Aiden interjected, his voice tense. “The stranger told us the creature spends most of its time in a cave nearby. Our path is clear - we must slay it. Capturing it alive is a fool’s errand I won’t entertain.”

Toren, his face a somber mask, exhaled. “Take the course you must if all other roads are closed. But bear in mind, this beast was once not unlike you or me.” He ran his fingers across his worn cloak, whispering an incantation so soft it was nearly lost in the wind. The silvery threads beneath the fabric shimmered into life, and a protective mist enveloped him as he readied himself for departure.

Silence hung heavily between Aiden and Melog as they processed this revelation. “I’ll start a fire,” Melog said at last, his voice barely audible as he gathered wood.

Aiden focused his energy, weaving words into a spell, conjuring a small dome. Then, like an invisible spider, the shelter rose, expertly masking light, scent, and movement.

The fire crackled to life, casting dancing shadows and offering welcome warmth to weary travelers. Aiden and Melog found solace in the quiet. They rested, letting their minds wander aimlessly before gathering their thoughts to strategize for the upcoming confrontation.

Melog broke the silence, his voice trembling with hesitation. “Do you suppose there’s a chance to revert the transformation? To revert the creature to its original form?”

Aiden rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t think so. It would require knowledge of ancient magic and a deeper understanding of the creature’s origin to find a way to break the enchantment.”

“Oh, I see. Too bad. Well, get a good night’s sleep.” Melog nodded, disappointment dulling his voice. He wrapped himself in his cloak, signaling the end of the conversation.

***

They doused the fire at the break of dawn, setting off towards the great rock Toren had pointed out. The landscape seemed to warp around them; the trees growing distorted; the shadows turning darker and more forbidding.

Aiden’s voice sliced through the silence. “I have an idea. Perhaps we don’t have to kill it. Instead, we could concoct something that puts it to sleep or at least leaves it dazed. Then we could sneak into the cave, retrieve what we need, and leave before it wakes.”

Melog threw up his hands, his voice tinged with frustration. “I don’t like it either. But this is no ordinary beast. I bet it can sense magic, maybe even produce it. It’s too risky. It’s not pleasant, but we might have to kill it. It’s no longer human; it’s a beast.”

“You’re right.” Aiden stopped abruptly. “You’re absolutely right! I have a spell that can suppress magical influence. I’ve only used it on objects, and it doesn’t last long, but it’s worth a shot, right?”

Melog shrugged. “If it’s safe for us, then I don’t see the problem. But I don’t know about the implications of magic; you have to be sure there’s no big risk.”

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Aiden had already made up his mind, though.

They paused to allow him to prepare the mixture of herbs needed for the spell. Melog watched in fascination as Aiden combined the herbs with incantations, an unusual light flickering in his eyes. Finally, he sealed the bottle and turned to Melog, hope in his eyes.

“But how do you plan on making the beast ingest that?” Melog questioned.

Aiden smirked, “We don’t have to. We just need to throw it into the cave, so it breaks. The liquid will vaporize, and the beast just needs to breathe it in.” The mage portrayed it to him as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

But Melog immediately thought of at least 10 things that could go wrong, but remained silent. He was prepared to kill the creature if the mage’s plan failed.

After a while, they knew they were close. Aiden, in particular, felt a strong vibration in the air, like that feeling you get right before a massive storm hits.

A rumbling growl echoed from within the cave, signaling the beast’s awareness of their presence.

“It can smell us,” Melog noted.

Meanwhile, the mage studied the magical nature of the surroundings. Everything seemed different somehow. The ground beneath their feet was blackening, and the vegetation was much more lush than they had seen before the barrier of magical threads.

The growling grew louder, and they had a sense of being closer.

Aiden closed his eyes, attempting to sense the creature’s energy field. But, unfortunately, he could only make out a faint glow. “Follow me,” Melog commanded, already scouting for a suitable spot before the image of the creature’s location faded.

They settled on a vantage point that offered a clear view of the cave entrance. A glimpse of the creature’s enormous head sent chills down their spines, a nightmarish blend of a bear and a wolf.

A deep, threatening growl forced them back into action. “Quick, the bottle!” Melog urged.

Melog skillfully tied the bottle to a sharp knife, securing it with a leather cord. “Wait, don’t throw it yet,” Aiden said, pulling out a glowing blue crystal. Light poured into his palms, one holding the crystal, the other gripping Melog’s arm. A surge of power coursed through Melog’s arm.

Aiden gauged the distance to the cave, “Careful, your arm is half as strong now. Your aim should also be more accurate. Just don’t overdo it; we don’t know how large the cave is.”

Melog swung the knife, the vial-laden weapon flying out of his hand like an arrow.

He aimed well. They both watched the knife fly straight into the center of the cave.

Something crashed.

The invisible wall just sparked, and the knife fell to the ground as if someone had just gently dropped it. Melog and Aiden, at first confused, now quickly assessing the situation, waited a few seconds to see what would happen.

A tremendous roar until their blood stiffened in their veins.

The animal bolted out of the cave and quickly descended the barrier. It was hungry for their blood because it felt threatened.

“I’ll retrieve the knife. If the vial’s intact, we still have a chance. Distract the beast, and for heaven’s sake, stay alive, mage!” Melog instructed, darting towards the cave.

“You’re out of your mind!” Aiden yelled back, sprinting in the opposite direction with the beast on his heels.

A searing sensation licked at his back. “Can it spew fire now?” Aiden thought, his heart pounding against his ribs. “What’s next? Sprouting wings?” He grimaced while running like crazy. “Might as well lie down and season myself with herbs to enhance its dining experience.”

A deadly flame danced in his palm, a last resort as the beast closed in, reducing the gap between them to a dangerous low.