"We've got to get it out of the village. It's what they want!" Roven spat, his finger jabbing accusingly towards Karn.

The meeting room was getting crowded as the leaders of the village huddled together, shooting accusatory glances towards the outsiders.

Ralina positioned herself between them, forcefully shoving Roven's hand away. "They’re after the man not just the book," she said flatly, her voice filled with frustration.

Karn felt the weight of everyone's gaze upon him, a mixture of fear, awe, and distrust. He scanned the crowd, desperately searching for a sympathetic face. Finally, his eyes met Hope's, and a spark of faith reignited within his heart.

"Get rid of these outsiders!" Roven's voice boomed, his anger fuelling his words.

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint sound of sympathetic voices that echoed Karn's own inner turmoil. He stood there; eyes fixed on the ominous presence of the red book resting on the shimmering surface of the meeting table.

The book seemed to emit an aura of power, its crimson cover adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to writhe and twist. It was as if the very essence of danger and forbidden knowledge was contained within its pages. Karn felt a chill crawl up his spine as he pondered the weight of responsibility that now rested upon his shoulders.

Each person in the room understood the significance of the book, the legacy of suffering and misfortune that it represented. They had all witnessed the devastating consequences of its magic, the price paid by their ancestors for daring to delve into its secrets.

Karn's mind raced, grappling with the magnitude of the decision that lay before him. The book held immense power, both as a potential weapon in the wrong hands and as a beacon for those who sought to claim it. He knew that keeping it within the village would only invite destruction and despair.

With a deep breath, Karn broke free from his trance-like state. Determination gleamed in his eyes as he turned to face the villagers, ready to take on the responsibility that fate had thrust upon him. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with peril and sacrifice, but he couldn't allow fear holding him back.

"That's enough!" Bolgart intervened, stepping forward with determination, his eyes locked with Roven's in a silent challenge.

"We don't have enough time," Palin interjected while nervously fidgeting with a chain around his neck. "We need to formulate a plan to evacuate the women, children, and the book."

Karn's mind raced, recalling the note his father had left him. The book his mission—keeping it away from the wrong hands was paramount.

"How much time do we have?" Karn inquired, his voice filled with urgency.

Ralina sniffed the air, her brows furrowing in concentration. "A few hours, maybe."

"Damn," Karn muttered. He ran through different ideas in his mind until one appeared. "What if… What if I lead them away, create a diversion, and hide the book among a group of you so that you can escape without detection? That way, I can draw the Felren away from both the civilians and the book."

A hush fell over the room as everyone processed Karn's proposal. They regarded the outsider with newfound respect, recognizing the man behind the words.

Ralina sighed, her voice filled with a mix of awe and concern. "Karn, while I admire your bravery, it simply won't work. There are too many of them. They will surround the beach on all sides."

Roven sneered. "The outsider has doomed us all."

Farlen slammed the table. "Dammit, Roven!" The leader's sudden outburst startled everyone, as his voice boomed with anger. "We've been teetering on the edge of doom for a hundred years." He strode over to the book, his gaze fixed upon it. "This here is the reason for our cursed existence. The magic contained within this accursed book has brought suffering to generations. We must break it! No more!"

A heavy silence settled in the room as all eyes remained fixed on the silent, ominous presence of the book resting on the table before them.

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Hope mustered her courage and stepped forward, her voice weak but filled with determination. She cleared her throat before addressing the crowd. "Can we... can we use the book?" Her words hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty.

Farlen, shifted his gaze between Hope and Karn. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes as he posed the question to Karn. "Can you?"

Karn felt a heavy weight building within him, aware of everyone's expectations resting on his shoulders. He squirmed uncomfortably under the intense scrutiny.

Can I? he wondered.

His mind flooded back to the memories of the dragon he had brought to life. Was it a testament to the untapped potential within him? His gaze fell upon Alec, the stoic rock creature who’d witnessed Karn's display of magic. Neither of them were able to understand the magic.

The ancient book, brimming with untamed power, lay before them on the table, silent yet ready. It was a tantalizing invitation, beckoning him to explore its limitless possibilities. Then, like a lightning bolt of inspiration, a wild thought struck him.

"Holy shit," Karn exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. A broad smile spread across his face as he turned to face the astonished onlookers. "How quickly can you shape and transform living steel? And just how big can you make it the Elementlet material grow?"

Bolgart's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his voice filled with confusion. "Um, what?"

"I mean," Karn clarified, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. "What is the largest creation we can construct using the living steel and how fast could you make it? We have must have many skilled people here!”

Farlen surveyed the room, his gaze assessing the gathering of talented individuals. "With all of us here, there are many possibilities, some of them quite substantial."

Karn's grin widened. Alec, catching onto Karn's line of thinking, tilted his head to the side, his stone features breaking into a broad grin.

The wave of realisation washed over Alec, causing him to erupt into laughter. "Great idea, kid!"

⚔

Yurven gazed down at the seemingly insignificant village from his vantage point. The hidden spot provided him with a commanding view of the small, secluded beach and the impressive defences of the small town. Despite their efforts, Yurven knew their defences would ultimately prove useless.

A smirk played across Yurven's face as he spotted the figures he had been searching for, their heads bobbing in the distance as they swam. An eerie rumbling filled the air, accompanied by low snarls and the sound of claws scraping against earth and bark.

The time had come.

Yurven emerged from the shadows, revealing his bestial form draped in his Elders' robe of thick black fur adorned with ceremonial runes of death in blood. His sharp fangs thirsted for flesh, and the thought filled him with a wicked sense of pleasure. Elder Yurven stretched his long neck and surveyed the scene with his deep-set grey eyes.

His gaze wandered across the terrain, calculating and envisioning battles unfolding in his mind. The northern flank of the village was exposed to the sea, the rhythmic waves providing a low rumble. The walls on either side stood tall, but not tall enough. Only a few guards patrolled the walls, their backs turned to the approaching danger.

Yurven knew that the element of surprise was on their side, not that they truly needed it. A low chuckle rumbled within his chest. He was getting restless.

Suddenly, his ears perked up as the sound of approaching footsteps reached him.

Drell? Yurven wondered. His animal instincts told him otherwise. It was a mere pawn, a lesser one. The Sun Felren approached in his human form, adorned in golden armour, and stood at attention before Yurven.

"Elder," the man bowed with forced respect. Yurven didn't even bother to look at him, fully aware of the insincerity behind the gesture.

"Orders?" the messenger asked, growing more nervous as Yurven maintained his silence.

Yurven's lips curled, revealing his blood-stained, savage teeth. "Where are my bodyguards?" he spat. "Where are my lionesses?"

The messenger shuddered, his voice trembling as he responded, "They have run off into the night."

Yurven shot the man a withering look, his eyes filled with disdain. "They’ve abandoned Drell. They claimed they’d never follow a coward who would abandon them for another Elder," the messenger quickly added, desperate to please.

A bark of laughter erupted from Yurven's chest. "Ha, ha! I knew you lot were a pack of dogs, but this... This is just priceless. Don't worry," he said, giving the man a wicked smile. "Once all of this is finished, my clan will hunt them down. It will be fun."

Yurven turned his attention back to the city, the echoes of his laughter fading into a satisfied sigh. "The orders are: find the great enemy, capture the man, and get the book. Kill everyone you see," Elder Yurven declared, his voice filled with revelry.

"Yes, Elder.”

Yurven growled, his voice filled with anticipation. "Soon, we will taste fresh blood," he purred. "Tell Drell that Grand Elder Imok commands his forces to attack as Felren, not as men. Alone, from the southern cliffs.”

The man looked confused. "How shall we..."

"Without any disgusting human contraband," the Elder said, his voice sharp. "We go as the gods made us."

Yurven turned to the man and spat on the ground in disgust. "Starting with you. Shed that disgusting skin."

The man grimaced, unfastening the bracers on his armour. In a matter of seconds, gold fur began to sprout across his back, and small curved horns emerged from his head. The transformation was complete, a fully grown golden Felren stood before the Elder, revolting him with its presence.

Nasty Sun mongrel, Yurven thought.

The Elder held back another insult, instead shifting his attention to the beach below. "We will descend these cliffs and reach the wall in mere moments. Then, we find our target and end it. Now go. Tell Drell that it’s time to attack!"