Jacob woke up the next morning feeling strange. Everything around him was strange, even his body no longer felt the same. He woke up in the middle of the forest, where the sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, caressing his face cautiously. But, despite the light, he felt a weight inside him; the weight of the knowledge that had become part of his being and the weight of the sacrifice he had made without return.
He heard light footsteps approaching him. The first woman, whom he later learned was named "Liara", was sitting next to him, a look on her face that was somewhere between tenderness and respect. She sat silently, as if waiting for him to speak.
"I feel different..." Jacob said in a low voice. He wasn't just talking about the feeling, but about the truth that had become part of his soul since the moment he touched the stone.
Liara nodded, "You have become a guardian of the stone, which means that part of the power it holds has become part of you. You will be able to do things you never imagined before, but you will need to train to use and control that power. The stone has given you knowledge, but you will need to discover your new abilities for yourself."
Liara stood up and motioned for him to follow her. She led him through winding paths in the forest, until they reached a place that looked like a temple, but was open to nature. There, women from the tribe were performing strange rituals, emitting whispers that were like incantations, raising their hands in perfect harmony with their surroundings as if they were part of this secret world.
"The training begins here," Liara said, looking at him with steady eyes. "You will learn how to communicate with the forest, how to sense its presence and feel its pulse like true guardians do. We protect the stone and live in peace with this land. Your role is to become part of that connection."
Jacob felt a surge of excitement rise inside him. He wanted to find out if this new power could change his life completely. "How do I begin?" he asked, excitement evident in his voice.
Liara smiled and said, "First, you have to clear your mind and understand that the powers of the stone are not so much physical as spiritual. Go into your heart, find your inner self, and you will feel your connection with the earth."
Jacob closed his eyes as Liara asked, and tried to feel everything around him. He breathed slowly, trying to relax and empty his mind of any thoughts. At first it was difficult for him to concentrate, but after a few minutes, he felt something strange. It was as if the pulses he felt when he touched the stone were returning to him, flowing through his veins, moving with his breathing.
Then suddenly, he felt something strange. He was able to hear the sounds of the forest in a way he had never heard before; every sound, every small movement, seemed clear and alive. It was as if the trees and leaves, even the surrounding air, were transmitting mysterious signals and words to him. It wasn't just a sound, it was a feeling flowing within him.
"This is your first contact with the forest," Liara said calmly. "You will learn how to use this ability to communicate with nature and sense danger. But, remember, these are not just powers that you can use as you please; they are a responsibility that requires wisdom and self-control."
Jacob opened his eyes, feeling a sense of awe and wonder. "Does this mean that I will be able to sense everything that is happening around me?"
Liara nodded and said, "Sure, but it is not that simple. You will need constant training and the ability to control your thoughts and feelings. Nature here does not like intrusion, and if you feel that you are misusing it, you will pay the price."
Jacob felt a rush to discover more, as if everything that had been asleep inside him had suddenly awakened. This new power was like a whole new world before him, full of secrets and challenges. He wanted to learn everything, to become a part of this tribe with all his might.
"What will I learn next?" he asked eagerly.
Liara looked at him and smiled mysteriously. "You will learn how to speak to the spirits that inhabit the forest, how to summon them and call upon them when needed. You will learn how to see what others cannot see, and how to hear what others cannot hear. The stone has given you power, but you will need guidance."
Liara then led him deeper into the temple, where the women of the tribe were gathered around a circle of stones, which shone with strange colors as if they were attracting light from around them. She asked him to sit in the center of the circle and begin to concentrate, telling him that this session would be a test of his true strength.
Jacob sat in the center of the circle, and closed his eyes again. He began to feel a new energy surrounding him, flowing through his body. His soul was drifting into another world, as if a part of him had left his body and was floating in the forest, seeing and observing with eyes other than his own.
At that moment, he saw unfamiliar sights; ancient spirits swimming around him, the spirits of women who had spent their lives protecting the stone, and others who had made countless sacrifices. Whispers echoed in his ears, telling him of the secrets of the forest, warning him of the dangers that might await him.
Jacob woke up from his experience with a heavy weight on his chest. He knew that these spirits had placed a new mission on his shoulders, a responsibility that not everyone could bear. But deep down, he knew that this was the power he had been searching for.
Liara looked at him after the session and said, "You have passed your first test, but you have a long road ahead of you. You will learn things that will change you, and your strength and patience will be tested."
Jacob was ready. He was no longer just a journalist looking for an adventure. He had become part of something greater, something beyond his ability to comprehend. He realized that he was only at the beginning of the road, and that there were more secrets waiting for him.
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