Distant growls broke the silence, their low rumble stirring Vieran from his sleep. His eyes flew open, scanning beyond the mist. Roars followed, each one creeping closer than the last.

He turned to Jeff, who was still sound asleep beside him, his breathing slow and steady. Without hesitation, Vieran reached over and shook his shoulder. "Jeff, wake up," he said, his tone urgent but quiet.

Jeff groaned, his eyes barely opening. "What’s wrong?" he mumbled.

"We need to go," Vieran replied, glancing toward the direction of the sounds. "Something’s coming."

Jeff blinked a few times before sitting up, his drowsiness giving way to alertness. Above them, Grimclaw fluttered down from a nearby branch, landing smoothly on Vieran’s shoulder. His sharp eyes mirrored the unease in the air.

Wasting no time, the two packed their things and moved quickly through the mist, the growls and roars drawing ever closer. The quiet rustle of leaves underfoot was the only sound accompanying their hurried escape.

Vieran knew they were still trapped in the forest, though it was hard to tell with the oppressive black mist clinging to everything. The thick haze obscured their vision, turning the trees into looming shadows and making every direction feel the same. He could only hope they’d stumble their way out before the worst found them.

The growls and roars were closer now. His stomach tightened. "Did they pick up our trail?" He didn’t want to believe it, but the idea clung stubbornly to his thoughts. "Please, no."

In the midst of the tense, Jeff spoke up, "You know," he said, forcing a grin, "if those things catch us, at least we won’t have to worry about finding our way out anymore."

Vieran shot him a look, his face twisting in mild disgust. "That’s supposed to make me feel better?"

Jeff’s laughter was awkward, almost sheepish. "What? Too dark?"

Vieran sighed, turning his attention back to the unseen threat, the sounds of the beasts now uncomfortably close.

The growls grew louder, each guttural sound reverberating through the suffocating black mist. Vieran clenched his fists, his mind racing. "I’m going to do something to distract them," he said, his voice low but firm.

Jeff’s eyes widened. "Are you crazy? That’s too dangerous!"

"We don’t have a choice," Vieran replied, his gaze hard. "If we don’t slow them down, they’ll catch up to us."

Before Jeff could argue further, Grimclaw stirred on Vieran’s shoulder. The eagle snatched the lantern hanging from Vieran’s belt.

"Grimclaw, what are you—"

The bird gave the lantern a vigorous shake, igniting its light. Without hesitation, Grimclaw spread his wings and took off, disappearing into the mist with the glowing lantern in tow.

Vieran’s heart lurched. He reached out instinctively, his voice strained. "Wait! Grimclaw, come back!"

But the eagle was already gone, his silhouette swallowed by the haze. Vieran stood frozen, his hand still outstretched, his chest tight with worry.

Jeff stepped beside him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "He knows what he’s doing," Jeff said quietly. "You just have to trust him."

Vieran exhaled slowly, his hand falling to his side. He could only hope Jeff was right.

As they pressed on, Vieran noticed the growls and roars behind them growing fainter, fading into the distance. Relief mixed with unease. Grimclaw hadn’t returned. His eyes searched for any sign of the eagle. Worry gnawed at him, but there was no time to stop. They had to keep moving.

Pushing forward, the black mist seemed to shift slightly, revealing faint outlines ahead. The vague shapes of buildings emerged from the haze.

Jeff slowed, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. "Ancient ruins!" he exclaimed.

Vieran halted beside him, equally stunned. In a world smothered by black mist for the last 500 years, where survival meant constant movement and temporary shelters, the sight of these structures was like staring into a forgotten past.

"These... they’re from before the Shrouding disaster," Vieran murmured.

Jeff glanced around nervously. "These ruins could be dangerous," he said. "We should leave before we get caught off guard."

Vieran hesitated, his eyes drifting back toward the misty horizon. Grimclaw was still out there. Would the eagle know where to find them?

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Jeff seemed to sense his unease. "Grimclaw’s a smart Luminous Beast. He’ll track us down, no matter where we go. You’ve got to trust him."

After a moment, Vieran gave a reluctant nod. "Alright," he said quietly. "Let’s move."

Just as they turned to leave, a low growl rumbled through the air. Vieran’s head snapped toward the sound as a figure emerged from the mist, stepping into the faint glow of their light barrier.

It was a wolf. Its sleek fur shimmered with unnatural purple. Its eyes burned with electric hue, and jagged fangs glinted as it bared its teeth. Black mist seemed to swirl around its paws, clinging to its form like a second skin.

The wolf’s growl deepened, its eyes locked onto them. Vieran’s heart pounded as he instinctively reached for his dagger.

The wolf turned into a blur of purple and shadow as it lunged. Vieran barely had time to react. He grabbed Jeff’s arm and yanked him aside, the beast's claws slashing through the air where Jeff had been standing.

As the wolf skidded to a stop and whipped around, Vieran's heart skipped a beat. Its speed was unreal, matching the lightning-fast reflexes of Grimclaw. But he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. If they worked together, they might stand a chance.

"Jeff," Vieran said urgently, "use your magical artifact. Now!"

Jeff nodded, quickly rummaging through his small magical ransel. Just as his hand disappeared inside, the wolf lunged again, snarling. Without thinking, Vieran stepped in front of Jeff, dagger in hand. He met the beast’s swipe head-on, the force of the blow rattling his arm.

He gritted his teeth. "I can’t get injured. Not now. No healing pills left." The thought pushed him to stand firm, even as his muscles strained against the wolf’s strength.

The wolf pulled back, preparing for another attack, but Vieran took the chance to glance over his shoulder. "Jeff! Do you have it?"

Jeff finally pulled his hand from the ransel, holding up a small, ornate teapot. He grinned. "I’m ready."

Jeff smashed a Glowshard against the teapot, and a brilliant beam of light erupted from its spout, slicing through the mist. The wolf dodged with unnatural agility, its sleek form weaving through the beams as it advanced on Jeff.

"Stay back!" Jeff shouted, firing again and again, but the wolf evaded every shot, closing the distance. With a sudden leap, it slammed into Jeff, knocking him off balance. He stumbled, falling to the ground with a grunt, his panicked voice ringing out. "Vieran! Help!"

Vieran’s mind raced, barely able to track the wolf’s lightning-fast movements. Without hesitation, he hurled his dagger, the blade slicing through the air and sinking into the wolf’s back. The beast let out a sharp snarl, but it didn’t fall. Instead, it turned its blazing violet eyes toward Vieran, its lips curling back in a menacing growl.

"Great," Vieran muttered under his breath as the wolf lunged at him. He barely managed to dive aside, rolling across the ground to avoid its snapping jaws. He grabbed the teapot on the ground, another hand pulling a Glowshard from his pocket.

As the wolf lunged again, Vieran hit the teapot, sending a beam against its front leg. A flash of energy burst forth, and the beast let out a pained howl, its leg buckling beneath it. It knelt, struggling to rise, its glowing eyes still burning with rage.

Breathing hard, Vieran got to his feet, a grim smile spreading across his face. "You know, Jeff," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins, "after fighting dozens of these things, I’ve realized something."

Jeff, still on the ground, stared at him wide-eyed. "What’s that?"

"My close combat skills? Pretty average," Vieran admitted, stepping forward. His grip tightened on the teapot as he aimed carefully. "But you know what I’m really good at?" He let the energy build, his eyes narrowing. "I’m fucking good at shooting."

He glanced at Jeff, a confident smirk on his face. "Watch me. I’ll teach you how it’s done."

Vieran and the wolf locked eyes, the tension between them crackling like static in the air. The beast’s glowing violet gaze burned with unrelenting fury, and its sleek body coiled, muscles taut and ready to spring.

Then, with a guttural snarl, the wolf lunged, pouring all its remaining energy into a final, deadly charge.

Vieran stood his ground, his breathing steady despite the rapid thud of his heartbeat. He raised the teapot, its spout aligned perfectly with the wolf’s head. As the beast closed in, he struck the teapot with a Glowshard, the impact igniting a blinding beam of light.

The beam shot out with a sharp crack, cutting through the mist and hitting the wolf squarely between its glowing eyes. The force stopped the beast mid-air, its snarl freezing into a pained gasp.

For a moment, the wolf hung suspended in the light, its form trembling. Then, with a heavy thud, it collapsed at Vieran’s feet. Its body began to dissolve, the purple sheen fading as it turned into swirling black mist. The mist dissipated into the air, leaving behind a black orb.

Vieran's eyes lit up as he bent down and picked up the black orb. A corrupted core. Despite its ominous glow, it represented an opportunity. If he purified it, he could advance the progression of his blueprint, bringing him one step closer to his goal.

He turned and tossed the core to Jeff, who fumbled slightly before catching it. "Store it in your magical bag," Vieran said.

Jeff nodded and slipped the core into his ransel. "You did it, Vieran," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "That was some impressive work."

Vieran smiled, but it was a subdued, tired smile. He handed the teapot back to Jeff. "Here, your turn to carry this."

But Jeff shook his head, pushing it back toward him. "Nah, you’re way better at using it than I am," he said. "You’ve got a knack for making that thing work."

Vieran paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright," he said simply, slipping the teapot onto his belt. There was no room for modesty out here—only survival.

Without warning, five more wolves emerged from the swirling mist, stepping into the light barrier one by one. Their sleek purple forms shimmered in the dim glow, and their glowing eyes locked onto Vieran and Jeff with predatory intent.

Jeff’s face paled as he stumbled back. "Five more?" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and panic.

The wolves spread out, their low growls rumbling in unison.

Jeff swallowed hard, his eyes darting between the beasts. "I remember reading something," he said hurriedly, his voice a little too high. "Wolves—they travel in packs. Guess it’s the same for phantom beasts shaped like them."

Vieran tightened his grip on the teapot, his mind racing. The odds had just shifted dramatically.

Jeff glanced at him, his panic barely contained. "Vieran, what do we do?"

Vieran’s jaw clenched. He didn’t have an answer. "I don’t know," he admitted, his voice low. "I could handle one, maybe two. But five at once? I’m not sure."

The wolves’ growls grew louder, their eyes narrowing as they inched closer, closing the circle around them. Vieran’s pulse quickened, and he exchanged a tense glance with Jeff. They were outnumbered.