After escorting Seth back to his chamber, Aiden made his way to the training grounds, replaying Seth's words in his mind. His grip tightened on his sword, swinging it through the air with practiced precision. Revenge had been his driving force for as long as he could remember, but now, something inside him had shifted. He found himself contemplating a future—one that didn't revolve solely around vengeance, a future that might include staying by Seth's side.
But the One-Eyed Alliance was not an enemy to be underestimated. His sword cut sharply through the air again, as if trying to sever his own tangled thoughts. The reality was clear: if he brought Seth into his quest for revenge, it could put the lord in grave danger—a risk he wasn't sure he was willing to take.
Pausing, Aiden's gaze fell on the flower brooch still pinned to his tunic. He unpinned it, bringing the rose closer to his face, breathing in the faint scent of Seth. The fragrance stirred something warm inside him, a feeling he hadn't yet fully processed. His grip on the brooch tightened slightly before he carefully repinned it to his tunic. Just as he was about to resume his training, a crow swooped down, dropping a small parchment at his feet before disappearing into the night.
Puzzled, Aiden bent down to pick up the note. Unfolding it, he read the brief message:
"Meet me at the guild's backdoor, fully geared."
It was signed simply: Kil.
Aiden's brow furrowed. What does Killian want? He wondered, but there was no time for speculation. He headed to the barracks to arm himself, preparing for whatever awaited him.
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Later that night, Aiden moved silently through the narrow, winding streets, making his way to the back entrance of the Raven Guild. Killian was already there, fully armed and waiting. The dim light from a flickering torch cast sharp shadows on his face, making his expression unreadable.
"Nice to see you, Kil," Aiden greeted casually, though the tension between them was palpable.
Killian nodded, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed Aiden. "Yeah, good to see you too," he replied, his voice flat. His long coat rippled slightly in the cool night breeze as he wasted no time with pleasantries. "Follow me. I'll explain on the way."
Aiden fell into step beside him, curiosity gnawing at him as they moved through the darkened streets toward the edge of the forest.
"You know," Killian began, his tone edged with sarcasm, "your lord always has that annoyingly confident look plastered on his face."
Aiden's posture remained relaxed, but he sensed the disdain in Killian's words. He chose not to react.
"I hate to admit it, but Lord Arlecia has been acting… differently," Killian continued, his voice tinged with suspicion. "More composed. Less of the tyrant I expected."
Aiden shrugged, not looking at Killian. "There's nothing for you to worry about."
Killian shot him a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't think you'd start defending him."
Aiden's lips curled into a faint smile. "The lord has changed. I've seen it myself. My view of him is changing too."
Killian's jaw tightened at Aiden's words, though he didn't reply immediately. There was something about Aiden's quiet admiration for Seth that unsettled him, though he couldn't quite place why. Shaking off the thought, he redirected the conversation. "Anyway," he muttered, "I've been investigating the area your lord pointed out. What I found… well, let's just say it's hard to believe."
Curiosity sparked within Aiden as they ventured deeper into the Forgotten Forest. The air grew thick, the usual sounds of wildlife eerily absent. As they moved further, the trees began to thin out, and they arrived at what seemed like a dead-end.
"We're here," Killian said abruptly, stopping in his tracks. They stood in the exact spot Seth had marked on the map.
Aiden scanned the area, confused. There was nothing but solid rock and trees. Before he could voice his doubt, Killian unsheathed his sword, his stance shifting as golden energy radiated from his body. With a swift, precise motion, he slashed at the seemingly solid rock wall.
The sound of the strike echoed through the forest, and the illusion before them shattered, revealing a hidden entrance to a cave. Or rather, a dungeon—its entrance carved deep into the mountainside.
Aiden stood frozen for a moment, both impressed and startled by the strength Killian displayed. He's stronger than before… How did he grow this powerful?
"Follow me," Killian said, his voice low and steady as he stepped inside the cave.
The deeper they went, the colder and heavier the air became. The scent of damp earth clung to the walls, and what started as a natural cave soon revealed ancient stonework—remnants of a long-forgotten structure buried deep within the mountain.
Killian's voice broke the silence. "How does the lord know about this place? It's as if he knows everything," he muttered, his suspicion growing.
Aiden stayed quiet. He, too, wondered how Seth had known. The depth of Seth's knowledge often felt uncanny, as if he had insight no one else did.
They reached a large, ornate door covered in strange, intricate symbols. Aiden's sharp ears picked up faint sounds coming from the other side. "There's something behind this door," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Killian, always prepared for a fight, drew his sword once again and unleashed another strike at the door. The blade connected, but to their surprise, the carvings absorbed the blow, leaving the door intact.
"It's too strong," Aiden observed, examining the ancient symbols. "There must be a specific way to open it."
Both stood there, puzzled, trying to decipher the mysterious language carved into the stone.
"We should stop here, Kil," Aiden finally suggested, his tone measured.
Killian nodded, though his curiosity about what lay beyond the door lingered. He couldn't help but entertain a mischievous thought: Perhaps I should kidnap the lord and drag him here. He might be able to solve this.
Aiden caught a flicker of something in Killian's expression, a subtle shift that left him uneasy. Something's changed in him too, Aiden realized, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
-----------
Just as they turned to leave, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The cave walls shuddered as the floor suddenly gave way beneath them. Both Aiden and Killian plummeted into the darkness below.
It was a long drop. Killian, quick on his feet, activated his aura, golden energy forming a protective barrier around him as he fell. He landed hard but unharmed. Aiden, relying on his beastman instincts, transformed mid-air into his massive red wolf form. His powerful paws absorbed the impact as he landed gracefully.
Killian stood, dusting himself off, only to find himself face-to-face with Aiden's wolf form. For a brief moment, a primal urge surged within Killian—the desire to test his strength against Aiden's beast form—but now wasn't the time.
The room they had fallen into was vast, illuminated by flickering torches lining golden walls and pillars. It wasn't just a cave; it was a grand hall, regal in its design but eerie in its stillness.
But the room's grandeur was nothing compared to the creature standing before them—a massive, three-headed beast with golden scales that glimmered menacingly. Each head moved independently, its eyes gleaming with dangerous intelligence. Spikes lined its powerful body, and its tail twitched ominously as it exhaled a fog-like breath that filled the room with a thick, noxious mist.
Killian's eyes widened in disbelief. This beast dwarfed even the basilisk he had slain in the past. Aiden, still in his wolf form, felt the crushing weight of the creature's presence. Its aura demanded submission, an instinct that every fiber of his being fought against.
Before they could react, the beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the entire chamber. Killian and Aiden covered their ears, but the sound reverberated through the ground as the creature charged toward them, each step shaking the earth.
The beast's roar echoed once more as all three of its heads opened wide, unleashing bolts of crackling lightning that scorched the air.
"Move!" Killian shouted, leaping aside as the lightning slammed into the ground, shattering the stone beneath their feet. The air filled with the acrid scent of scorched earth and electricity.
Aiden and Killian exchanged a glance—they didn't need words to communicate their next move.
Aiden, in his fully transformed state, launched himself toward the beast, his powerful body dodging its massive tail. The spiked appendage slammed into the ground with bone-rattling force, missing Aiden by inches and leaving deep cracks in the floor.
On the other side, Killian summoned the last of his aura, channeling it into his blade. The sword gleamed with a golden light as he charged toward one of the creature's heads. His strike landed true, shattering several scales and exposing a vulnerable patch beneath.
The beast howled in fury, retaliating with another volley of lightning. The blasts ricocheted off the walls, sending chunks of stone tumbling to the floor. Both Aiden and Killian dodged desperately, pushed to their limits by the creature's relentless onslaught.
"This thing's too strong!" Aiden growled, skidding to a halt. His claws swiped at the creature, but its thick scales deflected the blows. "I can't break through!"
Killian, panting from exertion, knew they couldn't back down now. "Focus on the weak spot!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with determination. "We've already damaged its scales—there's still a chance!"
As if sensing their strategy, the beast turned all three of its heads toward Killian, locking onto him with deadly precision. One head lunged to strike, but before it could land, Aiden dashed forward, grabbing Killian by his coat and yanking him out of harm's way.
"I can't carry you forever, Kil!" Aiden growled as he set him down.
"Don't plan on it," Killian replied, steadying himself.
The creature roared once more, and the battle resumed, but Aiden and Killian weren't finished yet.