Aelric woke with a start, the cool morning air biting at his skin as he lay beneath the canopy of trees. His heart still raced from the dream, though the details had already slipped from his mind like grains of sand. He took a deep breath, his hand instinctively reaching for the Emberstone Amulet. Its warmth, though faint, offered a small comfort in the cold wilderness.

The clearing was quiet now, and the light filtering through the trees suggested it was early in the morning. Aelric sat up, his body sore from sleeping on the forest floor, and his wounds still aching. The eerie feeling from the ruins lingered in the back of his mind, but the threat had passed, at least for now.

He needed to keep moving. The longer he stayed in one place, the greater the chance that something—or someone—might find him. His hunger gnawed at him, sharper now than before, a constant reminder that he had no food and no supplies. His body felt weak, and he knew he couldn't keep going like this for much longer without sustenance.

Aelric pushed himself to his feet, wincing as the pain in his side flared up. He gritted his teeth and began walking, forcing his legs to carry him deeper into the forest. The underbrush was thick here, and the path ahead was unclear. He had no destination in mind, only the need to survive.

As he walked, Aelric’s thoughts drifted to the ruins from the day before. The strange carvings, the unsettling presence—he couldn’t shake the feeling that the place held some kind of power. But whatever secrets it held, he was in no condition to explore them. Not now.

The forest grew denser as he continued, the trees taller and the shadows deeper. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and moss, and the sound of birdsong had grown faint. Aelric’s eyes scanned the area, his senses on high alert. He couldn’t afford to be caught off guard again.

Suddenly, a low growl cut through the silence.

Aelric froze, his body tensing as the sound reached his ears. It came from somewhere ahead, hidden in the dense underbrush. His hand instinctively went to his side, but he had no weapon, no blade—nothing but his wits and the faint magic of the amulet.

The growl came again, louder this time. Aelric’s heart raced, his eyes darting through the trees, searching for the source of the sound. And then he saw it—a flash of movement in the shadows. The beast stepped into view, its eyes gleaming in the dim light. It was a wolf, larger than any Aelric had seen before, its fur dark and matted, its fangs bared in a snarl.

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The wolf’s eyes locked onto Aelric, its growl deepening as it crouched low, ready to strike.

Aelric’s mind raced. He had no magic left, no strength to fight. The wolf was territorial, and it wasn’t going to let him pass without a fight. His breath quickened as he backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving the beast.

But the wolf was faster.

With a snarl, it lunged at him, its massive form leaping through the air. Aelric barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as the wolf’s jaws snapped inches from his face. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his body as he rolled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest.

The wolf growled again, circling him, its eyes filled with hunger.

Aelric scanned the ground for anything he could use. His eyes landed on a broken branch, thick and sturdy enough to serve as a makeshift weapon. He grabbed it, holding it in both hands as the wolf closed in.

The beast lunged again, and Aelric swung the branch with all the strength he could muster. The wood cracked against the wolf’s side, but it did little to slow the creature down. The wolf snarled, its jaws snapping at the air as it recovered from the blow.

Aelric stumbled backward, his body trembling with exhaustion. He couldn’t keep this up much longer. The wolf was relentless, and he was barely holding on.

The wolf charged again, and Aelric braced himself, swinging the branch in a desperate attempt to fend it off. This time, the branch struck the wolf’s snout, and the beast yelped in pain, staggering back. Blood dripped from its nose, but it wasn’t done yet. It snarled, its eyes burning with fury as it prepared for another attack.

Aelric’s arms shook as he gripped the branch tighter, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His vision blurred from the effort, his body on the verge of collapse.

The wolf lunged one final time, and Aelric swung with everything he had left. The branch struck the side of the wolf’s head with a sickening thud, and the beast crumpled to the ground, its body twitching before falling still.

Aelric stood there, panting, his hands trembling as he dropped the branch. His body ached, and his legs gave out beneath him as he collapsed beside the wolf’s lifeless body. His chest heaved with every breath, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him.

The forest was silent again, save for the sound of his labored breathing.

For a long moment, Aelric lay there, staring at the wolf, his mind racing with disbelief. He had survived, but just barely. His magic was gone, his strength depleted, and the weight of the fight had left him drained in every way.

But he had won.

Aelric forced himself to his feet, stumbling toward the edge of the clearing where he could hear the faint sound of running water. His body screamed in protest with every step, but he pushed through the pain, his mind focused on survival.

As he reached the river, he collapsed by the water’s edge, dipping his hands into the cool stream to wash his wounds. The water was soothing, offering a brief moment of relief as it washed away the blood and grime.

Aelric stared into the flowing water, his reflection staring back at him. He barely recognized the face looking up from the river—tired, gaunt, and covered in bruises. His journey had taken its toll, and the road ahead would only get harder.

But he wasn’t finished yet.