[Anyways, we need to talk. What is going on with you? why have you not called for me again? Is there something going on?]
"Why are you acting like I am your son or something, why would I try to reach out to you?" He was trying very hard to keep calm. "So, why are you here this time?"
[Hmmm....]
'Did it just hmm?'
[I see now. Well, your eyes will open when the time comes. I will keep watching for now.] The voice went silent for good.
"Huh, what was that all about?"
He stood there for a moment, waiting to see if the voice would return. When it didn't, he shook his head and continued forward.
"That was weird, even for the Tower."
[Indeed. Something is definitely off. The Tower's behavior is erratic.]
'It almost sounded... concerned?'
[Or it's trying to manipulate you. Again.]
He ducked under a low-hanging branch. 'Either way, we need to stay focused. Red panda or not, there's something waiting for me up ahead.'
The map on his screen indicated he was getting closer to his target. The terrain became increasingly strange—rocks that floated slightly above the ground, plants that turned to follow him as he passed.
He reached a small clearing and stopped. According to his map, his target should be right here.
The clearing was perfectly circular, as if carved deliberately into the forest. In the center sat a small red panda, calmly munching on what looked like a purple bamboo shoot. It appeared completely ordinary—red fur, white face markings, bushy tail. It showed no signs of being a monster or possessing any special abilities.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, approaching cautiously.
The red panda looked up at him, tilting its head curiously but showing no fear. Its eyes were unnaturally bright, glowing slightly.
[Oh?]
He circled the clearing slowly, studying the creature from different angles. The panda simply watched him, continuing to eat its bamboo.
"Alright," he said finally, drawing his weapon. "Let's see what you can do."
The panda stood up on its hind legs, dropping the bamboo shoot. For a moment, it just stared at him. Then it spoke.
"Hello, Vell."
"What the—"
"It's been a long time," it continued, its voice unexpectedly deep and resonant for such a small creature. "Or perhaps not. Time works differently here."
"Who are you?" He demanded, keeping his weapon raised.
The panda sat back down, wrapping its bushy tail around its body. "You mean you don't recognize me? I'm hurt." Its mouth curved in what almost looked like a smile. It then paused and looked at him intensely, "sigh, so you steal haven't use the gift I left you?"
He was confused, "What are you talking about?" He pointed his sword directly at the monster, his patience wearing thing.
"Oh come on. Viana is in your mind realm right? Your there little girl?"
The was silence for a few seconds, except for the chewing noises from the panda. [You know me?]
"Cut the formalities. When are you going to tell Vell about 'that', why are you hiding it from him? It was his to begin with." Its tone was becoming heavy and clouds began to slowly cover the sky.
'this is no normal panda. What is it talking about Viana?'
[....]
'Viana?'
"Here's a hint. You saw me before you awakened." It said, still chewing its bamboo.
He thought about it for a while until it slowly came back to him, the panda that somehow escaped its master. "You don't mea-" Before he could finish, the panda cut him off.
"That's right. That artifact I threw your way. You didn't think that was just luck right? come on now."
Vell was beginning to realize what it was talking about. If he created Viana, and she was locked in his mind when he was sealed away, then what was all that beast evolution forge stuff when he touched the artifact, what were those symbols that seeped into his body.
"Viana, what is going on here?"
The silence that followed his question hung heavy in the air. Viana didn't respond right away, which only made the tension worse.
[I...] Viana finally spoke, her voice unusually quiet. [There are things I haven't told you.]
"Obviously," he said aloud, his eyes never leaving the red panda. "Start talking."
The red panda sat comfortably, watching the internal struggle with amusement. It took another bite of the purple bamboo, chewing slowly as if enjoying the show.
[When you touched that artifact, it did awaken me but that was not its main purpose.] She paused for a moment, not sure if it was wise to continue.
[So, at first I didn't know what it was so I decided to keep analyzing it for you since it could dangerous but the day my memories started coming back I knew instantly what that power was.] She went silent, not wanting to continue.
"Go on, why are you going silent or should I tell him myself?" It said, a smirk never leaving its face.
[Haahh. Fine. Those symbols, or specifically runes are your magic. No, that's not right. They can unlock your magic pathways which have been blocked all this time.]
"What? So you are telling me I have been struggling to use magic this whole time and you knew why? Not just knew, you held the answer in your hands?"
[I am sorry master, but your body is still adapting to all the powers you have collected in the past 2 years, if you unlock your magic right now, it will tear you apart.]
"...." He didn't know what to say but hearing her tone, he knew what he had to do, "I see, so that's why. I understand."
"what!" The panda got up, furious, "That's it? She hides something this important from you, and you just say 'I understand'?" The panda's voice rose, echoing in the clearing. "Do you have any idea what you're capable of? What you were capable of before?"
He kept his weapon trained on the creature but his stance had relaxed slightly. "I trust Viana. If she says my body can't handle it yet, then I believe her."
The panda dropped back to all fours, circling the clearing with growing frustration. "Trust? How quaint." It stopped and fixed those unnaturally bright eyes on him again. "You don't even know who you were."
"I know exactly what I was, do you want me to show you?" His voice dropped as dark energy began seeping out of his body, covering the whole place.
"It can't be...how are you this far along already." The panda looked at him with caution now.