At the moment, he felt that anywhere was better than returning to the village. 'I am a monster!' That was the only thought ringing through his ears as he ran. 'Mother would hate me!' an image of his mother glaring at him with hate filled eyes flashed through his head causing him to double over and trip. 'And Father…!' his father's encouraging smile whenever he came back from the farm flashed only to disappear as one of anger replaced.
It was unknown how long he ran, but to the young Caster, neither time nor distance registered in his head. Hours turned to days and days turned into weeks as Caster roamed the Whispering Forest, struggling to control his newfound powers.
Different from his pre-awakening abilities, he could now see, hear, smell and instinctively react to external stimuli at an incredible speed, and nearly doubled his previous speed. This was also the same with his physical strength.
With this new perception, he was forced to learn to hunt and survive, relying on his heightened senses and strength. Despite his efforts to avoid human contact, he couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness and fear of a beast living in the wild.
This continued until one night, under a crescent moon, Caster stumbled upon a hidden glade. The air was thick with a sensation similar to the one he felt that night everything changed.
The trees moved so incredulously that it seemed to whisper secrets. In the center of the glade sat a man that gave off an old and ancient presence that Caster found familiar on an endearing level.
The man turned to the Young Caster showing him his silver tinted and wise eyes. "Hmm…?" This single curious hum stirred a peculiar feeling in Caster that made him want to fall to his knees but he held himself and jumped back guardedly.
"What do we have here? A Human..? No…You…impossible..! It can't be." The man said as his calm eyes showed looks of disbelief as he stood up. He slowly walked the young Caster that was also retreating.
However, in the instant Caster's eyes closed in a blink and opened, the man just seemed to have appeared directly in front of him and held his jaw while intensely looking into his eyes. "This can't be…" he said with a small frown.
And before Caster could react, he swiped his index finger right across Caster's face, leaving a long line of blood on his face as he put the finger into his mouth, and while Caster was in the midst of trying to understand what just happened, the man put his finger in his mouth.
"This taste…this energy…it can't be…Young Master?" The man shook and staggered back only to fall on his knees in front of the young Caster.
"Huh..?" Was all Caster could say, and as though the old man could understand Caster's shock, his eyes took a blue tint further shocking Caster whose eyes transformed into a royal blue one in reflex.
"As expected, it is you…Young Master." The man said and let out a tired and relieved sigh. "Finally…"
"Yo-you…who are…?" Caster, who had been discombobulated, tried to make up words to pose the question…"Who are you?"
"Forgive my rudeness, Young Master." The man quickly took a subservient bow, "My name is Thorne, an Elder of the Hidden Moon Tribe." Thorne then looked at Caster with a mixture of sorrow and hope. "I have been waiting for you, Young Master," he said. "You are the last of our tribe, and your destiny is intertwined with the fate of Elaria."
Caster felt a mix of relief and apprehension at the same time. "What do you mean? What is happening to me?"
Relief due to having met someone he could relate with on a common topic, Apprehension due to the last part of Thorne's words.
Thorne sighed. "You are a werewolf, the last descendant of the Hidden Moon Tribe. Our tribe has lived in harmony with nature for centuries, but we have also been burdened with a prophecy. It is said that a young werewolf will rise, one who will either save or doom the land. The prophesized time period happened to intertwine with the time you and a few werewolves were born."
Thorne's face became very dark as his eyes turned bloodshot as he looked into the horizon with immense hate. "This led to an order for extermination decreed against us in the supernatural World."
"You were amongst the very few young pups that managed to make it out alive. We never knew whether you made it out alive but of you nine, nine elders were sent to look and take care of you." Thorne said and looked back at Caster with emotions.
"Wha- What? Why? Why would they do such a thing?" Caster asked angrily but Thorne shook his head.
"I have no idea, but if I was to fathom, I'd say it's a basic instinct for living beings in reaction to something they fear." Thorne said and sighed deeply. "The Prophecy was both good and bad to the various supernatural factions. You pups had the potential to be a force for good or for bad. It wasn't a risk those old men who had stayed in power for too long would want to take."
The weight of Thorne's words sank in, and Caster felt a sense of dread. "But…I don't want to hurt anyone. I didn't ask for this."
Thorne placed a reassuring hand on Caster's shoulder. "I know, and that is why I am here to help you. To fulfill your destiny, you must master your abilities and uncover the secrets hidden in your bones. It will not be easy, but you are not alone."
"What..?" Caster asked, he wasn't sure he was following what was going on any longer. This man's words, while sounding reassuring, had a lot of double meanings which he couldn't really wrap his head around.
"It's simple really…" Thorne said and swung his hands casually causing a claw mark indentation on the wall not too far from them. "I'll be teaching you how to manipulate your mana into manifesting those abilities and more."
"This…" Caster looked dumbfoundedly at the wall and then to the man's outstretched hands and then to his. "...is it possible?"
"Huhuhu. And more, young master." Thorne said and laughed mysteriously.
"I'm in." Caster immediately replied as he looked at Thorne resolutely. "I know this may look like a hastily made decision, you may see me as an opportunist even, however, as long as these abilities of mine are mastered and truly brought out, I'll be sure to meet your expectations."
"Oh-ho?" The man laughed as his gaze turned into one of interest in intrigue as he looked at Caster's unwavering eyes. In truth, Thorne didn't even think that deeply. Upon confirming Caster's bloodline, he only knew to bring Caster back to where he rightfully belonged. However, it seemed like Caster had thought far deeper than that."
'Has awakening his instincts so sporadically caused a form of Mental awakening..?' Thorne thought in both jest and wonder.
"Good. We begin immediately."