Magnus knelt in the ruins of the basement, his body trembling from exhaustion and the lingering adrenaline of the battle. The air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of burnt energy, the walls scorched and crumbling from the ferocity of the fight. His hands, still faintly glowing with the remnants of the crystal's power, rested on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
His eyes fell on the crystal, now lying on the ground a few feet away. Its golden light flickered weakly, as if drained from the battle. Magnus crawled toward it, his movements slow and labored. He reached out, his fingers brushing against its smooth surface. The moment he touched it, the crystal's light flared brightly, and a surge of energy shot through him.
Magnus gasped as the crystal dissolved into a stream of golden light, swirling around him like a living thing. Before he could react, the light surged into his chest, flooding his body with warmth and power. He fell back, his vision blurring as the energy coursed through him, filling every fiber of his being.
For a moment, everything was still. Then, the light faded, and Magnus was left lying on the ground, his body tingling with residual energy. He sat up slowly, his mind reeling. The crystal was gone, absorbed into him, and he could feel its power humming beneath his skin, a constant, low vibration that seemed to resonate with his very soul.
As he stood, he noticed something strange—a faint, distant hum, like an echo of the crystal's energy. It was coming from somewhere far away, calling to him, pulling at him. He didn't know what it was, but he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.
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The first day after the battle was a blur. Magnus's body, battered and bruised from the fight, began to heal at an astonishing rate. Cuts closed, bruises faded, and the ache in his muscles disappeared within hours. By the time the sun set, he felt stronger than he had in weeks, as if the crystal's energy had rejuvenated him.
But the healing was only the beginning. As the hours passed, Magnus began to notice subtle changes. His senses sharpened—he could hear the faint rustle of leaves outside the mansion, smell the earthy scent of the forest miles away, and see the faintest details in the dim light of the basement. It was as if the world had come into sharper focus, and he was seeing it for the first time.
That night, Magnus lay in bed, his mind racing. He could feel the crystal's energy pulsing within him, a constant, low hum that seemed to grow stronger with each passing hour. But there was something else—a faint, distant resonance, like a whisper on the edge of his consciousness. It was coming from somewhere far away, and it was growing louder.
Magnus sat up, his heart pounding. The resonance was unmistakable now—a deep, resonant hum, like the crystal's energy, but different. It was coming from everywhere and nowhere, pulling at him, urging him to listen. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he had to understand.
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By the second day, the changes in Magnus's body became more pronounced. His skin glowed faintly, a soft golden light emanating from his hands and chest. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes wide with shock. The light was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there—a visible sign of the crystal's power within him.
The distant resonance was louder now, more insistent. Magnus could feel it pulling at him, urging him to focus. He sat in the garden, trying to calm his mind and listen. As he did, the energy within him surged, and a wave of golden light erupted from his body, spreading outward in a ripple.
The plants around him responded instantly. Flowers bloomed, vines twisted and climbed, and the grass beneath his feet grew lush and green. It was as if the crystal's energy was infusing the world around him, bringing it to life.
Magnus stared at his hands, the golden light pulsing softly. He could feel the energy within him, a constant, low hum that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the world. But the resonance was still there, calling to him, urging him to understand.
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