CHAPTER FIVE

The woman stood over the fallen creature, breathing heavily. She wondered what it was, and where it had come from. And then, a new thought struck her: there might be more of them out there. She began to look around nervously, but she saw nothing but sand and sky. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a small figure moving towards her. She whirled around, preparing to fight, but then she saw that it was a child, no more than six years old. The child looked up at her with wide, curious eyes.

The child approached the woman, and she crouched down so that they were eye to eye. "Hello," she said, her voice gentle. The child just stared at her, as if in a trance. The woman's brow furrowed, and she studied the child more closely. There was something off about the child's eyes, and she realized with a start that they were glowing the same red as the creature's eyes. Suddenly, the child began to speak, but it was not in a human language. The words were guttural and harsh, and the woman could not understand them.

Despite her confusion, the woman found herself unable to look away from the child's eyes. She felt a strange pull, as if she were being drawn into their depths. And then, she felt her body begin to fade. She tried to move, to cry out, but she could not. All she could do was watch as the world around her grew darker, and her senses began to dull. Just before she lost consciousness, she heard a voice in her head, whispering, "You are not meant for this world." And then, everything went black.

When the woman opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a bed, in a small, unfamiliar room. She sat up, and she saw that her hands were bandaged, and her body felt sore. As she looked around, she saw that she was in a simple cottage, with a single window that looked out onto a green meadow. She heard a noise from the next room, and she pushed herself up and walked towards it. She saw a woman, sitting at a table and stirring a pot of stew. The woman turned and looked at her, and smiled. "You're awake!" she said. "How are you?

As the woman took in her surroundings, she heard the woman from the other room say, "My name is Anwen, and I'm a healer. Let me get you something to eat, and then we can talk." The woman felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she nodded. She followed Anwen into the kitchen, where she saw a table laid out with fresh bread, cheese, and fruit. "Please, sit and eat," Anwen said, gesturing to the table.

The woman sat down and began to eat, and she felt her strength returning with each bite. Once she was done eating, Anwen poured her a cup of tea and sat down across from her. "So, how did you get here?" Anwen asked. The woman told her the whole story, from the golden orb to the vision of the woman, to the strange city and the journey to the cottage. Anwen listened intently, nodding along as the woman spoke. "You must be very special to have been chosen for this journey," she said. "I've never heard of anything like it."

The woman took a sip of her tea and considered Anwen's words. "I still don't understand why I was chosen," she said. "I'm not special. I'm just a normal person." Anwen smiled. "You may not think you're special, but you were chosen for a reason. Perhaps it is your kindness, or your courage, or your determination. Whatever it is, you have something that the one who chose you saw as valuable. Don't underestimate yourself." The woman felt a warmth in her chest at Anwen's words, and she gave her a small smile.

"I'm curious," Anwen said. "What was your life like before you arrived here?" The woman thought for a moment. "It was... ordinary, I guess. I worked in an office, and I had a routine. Wake up, go to work, come home, watch some TV, go to bed." "And now you're here, in a world you've never seen before," Anwen said. "Do you think you'll ever want to go back to your old life?" The woman considered the question. "I'm not sure," she said. "This world is strange and confusing.

As the woman stood there, trying to make sense of Anwen's words, she felt a sudden jolt of pain in her stomach. She doubled over, clutching her side. The pain was intense, unlike anything she had ever felt before. Anwen rushed to her side, her face full of concern. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Does it feel like cramps?" The woman could only nod, as the pain consumed her. "I'll get you something for the pain," Anwen said, rushing out of the room. The woman could only wait, hoping the pain would subside.

A few minutes later, Anwen returned with a cup of tea. "This is a special blend that should help," she said. The woman took a sip, and the tea was warm and soothing. Almost immediately, she felt the pain begin to subside. "Thank you," she said. Anwen smiled. "You're very welcome. I know it's a bit unorthodox, but in this world, there's more to medicine than what you might be used to." The woman looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?" she asked. "There's magic in this world," Anwen said, her eyes shining.

"You see, there are certain people who are gifted with the ability to use magic," Anwen explained. "They can heal people, transform objects, and even control the elements. And sometimes, that magic is infused into items, like this tea." The woman was fascinated by what she was hearing. "I've never heard of anything like that before," she said. Anwen nodded. "It's not something you would have come across in your world. But here, it's a part of everyday life. You may even be able to tap into that power yourself." The woman was stunned by the thought.

"You may not be able to use magic right away," Anwen continued. "But if you learn and train, you might be able to unlock that potential within yourself. And I can help you on that journey, if you want." The woman was intrigued, but also a little intimidated by the idea. "I don't know if I'm ready for something like that," she said. Anwen smiled reassuringly. "That's okay," she said. "You don't have to decide right away. Just focus on getting better for now. The rest will come in time."

The woman nodded, and took another sip of the tea. As she drank, she began to feel her body relax. The pain was fading, and she could feel the tension leaving her muscles. "I feel better already," she said, smiling at Anwen. "That's the magic of the tea," Anwen said, her eyes twinkling. "And it's just the beginning. There's so much more to discover about this world, if you're willing to open yourself up to it." The woman thought about Anwen's words, and she felt a sense of excitement. "I want to learn more," she said

Anwen's face lit up. "That's wonderful," she said. "I can't wait to show you what this world has to offer. But for now, why don't you get some rest? You've had a big day, and there's no need to rush into anything." The woman nodded. "You're right," she said. "I'm exhausted." Anwen helped her settle down on the bed, and then she dimmed the lights. "Get some sleep," she said. "I'll be here when you wake up." The woman closed her eyes, and sleep came quickly. As she drifted off, she felt a sense of peace and contentment, and she knew that she had found a new home. In the morning, the woman woke to the smell of fresh-baked bread and the sound of birdsong. She sat up and stretched, feeling refreshed and invigorated. A tray of breakfast sat on the table, and Anwen was nowhere to be seen. The woman took a bite of the bread, and it was warm and delicious. She smiled, and she knew that her journey had only just begun.

As the woman finished her breakfast, Anwen returned to the room. "Good morning," she said cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?" The woman nodded. "Better than I have in a long time," she said. "That's wonderful," Anwen said. "Now that you're rested, we can get started. Do you have any questions about what's next?" The woman thought for a moment. "How long have you been a Keeper?" she asked. Anwen smiled. "I've been a Keeper for over a century," she said. "But I was once a newcomer, just like you."

"The first thing you need to know is that we're able to manipulate energy," Anwen said. "That's how we can heal injuries, transform objects, and do so many other things. All it takes is the right concentration and focus." She reached out and touched the woman's hand. "Close your eyes, and try to relax." The woman did as she was told, and she could feel Anwen's energy flowing into her. It was like a warm, gentle current, and it made her feel calm and centered. "Now, focus on your hand," Anwen said. "Imagine the energy flowing into it."

As the woman focused on her hand, she could feel the energy gathering there. It felt like a tingling sensation, like pins and needles, but not unpleasant. And then, she felt the energy begin to coalesce, to take form. A small ball of light appeared in her hand, glowing softly. She opened her eyes and saw Anwen smiling at her. "You did it!" she said, her voice full of excitement. "That was your first step into the world of the Keepers." The woman looked at the ball of light, and she felt a sense of wonder and possibility.

Anwen continued to teach the woman about the ways of the Keepers, and she learned more each day. She discovered that she could create different kinds of energy, including fire and ice. She learned how to shape energy into shields and weapons. And she even learned how to fly. It was overwhelming at first, but Anwen was a patient teacher, and the woman soon began to feel comfortable with her new powers. One day, as they were practicing in the meadow, Anwen asked the woman a question. "What do you hope to achieve with your newfound abilities?" she asked.

The woman thought for a moment. "I want to help people," she said. "I want to use my abilities to make the world a better place." Anwen nodded. "That's an admirable goal," she said. "But it's important to remember that power can be used for good or ill. It's up to you to choose how you'll use it." The woman nodded. "I know," she said. "I'll always use my abilities responsibly." Anwen smiled. "Good," she said. "Now, let's see how far you've come." She gestured to a tree in the distance.

As Anwen watched, the woman focused on the tree, and a ball of energy appeared in her hand. She sent it flying towards the tree, and it struck the trunk with a loud crack. The tree shuddered, and a shower of leaves rained down. The woman watched, her heart pounding. She'd never done anything like that before. "That was incredible!" Anwen said. "You've progressed so quickly. I'm amazed." The woman felt a surge of pride. "Thank you," she said. "But I know I still have a lot to learn."

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