In The Eyes of Truth

I leaned against the frame of the bookstore's entrance, catching my breath after the short jog from the gym. My body still hummed with energy from the workout. The transformation I'd gone through in the past few weeks was undeniable. My once-scrawny arms now held definition, and my shoulders had broadened. Even my endurance had skyrocketed as it was like my body had finally caught up to the fire ignited within me in my dreams.
Pulling the door open, I stepped into the familiar haven of books and paper. The scent of aged pages and fresh ink greeted me like an old friend, grounding me amidst the swirling chaos in my mind. Here, among the shelves, I could escape even if only for a while.
The store was quiet, save for the soft whispers of other customers and the faint classical music playing over the speakers. I made my way to the back corner, where the owner, Mr. Calloway, always set aside the latest fantasy releases for me.
"Greg," Mr. Caloy greeted with his usual warm smile as he spotted me. His wiry frame was perched on a stool behind the counter, glasses sliding down his nose. "You're looking… different. Been hitting the weights, eh?"
I chuckled awkwardly, running a hand through my slightly damp hair. "Something like that."
"Well, whatever you're doing, it's working," he said, leaning down to grab a stack of books. "Got a few titles you might like. Some new releases in the epic fantasy section, plus that series on aura mastery you were reading last time."
My breath hitched at the mention of aura. Lately, anything remotely connected to the concept felt personal. Like it was no longer fiction but something tied to the strange journey I was on. I thanked him and took the books, heading to my usual corner seat.
I flipped through the first few pages of a novel, but my focus wandered. My dreams, my training, the knight's voice, they were constant now. Like a second life that refused to stay neatly tucked away in the night. And then there was my body. The changes weren't just physical. I could feel it in the way I moved, the way I reacted to things. Faster, stronger, sharper. Even Mr. Peterson's flying eraser hadn't caught me off guard.
And Lydia… her strange gift, the bracelet with its faintly glowing runes. It was subtle, but I could feel something about it. A presence. Protective, maybe. Or watchful.
I sighed, closing the book and leaning back in my chair. The bookstore had always been my sanctuary, but now even here, I couldn't shake the questions.
"Lost in thought?"
The voice startled me, and I looked up to see Lydia standing there, arms crossed, her usual playful smirk in place. Her pink hair practically glowed under the warm light of the store.
"Lydia!" I said, sitting up straighter. "What are you doing here?"
"Browsing," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "But you looked like you were solving the mysteries of the universe over here, so I thought I'd interrupt."
I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck. "Just… thinking about stuff."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she slid into the chair across from me. "Stuff, huh? You mean the dreams? Or the fact that you're starting to look like an action hero overnight?"
I froze, my grip tightening on the edge of the book. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb, Greg," she said, her tone softening. "You've been different. And it's not just the muscles. There's… something about you now. Like you're waking up."
Her words hit too close to home, and I looked away, focusing on a random spot on the bookshelf. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Greg," she said, leaning forward. "Listen to me. You're not imagining things. The dreams, the changes—they're real. You're awakening."
My heart raced. "Awakening to what?"
"To what you're meant to be," she said, her voice steady. "And I'm here to help. The bracelet I gave you—it's not just a trinket. It's a safeguard. There are people—things—that will come for you once they realize what's happening."
I stared at her, trying to process her words. Part of me wanted to dismiss her, to laugh it off as another one of her cryptic jokes. But the sincerity in her eyes stopped me.
"Why are you telling me this now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Because you're not the only one awakening," she said, glancing around the bookstore. "And not everyone will use their power for good."
A chill ran down my spine. Lydia leaned back, her smirk returning, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Keep training, Greg. And trust your instincts. You're stronger than you think."
Before I could respond, she stood and walked away, leaving me alone with a stack of books and a head full of questions.
I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist, its runes catching the light. Lydia's words echoed in my mind: You're not imagining things. The dreams, the changes—they're real.
My life was changing, whether I was ready for it or not. And deep down, I knew there was no turning back.
~~~~~
My breath came steady as I moved through the clearing, my sword cutting arcs through the air in sharp, practiced strikes. Each swing felt smoother, more precise like the blade was an extension of my will. The dream had been more than a vision. It had transformed me. My arms moved with strength and precision I hadn't known before, and my feet danced over the uneven forest floor with purpose. The scent of damp earth and the rustle of leaves surrounded me, grounding me in this moment.
But the spell of my training shattered when I heard it, a low, guttural growl.
I froze, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword. Slowly, I turned to meet the gaze of a massive bear. Its dark, intelligent eyes locked on me, and its hulking body moved with the kind of lethal grace only a predator possessed.
"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Just what I needed."
The bear snorted and took a step forward, saliva dripping from its maw. The message was clear—I was prey.
My instincts screamed at me to run, but I knew better. I planted my feet, raising my sword defensively. "Alright, big guy. If it's a fight you want…"
The bear roared and lunged. The sheer force of its charge was terrifying, but I sidestepped just in time, my boots skidding on the mossy ground. A swipe of its claws missed me by inches, the air humming with the force of the blow.
I swung my blade reflexively, sparks flying as it clashed against the bear's claws. My arms shook under the impact, but I held my ground, sliding back to create distance.
"You're hungry," I said, more to myself than to the bear. I darted forward, feinting a strike, then spun to its side, aiming for a shallow cut. My blade grazed its thick fur, drawing just enough blood to send a message.
The bear reared back, bellowing in pain and fury. I leaped onto a fallen log, using the height to my advantage as I pointed my blade downward.
When it lunged again, I unleashed a mana-infused shout. The air around me vibrated with the force of my voice, and the bear froze for a moment, startled. I jumped down and slashed the air between us, letting my blade glow faintly with the energy coursing through me.
The bear's hesitation grew into fear. It let out a final roar, turned, and crashed through the undergrowth.
"Good call," I murmured, lowering my blade. But then, I heard it the low snarls and snapping branches of something else moving through the forest.
I turned to see them emerge: wolves. Their sleek, shadowy forms slipped through the trees like phantoms, yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. They weren't after me, though. Their focus was on the bear, now cornered and growling defensively.
Something in me twisted at the sight. I'd scared the bear off, only for it to face an even worse fate.
I sighed and sheathed my sword. "Not today," I muttered, stepping forward.
The wolves noticed me immediately, their growls intensifying. I raised my hand and unleashed another mana-infused shout, the force of it rippling through the clearing. The wolves flinched, turning their predatory gazes on me instead.
"Alright, then," I said, drawing my sword again. "Let's do this."
The alpha wolf lunged first. I met it mid-air, striking it with the hilt of my blade. It yelped as it hit the ground, but another wolf was already closing in from the side. I sidestepped, spinning to deflect its snapping jaws with the flat of my sword.
Behind me, the bear roared and charged into the fray. Its massive paw struck a wolf, sending the predator tumbling across the clearing.
"Well, that's unexpected," I muttered, glancing back at the bear. We were standing back-to-back now, man and beast against the pack.
For a moment, the wolves hesitated, their yellow eyes darting between me and the bear. When the alpha growled, signaling a retreat, the pack slinked into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.
Lowering my blade, I turned to the bear. It was panting, its dark eyes calmer now as it stared at me.
"Go on," I said, nodding toward the trees. "Before something worse shows up."
The bear huffed a strange, almost understanding sound before lumbering away. I watched it disappear into the forest, then sheathed my sword with a sigh.
"Next time," I muttered, shaking my head as I started back toward the forest's edge, "I'll pick a quieter place to train."