Without a word, the monstrous Aerovind charged at Gregory, moving with a speed and agility that was beyond human.
Gregory barely had time to raise his holy sword before the creature's massive clawed hand swiped at him, knocking the sword out of his grip and sending him flying through the air.
He crashed into a nearby tree, his body aching from the impact.
As he struggled to get up, he saw Aerovind advancing towards him, its monstrous form towering over him.
"You... you are not Aerovind," Gregory said, trying to make sense of what was happening. "What dark magic has consumed you?"
A deep, guttural laugh reverberated through the air, sending shivers down Gregory's spine. The monster's response to his plea dripped with a voice that echoed death itself.
"I am beyond your mortal understanding," it sneered. "I am the essence of all the pain and suffering that Aerovind has endured. I am the last thing you want to encounter."
"Go away!" Gregory stuttered, struggling to stand as blood oozed from his lips. He frantically searched for his sword, but it was out of reach.
The creature who once was Aerovind only let out a contemptuous snarl, its inhuman face taking on a menacing appearance.
"I am here to stay," it growled, sounding like distant thunder. Before Gregory could react, the beast pounced forward.
Its clawed hands gripped his shoulders, pinning him against the tree trunk. And as its hot breath washed over his face, the true terror sunk in.
The monster's jaws opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth dripping with saliva. It lunged at Gregory's neck, its intent clear - to feast on his flesh and end his life.
The creature's teeth sank into Gregory's neck, tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood sprayed in all directions as he gasped in pain, his body writhing against the tree trunk.
The monstrous Aerovind's eyes glowed with a malevolent satisfaction as it fed on the agony it inflicted.
The forest echoed with Gregory's desperate cries, drowned out by the grotesque sounds of tearing flesh and the creature's guttural growls. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, and the once vibrant surroundings now bore witness to this horrific transformation.
As the life drained from Gregory, his struggles weakened.
The monstrous being continued its gruesome feast, reveling in the macabre act. The earth beneath them seemed to absorb the spilled blood as if it too hungered for the suffering that unfolded.
In the silent aftermath, the creature that once was Aerovind stood over its victim, heaving great gulps of air as it savored the taste of blood. Its inhuman form towered before the devastation it had wrought, a sight that would haunt any mortal soul unlucky enough.
"Uncle..."
A guttural whisper pierced the stillness, causing the creature to whip its head around.
Blood dripping from its jaws, but what it didn't expect was Ela alive crawling toward it.
Blood dripped from her mangled limbs as she dragged herself closer, bones audibly cracking with each agonizing movement. The creature froze, unable to comprehend this sheer will and determination displayed.
Tears streamed down her face as she reached out to her only hope, her once uncle.
"Uncle," she choked out again, voice desperate and raw. Her small hand hardly reached his clawed foot. She trembled beneath her weight.
"You are not Aerovind," she choked out, her voice a painful whisper.
The creature in front of her had a wild rage in its glowing eyes as it grabbed her head and opened its massive jaws.
The monster's teeth were coated in a thick layer of fresh blood, glinting with a deadly hunger as it prepared to strike.
The girl's screams for help echoed through the darkness, quickly dying out as she realized her fate was sealed.
Just as the monstrous creature was about to pounce, a blinding beam of ethereal light burst forth, striking its massive body and sending it flying through the air.
As it crashed to the ground, the faceless angel of radalong materialized next to the girl.
With Gregory's lifeless body now torn apart, the only thing untouched is the final gesture of hand; it appeared that his last act before dying was to bless the little girl.
The angel's hands glowed with an aura of pure, divine light, and they gently encased around Ela's mangled limbs.
A wave of warmth washed over her, seeping into the damaged flesh and beginning to knit the bones back together. The pain in her body began to recede, leaving her in a state of utter shock and disbelief.
As the creature writhed in agony on the ground, the angel turned its attention to the girl. With a gentle touch, it lifted her into its ethereal embrace, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
The forest was left in silence, the only sound being the rustling of leaves and the howling of wolves in the distance.
Gregory's lifeless body lay amongst the carnage, his final act of kindness towards the girl having saved her life.
The monstrous Aerovind, on the other hand, lay still and defeated.
The rain started to fall, slowly at first, as if the heavens themselves were shedding tears for the horrors that had transpired.
It grew stronger, blanketing the earth in a soothing veil as it washed away the blood and death that had stained the ground. The forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as the rain showered down upon it.
As the rain continued to pour down, the being that had been known as Aerovind closed its eyes and succumbed to a deep sleep.
Its bright orbs faded, and its immense body gradually transformed into that of a human once more.
As it drifted off into unconsciousness, Aerovind's mind was flooded with haunting memories from its past.
He was the only surviving kid in the Vaelorin program, the one who got cursed. He remembered now clearly. the isolation that followed. The memories weighed heavy on his heart.