The rhythmic sound of the river filled the quiet morning as Aelion crouched near the water’s edge, his eyes scanning the currents for any signs of movement. A week had passed since he and Nev had arrived at their cliffside camp, and while the days had been filled with preparation and searching, the elusive bear had remained just that—elusive.

Aelion’s thoughts drifted to his dream of the moon and its pull. The vivid imagery had haunted him ever since, resurfacing during quiet moments like this, when his mind wandered in the stillness. There was a connection there, something intangible and arcane, but he had no answers.

“Focus,” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible above the river’s gentle rush.

It was late morning when Aelion finally spotted the beast. He had been walking upriver, the forest’s damp earth soft beneath his boots, when a flash of movement caught his attention. He froze, his body tensing as he slowly turned toward the source of the motion.

There, in the shallow water of the river, stood a massive brown bear. Its fur glistened with water as it pawed at the currents, fishing for its meal. The sheer size of the creature was enough to send a chill through Aelion’s body, its hulking frame rippling with muscle as it moved with quiet, deliberate power.

He reached for his bow, his fingers trembling slightly as he nocked an arrow. Every breath felt heavy as he steadied his aim, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the bear’s shoulder. The shot had to be precise; anything less would only enrage the creature.

“This is it, time to make something of myself.”

Drawing a deep breath, he released the arrow, the familiar twang of the bowstring cutting through the air. The arrow flew true, striking the bear’s shoulder with a dull thud.

But it wasn’t enough.

The bear roared, a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the forest, and turned its massive head toward Aelion. Its eyes burned with fury, its body tense as it launched itself toward him, water spraying around it as it surged from the river.

Panic surged through Aelion as he scrambled backward, his heart pounding in his chest. The bear moved with terrifying speed, its massive paws tearing into the earth as it charged. He stumbled, nearly losing his footing as he reached for another arrow, his hands shaking as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

His mind raced as he nocked the arrow, the memory of his dream flashing before his eyes—the still water, the glowing wisps, the pull of the moon. A strange sensation welled up within him, a mix of fear and something deeper, something he couldn’t explain.

The arrow in his hand began to glow faintly, a soft blue light pulsing along its shaft. Aelion’s breath hitched as he stared at it, the energy unfamiliar but somehow comforting, like an extension of the dream that had haunted him.

“What is this…?” he muttered, his voice trembling.

The bear leaped, its claws outstretched, and Aelion’s instincts took over. He raised his bow, his aim guided not by thought but by an instinctive pull, and released the arrow just as the bear’s claws raked across his thigh.

Pain exploded through Aelion’s leg, the bear’s claws tearing through flesh and muscle as he cried out in agony. The force of the blow sent him sprawling backward, his bow clattering to the ground beside him.

The glowing arrow struck its target.

The bear’s roar cut off abruptly as the arrow buried itself directly in the center of its skull. A burst of blue energy pulsed outward from the impact, the light momentarily blinding as it enveloped the beast. For a heartbeat, the forest was still, the energy dissipating into the air like fading fireflies.

When Aelion’s vision cleared, the bear’s massive body lay motionless on top of him, its weight pressing him into the earth. Blood seeped from his thigh, the sharp, searing pain nearly overwhelming as he struggled to catch his breath.

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“I… I did it,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Aelion’s breaths came in short gasps as he tried to push the bear’s weight off of him, his arms trembling from the effort. He managed to shift the massive body just enough to free himself, rolling onto his side with a groan. His leg throbbed, blood soaking through the fabric of his pants and pooling on the ground beneath him.

“Stay awake,” he muttered to himself, his voice shaky.

He tore a strip of cloth from his cloak, tying it tightly around his thigh to stem the bleeding. The makeshift bandage held, but the pain was relentless, a constant reminder of how close he had come to death.

The sound of hurried footsteps reached Aelion’s ears, followed by Nev’s voice calling his name. Relief washed over him as his companion appeared, his face a mixture of concern and urgency as he knelt beside Aelion.

“I saw everything from up the hill, what was that blue magic on your arrow? Are you a mage? By the two moons… I should shut up, you killed the bear, amazing job my friend.”

Aelion managed a faint smile, though his face was pale and slick with sweat. “I honestly have no clue Nev, I had a dream the other night and there was an energy pulling at me, and that felt familiar. Anyways, can you help me with this?” Aelion asked pointing at his gashes.

Nev wasted no time, his hands deft as he examined the wound and tightened the bandage. He glanced at the glowing arrow still embedded in the bear’s skull, his expression unreadable.

Nev’s brow furrowed, but he nodded, his focus returning to Aelion’s injury. “We need to get you back to camp,” he said, his voice firm. “Can you walk?”

With Nev’s help, Aelion managed to stand, his weight leaning heavily on his companion as they made their way back to camp. Every step sent fresh waves of pain through his leg, but he gritted his teeth, determined to stay upright.

Before they would leave for the camp, Aelion ensured they would take the bear’s head for a trophy, proving his accomplishment of the last trial. The weight of the head alone was enough to make a difference in the aching muscles of Aelion’s body.

The camp came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the forest. Nev guided Aelion to a makeshift bedroll near the fire, his movements careful as he helped him lower himself to the ground.

Nev tended to the wound with practiced efficiency, using herbs and salves from his Prospector’s kit to clean and dress it. The pain dulled slightly as the treatment took effect, though Aelion still felt the deep ache in his muscles.

“I got to say, you’re quite lucky to even be alive. That bear could have easily torn into an artery or a major organ. You killed a big one.”

Aelion nodded, his eyes drifting toward the fire as exhaustion began to take hold. “Yeah I know, I should’ve been more patient with my first shot, I hit it’s shoulder instead of it’s throat or head. I will say that was on me, a rookie mistake.”

As the night deepened, the forest around them grew quiet, the sounds of the river and the crackling fire blending into a soothing rhythm. Aelion lay on his back, staring up at the stars as his thoughts drifted. The image of the glowing arrow lingered in his mind, a strange and unexplainable phenomenon that felt tied to something far greater than himself.

He thought of the moon in his dream, its pull and its light, and the way it had seemed to awaken something within him. Was it coincidence, or was there a connection? The questions swirled in his mind, unanswered but persistent.

“I think I should go to the mages guild and tell them about what happened. It certainly isn’t natural for an arrow to turn blue, my whole life I’ve only wondered what it was like to possess arcane powers, but how do I know that was what it even was?”

Nev listened quietly, his gaze thoughtful as he poked at the fire. “Well I guess my piece of advice would be to return to Moonglade, complete the trials and become an authorized archer of Eldravale. Then after that I would start asking questions. You don’t want people hearing of such a fairy tale-esque story and not believing it, they could easily shove you out of the system if you did that.”

As the fire burned low and the stars above seemed to shimmer brighter, Aelion felt a sense of quiet resolve settle over him. The trial had tested him in ways he hadn’t anticipated, pushing him to his physical and emotional limits. Yet, he had prevailed, emerging stronger and more determined than ever.

His leg throbbed, a constant reminder of the battle, but the pain felt like a badge of honor—a testament to his courage and resilience. He glanced at Nev, his companion’s steady presence a source of comfort and strength.

“Hey, thank you for taking care of me too, and making all of this possible. I hope we can somehow continue to work together in the future.”

Nev nodded, his expression happy. “Absolutely Aelion, it’s safe to say that you have been a great friend and I’m glad to say I was a part of everything you’re going to accomplish!”

As sleep began to claim him, Aelion allowed himself to rest, the mysteries of the glowing arrow and his dream lingering at the edges of his thoughts. Whatever lay ahead, he knew he would face it with the same determination that had carried him through the trial.