The morning broke with a pale light, the village shrouded in a thin mist that seemed reluctant to lift. Kaelen, Sigrid, and Nessa gathered their supplies in silence, the weight of their task pressing heavily on them.

"Velrath’s a long way," Nessa said, tightening the straps on her saddle. "And not exactly the safest route. Highwaymen, beasts, and gods know what else will be waiting."

Kaelen smirked, adjusting his cloak. "Sounds like a good time to me."

Sigrid rolled her eyes, already on her horse. "Let’s hope you still feel that way when something claws through your armor."

"Optimism suits you, Sigrid," Kaelen shot back, mounting his horse.

Without further delay, they set out, leaving the crumbling village behind.

The first leg of their journey took them through the dense Forest of Shadows, a sprawling expanse of towering trees and winding paths. The forest was infamous for its thick canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight, casting everything in an eerie twilight.

Kaelen kept his hand near his sword as they rode, his eyes scanning the undergrowth. "This place has a reputation. Bandits, beasts, and... worse."

"Superstitions," Sigrid replied, though her tone lacked conviction.

Nessa chuckled, trailing slightly behind them. "Superstitions don’t carve claw marks that big." She gestured toward a tree trunk gouged with deep, fresh scratches.

They pressed on, the horses growing increasingly restless as the forest deepened. The faint sound of rustling leaves seemed to follow them, and more than once Kaelen thought he saw movement in the shadows.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

By the time they reached a small clearing, the tension was palpable.

"We camp here," Kaelen announced, dismounting. "No point pushing through when we can’t see what’s ahead."

Sigrid nodded, though she kept her staff close as she helped gather firewood.

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the trees. Kaelen sat sharpening his blade, while Sigrid examined a tattered map of the forest. Nessa leaned against a tree, her daggers in hand as she kept watch.

"Anything out there?" Kaelen asked without looking up.

"Plenty," Nessa replied. "Nothing brave enough to attack us yet, though."

"Yet," Sigrid muttered.

The moment stretched into silence, the oppressive stillness of the forest pressing down on them. Then, from somewhere in the distance, came a low, guttural growl.

Kaelen was on his feet instantly, his sword in hand. "Sounds like we’ve got company."

The growl grew louder, closer, accompanied by the snapping of branches. The horses whinnied nervously, tugging at their reins.

From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any they’d seen before. It was massive, its body covered in coarse, matted fur. Its face was vaguely wolflike, but its eyes burned with a feral intelligence, and its elongated claws gleamed in the firelight.

"A Varagul," Sigrid whispered, her voice tinged with recognition.

"Lovely name," Kaelen said, stepping forward. "Let’s see how it likes steel."

The Varagul charged with a deafening roar, its movements swift and powerful. Kaelen met it head-on, his blade clashing against its claws. The force of the impact sent him stumbling, but he recovered quickly, dodging its next attack and slicing a deep gash across its side.

Sigrid’s magic flared to life, a burst of energy striking the creature and forcing it back. The Varagul howled in rage, its glowing eyes locking onto her.

"Keep it distracted!" she shouted, preparing another spell.

Nessa darted in from the side, her daggers flashing as she targeted the creature’s legs. The Varagul swiped at her, narrowly missing as she rolled out of reach.

Kaelen pressed the attack, his strikes relentless. The creature was fast, but his instincts and training kept him one step ahead.

Finally, Sigrid unleashed her spell, a searing wave of light that enveloped the Varagul. It writhed and screeched before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into ash.

As the last traces of the creature vanished, Kaelen sheathed his sword and turned to the others. "So much for superstitions, huh?"

Sigrid ignored him, her focus on the ashes left behind. "The Varagul doesn’t belong here. They’re territorial—this one must have been driven out of its domain."

"By what?" Nessa asked, her tone uneasy.

Sigrid shook her head. "Something stronger. Something worse."

Kaelen sighed, sitting back down by the fire. "Guess we’ll find out soon enough. Velrath isn’t getting any closer."

As they settled back into their uneasy camp, the forest seemed to watch, silent and waiting.

The journey continued the next morning, the forest gradually giving way to rolling plains and distant hills. The city of Velrath lay ahead, its spires barely visible on the horizon.

"Velrath’s not just a city," Nessa said as they rode. "It’s a labyrinth. The lower districts are crawling with cutthroats, and the upper circles are no better—they just wear fancier clothes."

Kaelen chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of place."

Sigrid didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the dis

tant skyline. Whatever lay ahead, she knew it would test them in ways they couldn’t yet imagine.