The night was a quiet refuge after the tumultuous day Lian and Eldric had faced. Inside the cozy cabin, Lian lay in bed, his mind heavy with the weight of the truths just revealed. The peaceful forest outside was bathed in moonlight, the magical barrier glowing faintly in the serene stillness. This tranquility was a deceptive calm that belied the dangers lurking beyond.
Eldric, having finished his meal, was preparing for bed. He cast a final, reassuring glance around the cabin, his eyes lingering on the barrier’s glow. He took a deep breath, reflecting on the day's revelations and their implications. The barrier was holding strong, and he hoped it would be enough to keep them safe.
Lian, lost in thought, was struggling to find peace. The weight of the day's revelations was heavy on him. He could not shake the image of his parents’ demise and the harsh reality of their situation. Exhaustion soon claimed him, and he drifted into an uneasy sleep, the haunting images of his parents' fate still vivid in his mind.
Outside, the forest lay shrouded in darkness. The only light came from the faint glow of the magical barrier. The peaceful night was suddenly disrupted by a disturbance. The barrier flickered violently, and a dark figure emerged from the shadows, breaching the protective shield with an ominous presence.
The disturbance jolted Eldric awake. His senses, honed by years of experience, alerted him to the danger. He quickly grabbed his sword and moved to investigate. His heart pounded with urgency as he realized that someone—or something—had breached their defenses.
In the midst of the chaos, Lian was awakened by the commotion. He scrambled out of bed, his mind racing. Grabbing a nearby weapon, he rushed toward the source of the disturbance. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and fear.
Outside the cabin, the night was dark and filled with an unsettling presence. Eldric stood firm, facing a monstrous creature that had emerged from the forest. The creature was a manticore—a horrifying fusion of a lion’s body, scorpion’s tail, bat-like wings, and a spiked mane. Its eyes glowed with a menacing, unnatural light.
The manticore was unlike anything Eldric had encountered before. Its sheer presence was overwhelming, and Eldric’s skilled attacks barely seemed to faze it. The beast’s claws clashed against Eldric’s sword, sparks flying with each strike. Eldric was fighting with all his might, but he could sense that this creature was beyond his previous experiences.
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Lian, witnessing the scene, tried to help but was overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of the battle. The manticore, sensing an opportunity, shifted its focus from Eldric to Lian. Its eyes narrowed with a deadly intent as it prepared to strike.
In a desperate bid to protect Lian, Eldric threw himself in front of the impending attack. He raised his sword to block, but the manticore’s claws were too powerful. The impact shattered the blade and severed Eldric’s left arm in a single, brutal stroke. A second swipe took his right eye, leaving Eldric reeling from the pain and shock.
Lian watched in paralyzing fear, unable to move as the manticore continued its ruthless assault. The creature’s dominance over the battlefield was absolute, and its dark power paralyzed Lian. The skill domination forced him into a state of immobility, each second stretching into what felt like an eternity. He was helpless, his heart pounding as he witnessed the slaughter of his grandfather.
In the shadows of the forest, a cloaked figure emerged, grinning with sinister satisfaction. The summoner, who had orchestrated the attack, approached the scene with malicious intent. His laughter echoed through the night as he reveled in Eldric’s suffering.
“The bounty is mine!” the summoner exclaimed with a maniacal grin. “I didn’t even know he had a grandson!”
He continued, mocking Eldric’s plight and contemplating the opportunity to capture Lian for profit. “I’ll take this boy and sell him as a slave. You were quite a challenge to find, but it’s worth it!”
Eldric, barely conscious and in excruciating pain, looked at Lian with a mixture of regret and sorrow. His final moments were marked by a heartfelt apology. “Lian… I’m sorry. I couldn’t… protect you…”
The summoner, unfazed by the tragedy unfolding before him, collected Eldric’s severed head as a grisly trophy. He placed it in a bag, his actions cold and efficient. Lian, still immobilized by the manticore’s power, could only watch in horror as his grandfather’s body was desecrated.
With grim determination, the summoner shackled Lian and prepared to drag him away. The once serene forest was now a backdrop to the cruelty and despair of their defeat.
As Lian was led away, tearful and broken, the forest seemed to hold its breath. The loss of a hero and the capture of his heir marked a dark turn in their journey. The forest, once a sanctuary, now echoed with the pain of their defeat, the faint glow of the barrier a stark reminder of their shattered safety.