I stared down the Werewolf as it let out another howl. Then it started to run towards me, its arms pumping hard and thirst for blood filled its eyes.

After taking a moment to look around, something dawns, I really have no idea on how to kill the beast. Then without thinking I swing my body in a circle and slingshot my sword right at the Werewolf.

Of course it goes low to evade it, still sprinting towards me. When the Werewolf got close its heels were dug into the ground, stopping its momentum and plopping its position just a foot from me.

The Werewolf let out a roar as it brought its right arm up and swiped its claws at me. I stepped forward and got low, just slightly missing the sharp nails.

At that moment I punched the Werewolf right in its torso, with as much force I could muster. I felt its body shudder from the blow, I think a couple ribs broke. It seemed to gag on something, I hope it doesn’t vomit on me.

I took a chance and rolled away, narrowly missing another swipe. I tried to stand and catch my breath while the Werewolf attempted not to collapse.

But I noticed something, a slight glow coming from the Werewolf’s eyes. Bright green, and something about the air was… different?

Then as it once struggled to stand, the Werewolf stood straight, with no difficulty. Before any questions asked, Ox swung his greatsword into the right side of the Werewolf, digging a quarter way through. Then for the first time blood spilled from the beast, a deep howl resonated from its pain.

I scanned the ground to search for a weapon but I looked back at the Werewolf as its howl was cut short, ending with a snarl like noise, almost like it was saying ow.

There I saw an arrow in the left side of its head, the arrow was glowing a dark green. Wait, why is Emera using her own magic on the arrows? I look over at the fruit stand and without surprise Ulir is gone. Where did he run off to?

Then Ox yelled and brought my attention back to him “Tekumah! Stop fucking around and help me!”.

I find my sword and retrieve it. Then as the Werewolf jumps up, headbutting Ox in the face making him recoil, I start to run towards them. As Ox released the handle of his greatsword and the Werewolf lifted its left arm as if to swipe at me again, I leapt into the air and brought my sword down onto that same arm.

That downward swing helped my sword break the skin but it still stopped at the bone. When my feet hit the ground it was as if a surge went throughout my body, and with all my strength I was able to fully slice through its arm.

I had aimed right in the middle between its shoulder and elbow. Not sure it mattered where I struck because it seemed to hurt it all the same.

After I steady myself, catching my breath a bit I see the blood gushing stump where the Werewolfs arm used to be. It tried to move but the weight from Ox’s greatsword still in its side made it impossible. I heard it was trying to make a sound, but only blood was coming from its throat now.

I try to look away, but I can’t. The pain it must be feeling right now, the anguish, there's no way I can understand it. But now our eyes had met, the dim glow I saw before was fading away.

Then as it let out one last gurgle, the Werewolf’s eye went lifeless, fell back into a pool of blood.

A feeling washed over me. I felt… I feel… I am… Anxious? My chest was pounding and my knees felt weak. I brushed my hair with my hand, short as it is the feeling of it gave me some comfort.

Is this what it feels like? To kill an enemy? Can’t say I’m happy. Even if it was a monster, I slowly saw the life drain from its eyes. I feel my stomach wretch, I might throw up.

I look at the empty homes, the bodies that now litter the street, then Natan. Suddenly the memory of his death rang in my skull, when the Werewolf lept on him, watching the beast rip him apart, and finally seeing what was left of Natan.

I fell to my knees and vomited. My breaths were met with my body trying to get everything that was inside out.

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I hate this, I don’t want this. What happened to me? I was ready to fight for my life down here, I even jumped from the fucking wall just to make it in time. I don’t even know who hasn’t died yet.

MATTER OF FACT I ALSO DIED!

I could run…

I want to run…

I could escape all of this, I’m sure Tark would call me a coward, but to hell with him. I doubt he would miss me, if anyone would.

Then I get a whiff of something. A smell. A smell I don’t recognise, but have smelt it before. It's so strong it knocks me out of my thoughts.

Acrid. The air feels, tastes, smells this way. I lift my head and see a bright green glow spreading from the Werewolf’s corpse. Its body contorting, shrieks echoed from its gaping maw.

Then it slowly stands once more. First to its knees, the arrow coming out from the eye it struck. Second to a crouch, the bloody stump now expelling green liquid that quickly solidifies into a goo that shapes into a mirror of the lost arm. Last it stands straight, not hindered by the greatsword still in its side which now falls with a clang.

Now the goo shape steams green smoke and fills with some kind of liquid. The Werewolf lifts the bulging green sac, the juices inside swishing around. Then it slams the sac onto the ground. From it bright green juices spurts everywhere, it now lifts a newly formed arm, still dripping with those same juices.

What.

I had a chance to process all of this madness, and the Werewolf decided to make it all worse.

Never have I felt disgust like this. I thought everything that happened during this attack was awful. And now I got to watch the Werewolf rise from the dead, in all of its disgusting glory.

I think Ox feels the same way, never have I seen that man lose his posture. His hands are even shaking. Shit even he’s scared of it.

What should I do? What can I do?

I can run.

Suddenly I start sprinting away. No looking back now, but it doesn’t matter. Because as I cross only a few homes a flash of green light bursts in front of me. The Werewolf had caught up, and now the bloodlusted eyes were replaced with pupils of bright green dew.

“TEKUMAH!” yelled Ox from behind.

Oh shit it's going to kill me again. I haven’t even stopped running, I don’t know if my body even understands what I’m telling it to do yet. As our eyes meet, my head fills with one thought, the pebble. Then my mind blackens. My feet still won’t stop, I don't have any command over my body anymore.

I feel as if my very soul darkens. The sight of the Werewolf stirs something deep in that darkness. The Werewolf then put its right arm back and slashed forwards towards me.

I moved to the left, then ran my pointer finger across its arm. I felt its gross skin and the small amount of fur it had. Then another thought appeared, BURN.

Suddenly I felt my body again. I stumbled a couple feet before getting my footing, then I looked back at the Werewolf. It was staring at the area I ran my finger across. There was a deep black line across its grayish arm.

I could see its breath now when it exhaled, that same green smoke came out. It seemed confused about what I just did, it tried smelling the arm, then it licked the mark.

THEN BOOM! The Werewolf’s right arm exploded with fire! These were a different kind of fire though, their appearance was black with small streaks of white mixed in there.

Then the Werewolf shrieked in pain. I don’t know what kind of sound it was making now. It tried to shake it off, then slamming its arm on the ground.

Did I really do that? I still feel the darkness slightly, but it's much more subtle now.

“My my now this is quite the development” a voice speaks from behind me.

I turn around and see Ulir coming out of a house. He started to brush some dust off of his robe. I can’t believe he was there the whole time.

“Why were you hiding? We could have used you out here!” I yell at Ulir but keeping my gaze towards the Werewolf, as it tries to extinguish the flames.

Ulir started laughing, as if to mock what I had said. I really don’t like him.

“If you're angry about my disappearance then question Emera while you're at it. I don’t think she’s done anything since the Werewolf fell” Ulir says as he walks slowly forward, stopping to the left of me.

I look around and sure enough Emera is gone. Where the hell did she go?

“Hey Tekumah, I think a stray knicked you” Ox says as he walks over to us, his greatsword held in his right and the blade rested on his shoulder.

Then a sharp pain comes from behind. I turned to Ulir and he was holding an arrow.

“Seems Emera gave you a small bit of magic before leaving, lucky you” Ulir says before dropping the arrow. “I’m glad now I don’t have to listen to all the servants complain about her advances towards them”.

I scratch my head wondering, is that how magic works? Ulir really thinks she’s gone for good though, which is fine. I’ll miss watching her around the fort, her short brown hair, the curling ends waving as she walks past.

Why have I never thought of that before? I should just forget her now, seeing as the Werewolf still lives.

“Why aren’t you trying to finish off the Werewolf Ox? I feel like it's something you would’ve done before coming over to talk” I say to Ox as I rub my back.

Ox scratches his scraggly beard and says “No need kid, that weird fire will surely kill it in due time. And my arm is getting a little tight, better take it easy”.

What? I mean yes the Werewolf is STILL screaming in pain but I don’t know why he’s so relaxed about all of this, my chest is still pounding a little.

Ulir of course scoffs at Ox and snarks “Why yes lug, we can wait while the beast slowly dies from non lethal flames. What a great fucking idea”.

What is he talking about? Is the Werewolf not dying from this? Some crap, I take a closer look only because I want to, not to see if it's true or anything.

When staring at it, the fire isn’t spreading to the rest of the body, just remaining on the right arm.

Then I remember something and I ask Ulir “Wait, you never told me why you hid away during the fight?”.

Ulir quickly responds with “Tekumah, here's a lesson for you, because I think, no I know you lack the knowledge. Dark flame, while beautiful, is a fire meant to be chronic. And I for sure know how advanced such magic is, but you most likely never thought of that did you?”.

He then leans in close to me as the Werewolf continues to holler, but he keeps his old eyes locked with mine. I almost say something but he silences me, and asks a single question…

“How do you know Dark Magic?”