Leor was reluctant to enter the Edgewoods. It had been a long time since he’s been here, long enough to stop counting. The scent of pine and oak reminded him of his “training” days with his mentor; they sent little pricks of pain to the deepest parts of his memory, like a tiny bird pecking at the back part of his skull.

Golden sunlight peeked through the vast sea of trees that blackened their sights of the sky and nullified the warm summer breeze. Only small pockets of light were able to break through the darkness, offering a tiny haven for a few lucky wildlife to grow and eventually consume the entire oasis for themselves.

“Sir Leor, are you sure you know where you’re going?” Ceri asked, clutching onto him as close as possible without impeding their walk. Her voice trembled with fear, but that was to be expected. Everyone knows many go missing in such woods, and for Leor to suggest the very idea of traversing it, must have made him sound less than sane.

“Yes, I’m looking for signs,” Leor responded as he skimmed his finger along the body of another great Oak. He glanced at Alden and was surprised to see him observing the forest with bright eyes. Was it foolish ignorance that drove his curiosity or bravery? Leor leaned to the former.

“Signs?” echoed Alden with raised eyebrows. He peered over Leor’s shoulder, and circled the suspect, mimicking him like a curious child.

Leor hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to let others know that the symbols led to his long-forgotten home. It was meant to be kept a secret between him and his runaway mentor. He looked at Ceri, who still had a tight grip on his clothes. Her eyes shifted around the entire forest at every little noise that broke the silent hum of the Edgewoods. After pondering more, he relented and figured it’s better for them to know, in case they run off out of fright; he did so too when he was younger. The secret has been kept long enough, he thought. He was sure it was only him keeping it safe now.

“Yes, it looks like this,” Leor said, pointing to a faint triangle etched into the moss-covered trunk. The longest tip pointed away from the falling sun. “These markings — I used them many years ago to seek refuge in these woods”, He paused, gazing down the path. ”We’re almost there. Let’s hurry before nightfall.” He marched onward with newly-found confidence.

Further ahead, a source of light tore a hole in the forest shadows like a sole bonfire burning in the darkest depths of a cavern. It filled them with a warmth that crawled up their skin as they entered the light from the undergrowth. A circular field, void of trees, welcomed them. The shrubbery beneath their feet was no longer green, but an empty gray that crept its discoloration up the bodies of the once evergreens that sit on the rim. Their bodies twisted outward as though being raked by an invisible hand. The ashen pattern was dotted with purple luminescent shrooms that grew by the foot of the graying trees.

It was a strange sight for all of them. Leor had passed this empty patch many times before, but the glowing fungi were not part of his memory. It did not strike him until now, but what was even stranger was the lack of forest creatures. By now, he expected at least the chirping of birds, but there were none since they’ve entered the Edgewoods.

Ceri and Alden edged deeper with hesitation in every step, toe then heel, like they were forbidden to walk on such land.

“W-what is this place?” whispered Ceri as if attempting to not disturb the tranquility of the foreign soil. She turned to Leor with eyes that begged for an answer.

But, Leor had no answer of his own. His only theory came from the old folktales his mentor spewed during their late-night chats by a campfire. He was drunk most of the time so Leor always thought of it as groundless drivel, but he had no other explanation to give and he could not ignore her pleading gaze. It melted his defenses and whispered sweet nothings, tempting the retelling of his mentor’s tale.

“I'm not quite sure myself. From what I’ve heard, this barren land and others like it are remnants of the war. It is said that Ludwig hailed his Lightning from the heavens, striking down the Old Ones and scorching the earth along with them. Places that were stricken by the most powerful of bolts are forever tainted. Incapable of life.”

Ceri dropped to her knees when she realized she was in the presence of the High Lord’s power and began mumbling into her clasped hands. Her stance was enough for Leor to tune out her words. If he heard another prayer, he swore his ears would bleed. By then Leor had noticed Alden treading forward, inhaling the scene with a longing smile. After a few more steps, the ground beneath him caved in and he began to fall into a rift that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Fortunately for him, Leor was watching over Alden and yanked him back by the collar. Leor looked at him with narrow eyes that instructed him to watch his step.

Alden shakily peered into the black canyon that carved through the center of the airy space. The jagged edge of the walls looked like an ancient drake stretching its jaw, waiting to consume any unfortunate soul that falls in. Alden watched the loose earth sink into the hollow. The rock’s impact never reached their ears. Leor found himself joining Alden. It was not the first time he’s seen the gaping trench, he too has almost fallen in a couple of times, but every time he gazes into the black space, a chill runs down his back.

It was then the quiet of the Edgewoods was interrupted with a crescendoing rumble that shook the forest floor. The absent birds shot out from hiding and took to the sky; their collective cries were enough to force them to cover their ears. Have the guards followed them into the forest? It was not likely, but Leor had already miscalculated earlier that day. Regardless, he steadied his hand over Inazuma, while Alden and Ceri hid behind their guard. The front bushes rustled. A baby Edgewolf sprang into the open. Noticing the three, it jumped into Ceri’s arms and shivered compulsively. Blood from a gash on its left eye stained its black fur and smeared her expensive ivory robes.

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“Oh my! What an adorable little thing!” Ceri said surprised as she coddled the pup to subdue its shaking.

Leor smirked and kept guard. “I guess we found dinner.” His voice carried a subtle jest but it fell deaf to Ceri and his growling stomach, which whispered possible dishes he could make with the Edgewolf. Meat Skewers, Grilled Meat, Meat Stew. Meat. The possibilities made saliva pool in his mouth.

“You will not be harming this cute, innocent creature!” protested Ceri, shielding the animal away from Leor’s drooling eyes.

“I was merely joking,” Leor retorted as he licked his lips.

Ceri was unconvinced. She could still hear his stomach growling.

“I don’t mean to stop your lover’s quarrel, but the quaking hasn’t stopped,” Alden interjected, amused yet still hiding behind Leor.

He was right. It was getting stronger too. The trees to the east fell one after another, shaking the earth with each explosive thud. Sweat filled Leor’s palms. It was too late to run for cover. Whatever it was stampeding towards them was fast and would bulldoze them like the trees in its path. The only thing left was to hold ground. A sudden bloodlust bolted through the air, and on instinct, Leor matched it with his blade. It caught the fangs of an oversized Edgewolf. It was twice the normal size, the length of a grown man, and its misshapen teeth protruded out, dripping fresh blood. Its fur was black as night but the tips shined a faint purple in the sunlight. Its snarl sounded primal, almost wicked. Like the crackle of lightning.

The idea that the Edgewolf could be the whelp’s guardian crossed Leor’s mind, but one glance at the cowering canine proved otherwise. He was hoping to avoid any encounters with the beasts of this forest but they were in their territory. And, Edgewolves were an aggressive bunch.

The beast clawed the dirt with its front paw as if accepting Leor’s daring challenge. Though Edgewolves fight in packs, this one was alone. Perhaps the rest of the pack was lagging behind. Judging by its monstrous size, Leor surmised that this must be the leader. He thought if he beat it into submission, the wolf pack would leave them alone. Leor waved Ceri and Alden off, signaling them to clear space. Recentering his mass, Leor eased his grip and lifted Inazuma to his shoulders, blade up, and pointed its tip at the Edgewolf. A still calmness filled Leor as he locked eyes with the wolf. He only had to treat this bout like the ones from long ago. It is only an Edgewolf.

“Come!” Leor taunted.

As if understanding his call to battle, the Edgewolf sprung at Leor with its mouth stretched and fangs ready. Leor swung his sword and deflected its jaws to the side, craving a thin line across its teeth, then he stepped forward and smacked the blunt side of his blade across its body. The Edgewolf cried in pain and pounced back, flaring its nostrils at Leor. The air smelt of blood and fire.

A slight grin curled from Leor’s lips as he re-angled Inazuma’s tip at the beast. His muscles have not forgotten the countless battles with their kind. And despite its size, an animal is still an animal.

The Edgewolf circled Leor. He trailed the beast’s movements with his weapon. He knew it was sizing him up. It was what they always did before attacking. The Edgewolf howled before charging forward again. Leor deflected its claws to the side as it passed by him, and angled his body to keep the wolf in his line of sight. The wolf pounced from tree to tree, then launched off the last one, rushing at Leor and lashing out its claws. Leor drove through the dirt with his back foot, dashing forth and feinting underneath the wolf’s attack, then he hammered his weapon’s hilt into its ribcage with enough force to send the Edgewolf flying across the dirt, landing by the rift’s edge. Its cries echoed through the open air.

Leor sheathed his blade. His hand was still ringing from the repeated strikes. He looked at the prone Edgewolf, panting on the floor. Though wounded, its eyes still burned with fight.

“Stay down,” Leor commanded. “I do not wish to take your life”.

It growled back. The hairs on its hide stood up and vibrated, almost like it was dancing. The purple hue on its fur grew stronger, the air around them smoldered with steam and static.

Alden’s voice shot out from behind. “Leor, watch out! That’s Lord Ludwig’s Lightning!”

At that moment, the heated air exploded outward. Leor ducked as fast as he could but a stray lightning bolt stabbed through his injured shoulder, like a branding iron piercing his skin. The smell of sizzling flesh and fabric filled his nose. He locked his screams behind clenched teeth and a tight squeeze to his arm.

Leor staggered to keep on his feet. His vision faded in and out. He drew his blade once more. Something like this should not be allowed to live, he thought. Before he could finish it off, the whelp jumped between them and barked Leor back. It took a moment for him to refocus his vision onto the pup. He stared at its determined face. Its eyes had no hint of fear or aggression, only the will to protect the larger Edgewolf. The more he looked at it, the more he saw himself. Leor could hear his cries for his mother. Thunder boomed and his skin tingled from rain that was not there. His hand trembled as he tried to convince himself to take the Edgewolf’s life, but he could not. Deep down, he knew killing it would make him like the monsters who murdered his parents. Leor lowered his sword and watched the pup lick the wounds of its supposed guardian. A heartwarming sight, yet Leor felt nothing but envy.

The wounded Edgewolf snarled again, frothing at the mouth, hairs turning violet. It’s going to attack again. Leor threw his arms over Ceri and Alden, draping his cloak over them. The seizing Edgewolf fumbled to its feet and winced. It nuzzled the whelp with its nose, like how a mother dotes her child, before it jumped into the rift.

At that moment, Leor saw his younger self sitting alongside the young Edgewolf, staring into the abyss, helpless to save their kin. The wolfling’s howl sounded more of a cry. It was stinging to the ears. The pain was more than the arrow and bolt of lightning to the shoulder. He too wanted to mourn with the wolf, but he had to stay strong because death follows all.