Far away, across the vast expanse of universes, Lucian's connection to Zephyron flared with alarm. He felt the surge of fear, the sudden shift in emotions that signaled something was terribly wrong.
Zeph? Zeph, what's happening?
But all Lucian could sense was fear—overwhelming, suffocating fear. His heart clenched with frustration as he tried to reach across the bond, to connect more deeply, but the distance between them was too great. All he could do was hope that someone would intervene in time.
Back in the nursery, Zephyron's struggle continued. The goo was relentless, slowly forcing its way deeper into his mouth and down his throat, cutting off his air completely. He couldn't scream, couldn't breathe, and his vision began to blur as the lack of oxygen took its toll.
Help me... someone, please...
But no one could hear him.
The black goo, now confident in its victory, turned its attention to Zephyron's soul. It had sensed the immense energy within the child, and now it was ready to claim it for itself. As it reached deeper, it finally located Zephyron's soul core, the radiant source of power that had drawn it here in the first place.
The creature marveled at the sight.
So much energy... more than I've ever consumed...
Greedily, it latched onto Zephyron's soul, preparing to devour it whole. But the moment its tendrils touched the soul, something unexpected happened. A sharp, searing pain shot through the creature's body as though it had been doused in acid. It recoiled in shock, its form sizzling where it had made contact with the soul core.
For the first time in its existence of over a hundred billion years, the creature felt pain.
What is this?! How is this possible?
It tried to withdraw, to escape from the burning light of Zephyron's soul, but it was too late. The energy within the soul core had already reacted, pulling the creature in like a black hole. The hunter had become the prey.
Zephyron, realizing something was happening in his soul core, summoned every ounce of his willpower. His tiny body might have been weak, but his soul was anything but. With Lucian's influence coursing through him, he focused on the creature, forcing it deeper into the soul core.
Lucian, sensing an opportunity, entered a meditative state. He resonated his soul with Zephyron's, amplifying the force that drew the creature in. Now the hunter had become the prey.
The creature thrashed wildly, desperate to escape. It detached itself from Zephyron's body, trying to flee, but the pull of the soul core was too strong. It was sucked in completely, disappearing into the radiant abyss.
As the last of the goo was absorbed, Zephyron's airway cleared, and he gasped for breath. His tiny lungs expanded, pulling in large volumes of air as he lay there, his body trembling from the ordeal.
Inside his soul core, the black goo raged, trapped within an invisible barrier. It slammed against the walls of its prison, but no matter how hard it struck, the barrier remained intact. The energy within the core burned the creature's body like acid, slowly dissolving it from the inside out.
Meanwhile, outside the inn, the soldiers on patrol were startled by the sudden sound of a body falling from a tree. They rushed to investigate, finding the lifeless corpse of Ryn, the soldier who had been presumed dead after the creature's attack. The discovery sent shockwaves through the camp. If Ryn's body had been inside the camp all along, it meant the creature had infiltrated their defenses.
Alarms blared as the camp was thrown into chaos. Soldiers scrambled to search every corner of the area, determined to find any sign of the creature before it could strike again.
Inside the inn, Elara was halfway through preparing Zephyron's meal when she heard the commotion outside. Her heart skipped a beat, and a sense of dread settled over her. Without a second thought, she abandoned her cooking and rushed upstairs to Zephyron's room, her mind racing with concern.
She burst into the nursery, only to find Zephyron lying peacefully in his cradle, his breathing steady and calm. Relief washed over her as she approached the crib, her hand gently brushing against his cheek. He was asleep, tired after the fight for his life.
Elara sighed softly and scooped him up into her arms, cradling him close as she made her way back downstairs. By the time she reached the inn's main floor, the rest of the royal family had gathered. Eregon, Selena, and Anastasia were already there, their faces tense with worry.
Selena rushed forward the moment she saw Elara, her eyes filled with panic.
Is he alright?
Elara smiled reassuringly and handed Zephyron over to his mother.
He's fine. He was just asleep.
Selena hugged Zephyron tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. She pressed her lips to his forehead, her maternal instincts still on high alert.
As the alarms continued to blare outside, the royal family remained inside the inn, surrounded by guards and servants. Unbeknownst to them all, Zephyron had narrowly escaped a deadly fate, and the creature that had sought to consume him was now trapped within the very soul it had sought to devour.
Exhausted from the experience, Zephyron slept soundly in Selena's arms, his tiny body recovering from the near-death experience. But deep within his soul core, the battle was far from over. The black goo continued to thrash, its fate sealed, but its presence still lingering.