what is this power?" Lucas whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "It's not natural. It's too strong… too dark. Is it magic? Some ancient force?"
Suddenly—
ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!
A blood-curdling roar shattered the silence like thunder splitting the sky. It was so loud, so terrifying, that Lucas's entire body broke into a cold sweat. His knees buckled. He collapsed to the ground, breathless and paralyzed by fear.
"What… what was that?" he gasped, barely able to think.
With trembling hands, he tried to crawl forward. That's when he saw it. Beyond the bushes, among the broken trees, lay a monstrous being. Its massive, coal-black scales gleamed menacingly even in the shadows. The ground seemed to pulse with its every breath.
Lucas's heart stopped.
Lying right before him was a creature out of legend… a beast born of fire and fear…
"A DRAGON."