Elara hummed softly to herself as she descended the stairs, her thoughts momentarily at ease after placing Zephyron in his cradle. The small prince had been content, his large, bright eyes watching her as she tucked him in, his tiny form nestled comfortably in the soft blankets. Now, she was headed to the kitchen to prepare his meal.
The inn was unusually quiet, the early morning peace settling over it like a blanket. The only sounds were the soft rustling of leaves outside and the distant hum of soldiers on patrol. Elara moved with purpose, her focus on the task at hand, unaware that danger was lurking much closer than anyone realized.
As Elara busied herself in the kitchen, upstairs, within the nursery, Zephyron's eyes fluttered closed. His tiny body was still, but inside his mind, a conversation had already begun. Lucian's voice echoed through the bond that connected their souls, a tether that transcended both space and universes.
Zeph, The creature they encountered last night... what do you make of it?
Zephyron's infant form belied the sharpness of his mind. Though he was physically just a year old, his soul held the wisdom of Lucian, the man who had conquered death and ventured into realms of gods and magic. His tiny lips curved slightly as he replied to Lucian through the bond, his tone thoughtful.
The army's findings are... peculiar. A creature made of black goo, absorbing magic, wiping out an entire squad... It's different from anything we've heard before, isn't it?
Indeed. It's troubling. The squad they sent was elite—if it could overwhelm them so quickly, it must be highly dangerous. Something we haven't yet accounted for.
Perched high in a tree adjacent to the nursery, a figure loomed. Its form was humanoid but grotesque—Ryn, or rather, what was once Ryn.
The body of the fallen soldier had been taken over by the black goo, its slimy substance wrapping around the corpse like a second skin, animating it with unnatural life. The creature's eyes, hollow and vacant, peered through the darkness, focusing intently on Zephyron.
What is that? It looks like a Terran child, but… it radiates energy greater than the brightest star in the sky.
The creature's twisted mind buzzed with greed and hunger. Its host's tongue darted out, a long, dark appendage that licked the lips of the dead man, savoring the thought of what it was about to consume.
Well, it'll make a great dinner.
With that sinister thought, the black goo detached itself from Ryn's body, leaving the corpse to fall limply from the tree, landing with a dull thud on the ground below. The goo, now a shapeless, shadowy mass, shot through the air like a bullet, heading straight for Zephyron's room.
Oblivious to the impending attack, Zephyron continued his conversation with Lucian.
Perhaps the creature feeds off magical energy itself? If so, we'll need to...
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted. The world around him darkened, as though a shadow had engulfed the room. Something cold and slimy slithered across his skin, its presence suffocating and vile. Zephyron's tiny form tensed as he tried to move, but the black goo had already latched onto him, its amorphous body wrapping around his small limbs like shackles.
Zephyron's instincts kicked in immediately. His tiny fists swung, attempting to punch the creature off him, but his baby body was no match for the strength of the black goo. No matter how hard he struggled, the viscous substance continued to spread, enveloping him in its cold embrace.
Panicked, Zephyron opened his mouth to cry for help, but the moment he did, the creature seized its opportunity. It surged forward, a tendril of black liquid forcing its way into his mouth, silencing his cries. Zephyron gagged as the goo began to invade his airway, blocking his throat, making it impossible to breathe.
Desperation gripped him. He flailed his tiny arms, his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to summon his mana, attempting to form a water orb to blast the creature away. But to his horror, the mana inside his body was being siphoned off, absorbed by the black goo, which grew stronger with each passing second.
I'm going to die...