As Amara battled to control her breathing and her heartbeat echoed with the waning pulse of the spirit's strength, the woodland lay in startled silence. With a mixture of terror, wonder, and passionate protectiveness in his eyes, Kweku crouched next to her, one hand resting on her shoulder. He brushed the fallen leaves from her arms and said, "You're burning up." However, the heat wasn't tangible; rather, it was the energy within her that was rearranging and swirling like a storm discovering a new course. The voice of the ghost wavered somewhat inside her, becoming less authoritative and more... unsure. Your bloodline awakens more quickly than I expected, child. Amara closed her eyes, feeling a fresh change beneath her flesh, something older than the spirit itself and more profound than power.
The trees around them rustled before she could say anything, but it was movement rather than wind. Silent as fog, shadows moved through the branches. Kweku instantly jumped up and pulled out his sword, maintaining a solid stance despite his tired shoulders. "More adversaries?" he muttered. Amara gave a gentle shake of her head. "No, something else." The ghost frantically murmured. These are watchers, the old blood's protectors. A towering woman with amber firefly-like eyes, clad in shimmering leaves and woven bark, stepped out of the shadows. Instead of looking at Amara with animosity, she did so with recognition. She said, "The moment your seal broke, the forest awakened." "You bear the Binders' mark." Amara's heart skipped a beat. "You know what I am?"
The woman moved in closer, her presence serene yet unbelievably strong. "Keeper of the Verdant Path, I am Velasha. For generations, we have observed your ancestry, waiting for someone who could rekindle the genuine connection. Velasha merely grinned as Kweku positioned himself slightly ahead of Amara. "Your guardian is devoted. That's excellent. You'll require him. Amara struggled to stand, faltering a little as her spirit steadied. "What caused the forest to respond to me? Why right now? Vines curled softly around Velasha's fingers as if to greet an old friend when she raised a hand. "Because you didn't naturally awaken your power." Someone who wants to upset the equilibrium of the realms forced it to ascend.
Amara felt her chest constrict. "The leader of the enemy..." Velasha gave a headshake. "He is merely a servant." Someone much more dangerous is in charge—someone who is afraid of the Binders coming back. Amara's spirit shuddered. The one she mentions... I sense his shadow. He's looking for you. Kweku's jaw tightened. After that, we relocate. We are unable to remain here. However, Velasha raised a hand, and the forest immediately complied; the trees moved to create a circular clearing that was softly illuminated by green light. Velasha stated, "You have to learn control first." "Power without direction will ruin you and everything you hold dear." Amara swallowed, suddenly conscious that her fate was bearing down on her more than before. "Then instruct me."
Velasha touched Amara's forehead with two fingers while nodding. The world became blurry as a wave of warmth passed through her head. She was standing under a sky full of whirling constellations in an unending plain of shimmering grass. Her spirit form gleamed dimly, unfazed by fear or tiredness. The ghost materialized next to her, formed like a human silhouette with eyes like stars instead of looming large and intimidating. It clarified that this is your inner plane. Where will you meet your power? The grass seemed to remember Amara as she reached out and felt it tremble beneath her touch. Velasha's voice could be heard everywhere. "Control doesn't start with power. but with knowing where your heart comes from.
Alongside her, the ghost left faint light trails in its wake. It murmured softly, "You fear me." Amara gave a nod. "You attempted to control my body. You desired to battle me. The ghost gazed up at the whirling heavens. I sensed danger. For you, not for myself. However, I overlooked the fact that, if not spoken, fear and protection can appear to be the same. Amara paused her stroll, taken aback by the tone's candor. "You're scared?" The light of the spirit wavered. Spirits like me are devoured by the one that hunts us. He will sever our relationship and take your ancestry for himself if he finds you. She felt a chill go through her. At last, she realized that the ghost wasn't a monster. It was also running.
Velasha's voice echoed once again. When trust unites both parties, a binder's power is at its greatest. You will break without it. Amara faced the ghost. Then we have mutual trust. We need to survive, not out of fear. Slowly lowering its head, the spirit acknowledged her decision. A gentle warmth spread across her chest, creating a new bond based on respect rather than desperation. Constellations aligned into a spiral of brilliant light as the sky changed. Velasha reappeared, her shimmering form. She remarked, "You've taken your first step." But trust alone won't be enough to master your skill. It will require sacrifice. Amara's breathing became labored. "What sort of sacrifice?"
Amara awoke back in the forest clearing as the field vanished, her body shaking from the intensity of the experience. With a serious expression, Velasha took a step back. "The adversary won't hold out. His soldiers are still gathering. Kweku steadied her right away by moving to her side. "We'll confront him. Whatever the price. Velasha's eyes grew gloomy. "It will cost more than courage. To unlock the full strength of your Binder blood… you must sever your past in order to claim your future." Amara stared at her, heart pounding. "What does that mean?" Velasha met her gaze steadily. "Before the next moon rises, you will be forced to choose between the world you love… and the power that could save it."