The exhaustion from the previous day's festivities, coupled with the lingering energy of the healing, pulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep. But as the night wore on, my slumber shifted, and I found myself in a vivid, almost tangible dream.
I stood in a realm of swirling light and color, a place that felt both familiar and utterly alien. Before me floated two figures, their forms radiating a soft, ethereal glow. One, her features serene and compassionate, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth, was instantly recognizable. The Goddess of Life.
"My son," she said, her voice like a soothing melody, "thank you for saving the Vasanti. You have shown great compassion and skill."
"Of course," I replied, feeling a sense of awe in her presence. "It was no problem, even though I only borrowed your power."
The Goddess of Life smiled, a radiant expression that filled the dreamlike realm with even more light. Beside her, another goddess stood, her presence more wild and untamed. Her eyes glowed with fierce energy, and her very being seemed to pulse with the raw power of nature.
"By the way," I asked, curiosity getting the better of me, "who is that girl beside you?"
The Goddess of Life turned to the other deity, her smile widening. "This is the Goddess of Beasts," she explained. "She is the one who created the Great Race, the Vasanti. And she wishes to express her gratitude for saving them."
The Goddess of Beasts stepped forward, her gaze intense and piercing. "Indeed," she said, her voice like the rumble of distant thunder, yet filled with a deep, resonant power. "The Vasanti are my children, and you have saved them from a terrible fate. As a reward for your actions, I will grant you a gift."
She raised her hand, and a surge of raw, untamed energy coursed through the dream, making the very fabric of the realm shimmer and vibrate. "I grant you the skill of Ultimate Contract," she declared, her voice echoing with divine power. "This skill will allow you to form contracts with any beast. And as you form these contracts, you will gain their powers, their strengths, their very essence. Use this gift wisely, human. You have earned it."
The energy intensified, becoming almost unbearable, and a searing pain lanced through my head. I cried out, the dreamscape dissolving into a kaleidoscope of light and color.
Then, darkness.
I woke with a gasp, my heart pounding, my body drenched in sweat. The memory of the dream, the power, the goddesses, was still vivid in my mind. It felt… real. Too real to be just a dream.
"What happened?" a voice asked, filled with concern.
I turned to see Lyra standing in the doorway of my chamber, her silver hair disheveled, her golden eyes wide with worry. The first rays of dawn were filtering through the opening, casting long shadows across the room.
"The Goddess of Beasts… she gave me a skill," I groaned, clutching my head. "A skill called Ultimate Contract. It was… intense."
I spent the next few minutes explaining the dream to Lyra, recounting the appearance of the goddesses, the gift of the skill, the sheer power that had coursed through me. Lyra listened intently, her expression a mixture of fascination and disbelief.
"The Goddess of Beasts?" she murmured, her brow furrowed. "I've heard tales of her, of course, but…"
She shook her head, unable to fully comprehend the implications of my dream. "If what you say is true," she said finally, "then you have been granted a power beyond anything we have ever seen."
We made our way to the dining area, a spacious chamber filled with the aroma of exotic spices and freshly baked bread. The Vasanti were already gathered, their movements graceful and fluid as they served and ate.
The food was… incredible. Fruits I had never seen before, bursting with flavors that danced on my tongue. Meats that were tender and succulent, seasoned with herbs that awakened my senses. It was a culinary experience unlike anything I had ever known. If only the people back home could taste this, I thought, marveling at the flavors.
After breakfast, I decided to test my limits, to see if the power of this new "Ultimate Contract" skill had manifested physically. I found an open area near the village and began my workout, a series of gymnastic exercises honed over years of practice.
My body moved with a newfound fluidity and grace. I was faster, stronger, more flexible than ever before. I executed complex flips and twists with ease, my movements precise and powerful. I split my legs with a flexibility that should have been impossible, held handstands for what felt like an eternity.
Lost in my training, I stripped off my shirt, the morning sun warming my skin. I was pushing my body to its absolute limits, exploring the boundaries of my enhanced abilities.
I was in the middle of a one-handed, two-fingered handstand, my body a perfect line of strength and control, when Lyra suddenly appeared.
"The bath is ready," she announced, her voice slightly breathless. "Father says you're next."
Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of me. My near-naked form, the sweat glistening on my honed muscles, the impossible feat of balance I was performing. She stood frozen, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, her gaze fixed on me with a mixture of awe and… something else.
I held the position for a moment longer, then gracefully lowered myself to the ground. "Okay," I said, catching my breath. "I'll be there in a bit."
Lyra stammered something unintelligible, then turned and fled, her face still flushed. I chuckled, amused by her reaction. It seemed even in another world, some things were universal.
The bath, when I finally arrived, was more like a small pool, filled with steaming, fragrant water. It was clearly designed for the much taller Vasanti. I sank into the soothing warmth, letting the aches and pains of my earlier exertions melt away.
I was completely relaxed, my eyes closed, when I heard a soft gasp.
"Uhm, hello?" I said, opening my eyes.
Standing at the edge of the pool was another Vasanti woman, her eyes wide with shock. She was stunningly beautiful, with the same silver hair and golden eyes as Lyra, but there was a regal air about her, a sense of quiet power.
It took me a moment to realize who she was. The second princess, Lyra's sister.
She stared at me for a long moment, her expression a complex mix of surprise and… appreciation. Her gaze lingered on my… physique.
"Nevermind," I said, deciding to defuse the awkward situation with a bit of humor. "I'm done anyway."
I quickly climbed out of the pool, grabbing a towel, and left the chamber, leaving the princess standing there, speechless.
The events of the morning, from the dream to the bath incident, left me with a sense of restless energy. I knew I couldn't stay in the village forever. There was a whole world out there, a world of magic, beasts, and adventure. And I had a feeling, a certainty in my bones, that my journey had only just begun. I needed to explore, to learn, to master my new powers, and to find my place in this strange, new world. And with the Goddess of Beast's gift, the world was mine for the taking.