Under Thorne's guidance, Caster began his arduous training. Each morning, they would rise before dawn and head to a secluded clearing deep within the Whispering Forest.
Seeing Caster's awed expression, Thorne explained, "This area is a nexus of Old Magic. This is one of the many places the Primal Magic of Elaria converged."
"Like a dragon vein?" Caster asked, intrigued. He could feel a familiar sensation washing over him so he knew Thorne wasn't particularly wrong.
"Hmm." Thorne nodded. "This is where you'll learn to Harness your werewolf powers and fully connect to your heritage."
"Huh?" Caster exclaimed in shock. "I thought you were just going to teach me how to better control my transformations as well as my heightened perception."
"Of course, but you see, before we delve into 'controlling' your abilities, you've got to know what and where your abilities comes from." Thorne said with a grin.
"There's an origin story?" Caster sighed and muttered to himself. Thorne heard it, but decided to ignore him.
"The story goes like this…"
In the beginning, the Continent of Elaria was a place of pure, untamed wilderness, brimming with raw magic that flowed through every living thing.
This magic, known as Old Magic, was the lifeblood of the world, an elemental force that shaped the very fabric of reality. From this primal power, three ancient beings were created, each embodying the essence of Old Magic in a unique form.
In the dawn of Elaria, before humans walked the earth, the Old Magic took physical form to guard and balance the land. From the deepest heart of the Whispering Forest, the primal magic gave birth to the first werewolf.
This creature, named Fenrir, was a guardian of the forest, embodying the spirit of strength, agility, and harmony with nature.
Fenrir's body was a perfect blend of beast and human, standing tall with muscular limbs and sharp claws, yet retaining the intellect and consciousness of a human. His senses were heightened beyond any other creature's, allowing him to see in the dark, hear the faintest whispers, and track scents from miles away.
As a werewolf, Fenrir had the unique ability to transform between his human and beast forms whenever it wished, drawing power from the phases of the moon.
Old Magic flowed through Fenrir's veins, granting him not only physical prowess but also a deep connection to the natural world. He could commune with animals, heal wounds with a touch, and even manipulate the elements to a certain extent.
His purpose was to maintain the balance of life within the forest, protecting it from any who would seek to harm it. It stood at the top of the food chain.
To balance the power of the werewolf, Old Magic gave rise to another creature of equal but opposite nature – the Phoenix. From the fiery depths of Elaria's volcanoes, the Phoenix emerged, a majestic bird of flame and light. Named Ignis, the Phoenix was the embodiment of rebirth, fire, and the cyclical nature of life and death.
Ignis possessed feathers that burned with an eternal flame, bright enough to light up the darkest nights. With each death, the Phoenix would burst into a brilliant inferno, only to be reborn from its ashes, symbolizing the never-ending cycle of life. This gift of rebirth made the Phoenix a symbol of hope and resilience.
The Phoenix's powers were rooted in fire and regeneration. Ignis could control flames, summon fiery storms, and heal with the warmth of his touch. His presence was a beacon of light in the world, guiding lost souls and cleansing the land of darkness. The Phoenix's duty was to ensure the continuation of life and to bring light to the darkest corners of Elaria.
The third and final creation of Old Magic was the Dragon, a creature of immense power and wisdom. From the highest peaks of Elaria's mountains, the first Dragon, named Draconis, emerged.
Draconis embodied the essence of strength, wisdom, and the elemental forces of the world. With scales as hard as diamonds and wings that could blot out the sun, Draconis was a creature of awe-inspiring majesty.
His breath could unleash torrents of fire, ice, or lightning, making him a formidable force of nature. The Dragon's eyes, deep and ancient, held the wisdom of ages, allowing him to see through deception and understand the true nature of all things.
Draconis's powers extended beyond mere physical strength. He could manipulate the elements, control the weather, and even bend time and space to a limited extent.
His role was to be the guardian of ancient knowledge and the protector of the balance between the elemental forces of Elaria. Draconis's presence ensured that no single force could dominate the land, maintaining harmony among the elements.
"So…The first werewolf was the first and weakest of the three?" Caster asked as Thorne finished his story.
Thorne however looked at Caster as though looking at an idiot. "What do you mean by weakest? Unlike the Phoenix and Dragon, Our Ancestor, Fenrir could freely transform between Human and Wolf without losing his abilities."
"His abilities?" Caster asked.
"Of course. Unlike the Phoenix and Dragon who have a fixed ability, Fenrir had a diverse set of skills." Thorne said proudly as he looked at Caster from the corner of his eyes.
At the mention of this, Caster was immediately interested. "What are these abilities?"
"There are several skills one would Awaken upon Awakening their bloodline. Most skills have been lost to time, but the most occuring are:
Enhanced Physical Abilities. Awakened werewolves possess immense physical strength, allowing them to overpower most adversaries with ease. Their speed and agility are heightened, making them incredibly fast and nimble, capable of outpacing and outmaneuvering their foes.
"On land, we reign supreme as the fastest." Thorne added much to Caster's awe.
Heightened Senses. Werewolves can see in low light conditions, their vision sharp and clear even in the darkest nights. Their hearing is acute, able to detect the faintest sounds from great distances. They possess an extraordinary sense of smell, capable of tracking scents over vast areas.
"It is said that our Ancestor could perceive things even before they happened on the other side of the continent." Thorne said with a fervent expression.
"I…see." Unbelievable as it was, Caster didn't directly doubt it. Not more than a year ago, he was a normal kid living his normal life with his normal parents in a normal village.
As it stood now, everything he's told was true until proven false.
Regenerative Healing. Werewolves heal from injuries at an accelerated rate, recovering from wounds that would be fatal to normal beings. They are highly resistant to diseases and poisons, their bodies quickly neutralizing harmful substances.
Transformation Abilities. Werewolves can transform between their human and wolf forms at will, with their powers peaking during the full moon. They can also transform specific parts of their body (e.g., claws, fangs) for combat without fully shifting into wolf form.
Connection to Nature. Werewolves can communicate with animals, understanding their thoughts and emotions. They have a natural affinity with the elements, allowing them to manipulate earth, wind, and water to a limited extent.
Primal Magic. Werewolves can tap into Old Magic, using it to enhance their abilities and perform feats of primal magic. They can heal others by channeling Old Magic through their touch, mending wounds and curing ailments.
Emotional Intensity. Werewolves experience emotions more intensely, their passion and fury driving them to incredible feats. Their instincts are razor-sharp, providing them with intuitive insights and gut feelings about people and situations.
Moonlit Empowerment. Their powers are significantly enhanced during the full moon, granting them unparalleled strength and abilities.
During these periods, not even the combinations of a dragon and phoenix could hope to win."
"..."
Caster didn't know much, but he was sure that this part couldn't possibly be true. The exact size of Fenrir wasn't known to him, but if both the dragon and phoenix were as Godly as Thorne explained…how would they fail to deal with a single Wolf?
Still, Caster kept this doubt to himself and continued to listen to Thorne's words. At the end of the day, Thorne had seen and experienced more than himself.
"With the creation of these three beings, Old Magic established a balance in Elaria, ensuring that no single force could dominate the land. Fenrir, Ignis, and Draconis became the guardians of this balance, their existence, proof of the power and beauty of Old Magic. As the world evolved, the descendants of these ancient beings continued to walk the land, their powers and responsibilities passed down through the generations…