Between Dreams and Reality.

Chapter 2: Lumien...?

Walking through the forest, he felt the cold earth under his feet and the gentle brush of falling leaves as the wind played with his silver-blue hair. Everything was new, and every sensation made his mind process faster. Without understanding exactly what was happening, he just walked, letting his shape-shifting changes happen without noticing. At one moment, his skin was clear and smooth like an elf's; at another, scales glinted, or a fluffy tail appeared and disappeared. Each change seemed to reflect a piece of what he was, even though he still didn't know what it meant.

As he walked, he came across a small stream. The water flowed calmly, and as he knelt to look at his reflection, he saw a face of unreal beauty. Long hair, golden and silver eyes, and features so perfect that even he found himself staring at his own image for a moment. His forms still changed subtly, but he didn't notice. He just passed his fingers through the water, feeling the cold and watching the ripples destroy his own image. Then, something inside him shone: a flame ignited. His first clear emotion: curiosity.

He picked up a leaf floating in the water and held it between his fingers. "Le...af," he tried to pronounce, his voice low and hesitant, almost as if learning to speak for the first time. It wasn't the exact sound, but it was a start. He repeated several times, turning the leaf in his hands until the sound finally approached what he wanted to say. A small smile formed on his lips, as if he had achieved something grand. Another flame ignited: satisfaction.

As he continued through the forest, he encountered trees that seemed to whisper with the wind and animals that fled at the sight of him, frightened by his constant changes. He didn't understand their fear; he just kept going until he smelled something different. Something attracted him — burning wood, food, voices. He followed the trail, intrigued, until he saw something new: a village.

Simple houses, made of wood, spread out through the valley. People walked from one side to the other, attending to their daily tasks. He stood at the edge of the village, watching. The way people moved, talked, and laughed seemed fascinating. He started walking towards them, not realizing he was still completely naked and that as he approached, his form changed once again. Now, he looked more human, but there were still details that revealed his strangeness: his spiral pupils, the faint glowing aura that surrounded him, and the changes that occurred constantly — fox ears appearing and disappearing, translucent wings flickering on his skin.

When he got closer, the village came to a halt. Men and women looked at him, children stopped their play, and even the dogs stopped barking. It wasn't just his unusual appearance that caught their attention; it was his almost absurd beauty. There was something about him that left even the most suspicious people speechless. And then, before everyone, he changed again. His ears elongated, resembling those of an elf, and nine fluffy fox tails emerged for a few moments before disappearing.

"Who... who are you?" asked a farmer, with a hesitant look. He didn't respond immediately. Not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know how. Words were difficult, strange.

He tilted his head, trying to remember. And then, a word emerged in his mind as if it had always been there: Lumien.

"Lumien," he said, his voice slow, almost as if testing the sound.

The farmer widened his eyes. "Lumien? What kind of name is that?"

He didn't respond. He just seemed confused, as if he didn't understand the reason for that name either. But for him, it simply felt right.

A woman approached, with a blanket in her hands. "You are... you need this," she said, blushing as she offered the fabric. He took the blanket carefully, looking at her and then at the object, not understanding what to do. He just wrapped the blanket awkwardly, covering himself partially. Some children started to laugh, but the adults kept their distance, trying to decipher him.

"Are you alone? Where did you come from?" asked another person, but he just tilted his head, confused. Words were difficult, and he still didn't understand what they wanted.

Eventually, they decided to take him to one of the families' houses. They offered him food, and he looked at the bowl of soup, not knowing how to use the spoon. After a few frustrated attempts, he decided to drink directly from the bowl, making the children laugh again. But when the warm, salty taste of the soup hit his mouth, something awakened. Another flame ignited. His second emotion: pleasure.

"He likes it!" said one of the children, pointing as he drank the soup more eagerly. Lumien didn't know what it meant, but the warmth he felt in his chest seemed good. For the first time, he began to associate actions with sensations.

After the meal, they tried to dress him in simple clothes. He stood still as they put the shirt and pants on him, but the clothes didn't make sense to him. When they tried to adjust them, he moved his arms clumsily, almost knocking over the man helping him, causing everyone in the room to laugh. Despite this, he accepted the clothes, even if incompletely and awkwardly.

"He changes... did you notice?" said a woman, in a low voice. "Look at his ears... now they're demonic!"

Everyone looked, some scared, others fascinated. Lumien didn't notice. To him, this was natural. His form reflected something he still didn't understand, but he saw no reason to worry.

That night, looking at the sky through the window, he saw the stars. Each point of light seemed to draw him in, as if they carried secrets he needed to understand. He didn't know what he would do next, but he knew he needed to keep learning. Another flame burned inside him: something new, which he still didn't know how to name, but that drove him forward.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the house, the villagers discussed him. "What will we do with him?" asked a man, visibly worried. "What if he is some kind of dangerous magical creature?"

"He doesn't seem dangerous," said the woman who gave him the blanket, still blushing at the memory of his appearance. "But there's something strange about him... the way he changes..."

"Whatever he is, he is a mystery," murmured another, looking at the ceiling. "Maybe a harbinger... or a test from the gods."

Lumien, hearing the muffled voices, didn't understand the words but caught the tone of worry mixed with curiosity. For the first time, he began to wonder who he really was and why he was there. One last flame shone in his mind that night: something approaching doubt.