The Ring of Power

2: Welcome To The New World, and A New Life

Max's house is eerily silent when he returns from school. He arrived at an earlier hour than usual. He felt a mixture of relief and anger at the same time that he couldn't explain. The boy left his school backpack stored in the same place as always; He threw her on the floor, in the corner of the entrance of the house, where he stayed there until he felt like taking her to his room or until his grandmother scolded him to do it in case.

So, when he got to his room, Max took off the ring, and put it on his desk, not paying much attention to the fact that the ring at that moment was nothing more than that; a simple decoration ring.

That day, his last day of school without graduation, had been very exhausting, and he couldn't stop thinking about what life had in store for him from now on, that is, nothing. Without school, and without his routine, everything seemed very bleak for Max. His life would not be the same, and he only hoped that his grandmother could understand the reasons why he was expelled from school without reproach.

Days pass, then weeks, and Max fell into an impressive monotony. His new routine was based solely on playing video games, locked in her room, going out to eat, and doing grandmother's chores, since that had been her punishment for him by the time he found out what occurred.

The school became more and a more dark memory of the past, plus the abuse suffered that, before, had been a nightmare, now, was more constant with each passing night, to the point of Max suffering insomnia because the nightmares have been so loud ones that never let him sleep past 1:00 in the morning.

However, one night, while he was playing and eating pizza very late at night, the ring shone brightly again, just like he did the first time. It's 3:34 in the morning when Max's room was filled with a blindingly bright light. The light was soft. Then, the magical being appeared again, his eyes shining with such intensity that Max remembered what had happened before, and at the first meeting of him.

It seemed that Max would never see the color of the pupils of the magical being's eyes.

“Max,” the magical being said in a deep voice, “the time has come for me to show you your true destiny.”

Before Max could respond, the blinding light enveloped him inside him, and the boy felt as if his body was magically transported to another place. A whirlwind of fluorescent colors and distorted sounds surrounded him, until he finally found himself standing in the middle of unfamiliar terrain.

Max discovered that the world around him is a mixture of beauty and mystery around him. He saw tall snow-capped mountains rising on the horizon, while a vast forest spread out at his feet. Magical creatures unrecognizable to the naked eye fluttered by him, and the air was permeated with a vibrant, magical energy.

“Welcome to Atería,” the magical being announced, floating next to Max. “This is a world where your strength and bravery will be tested. Here, you will be the one in charge, and everyone who gets in your way will be your subject, everyone must obey you, no one else, and I, of course, will be your guide in this new adventure and style of life. Max, in this place you will be known as a strong and brave boy who is capable of anything. You are the warrior, and no one can defeat you.”

Max looks around him, he is surprised by what he heard, by what he saw, he never imagined that a world like this could really exist. He felt a sensation of fear and excitement, but he didn't feel like running away like he did when he had problems, rather, he was full of courage and wanted to continue there, exploring and witnessing how true each of them were the words that the magical being said.

"As? Seriously, is it possible that this is happening to me? Because I? I am a weak boy, I am not brave, much less am I strong to be what you say I am. I'm not a warrior, I'm just a failure. And I always will be.”

The magical being continues floating near Max, he gave the impression that he would never set foot on earth. His light has been more intense since they landed in that world, enveloping him in an aura of warmth and security. Something about Max warned him that he could trust himself to be magical like no one else had ever done before.

“Max, you need to let go of those limiting beliefs. In this world, your true essence will be revealed. Here you are not the Max you knew; You are someone much more powerful. The ring you wear is the key to unlocking your true potential. Allow me to show you and guide you in everything you can achieve.

Max took a deep breath, convincing himself that the magical being's words were all he needed to make sure he was doing the right thing; He was about to leave an old life in the world he knew, to live a new one in a completely new and different world.

Now, he just had to accept the reality of his destiny.

“Okay, what should I do first?” he asked, his voice firm and decisive.

“First, you must go in and master your new skills. In this place, magic flows through every living thing, and you have the ability to channel that energy. Follow the path to the east, and there, you will find the Temple of the Ancestors. Once you settle in, the guardians will teach you to control and use all your power, as well as you will know everything there is in this world and what connects it with yours that you already know.

Max began to walk in the indicated direction, he was alone, suddenly, and when he gave his instructions, the magical being disappeared. With each step, Max witnessed how his past life moved further away from normal, and how he grew closer to his new destiny.

The place was wonderful. The surrounding forest is full of sounds and unmatched magical vibes. The fantastic creatures, of which there are many, observe him from the shadows, and his eyes, as well as Max's, look at each other with great curiosity.

And after a walk so long that it seemed to last hours, Max arrived at a clearing where an imposing ancient temple was built that, at first, he believed to be abandoned due to the loneliness that accompanied it, but then, as he got closer and closer, entering it, Max felt a magical energy guide him to the place where he was to meet the guardians.

Max walked until he came upon a huge training field, and while there, he was greeted by a group of imposing figures, each radiating an energetic strength and incomparable wisdom.