Chapter 27: One-Horned Tiger

Lukas, who had been listening carefully to everything, was extremely confused.

’Awakening?’

’Abilities?’

He tilted his head, looking at his mother with curious violet eyes.

"Mother..." he called, tugging on the hem of her dress.

"What is this Awakening thing?"

Aurora paused for a moment, her hand still resting on Judite’s head. Her violet eyes shifted to her youngest son’s face, evaluating him.

Lukas saw her hesitate, the slight furrowing of her brow indicating a decision being made.

After a few seconds, she decided yes. He already showed enough intelligence to understand.

"My son," she began, her voice gentle but serious.

"When all children reach five years of age, something inside them awakens. It is natural. It is expected. It is part of growing up in this world."

She paused, organizing her thoughts.

"We call it an Awakening. At that moment, the child gains an innate ability, a unique power that will accompany them for the rest of their life."

Lukas held his breath.

"It can be something simple and common," Aurora continued, counting on her fingers.

"Like ’Agile Hands,’ which helps with sewing or performing manual work with greater precision. Or ’Strong Memory,’ which makes it easier to remember things. Or ’Light Strength,’ which allows someone to carry heavier weights than normal without becoming tired."

She raised another finger.

"Or they can be powerful abilities. Rare ones. Like ’Flame Manipulation,’ which allows someone to create and control fire. ’Perfect Sword,’ which allows one to wield any blade with mastery, as if it were an extension of their own body. ’Rapid Healing,’ which lets wounds recover faster than any medicine ever could."

She paused, her eyes shining.

"Or even ’Elemental Affinity,’ which makes it easier to use magic and control the elements of nature."

Lukas blinked.

"Every human possesses at least one innate ability," Aurora said, looking at him affectionately.

"Even you. Every Dmond does."

She tilted her head, a proud smile on her lips.

"In fact, your father and I believe your ability has already awakened. And that’s why you’re so strong despite being so young."

Lukas’s eyes widened.

"Awakening before the age of five is practically unheard of," she continued, lowering her voice as if sharing a dangerous secret.

"I’ve never seen it happen. I’ve never heard of a confirmed case, only rumors and legends."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"But you... you’re different, Lukas. Different from any child I’ve ever seen."

Lukas remained silent for a long moment, processing the information.

’My abnormal strength... it could be an ability. Something that awakened when I named Tilbo. Or maybe it’s a consequence of reincarnation. Or perhaps both.’

He began wondering what his ability actually was, whether it was merely physical strength or if there was something more.

’I need to find out. But not now. Right now, I need to absorb everything I can about this world.’

Judite, hearing the explanation again, something she had heard before but never grew tired of hearing, became even more excited. Her anxiety gave way to growing anticipation, and she began swinging her legs, tapping her heels against the wooden seat.

"I want to awaken already!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"I want to start training with Father! I want to protect the family!"

She looked at Lukas, who was much smaller than she was, and smiled.

"I want to protect you too, Lukas! I’ll become the strongest big sister in the world!"

Lukas smiled back but said nothing.

’She doesn’t know I can break an iron bar with my bare hands.’

It was at that moment, while the three of them chatted excitedly inside the carriage, Judite rambling about her future adventures as a knight, Lukas asking questions about the city, and Aurora answering with infinite patience. A horrible sound tore through the air.

’RRRRROOOOOOAAAAAARRR!’

The roar was deep, guttural, and powerful, so profound that Lukas felt the vibrations in his bones, his teeth, and his chest.

It was not the sound of an ordinary animal. It was not the roar of a lion or a tiger from Earth. It was something more primal, more ancient, as though the earth itself were screaming.

The trees surrounding the road trembled. Leaves fell from the canopies as if an invisible gale had swept through. Birds burst into flight in a panicked flock, a dark cloud of wings beating against the bright sky.

At the same time, a terrifying pressure, heavy as lead, descended upon the carriage.

Lukas felt the air become denser, harder to breathe. It was as though an invisible hand were squeezing his chest, compressing his lungs.

His heart accelerated, not out of fear, or not only fear. But because of a primal survival instinct he hadn’t even known he possessed.

’What... what is that?’

The horses neighed in panic. Lukas heard the coachman grunt as he pulled hard on the reins, trying to control the animals as they thrashed about, their hooves pounding desperately against the dirt road.

Inside the carriage, Lukas, Judite, and Aurora jumped in fright.

Judite let out a sharp scream, the kind of scream Lukas knew very well, the scream of pure surprise, and grabbed her mother’s arm tightly. Her small fingers dug into the fabric of Aurora’s dress.

Aurora, in turn, acted on instinct. Her arms wrapped around both children in a swift motion, pulling them against her chest. Lukas felt her heart beating rapidly against his cheek. Her scent, lavender, milk, and something sweet, filled his nostrils.

"Stay still," Aurora whispered, her voice firm despite the fear Lukas could feel trembling through her body.

"Stay calm. Don’t make any noise."

From outside, they heard Clavor’s urgent shout.

"DON’T LEAVE THE CARRIAGE!"

Clavor’s voice cut through the air like a blade, loud enough to be heard despite the panicking horses and the roar still echoing through the trees.

"IT’S A ONE-HORNED TIGER!" he bellowed, and Lukas heard the sound of Clavor jumping from his horse, followed by the heavy thud of his boots hitting the dirt road.