Rianna: Mage in the Beastworld

Coming-Of-Age

Thirteen long years had passed since that fateful day when I first discovered I had reincarnated into this strange new world. I had awakened my magical abilities and embarked on a journey of self-discovery alongside Kairon, my mentor and guide. Under his patient tutelage, I had honed my skills in the art of herbalism and healing, delving deep into the secrets of nature's bounty. With each passing day, my connection with the earth grew stronger, my magic expanding to encompass not only plant growth but manipulation as well. I had learned to merge seeds and create new, more potent blooms. I could even control vines and bend branches to my will.

Physically, I had undergone a remarkable transformation, blossoming from a child into a young woman. My once delicate frame had filled out with lean muscle, a testament to years of diligent training and practice. My skin, once pale and fragile, now bore a slight sun-kissed glow of vitality, my hair flowing in long, cascading waves down my back like strands of spun silver. In contrast, Kairon, my mentor and guardian, whom I saw every day had never really changed since I had met him. It wasn't until he had gone to the city of beasts to meet with his estranged father, not returning for nearly a whole year, that I realized he had barely changed. The only noticeable changes were the gaining of muscles from our labor work in the fields we had planted.

A desire to know why this was burned within me. In this world, males seemed to naturally age ten times slower than females, but only after having reached physical maturity, which they did between the ages of three and five. This meant Kairon and I were roughly the same age when we first met, even though he looked like a young teen, and I a helpless child. The realization sent shockwaves through my being, challenging everything I thought I knew about the nature of time and existence.

I had made the mistake of telling Kairon how I thought this was unfair, and he told me about the rare emeralds harvested from the hearts of colossal beasts. These ancient creatures, both feared for their monstrous size and strength, and revered as guardians of the natural world, possessed a power beyond comprehension, their very existence infused with the essence of life itself. By simply swallowing these gems and absorbing the energy contained within these gems, one could slow the aging process to a fraction of its normal rate, granting near immortality. The idea of eternal youth was both tantalizing and terrifying, a double-edged sword that promised both endless possibilities and unforeseen consequences.

Different gems came from different beasts. The larger, thick skinned herbivore beasts typically granted emeralds, where as carnivorous types typically dropped a gem resembling rubies that granted a rare healing ability, better than any medicine. Legends say it could even bring you back from the brink of death. There were also opals, which granted boosts of speed depending on size, citrine which gave the gift strength enhancement and allowed males to increase their ranks. Sapphires were only found in aquatic colossal beasts, and gave a unique gift of perfect sight, even in the murkiest of waters. The effects of each stone typically depended on the size and potency. The brighter the stone, the higher the quality, the larger the size, the longer the effect would last.

As the sun began its ascent over the horizon, casting golden rays across the tranquil landscape, I knew that this day marked the end of my apprenticeship with Kairon. Over the past decade, I had learned more than I ever thought possible under his tutelage, honing my skills in the art of herbalism and cultivating a deep understanding of the natural world. With his help, the village had made many advances.

As I made my way to Kairon's stone hut, a bittersweet feeling tugged at my heartstrings. While I was excited to embark on the next chapter of my journey, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving behind the mentor who had guided me with patience and wisdom. Entering the hut, I found Kairon already awake, his dark eyes sparkling with warmth as he greeted me with a smile. It was hard to believe that this would be the last time we would share this sacred space as master and apprentice.