The journey back to the castle was a somber one. Bowen carried Daniel in his arms as he raced to the castle in silence. As they approached the castle gates, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a reddish glow over the stone walls.
Inside the castle, Bowen led Daniel to the war room, a large chamber filled with maps, books, and various artifacts of historical significance.
"Sit," Bowen instructed, gesturing to a chair near the table. "We have much to discuss."
Daniel obediently took a seat, his eyes wide with curiosity and anticipation. Bowen moved to a nearby shelf and pulled out an old book, its leather cover worn with age.
"This," Bowen said, placing the book on the table, "is the history of our land. It contains knowledge of the creatures we face and the strategies we've used to combat them."
Daniel leaned forward, eager to see the contents of the book. Bowen opened it to a page depicting a detailed drawing of a satooris, accompanied by notes and observations.
"The satooris," Bowen began, "is a creature of darkness, a parasite that feeds off its host's life force. They are dangerous, but they have weaknesses. Knowledge of these weaknesses is what allows us to defeat them."
Daniel nodded, absorbing every word. "I want to learn everything," he said earnestly. "I want to be able to protect our people."
"You will," Bowen assured him. "But it takes time and dedication. For now, start with this." He handed Daniel a smaller book, a beginner's guide to the creatures of the night.
"I am going to entrust you in the care of my head captain, you have the potentials of being a good warrior and I will see to it that you become one."
Just then, a knock at the door broke his reverie. A young soldier entered, his face pale and anxious.
"Master Bowen," the soldier said, "there is something you need to see."
Bowen followed the soldier to the courtyard, where a group of villagers had gathered, murmuring anxiously. In the center of the crowd lay a body, a man torn apart by some vicious creature. Bowen knelt beside the body, his eyes narrowing as he examined the wounds.
'So it wasn't just the controller that was causing havoc.' Bowen thought bitterly.
"These are fresh," he muttered. "Whatever did this is still out there."
He stood, addressing the gathered crowd. "Return to your homes and lock your doors. We will hunt this creature and bring it to justice."
The villagers dispersed quickly, fear evident in their eyes. Bowen turned to the soldiers. "We need to organize a hunting party. We can't allow this creature to roam free."
As the soldiers moved to gather their weapons, Bowen felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned to see Daniel, his face determined. "I want to help," the boy said.
His father just died today and he was planning to follow him to a place where many warriors tries to avoid, 'This boy is much braver than I thought!'
Bowen hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Stay close to me. This will be dangerous."
They set out into the night, the hunting party moving silently through the forest. Bowen's senses were heightened, every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig putting him on edge. He knew that whatever they were hunting was no ordinary beast.
Hours passed with no sign of the creature. Bowen was beginning to wonder if they had missed it when a chilling howl pierced the night. The hunting party froze, every eye scanning the darkness.
"There," Bowen whispered, pointing to a shadowy figure moving through the trees. The creature was very large and wolf-like, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
Bowen signaled for the party to spread out, surrounding the creature. As they closed in, the beast turned, its gaze locking onto Bowen. It snarled, revealing sharp, bloodstained fangs.
With a roar, the creature lunged at Bowen. He dodged to the side, slashing at the beast with his claws. The creature yelped in pain but quickly recovered, circling Bowen with predatory intent.
Daniel watched from a distance, his heart pounding. He wanted to help, but he knew he wasn't ready to face such a monster. He could only hope that Bowen's experience and skill would prevail.
Bowen fought with all his might, his movements a blur as he dodged and struck. Finally, he saw an opening. With a powerful leap, he landed on the creature's back, driving his claws deep into its neck.
The beast let out a final, agonized howl before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Bowen stood over the body, panting heavily. The hunting party gathered around, murmuring in relief and admiration.
Daniel ran to Bowen's side, his eyes wide with awe. "You did it," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
Bowen nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "This is just the beginning," he said. "There are more out there, and we must be prepared."