The air was thick with mist as Mihai followed Cian through the twisting paths of the forest, their footsteps nearly silent on the damp earth. Above, the canopy wove together like fingers clasped in prayer, blotting out much of the dull morning light and casting eerie shadows across the ground. Beside Mihai, Raven moved soundlessly, his amber eyes scanning their surroundings, ears pricked and alert.

“Fan anseo,” Cian murmured as he stopped and gestured for Mihai to stay put. Mihai nodded, watching as his friend knelt to examine the faint tracks pressed into the earth—a set of prints half-swallowed by mud.

“There’s something heavy that passed here not long ago,” Cian muttered, tracing the shape of the prints with his fingers. “Look at the size of these marks. No ordinary beast makes tracks like these.”

Mihai leaned in, frowning. The tracks had an unnatural shape, almost humanoid but too large and with claws that gouged the earth in deep lines. A shiver ran down his spine as he thought of the creatures he’d encountered since arriving in this world, each one stranger and more dangerous than the last.

“You think it’s a Grimee?” he asked, his voice low.

Cian’s face darkened. “Could be. But if it is, it’s a big one. Whatever left these marks has power beyond the usual shadows we see near the village.” He rose, brushing dirt from his hands. “We’ll need to be on our guard.”

They moved further into the forest, their path winding between ancient trees with thick, twisted trunks. Mihai noticed the forest had taken on an odd quality, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something unseen to stir.

Suddenly, Cian stopped, his hand raised to signal silence. Mihai followed his gaze and saw a broken branch dangling from a nearby tree, its edges darkened, as if charred.

“Burn marks,” Cian whispered, his eyes narrowing. “But there hasn’t been a fire here. Not in weeks.”

Mihai felt a chill, and Raven growled softly at his side, his fur bristling. The forest was still, oppressively so, and Mihai’s instincts screamed that they were being watched.

Cian glanced at Mihai, his expression tense. “I think it’s time to put my… talent to use.” He reached over his shoulder, pulling an arrow from his quiver and fitting it to his bowstring, his grip steady.

With a deep breath, he aimed and fired, sending the arrow into the shadows beyond the clearing. Mihai watched, fascinated, as the arrow suddenly picked up speed mid-flight, propelled by Cian’s power, slicing through the mist with unnatural force. It thudded into a distant tree, leaving a clear, straight path through the air.

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The exertion took its toll—Cian’s shoulders sagged slightly, and he pressed a hand to his forehead, as though trying to shake off a sudden weariness.

“You alright?” Mihai asked, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Cian forced a weak smile. “I’m fine, just… it drains me. Using it like that. I can’t keep it up for long.”

“Well, what you did back there was incredible,” Mihai said. “Making something go faster without even touching it… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s… it’s nothing,” Cian said, looking away. But Mihai could sense a flicker of pride in his friend’s expression, despite his words. “One day, maybe. I’ll get stronger.”

Mihai nodded, feeling a surge of admiration for his friend’s quiet resilience. Cian had something rare, something extraordinary, and Mihai couldn’t help but feel grateful to have him as an ally.

They continued deeper into the forest, the silence pressing down around them like a weight. The shadows seemed to lengthen, and Mihai could feel an oppressive energy clinging to the air, growing stronger the further they walked.

“Do you feel that?” he whispered to Cian.

Cian nodded, his face pale. “It’s like… something’s watching us.”

Just as he spoke, a low, guttural sound drifted through the trees. Mihai’s heart pounded, and he gripped the hilt of his makeshift weapon, his gaze darting through the shadows. Raven’s growl deepened, his muscles tense, ready to spring.

Then, from the darkness, a figure emerged—a twisted, gaunt creature with elongated limbs and hollow eyes that gleamed with a sickly red light. Its skin was gray and mottled, stretched thin over sharp bones that jutted out at unnatural angles. It let out a rasping breath, the sound sending shivers down Mihai’s spine.

“A vampire-beast,” Cian breathed, his voice barely a whisper. “This is no ordinary Grimee.”

The creature moved with a fluid, unnatural grace, its eyes fixed on them as it took a step closer. Mihai could feel its hunger, a dark, ravenous energy that radiated from its gaunt frame. He tightened his grip on his weapon, his mind racing.

“Cian, can you…?” Mihai began, glancing at his friend.

Cian’s gaze was already locked on the creature. Quickly, he raised his bow again and nocked an arrow, his hand steady as he drew back the string. With a slight nod, he released, and Mihai watched as the arrow shot toward the creature, accelerating mid-flight.

The arrow struck the vampire-beast’s shoulder with a force that made it stagger, but the creature’s red eyes burned brighter, and it let out an angry snarl. It lunged toward them, closing the distance faster than Mihai could react.

Raven leapt forward, intercepting the creature with a fierce growl. They collided in a flurry of fur and claws, each movement precise and deadly. Raven’s jaws closed around the creature’s arm, but it twisted with a snarl, trying to throw him off.

Mihai joined the fray, swinging his branch with all his strength. He struck the creature’s leg, sending it stumbling. But it turned on him, bony fingers reaching for his throat, and Mihai felt a burst of panic.

Cian, catching his breath, drew his knife and threw it with all his remaining strength, his power enhancing its speed as it sliced through the air. The blade embedded itself in the creature’s side, and it let out a strangled cry, its body jerking back.

Raven seized the moment, his teeth sinking into the creature’s throat, pinning it to the ground. The vampire-beast thrashed, red eyes blazing as it struggled, but Mihai delivered a final blow to its skull, and it went still, crumbling into ash.

Breathing heavily, Mihai staggered back, wiping sweat from his brow. Cian leaned against a tree, his face pale, his breath labored. He looked drained, as though the fight had taken everything out of him.

“You did well,” Mihai said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Cian managed a faint smile. “Couldn’t have done it without Raven, either.” He glanced at the wolf, who stood nearby, his amber eyes still alert, scanning the shadows for any further threats.

They lingered in silence, the weight of what they had just faced settling over them. Mihai felt a cold realization—a warning of what lay beyond the village. This creature, twisted and corrupted, was only a glimpse of the darkness that lurked in this world. And if he was to bring balance, as Yahweh willed, he would have to face far worse.

After a long moment, Cian straightened, shaking off his fatigue. “We should get back,” he said quietly. “The village needs to know.”

As they made their way back through the forest, Mihai felt the presence of the creature lingering in his mind, a reminder of the trials yet to come. The forest seemed darker, its secrets deeper, as if it were holding back truths Mihai was only beginning to understand.