The beast lunged, its tendrils whipping forward with the speed of striking snakes. Kaelen ducked low, rolling to the side as one of the writhing appendages smashed into the ground where he’d been standing. Dust and shards of stone erupted into the air.

Sigrid raised her hand, and a burst of shimmering energy rippled outward. The beast recoiled, momentarily stunned, as a luminous barrier sprang up between the group and its snapping jaws.

“Move!” she shouted. “It won’t hold long!”

Kaelen didn’t need to be told twice. He darted around the creature, his blade flashing as he struck at its flank. The steel cut deep, black ichor spraying from the wound, but the beast barely flinched. Its tendrils lashed out, forcing Kaelen to backpedal, narrowly avoiding being impaled.

Nessa charged in from the other side, her dagger gleaming with some kind of alchemical coating. She slashed at the creature’s hind legs, aiming to cripple it. Her blade found purchase, and the beast let out an otherworldly howl, its body twisting unnaturally as it turned to face her.

"That got its attention!" Nessa shouted, leaping back as the beast snapped its jaws at her.

Sigrid’s magic flared again, this time sending a wave of frost creeping along the floor toward the creature. The ice latched onto its tendrils, slowing their movements, but the beast shattered the frozen bindings with a single thrash.

“It’s adapting,” Sigrid warned, her voice steady but tense.

Kaelen gritted his teeth, gripping his blade tighter. He couldn’t shake the strange familiarity of the creature’s aura—the way its presence gnawed at the edges of his mind, whispering something he couldn’t quite understand.

The beast roared, a deafening sound that seemed to warp the very air around it. Shadows surged from its body, flooding the chamber with a thick, suffocating darkness.

“We can’t see a damn thing!” Nessa growled, her voice sharp with frustration.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Kaelen closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting the chaos around him fade. When he opened them again, they glowed faintly, their usual green hue replaced by a deep amber. The world around him shifted, the oppressive shadows peeling away to reveal the creature’s glowing form, every movement outlined in sharp relief.

“Stay on its left!” Kaelen barked, his voice cutting through the din. “Its tendrils are weaker there!”

“How do you know that?” Nessa snapped, dodging another strike.

“I just do. Trust me!”

With his enhanced sight, Kaelen darted forward, his movements precise and calculated. He targeted the beast’s exposed flank, slashing at the base of its tendrils where the dark energy seemed to pulse strongest. The creature howled in pain, its movements growing more erratic.

Sigrid took advantage of the opening, channeling her magic into a concentrated burst of energy. A spear of light shot from her hand, piercing the beast’s chest and driving it back. The shadows around them began to waver, the oppressive darkness retreating slightly.

“Keep pushing!” Sigrid called, her voice carrying a rare note of determination.

Kaelen leaped onto the beast’s back, plunging his blade into the base of its neck. The creature thrashed violently, but he held on, driving the weapon deeper. Black ichor sprayed across his face, but he didn’t relent.

“Now!” he shouted, his voice strained.

Sigrid and Nessa acted in unison. Sigrid unleashed a final wave of magic, a blinding explosion of light that engulfed the creature, while Nessa drove her blade into its heart with a fierce battle cry.

The beast let out one last, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground. Its body disintegrated into a swirling mass of shadows, which dissipated into the air like smoke.

Kaelen staggered back, his breathing heavy as his eyes returned to their normal hue. Sigrid and Nessa stood nearby, both looking equally drained.

“Well,” Kaelen said, wiping the ichor from his face, “that was unpleasant.”

Sigrid gave him a sharp look. “Your eyes—what was that?”

Kaelen hesitated, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. “A trick I picked up,” he said vaguely. “I’ll explain later.”

Nessa snorted, shaking her head. “Of course you will.”

Sigrid didn’t press further, though her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than usual.

The group made their way out of the ruin, the morning sun casting long shadows over the desolate hills. Kaelen glanced at Sigrid, who walked silently beside him, her expression thoughtful.

“You did good back there,” he said, breaking the silence.

She arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you trying to be complimentary, or is that your way of saying I didn’t screw up?”

Kaelen smirked faintly. “Take it however you want.”

Sigrid’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but she quickly masked it. “You’re full of surprises, Kaelen. First the eyes, now this sudden streak of kindness. I don’t know what to make of you.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied. “I’m still figuring it out myself.”

Nessa groaned from behind them. “Can we save the bonding for later? My legs are killing me, and I’d like to sit down before I drop dead.”

Kaelen chuckled. “Fine. Let’s get back to the village. They owe us another round of payment.”

As they descended the hill, Kaelen felt the weight of Sigrid’s gaze on him. Though she said nothing, her curiosity was palpable. He knew the questions would come eventually—about his eyes, his past, and whatever secrets he was keeping.

But for now, he was content to let the moment pass, the

faint hint of camaraderie lingering between them like the first spark of a flame.