"As the first rays of dawn pierced the canopy of the Shadow Forest, Cain sat outside the cave, staring thoughtfully at the horizon. The events of the previous day lingered in his mind, the weight of taking a life mingling with a sense of achievement and growth. Beside him, Lysara's form materialized, her presence a silent question hanging in the air.
Cain turned to her, a mix of resolve and uncertainty in his eyes. 'Lysara, yesterday I took the life of an innocent animal. It was necessary, but it changes something inside you, doesn't it?' he asked, his voice tinged with a newfound maturity.
Lysara nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. 'It does, Cain. Each choice you make shapes who you are and who you will become. Remember, the path of a hunter is not just about survival; it's about understanding the balance of life.'
As they spoke, the forest around them stirred to life, its inhabitants awakening to the new day. Cain knew that each day in this forest would bring new challenges and lessons. Ready to face whatever lay ahead, he stood up, the light of determination in his eyes reflecting the first light of dawn."
"I FORGOT TO TAKE THE CORE." With wide eyes, I scream.
"It was about time you remembered. Yes, you did not take the core of the boar after killing it. I was really curious, as you will remember. So, what are you going to do now?" asked me Lysara with a little smirk on her face.
"Well, I am going there right now and taking it. If some other animal or beast didn't beat me to it, or those bandits." As I get my suit on and prepare my bag, I make my way toward the place where I hunted the boar the last day.
As I made my way there, I felt that the forest was different today. The animals are not following me anymore, except for the fox that led me to the cave on my first day here. The forest also feels restless today, and my instincts are telling me something is not right. So I grip my spear harder in my hand and make my way toward the clearing, which is not known to me. Someone is waiting for me, impatient.
After like 30 minutes, that felt more like some hours of jumping from branch to branch. I finally arrive at the clearing, where, to my big surprise, a big shadow-like direwolf in purple-black is waiting for me.
*The wolf is here. Look, Lysara, what luck for me.. but why is it so big?*
*Because is a captain-class shadow wolf Cain. Good luck taking it down, but it seems like it has already hurt.
My heart drops... "Captain class? I can't kill that beast; it will be my end. I will stay hidden in the shadows for now.
As I finish talking with Lysara, I hear another voice—a hurt one, a beautiful one.
"I know you are their child. I was waiting for you. Come down; I mean no harm to you.
Instinctually, I knew that the one talking with me was the big wolf, who was looking straight at me.
Lysara, what should I do? Do you think I can run?
*Do what your heart tells you to do, Cain. Also, if it wanted you dead, you would be dead already. You also can't outrun her."
*Damn* and taking my heart in my teeth, I jump out of the branch that no longer kept me hidden, and I land 10 meters from the big scary wolf.
Now that I can see her up close, she is as big as the shadow bear that the bandits killed the other day. But why is she alone?
"Hi, my name is Cain Silverblood, Miss Wolf," I say, feeling my legs go numb at the sigh of this big and ferocious beast, but with calm eyes.
"I know who you are, child. You have come here to kill me and make my child your companion. And my destiny was to let you hunt me, and if you were worthy, to let you have the win. But times have changed, and some humans have invaded the forest. Looking for me, for my pup, using brute force and not taking the trial as you. And finally, they found me and hurt me, but I managed to escape. Maybe because they were exhausted after killing my old friend, the bear."
"After seeing how you hunted the bear yesterday, I deemed you worthy of passing the trial of the shadow wolf. And because we have no time left before the humans find us again, we need to be fast children. So left with no choice, I Neiran, shadow wolf of the captain class of the Shadow Forest under Sylvanara rule, declare Cain Silverblood, child of murder and sin, worthy of shadows, and I leave with you, my pup, to be bound with you as your companion, and I give you my powers of shadows, for you will always be one of them. Thrust your spear into me, Cain. Finish the ritual before the bandits find us. Before they take him from me,
Finishing her words, I can see blood tears coming down from her eyes, and close to her is a small wolf puppy, sleeping without a care in his mother's embrace. With a heavy heart and a strong grip, I trust the spear right through my Neiran heart.
"Thank you, and take care of him."
"What is his name?" I ask, tears coming down on my cheeks.
"Fenrir, I named him Fenrir; may you two look one after the other."
And she disappears, in an ethereal form, and before I know it, she enters my being. But I had fainted already. The puppy, waking up with sleepy eyes, jumps and enters straight into Night's Wishper, making it his new home.
Lysara, watching all of this, talks to herself. *Lucky bastard. And your pup, sleep and grow yourself stronger. You will need that strength.* with a little annoyed face that a new tenant has moved into her home without asking her first.
Outside, Cain undergoes some changes. First of all, once he absorbs Neiran's being, he also absorbs her captain-class core, which contains a lot of raw power. But her soul is used as a refinery, making the process smooth and not destructive for Cain. Also, the blessing of shadows inside Cain's soul activates, refining his soul and awakening it in the process, transforming Cain into the youngest awakened ever. At just 5 years old, I am attaining the first rank!
The shadows pulled him towards a cave where he could undergo the evolution in peace. His core, now awakened, was a shadow black in color with a purple ethereal veil and blood-red-like veins on it.
Unknown to him, some bad humans are making their way toward the clearing at the cave as he undergoes his evolution. Will they catch him?
Will the shadows protect him? Who knows.