Noah awoke to the smell of fresh grass and the faint scent of something sweet and unfamiliar. His body felt strange, lighter, as though the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders. His thoughts were slow at first, muddled by a fog of confusion. He remembered the brutal beating—the pounding of fists, the sound of his own ribs cracking.
He had been trying to protect someone.
The classmate. The victim of bullying.
His hands clenched into fists, the sting of that final moment still fresh in his memory. But now, as he blinked his eyes open to the world around him, it was like waking from a nightmare. He was no longer in the schoolyard, the sounds of cruel laughter replaced by the gentle hum of nature.
He sat up, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar landscape. The sky above was a shade of lavender he had never seen before, and towering trees with silver leaves loomed in the distance. The air was alive with the energy of this new world, thick with a strange, powerful hum that felt like it was resonating in his very bones.
"You're awake," a voice called softly. Noah turned to see a woman standing nearby, her expression warm yet cautious. She was dressed in simple robes, and her long black hair flowed like silk in the gentle breeze. She was a local, not a proxy, that much was obvious.
But Noah wasn't concerned about that. His thoughts were focused on his own transformation.
He glanced down at his body. He felt lighter, his limbs leaner, yet there was a quiet strength in his frame. His skin glowed with a soft, golden hue, his eyes brighter than they had ever been before—radiant, like a pair of emeralds catching the sunlight.
He didn't recognize this body, but it felt… right.
"Where am I?" Noah asked, his voice hoarse as if he had been shouting for hours. The woman smiled gently and stepped closer, offering him a hand up.
"You're in Auron, a land where those chosen by the gods have arrived. But there's much for you to learn."
Noah accepted her help, his legs shaky as he stood. His feet seemed to sink slightly into the soft, golden grass beneath him, a strange sensation that made him feel connected to the earth. But it was more than just the physical environment that felt different—it was the power humming within him, now coursing through his veins.
And as he took a deep breath, he realized something was changing within him—his power, his very essence, was shifting.
Noah closed his eyes and tried to focus. He felt it first—a soft pulse in his chest, a stirring of energy. It was as though a small part of him was expanding outward, like a seed blooming inside his soul. The feeling intensified, spreading through his limbs.
And then he understood.
His ability—his true power—was born of two forces within him, forces that had long been in conflict during his life on Earth.
Empathic Reflection.
The realization hit him like a wave. He could feel the warmth of compassion blooming in his heart, radiating outward, and yet... he could also feel the envy, simmering deep inside him, threatening to rise.
His power would be both a gift and a challenge. He could feel it clearly now: with every act of kindness, he would be able to heal others—physically, emotionally, mentally. He could alleviate pain, ease suffering, and even mend broken hearts. But with that same power came a darker side.
He could feel the envy stirring. He could tap into it, reflect it back at others, and amplify their unspoken desires—making them see what they wanted most, and sometimes, making them act on it.
It was a delicate balance.
He could already sense the woman's unease as her thoughts turned inward. He was tapping into her emotions without even meaning to. Her hidden fears, her worries—they reflected back to him, clearer than any words. Noah closed his eyes, focusing, willing the power to recede, and soon enough, it did. The overwhelming sense of other people's desires and emotions faded into the background, and he could breathe easier.
"Thank you," he whispered to the woman, though he knew she couldn't have understood the full extent of his abilities.
She nodded, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. "You have a long journey ahead of you, Noah. The gods have chosen you, but you must learn to wield this power wisely."
He nodded, clenching his fists as he felt the power pulse through him again.
Empathic Reflection. He could heal. He could hurt. He could offer solace or bring chaos. It all depended on how he chose to act.
And for the first time in his life, Noah realized that he could no longer live in the shadows of others. He would shape his destiny now. He would shape his world. And he would do so by balancing his kindness and the envy that had haunted him all his life.
But there was something else that gnawed at him—a quiet voice urging him to learn more, to test his power. Not just for himself, but for the ones who would come to him. The ones who would need him.
He looked up at the vast, new world around him, his heart pounding with purpose.
He had a chance to rewrite his story. And for the first time in his life, he felt truly alive.