Luke cowered in fear beside the carriage, his body trembling uncontrollably. The abomination's roar reverberated through the forest, layering fear upon fear in his already terrified mind. He had survived his previous encounter with the creature by sheer luck, and the thought of facing it again sent chills down his spine. He knew that willingly confronting such a monster would be suicide.
But then, a new sound broke through the oppressive noise of the forest—a man's shout. It came from the same direction as the abomination, and although it was distant, it was unmistakably human. The voice tugged at something deep within Luke. He had finally found another person in this strange world, and his promise to help others resurfaced in his mind.
His body wanted to help. It was a desperate urge to uphold his promise in what he thought were his final moments. However, his mind fought back, screaming at him to prioritize his survival. It was a conflict of heart and reason, a battle between his newfound resolve and his primal instinct to stay alive.
Luke's heart won out. With every ounce of willpower, he forced his body to move. "I have to help," he muttered to himself, as if saying it out loud would make it easier to act. He took a tentative step forward, then another. Soon, he found himself jogging towards the sound of the shout, his breaths coming in short, quick gasps.
As he moved, Luke's senses heightened. The forest seemed even more menacing now, every shadow a potential threat. The roars of the abomination continued, punctuated by the man's shouts. Luke's mind was a whirlwind of fear and determination, each step forward a struggle against the instinct to turn back and hide.
He tried to focus on the promise he had made. He remembered Mrs. Williams' words about helping others and how it could change their world. This thought became his anchor, driving him forward despite the overwhelming terror he felt.
The trees blurred past him as he jogged, and he could feel the rough bark scraping against his palms when he occasionally steadied himself. The ground was uneven, and his brogue shoes were hardly fit for the forest terrain, but he pressed on. His breath was ragged, and sweat poured down his face, mingling with the dirt and grime.
The shouts grew louder, more urgent. Luke's heart pounded in his chest as he neared the source. He paused for a moment, trying to gather his bearings. The fear was still there, a gnawing presence in the back of his mind, but it was tempered by his resolve. He couldn't let his fear control him, not now.
Luke pushed through a dense thicket, his heart pounding as he neared the source of the shouts. He could hear the roars of the abomination deer and the urgent cries of the man. As he emerged into a small clearing, the scene before him was both surreal and terrifying.
The deformed deer stood menacingly over a man dressed in what looked like armour, similar to the kind children wore during Halloween. The man wielded a sword—though to Luke, it looked more like a long knife. Behind the man, a tiger lay on its side, a wound visible on its hind leg. It was clear the man was trying to protect the injured tiger from the abomination.
Luke couldn't understand why the man would risk his life for an animal, but then he remembered Mrs Williams. This is what she meant, he thought. Helping others, no matter who or what they are, is a good deed. Maybe if Luke helped this man, he could return the favour.
Yet, Luke was paralyzed by uncertainty. The abomination seemed unafraid of anything. What could he, a mere normal person, possibly do? Then, an idea sparked. Without hesitation, Luke ran towards the man and the abomination deer, positioning himself between them.
The man shouted at Luke to run away, calling him crazy, but Luke was resolute. He pulled out his phone and quickly tapped the flash button multiple times. The sudden burst of light disoriented the creature. Luke's heart pounded as he continued flashing the light, hoping it would drive the monster away.
The abomination screamed in Luke's direction, and for a moment, he feared it had failed. But then the creature looked away and began to retreat. Relief washed over Luke, and he collapsed to the ground, repeating to himself.
"It worked. It worked."
The man rushed over, eyes wide with astonishment.
"What in the gods' names were you thinking?" he demanded, helping Luke to his feet.
"I just... I had to help," Luke, still breathless, managed a weak smile.
"You're either the bravest or the most foolish person I've ever met. But thank you. That thing... it was relentless," the man shook his head, a mix of gratitude and disbelief in his eyes.
"What is that thing?" Luke glanced at the retreating form of the abomination.
The man frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"You don't know what that is?" he asked incredulously. "Everyone should be familiar with that creature, or at least have heard of it. It's called an Aerdeich, a nightmare told to every child. It's a shapeshifting monster that preys on almost all living beings. It lives alone in the forest. Meeting one is rare, but surviving an encounter is even rarer."
Luke's eyes widened as the man explained. The pieces of the strange world he had been thrown into were beginning to fit together, but they still made no sense to him. The man continued.
"It's said that only a magician can survive an encounter with an Aerdeich. The fact that you're standing here now is nothing short of a miracle."
The man's gaze turned thoughtful, and he seemed to be replaying the recent events in his mind.
"I saw you standing there, with the light flashing from your hand. I've never seen any man capable of doing that." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Luke. "You must be a mage, then."
Luke blinked, taken aback.
"A mage?" He repeated the word, trying to process the man's question.
To him, the idea of magic was nothing more than tricks and illusions, a form of entertainment.
"Yes, I'm a magician," he said, oblivious to the true implications of the term in this world. He thought the man was referring to his profession, the kind of magician who performed tricks for an audience.
The man's expression shifted from curiosity to awe.
"I thought as much. Mages are rare and powerful beings. I never expected to meet one, let alone be saved by one." He seemed to gain a newfound respect for Luke, his demeanour changing from one of suspicion to admiration. He then studied Luke more closely. "I read about mages, witches, and saints in ancient texts. It's said that these special people can form light whenever they need it. You... you did just that."
"Yes, I suppose you could say that," Luke nodded, still somewhat confused but deciding to go along with it.
The man's eyes shone with a mix of excitement and reverence.
In this world, mages, witches, and saints are closer to fairytales than reality. Though written in their books, to meet one alive is very hard, much harder than to meet an Aerdeich itself. There is an exception, however - the living Saint Cynthia, of the Empire of Virencia, the biggest empire in this world. Her healing of injured warriors and her visions have made her the saint and queen of the empire. This is where people believe that such magical abilities exist, yet finding the user is very difficult.
"We need to get out of here. The Aerdeich might return, and we don't want to be here when it does. We should tend to the tiger's wound and then find a safe place to rest," the man remarked.
The man quickly moved to the tiger's side, examining the deep gash on its hind leg.
"This wound needs to be cleaned and bandaged before we can move," he said, his voice calm and steady. He rummaged through his pack, the one that was attached to the tiger's saddle, pulling out a small medical kit.
Carefully, The man began to clean the wound, using a damp cloth to gently wipe away the dirt and blood. The tiger growled softly, but remained still, seemingly trusting The man's gentle touch.
"Easy there, big fella," The man murmured soothingly. "This is going to sting a bit, but it'll help you heal."
Once the wound was clean, The man applied a salve and then carefully wrapped the tiger's leg in clean bandages. The tiger watched him intently, its golden eyes reflecting a mix of affection and gratitude.
"There, that should do it," The man said, sitting back on his heels and surveying his handiwork. "It's not a permanent fix, but it should hold until we can find a safer place to rest and tend to this properly."
Luke watched in awe, impressed by The man's medical skills and the tiger's apparent trust in him.
"You seem to know what you're doing," he commented.
"I've had my fair share of encounters with the wildlife in these woods. Learned a thing or two about patching up injuries," the man nodded and gave the tiger a gentle pat on the head. "Tora here is a fighter. I think he'll be just fine."
With the tiger's wound tended to, the trio prepared to continue their journey, the threat of the Aerdeich still looming in the distance.
"We should stick together. I hope don't mind with that since I'll be needing your magic to protect us," as they prepared to leave, The man turned to Luke.
"Agreed. Let's get out of here," Luke nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie forming between them.
With the tiger limping beside them, the three of them set off into the forest. The threat of the Aerdeich still loomed, but Luke felt a renewed determination. He would survive this strange world and honour his promise, no matter what challenges lay ahead.