Staring at the Ammit and its cubs, my thoughts spun in rapid circles. The potential of its power was tantalizing; absorbing its spirit core would undoubtedly make me stronger. I watched as the Ammit nudged its cubs back, its fierce protective instinct mirrored in my own heart. I, too, had a child waiting for me.
I sighed heavily, extending my hand towards the growling beast. My heart churned with conflicting emotions. The lure of being seen as a hero, of justifying my own actions, clawed at me. But I was beyond those illusions. The moment my brothers and sisters in the gang fell because of my cowardice, I discarded any pretense of being the good guy.
That was never going to happen to my child. Talentless as I was, insignificant as I felt, I possessed a ruthless determination to protect those I loved. The need for power gripped me. The faster I obtained it, the safer she would be.
