The forest at the edge of Wyvern’s Rest was a different beast at night. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the once-familiar trees transformed into looming, twisted silhouettes, their branches like skeletal hands reaching toward the darkening sky. The faint sounds of the village faded behind Dominic, leaving only the rustle of leaves and the occasional distant hoot of an owl.

Loras led the group to the outskirts of the village, where the last of the cottages gave way to dense underbrush. A narrow path, barely visible in the dim light, wound its way into the woods.

"This is where we saw the lights," Loras said, his voice low and uneasy. He pointed toward a cluster of trees where the path disappeared into the darkness. "They were just beyond there, moving between the trees. No one dared to get closer."

Marcus nodded, his eyes scanning the tree line. "Thank you, Loras. We’ll take it from here. Make sure your people stay inside and keep watch. If anything happens, get them to safety."

Loras gave a grim nod and turned to head back toward the village, leaving Dominic, Marcus, and Selene standing at the edge of the forest.

Dominic’s heart pounded in his chest as he peered into the shadowy depths. The warmth he had felt earlier in the day was now a steady, comforting presence within him, but it wasn’t enough to quell the unease that gnawed at him.

"Stay close," Marcus said quietly, drawing his sword. "We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet."

Selene moved to Dominic’s side, her eyes sharp and focused. "Remember what I said earlier—pay attention to everything. The smallest detail could be the difference between life and death."

Dominic nodded, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and followed Marcus and Selene into the woods.

The path was narrow and uneven, forcing them to move slowly and carefully. The trees pressed in around them, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight. It wasn’t long before they were enveloped in near-total darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of the runes etched into Marcus’s armor and Selene’s soft, flickering magical aura.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the temperature seemed to drop, the air growing colder and more oppressive. Dominic’s breath fogged in front of him, and he shivered despite the warmth of the magic within him. The sounds of the forest—crickets, distant animals, the rustling of leaves—seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie silence that set Dominic’s nerves on edge.

They walked for what felt like hours, though it was likely only minutes. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the forest became. The trees twisted in ways that defied logic, their trunks gnarled and their roots curling up from the ground like grasping fingers. Strange, ethereal lights flickered at the edge of their vision, vanishing as soon as they turned to look.

Finally, Marcus raised a hand, signaling them to stop. They were in a small clearing, the ground covered in a thick layer of dead leaves. In the center of the clearing, there was a circle of stones, ancient and weathered, arranged in a pattern that seemed almost deliberate.

"This is it," Marcus murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "The lights were seen here."

Selene knelt by the stones, her hand hovering over one of them. "These stones… they’re not natural. They’ve been placed here, and recently too."

Dominic knelt beside her, examining the stones. He noticed faint symbols carved into their surfaces, symbols that pulsed with a faint, almost imperceptible glow. "What do they mean?"

Selene shook her head. "I’m not sure. But there’s magic here, old and powerful. This circle—it’s a focal point, a conduit for some kind of ritual or spell."

Marcus frowned, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the tree line. "This could be what’s causing the disappearances. But why? And who’s behind it?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Before Dominic could ask another question, a low growl echoed from the darkness, freezing them in place. It was deep and guttural, the kind of sound that sent primal fear coursing through every fiber of your being. The warmth within Dominic flared in response, his instincts screaming at him to be ready.

Marcus rose to his feet, his sword at the ready. "We’re not alone."

The growl came again, louder this time, and was followed by the sound of something massive moving through the underbrush. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and the air grew heavy with a foul, acrid stench.

Selene stood, her hands crackling with magical energy. "Get ready!"

Dominic drew his sword, his heart racing as he stared into the darkness. His breath came in quick, shallow bursts as he tried to focus, to tap into the magic within him. He could feel it, bubbling just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

The creature emerged from the shadows, and Dominic’s blood ran cold. It was a monstrous beast, easily twice the size of a horse, with thick, matted fur and eyes that glowed a sickly yellow. Its body was a grotesque mix of wolf and bear, with jagged, yellowed fangs that dripped with saliva. But what unnerved Dominic the most was the unnatural aura that surrounded the creature—a pulsing, malevolent energy that seemed to warp the air around it.

The beast roared, a deafening sound that reverberated through the clearing. Marcus was the first to react, charging forward with his sword raised. He struck at the beast’s side, but the creature was fast—too fast for something so large. It dodged the blow and swiped at Marcus with one massive paw, knocking him back several feet.

"Marcus!" Selene shouted, launching a bolt of magical energy at the beast. The spell hit its mark, striking the creature in the chest and causing it to howl in pain. But it wasn’t enough to stop it. The beast lunged at Selene, its fangs bared.

Dominic didn’t think—he acted. The warmth within him surged, and he felt the magic flow through his veins, guiding his movements. He raised his sword and rushed forward, intercepting the creature before it could reach Selene. With a shout, he brought the blade down on the beast’s flank, the impact sending a shockwave through his arms.

The creature roared in pain and fury, its attention shifting to Dominic. It swiped at him with its claws, but Dominic was faster this time. He ducked under the attack and slashed at the beast’s leg, the magic within him fueling his strength and speed. The blade cut deep, and the creature staggered, its movements becoming more erratic.

"Dominic, watch out!" Selene’s voice rang out in warning.

Dominic barely had time to react as the creature lashed out with its other paw, catching him across the chest. He was thrown back, the breath knocked out of him as he hit the ground hard. Pain flared through his body, but the magic within him dulled it, allowing him to push through.

Marcus was on his feet again, charging at the creature with renewed determination. He struck at the beast’s side, driving his sword deep into its flesh. The creature howled in agony, but Marcus didn’t let up. He pulled the blade free and struck again, this time aiming for its throat.

Selene joined the attack, unleashing a torrent of magical energy that enveloped the beast, searing its fur and flesh. The creature thrashed wildly, its roars of pain and rage filling the air. But it was weakening, its movements growing sluggish.

Dominic struggled to his feet, his vision blurred but his resolve unshaken. He gripped his sword tightly, the warmth within him blazing like a fire. With a determined shout, he charged at the creature one last time, aiming for its heart.

The blade found its mark, piercing through the beast’s chest and striking deep. The creature let out one final, anguished roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shuddering as the life drained from it.

For a moment, the clearing was silent, save for the sound of Dominic’s heavy breathing. He stood over the fallen creature, his sword still embedded in its chest, his body trembling with exhaustion.

"We did it," Selene breathed, her voice filled with relief. She moved to Dominic’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Dominic nodded, though he felt like he might collapse at any moment. "Yeah… I think so."

Marcus approached, wiping the blood from his sword. "That was impressive, Dominic. You handled yourself well."

Dominic managed a weak smile, the warmth within him slowly fading. "Thanks… I couldn’t have done it without you two."

Selene knelt beside the creature, examining its lifeless body. "This beast… it wasn’t natural. There’s dark magic at work here, something that twisted this creature into what it became."

Marcus frowned, his gaze dark. "If that’s true, then we’re dealing with something far more dangerous than we thought. We need to find out who—or what—is behind this."

Dominic felt a chill run down his spine, the implications of their discovery sinking in. Whatever had created this creature was still out there, and it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again.

But for now, they had won. They had survived.

As they made their way back to the village, Dominic couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The forest had many more secrets to reveal, and with each step he took, he felt himself being drawn deeper into the mysteries of Andaria.