I’m still shaken by these circumstances. I died but never made it to an afterlife. Only to be stopped and found by a Demon of some kind.

“Speak Demon! Why do you keep me from death?”

I heard a deep chuckle from the darkness.

“You are broken child, raised by dirt. I can provide the opportunity for a life far away from here, but I require something very simple first” the voice spoke in a slow, deep voice around me.

“I refuse to listen to your lies!” I yell into the void. I don’t hear my words, but I know they were spoken.

Another chuckle from the darkness.

“Why refuse a gift from beyond? I can bring you back to kill the beast, do you not want revenge?” The voice speaks.

Why does it push for my cooperation? I have no interest in giving possession of my soul to a demon. I have heard stories of those that give themselves to the darkness, but to admit its not enticing would be a lie.

“What is it you really want from me for this power?” I ask the voice.

“Ohhh the power is well worth the cost. All I require is your word that you will abide by my word and listen to my commandments” The voice says.

I knew there was a catch. I don’t know what the rules are but I doubt they will be on my side. Even so I could return and save what's left of my party from the Werewolf. I need to ask the voice a few questions.

“First tell me voice, who are you?” I yell.

“I am not a demon, I am not a low follower of darkness, I was there before the shadow, and I will be after the final light” the voice echoes around me.

I shouldn’t have expected a good answer from it. It could still lie about being a demon but I cannot know until I give an answer.

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“Now voice, what kind of power will you be granting me?” I ask.

“I wish not to spoil the surprise child. Giving too much will spoil the purpose of it. But I will relay a truth onto you, the power I give is a small pebble in the ocean of strength you could possess one day. If you survive the encounter with the Werewolf I will make it so your potential is met” The voice speaks.

I don’t know what he’s getting at but I like the sound of it. I have great power? I wonder why I never noticed it. Maybe the unusual strength was a sign.

Or it's lying. Either way I can just ignore it after I get revived, after all I have Ulir who could remove the connection or something.

Suddenly I felt something around me, then it tightened. I felt my body squeeze, what is happening?

“I grow tired child waiting for you to decide. Time is of the essence and I need to know if you're capable before the beast kills all of them” The voice echoes loud.

“I was going to agree to your deal! Why do this even if I had cooperation in mind?” I yell at the darkness as it squeezes tighter.

It lets out another slow, deep chuckle.

“Oh child, the thought you had a choice in this exchange is amusing. It matters not if you chose to join me, or if you cursed me away. You were always going to be my pawn, I just wanted to see what you were like before you potentially died” The voice speaks.

Suddenly I feel something rushing through me, is this the power it spoke of? It feels amazing, but deep down it's dark.

“Use this pebble, kill the beast, and prove to be a worthy pawn. Or die, die weak and alone knowing even with my power you failed. You are mightier than my previous choices, but that does not cloud my judgment. Fail and be abandoned once more, but there will be no one to save you this time” The voice speaks.

Then the darkness swirls with light, then it goes black again. But it's different, then I felt something. My heart?

With a BOOM I awake, and I hear screaming. People running from their homes up the hill. I feel my chest, the wounds are gone. Same with my neck.

I turn around and see Ox in combat with the Werewolf. Ox had grabbed its left arm and swung around, slamming it to the ground. The Werewolf kicked him in the face twice then jumped back and leaped onto him, biting his right gauntlet.

From the sky I saw a light, then a dozen flaming arrows struck the Werewolf’s back. Somehow I could feel the power used. The divine power from Ulir and the mortal magic from Emera.

I looked and saw Emera on a house a couple yards down taking shots when she could. Ox then brought up a handaxe that I hadn’t seen before and he brought it down onto the Werewolf’s neck. He was able to break through the skin and cause the beast to howl in pain.

But as Ox pushed the handaxe deeper the Werewolf let go of his gauntlet and clawed at Ox’s face. He roared in pain and let go of the handaxe.

Now free, the Werewolf tried to maul him but was blocked by a wall of fire. I finally saw Ulir who was a yard away from Ox and the Werewolf. He was cowering in a small market stand that seemed to have once sold fruits.

Before it could pounce on Ulir though another magic arrow struck the Werewolf’s shoulder. It seemed frustrated by all of this and let out a mighty howl.

But then it looked at me, a deep seething hatred filled its eyes. I stood up, my sword ready in hand. Then I spoke to the beast…

“Your only going to wish you didn’t kill me”