The cold night air clung to Hayden like a second skin as he urged Argent forward, the intelligent goat navigating the steep mountain paths with sure-footed ease. The rocky terrain of the Harstan mountains, treacherous to most, was no obstacle for the sturdy creature, whose hooves were as steady on the sharp inclines as they were on the flat ground. Despite his own uncertainties, Hayden felt small comfort in the goat’s familiarity with these paths.

But the night—the darkness—was more oppressive than Hayden had expected.

The further he descended from Crystalspire Keep, the more the inky blackness swallowed the world around him. The moon was little more than a sliver, barely offering any light to guide him, and the trees along the mountainside cast long, shifting shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own.

He hadn’t thought it would be this dark. Not this…overwhelming. Hayden had often traveled these paths in the daylight, the vast landscape spread out before him, the wind at his back, but everything felt different. The darkness, so complete and all-encompassing, gnawed at him, a constant reminder of how unprepared he was for this journey.

Still, Argent moved confidently, his enchanted hooves gripping the rocky ground as they made their way downward. Hayden had never appreciated the full extent of the goat’s training until now. He clutched the reins tightly, not out of fear of falling, but because the silence of the night seemed far too loud. Every rustle of wind through the trees, every distant crack of branches, made Hayden’s heart skip a beat. His imagination conjured images of unseen beasts lurking just out of sight, waiting for the moment to pounce.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the base of the mountain. The steep cliffs gave way to a more open stretch of road—this was the southern trade route that wound its way through the Harstan fief and down toward Ignaris. Hayden pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head, his breath coming in visible puffs in the cold night air.

The road was dimly lit, just as he had expected. Crystalline lampposts, each housing a softly glowing gem lined the path at regular intervals. The magical glow was faint but constant, casting a soft azure light over the ground. The sight brought a small sense of familiarity, even comfort.

His mother, Lady Elira, had been the driving force behind the installation of these glowing crystals. Though she had grown up in the underground city of House Grenrose, where darkness was a natural part of life, she had always detested the shadows. She often spoke about making life in the Harstan fief more bearable for its people, and this had been one of her projects. Lanterns lit the trade roads, offering a small measure of security to travelers, and cementing her place in the hearts of her people.

Hayden’s lips twitched in a faint smile. Even in moments like this, his mother’s influence was undeniable. She hated the dark, always insisted on a little light, even if it was just enough to push back the night for a brief moment.

But the light was limited. There were gaps between the lampposts, stretches of the road where light barely touched the ground, leaving pockets of shadow between. Hayden could feel the tension build in his shoulders every time they entered one of those shadowed stretches, his eyes darting nervously around as if expecting something to jump from the darkness.

In those moments, the quiet became unbearable, his senses sharpening to every little sound. His mind turned, as it often did, to the creatures that lurked in the wilds of the kingdom—creatures that had found their own way along the path of ascendancy, just like people.

The thought twisted his stomach. Even the beasts of the land—wolves, bears, even some of the plants—could grow stronger, enhance themselves through ambient mana and by consuming the cores of their prey. Everything was connected to the world’s mana. Everything except him.

The realization stung. Even animals could tap into the ambient mana around them to strengthen their bodies, sharpen their senses, and ascend to higher levels of existence.

And what could he do? Nothing. He had no magic, no potential, no power. The thought felt like a jagged stone lodged in his chest. It seemed like the world was moving on without him, everyone and everything advancing on the path while he remained still, left behind.

Another shadowy stretch of road loomed ahead, the light from the crystals failing to penetrate the thick darkness between the lampposts. Argent hesitated for the briefest moment, his ears twitching before continuing down the road, his pace steady and sure. Hayden gripped the reins tighter, his heart quickening.

Argent snorted softly, as if sensing his rider’s unease, and Hayden let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He patted the goat’s neck absentmindedly, grateful at least that Argent didn’t share his uncertainty. The goat moved confidently forward, leading him down the dimly lit road, away from the keep, away from the life he no longer belonged to.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

As Hayden and Argent moved toward the next patch of shadow, the road ahead fell into almost complete darkness and the only sound was the steady beat of Argent's hooves on the packed dirt.

Suddenly, a strange, scratching sound echoed from the mountain walls around them, like claws scraping against stone. It was faint at first, almost blending into the rustling wind, but then it grew louder, more persistent.

Argent’s ears pricked up, and Hayden could feel the goat’s muscles tense beneath him. His mount shifted nervously, backing up out of the shadow and into the faint light of the nearest lamppost. His razor sharp horns angled downward, ready to defend, his instincts warning him of danger long before Hayden’s eyes could adjust to the darkness ahead.

A low, grating scrape filled the air, this time closer—like something large moving beneath the surface of the ground. Then came a crash, and the earth in front of them seemed to erupt. Dirt and rocks flew as a massive creature burst from the ground, sending a tremor through the road.

Hayden’s eyes widened as he recognized the hulking form of a fellbadger, one of the most dangerous and territorial creatures in the mountains, despite its lowly stage of ascendancy.

The beast was enormous, easily the size of a bear, with a broad, squat body covered in thick armored hide. Its fur was dark, mottled gray, blending perfectly with the rocks and earth of the mountain. Huge, curved claws, meant for digging through rock and dense forest, gleamed menacingly under the faint light of the crystals. Its beady black eyes locked onto Hayden and Argent with a gleam of aggression, and it let out a low, rumbling growl.

Fellbadgers were known for their immense strength and vicious tempers, but they could also be domesticated—miners often used them to dig through mountainsides or carry heavy loads. This one, however, was wild and clearly not in the mood to share its territory.

Hayden’s pulse quickened, but instead of succumbing to panic, a strange sense of calm settled over him. He had always felt oddly clear-headed in moments of danger, as if the chaos of the situation sharpened his mind.

With practiced motion, he grabbed his ironwood bow and notched an arrow. Thankfully, the ironwoods strength and flexibility meant it could always remain strung without sacrificing the durability of bow or string. Otherwise, Hayden might have lost his life.

In one smooth motion, Hayden drew the arrow back, eyes locked on the fellbadger’s face. He aimed for the small, dark eyes, the only vulnerable spot on the creature’s armored body. He was under no illusion he could slay the creature, but if he blinded it, Argent could outrun their foe.

The world around him seemed to slow as he released the arrow. It whistled through the air and stuck home, sinking deep into the beast’s left eye.

The fellbadger let out a furious roar, the sound reverberating through the mountains. It pawed at its face with oversized claws, trying to dislodge the arrow, the pain only seemed to fuel its rage. The massive creature charged toward them, tearing up chunks of the earth as it barreled forward, claws gleaming in the dim light.

“Get!” Hayden hissed, urging Argent to move.

Argent didn’t need to be ordered twice. The goat was fast and agile, darting out of the fellbadger’s path with a swift leap to the side. As the beast lunged past them, Hayden loosed another arrow, aiming for the joint of its foreleg. The arrow struck, but the fellbadger’s hide was too thick; it barely pierced the skin

The creature snarled in fury and whirled around, charging again, but Argent was quicker. The goat’s sharp horns lowered and with a deft sidestep, Argent rammed the fellbadger, using his horns to redirect the creature’s charge just enough to keep them out of harm’s way.

Hayden’s mind raced. He could wound the beast, but knew he couldn’t defeat it—not alone, not here. His arrows were doing little more than enraging the creature, and blinding it at this point was a remote prospect. The longer they stayed in this fight, the more dangerous it would become. They needed to get out of here, fast.

“Disengage!” Hayden shouted, tugging at the reins.

Argent took off, his powerful legs propelling them away from the path and into the rugged terrain on the side of the mountain. Hayden clung to the reins as the goat navigated uneven ground with practiced skill and undeniable speed, dodging boulders and weaving through the dense brush. The fell badger roared behind them, giving chase, its heavy claws tearing through the earth in pursuit.

But Hayden knew that staying on the path would only make it easier for the fellbadger to track them. Instead, he guided Argent into the steeper, rockier parts of the terrain, hoping the uneven ground would slow the beast down.

The night grew darker as they fled deeper into the wilderness, the light from the crystal lampposts fading behind them. Hayden kept his focus ahead, trusting Argent’s instincts to navigate the jagged landscape. His heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he couldn’t let himself think about how close the fellbadger was. All that mattered was getting away.

Out of nowhere, there was a sharp jolt. Argent stumbled, his hoof catching in a rut hidden beneath the rocks. The goat let out a pained bleat as his ankle twisted, and in the next moment, Hayden felt himself thrown from the saddle. He hit the ground hard, his body tumbling down a steep incline.

His head slammed against a stone, and pain exploded in his skull. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning as darkness began to close in. The last thing he saw before everything went black was the faint silhouette of Argent standing above him, limping slightly, as the sound of the fellbadger’s roar echoed in the distance.

Then, there was nothing.