Lily's birthday celebration had been a resounding success, leaving the village square adorned with colorful decorations and the air saturated with laughter and merriment. Better yet, it had calmed my nerves.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the landscape, the villagers finished dispersing, their hearts lightened by the shared joy of the day's festivities.
With the sky transitioning from brilliant beams to the glistening gleams of deepening dusk, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. The moon, a radiant pearl against the clear indigo canvas, began to cast its gentle glow over the village and its surroundings. As the first stars blinked back into existence, Lily quietly approached me from behind.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to me, her expression a reflection of the twinkling stars above. "Alex, do you ever wonder what's out there beyond the village?"
I gazed at the distant horizon, where the woods awaited, its shadowed gloom growing as twilight deepened. "All the time," I admitted, my voice carrying the weight of countless memories and unrealized wishes. My father often spoke about the beauty of these woods, but he had also warned about the dangers that could lie within. Caution was as much a part of my thoughts as curiosity and the want for adventure. I wanted to see this world of my choosing; to go on my first adventure, to see beyond the fading horizon, but I needed to resist the urge - at least temporarily.
A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of Lily's lips. "Well then, how about we find out?"
Her words were a spark that ignited our adventurous spirits, but a flicker of concern crept into my thoughts once again. While I longed to explore, I couldn't ignore the stories my father had shared about the wild creatures and unpredictable terrain that inhabited these woods. We were too young to go into the woods. I tightened my grip on Lily's hand, a silent reminder of my protective instincts.
Despite this, she escaped my grasp and skipped off towards the forest, ignoring my fearful gaze. "Come on, let's go Alex!"
I set aside my worries and chased after her, yelling her name. By the time I caught up with her, we had already stepped beyond the familiar boundaries of the village and into the embrace of the forest. I sighed to myself and decided to give up on preventing Lily from exploring the forest. After all, it was better for me to accompany her, than for her to explore it by herself and get lost. And... I would finally get to see beyond the limits of Havenwood, my village.
As we ventured forth, the forest enveloped us in its embrace. Each step was a revelation, a testament to the beauty that thrived in the heart of the night. The moon's radiance illuminated our path in unshadowed patches, revealing groves of vibrant wildflowers that glowed like scattered stardust. Fireflies darted among the undergrowth, their bioluminescent dance creating a surreal and enchanting display. With every step, our laughter blended with the night's melody, a harmonious duet that harmonized with our crunching steps through the woods. We walked in sync, side by side.
Behind us, the moon cast a silvery glow over the village, bathing everything in its celestial light. The tranquility of the night was interrupted only by the distant hoots of owls and the rustling of leaves. It was during this serene moment that my worst fears were realized.
A low, guttural growl shattered the calm, sending shivers down my spine.
I instinctively pulled Lily closer to me, my heart racing as the forest seemed to come alive with unseen danger. Shadows ominously danced between the trees. A chilling wind whistled of something lurking nearby.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Alex, what was that?" Lily's voice trembled with fear.
"I don't know, but we need to stay quiet," I whispered, my senses on high alert.
Before I could react, a monstrous figure emerged from the darkness – a creature with gnarled claws and gleaming yellow eyes, its presence dripping with malevolence. Its snarl was haunting and echoed through the night, and fear gripped me like a vice. It appeared to be a monstrous wolf. Fortunately, it was alone.
In that moment, I froze.
I could not move.
I had never been in a situation like this on Earth; I could hardly comprehend what was happening.
My mind raced as Lily trembled against my chest. What could I do? I closed my eyes. I needed to protect Lily. At all costs. I could not stand the thought of her becoming one of the many shadows native to Anamesa. Wandering. Lost. Broken.
As the creature lunged, I grabbed a nearby fallen branch and brandished it like a weapon, my heart pounding in my chest. My legs were jelly, my body small and fragile compared to the threat before us. But I couldn't let fear paralyze me – Lily's safety was my priority.
I swung the branch with all the force I could muster, barely managing to drive the creature back momentarily. But it was relentless, its attacks fueled by a primal hunger.
It jumped towards me and I prepared for death. I began to start moving back to dodge when my foot snagged on a root. And, I tripped. ...not again.
The beast nicked me as I was falling, drawing blood from my right arm. Bruises ran all along my left side as I quickly jumped up from the ground. My arms ached, my breath came in ragged gasps. I couldn't back down. Pain coursed through my body.
"Lily, run!" I yelled, my voice filled with urgency and terror.
She stumbled backward. Her eyes widened with terror. But she did not flee. She picked up a nearby stone and hurled it at the creature with surprising accuracy. The stone struck its mark, causing the creature to falter for a brief moment.
In that moment, our eyes locked, and a silent understanding passed between us. We were in this together, a team facing an unimaginable challenge. Drawing strength from each other, we fought with all the courage we could muster.
The battle was fierce and fast, a dance of desperation and determination. Our attacks were feeble compared to the creature's strength, but we pressed on, driven by a fierce will to survive. It was a struggle that seemed to stretch for an eternity, our bodies battered and bruised. Cut and crushed. Every time the wolf came at me, Lily would throw a rock, driving it back. When it charged towards her, I stepped in its path, barely blocking it with my sturdy branch.
Finally, the wolf paused and eyed me with its gleaming yellow eyes. Within them, I could see hunger, pain, and rage. Then, it sprung at me with full force. Oh no. It was going to get me. I was going to die. Again.
Out of instinct, I stuck my branch out. Straight at its head. Time slowed. My arms shattered from pressure as I felt the branch firmly connect with its head. Then, I felt its claws slice my chest, propelling me back into a tree. I collapsed, winded and bloodied. Pain coursed, driving me insane. Looking up, I saw that I had managed to strike a decisive blow, hitting the creature in the eyes, causing it to retreat with a blood-curdling howl. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I fell to the ground, panting and battered, completely broken.
Lily crawled over to me, her face streaked with dirt and tears. She was not doing much better. "Alex, are you okay?"
I managed a weak smile, my body aching but my heart swelling with pride. "We did it, Lily. We're safe. You're safe. You survived."
In the background, I heard several familiar chimes:
"Combat skill unlocked: Courage (Level 1)."
"Combat skill unlocked: Sword Apprentice (Level 1)."
"Combat skill unlocked: Thrust (Level 1)."
As the moon continued to cast its glow over the scene of our victory and lit up the translucent blue screens, I realized that the levelling system wasn't just about acquiring skills and enabling my adventures – it was going to be the only way for me to survive in this harsh world. It was going to be the only way I could keep Lily - and myself - safe. This wasn't a utopia. I needed to be ready to fight.
Lily and I had faced the darkness together, and in doing so our bond had deepened further. As we limped back to the village, supporting each other every step of the way, I knew that this trial by moonlight was just the beginning of the challenges that awaited us. And no matter what the future held, I was determined to protect Lily with every ounce of strength I possessed. With those final thoughts, my consciousness faded away and within the cacophony of pain, I heard Lily scream my name one final time.