The Beninging

Chapter 9

As she fled deeper into the forest, her breath coming in sharp bursts, the weight of the stones in her chest began to change. It was subtle at first—just a faint warmth, a quiet pulse beneath her skin. But with every step, she could feel it growing stronger, like a heartbeat that wasn't her own.

The stones weren't just pulling her toward the temple anymore. They were waking up.

The hunters' shouts faded behind her, but she knew they wouldn't give up so easily. They were relentless, driven by their hunger for the power she carried. But now, for the first time, she wasn't just running away.

She was changing.

The forest blurred around her as her legs moved faster than they ever had, each step carrying her further from the hunters and closer to the mountains. The stones thrummed in her chest, their rhythm syncing with her heartbeat, filling her veins with a strange, steady energy. It wasn't overwhelming, not yet—it was patient, waiting, like a river just before it swelled and broke through its banks.

The memories of her earlier failure haunted her—the way the leader had crushed her so effortlessly, how she had been powerless in the face of his strength. But now, as the stones stirred within her, that helplessness began to fade, replaced by something else. Something unfamiliar.

Strength.

She skidded to a halt at the edge of a clearing, her heart pounding in her ears. Ahead of her, the trees gave way to open plains, and beyond them, the dark silhouettes of the mountains loomed against the night sky. She was close. The temple lay hidden somewhere within those mountains, waiting for her.

But the stones weren't waiting.

As she stood there, catching her breath, she could feel them testing her—sending small tendrils of energy through her body, as if gauging her readiness. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there, patient and steady, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself fully.

She flexed her fingers, and for the first time, she noticed the faint glow that surrounded them. It was barely visible, like the ghost of a light, but it was there. The power wasn't just inside her anymore. It was starting to show.

But with that power came a creeping realization—this wasn't a gift freely given. The stones were ancient, and whatever force they contained had its own will, its own purpose. She had been chosen, yes, but not necessarily in a way that left her in control.

She wasn't just carrying the stones. They were learning her, molding her, bending her to something greater than she could yet understand. The power they offered was real, but there would be a cost. There always was.

A rustle in the trees behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. Her pursuers weren't far off. They would find her soon, and this time, there was no room for error.

She clenched her fists, and the faint glow around her hands brightened, just a little. The energy within the stones flickered, like they were urging her to fight, to stop running.

But she wasn't ready to face them head-on. Not yet.

Instead, she turned and sprinted toward the mountains, the stones guiding her steps. The path wound through rocky terrain, each step harder than the last, but the energy in her veins made her movements lighter, more controlled. She could feel the power building, slowly, patiently, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

Just before she reached the foot of the mountains, she spotted a narrow cave opening. Without hesitation, she slipped inside, the darkness swallowing her whole. The air was damp, and the cave walls were jagged, but it offered shelter—for now.