Alexia's POV
I looked down at my hands, feeling the strange energy coursing through my veins. It pulsed like liquid fire beneath my skin, radiating heat with every heartbeat. I could feel it now—not just in my chest, but in every fiber of my being.
Standing up, I positioned my legs slightly apart for balance. I stretched out my arms in one swift, confident motion, as though I could summon the energy into existence just by commanding it. The air around me shifted faintly, but nothing dramatic happened.
I twisted into different poses, trying to feel something more—anything. One pose, then another. Nothing. I probably looked like a total maniac, flailing around like some deranged martial artist.
"Okay… maybe that's not it," I muttered to myself, slightly breathless.
Fine. If I couldn't summon magic, maybe I could test my physical limits.
I bent my knees slightly and jumped—just a little. But instead of a gentle hop, my body launched upward with so much force that my head cracked into the ceiling of the cave with a loud, echoing crunch.
I rubbed my head instinctively, expecting pain. But… nothing. Not even a bump.
I looked up and gasped. The stone above me was fractured—thin cracks spiderwebbed across the cave ceiling, and loose dust rained down in fine misty trails.
I blinked.
"Whoa."
A grin spread across my face.
Without hesitation, I dropped into a fighting stance and began to throw a series of rapid punches and kicks. My body felt so light, so responsive—each movement faster, sharper, more powerful than anything I had ever felt. The air snapped around umy limbs with each strike, like I was cutting through it.
"Tinny!" I called out, excited. "You've got to see this!"
Tinny transformed into her robot form and activated with a low mechanical hum. I looked at her anxiously and asked, "Do a body scan. Tell me how the red crystal reacted to my body."
She nodded and initiated the scan, a blue light running smoothly across my body from head to toe. After a few moments, she spoke in a neutral, robotic tone, "Your DNA has been altered. Your cells have mutated, and they seem to absorb the energy around you."
She paused, then reached into a compartment on her chest and pulled out a strange-looking device to measure my energy levels. After analyzing the data, she looked up at me with visible concern in her glowing eyes.
"It looks like your organs are composed of the same material as lava," she explained. "Technically speaking, you're like a ball of fire waiting to erupt. Your blood… it's like molten lava. How is this even possible?"
"I don't know," I said, confused. "I feel fine. Actually… I feel amazing—light as a feather and incredibly strong."
"Mmmh," Tinny replied thoughtfully, tilting her head as her internal systems continued monitoring me. "Your body temperature is currently about 100 degrees Celsius. That's extremely high for a human, and yet you're functioning normally. All of your senses seem to be enhanced as well."
"Yes," I nodded, looking around. "I can smell roasted meat from here... like it's just been cooked over a fire."
Tinny blinked. "Roasted meat? There's no fire nearby."
"I'm serious," I said, inhaling deeply. "It smells like bird meat… like roasted chicken."
Her robotic eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Fascinating. You might be more than human now."
Then suddenly, I heard footsteps coming toward the cave. I told Tinny to transform back into a watch. It did so and wrapped itself around my wrist. I quickly ran to the stone bed, covered my body, and pretended to be asleep.
The large rock blocking the entrance to the cave rolled open. I heard light footsteps walking toward me. The steps were soft, almost weightless. Curious, I peeked through my eyelashes. A girl stood there, smiling at me.
"You're finally awake," she said warmly. "You've been asleep for quite some time. You must be hungry. I brought you something to eat."
She walked closer, carrying a bowl of meat broth.
"You should eat before it gets cold," she added as she held it out to me.
I murmured a quiet, "Thank you," and took the bowl into my hands. As I sipped the broth, I asked, "Where is Adrian?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Adrian? Who's Adrian?" she asked, confused.
I froze. I hadn't expected that. "Where am I?" I asked cautiously.
"You're in the Eagle Tribe," she replied. "The person who saved you is the strongest warrior of our tribe. You should eat and regain your strength. The master left you in my care. If you need anything, I will attend to you."
"Mmhmm," I murmured, chewing slowly. "Can I go outside the cave?"
"Yes, you can," she said. "Just don't leave the tribe. It's not safe—there are wild beasts roaming the forest."
"Okay," I replied. "But... will you escort me?"
She nodded with a gentle smile .
"I would like to take a bath first, if that's okay," I said.
She nodded with a soft smile. "Alright. I'll take you to the river so you can wash yourself. Just finish eating first, then we can go."
I nodded quickly, eager, and hurriedly finished the bowl of warm broth. As soon as I was done, she led me outside the cave. The moment I stepped out, I froze and looked up.
Two suns hovered in the sky—radiant and blazing.
It was the first time I had seen the sky in this world. Back in the mystical forest, the trees were so tall and thick they completely blocked out the sky. But now, with a clear view above, I was mesmerized. The twin suns gleamed high overhead, casting a golden-orange hue over everything. I tried to hide my shock so I wouldn't arouse suspicion. The suns were so bright that they bathed the land in an intense yet strangely comforting light.
We stood on a cliff edge, the mountain carved into multiple cave dwellings. A wide flat area connected all the entrances like a village square sculpted into the mountain itself. The view was breathtaking.
She led me down a narrow underground tunnel carved through stone. It was dark at first, but the walls shimmered with crystals embedded in the rock. The crystals pulsed with a soft glow, lighting our path gently but clearly.
Eventually, the narrow passage opened into a massive inner cave. Inside, the crystal walls sparkled with breathtaking brilliance, refracting light into a thousand hues. At the center of the cave was a large, round pool of steaming water—naturally bubbling, like a spring drawn from the heart of the mountain.
"Wow…" I whispered, awe spreading across my face. A genuine smile crept onto my lips as I stepped forward, eager.
She gave me a small nod, and I took that as the go-ahead. Without hesitation, I slipped into the spring with a delighted splash. The hot water instantly relaxed every muscle in my body, the warmth soaking into my bones. It was bliss.
She stood at the edge, watching me quietly. I turned toward her and smiled playfully.
"You should join me," I said.
She chuckled softly and shook her head. "I'll pass."
I shrugged and leaned back in the water, closing my eyes. For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace.