Tim watched as the sun's fading light vanished from the walls, leaving the small fire pit in the room with a feeble glow against encroaching darkness. He rolled over, wrapping the threadbare army surplus blanket tightly around himself for warmth.
However, the dancing shadows on the walls triggered memories he'd rather forget. Reaching up, he clutched the small leather ball hanging from a well-made rope necklace. Opening it revealed the beast's core, softly glowing.
The core's rocky exterior resembled stone, yet it emitted an inner glow, appearing almost liquid. It reminded Tim of ancient tales where stars were visible. He had observed the shifting liquid patterns for hours, a welcome distraction from haunting nightmares.
Tim had come to understand the core's patterns, anticipating the mesmerizing dance of lights. Other cores, glimpsed during hunting expeditions with Miles, were each unique. While he couldn't decipher their patterns, they all shared this mysterious internal energy.
Miles, despite being forbidden to train a squatter, spoke of Tim's future. "Your core will one day have lights like these, merging into your blood to empower you." With a cut on his palm, blood would transform into tendrils of light.
Awakening his core meant becoming a soldier, drafted to protect the state of Emergence against the looming threats of beasts and demons. Success meant escaping the Pit, a possibility that kept him tethered to the mesmerizing lights in the beastial core.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Tomorrow night marked Tim's awakening.
----------------------------------------
Tim awoke to his mother's screams, the shack's door shattered. Fear gripped him as he realized a beast or demon had invaded. His father fought fiercely, but his mother lay still beneath the creature.
Grabbing a kitchen knife, Tim called out to his father, but a horrific sight halted him. His father, seemingly asleep, had his arm almost torn off. The giant wolf, barely fitting through the door, advanced.
Tim, armed with the knife, scrambled backward, witnessing a Protector clad in green armor enter the fray. Cuts on his hand directed mystical energy toward the beast. The struggle ended with a swift strike, yet the beast remained alive, fixated on Tim.
Paralyzed with fear, Tim contemplated revenge. The broken blade lay nearby, a potential weapon against the wounded beast. However, his feeble attempt ended abruptly as the beast lunged, tearing into him.
----------------------------------------
The glow from the fire was replaced by the sisters' bright light outside. Tim, shaken but alive, remembered Miles' return and his subsequent training. The leather bag around his neck held the core that almost took his life.
Miles returned monthly, imparting survival skills and knowledge. The core symbolized Tim's hope for a better life outside the Pit. Miles spoke of the holy sisters and the mist they provided to combat the darkness.
As the day of his awakening arrived, Tim prepared for a journey with Miles. Memories of his parents and the broken blade lingered, but he focused on the promise of a brighter future.
The Winter Solstice approached, bringing change and uncertainty. Tim knew he'd lose the house, a last connection to his past. Equipped with a repaired machete and bow, he faced the inevitable shift in his life during the celestial event. Old man Grumble's warnings echoed, but Tim was ready for whatever lay ahead.