The forest seemed to thicken with shadows, the sun barely piercing through the canopy. Every part of the Harrowvane grounds held a mystery or danger of its own, and the forest was no exception. Each step seemed to drag me further into the depths of darkness as though the forest itself was swallowing me whole.
I knew the creature Alabastar had tasked me with finding. Anyxia, the three-headed cerberus, was the stuff of nightmares, equipped with teeth like razors and a hide of bristling barbed fur meant to inflict torment. And I'd be facing it with no mana to aid me.
The sun continued its slow descent, and my time to prepare waned. I had no armor, no weapons. But Alistair Von Harrowvane didn't need them. Determination surged through me, and I clenched my fists. Today, I would slay a beast.
I plunged into the forest, the shadows pulling me further into its depths. Hours seemed to pass in a tense silence; no animal sounds, no signs of life. A clear sign that something—or someone—had tampered with the natural order here. I crouched low, conserving my strength. There wasn't much time before nightfall, and if I was going to—
"AHHHHH! HELP!"
A high-pitched cry shattered the silence. I moved, sprinting toward the sound. There, surrounded by three hulking wolves, a small fairy hovered, her face a mask of fear. The wolves had sleek, dark fur, their foreheads branded with a crescent moon, teeth dripping with some kind of acid that melted the grass beneath them. They looked moments away from ending her life.
[POV: Nysa]
This was it. My end. My pleas fell silent on the wolves' snarling jaws. I thought of my sister, the promise I'd made to her. I was truly despicable.
And then a flash—a figure launched itself into the wolves, kicking one with such force that it crashed into a tree. The other wolves hesitated, eyes narrowing as if wondering who this madman was who would dare challenge them. Taking advantage of the surprise, he closed in on one of the wolves, slamming it into the ground and raining down punches that left a gruesome red pool in place of its eye.
The last wolf charged, clawing viciously across his back, leaving three dark, burning gashes that seemed to sizzle. He screamed, but spun, driving his elbow into the wolf's face. But the second wolf retaliated, claws ripping into his torso. Before he could fully recover, the first wolf rammed him into a tree, its acidic saliva searing into his skin.
Blood dripped down his sides, yet he forced himself upright, defiance in his dark purple eyes. Why was he fighting? Why wouldn't he just run? I stared, speechless. A human, risking himself for me?
"No... no… NOOO!" The yell tore from my throat.
My outcry distracted the wolves for a heartbeat, but that was all the stranger needed. He lunged, hoisting one wolf by the leg and swinging it into the other, knocking them both away. The wolf in his grip snarled, sinking its teeth into his arm. Blood sprayed, but he simply growled, ripping the crescent moon emblem from the wolf's forehead and driving it into the creature's body, again and again, until nothing but fragments remained.
Breath ragged, he rose, eyes wild with fury.
"Next," he said, his voice a rasp that seemed to shake the air.
The remaining wolves, though wary, would not back down. They sprang at him in tandem. His fist shot out, a left hook that sent one wolf sprawling into the trees, its body splintering bark. The other landed a deep slash across his chest. But he used that very momentum to grab the beast, smashing its head into a rock until the forest floor was littered with bone and fur.
Only one remained, and it lunged from above, sinking its claws into his shoulders. He screamed, raw and furious, grasping for the crescent moon shard from the ground and driving it into the beast's guts again and again, his only sound the rhythm of his panting breath. The man lifted the wolf off him and tried to stand. Before passing out onto the floor below.
The world seemed to stand still. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the man covered in blood, panting heavily amidst the bodies of the slain wolves. His wounds were gruesome; the acid still hissed against his torn skin, and his clothes were in tatters. Yet, there he stood—this brutal, unyielding figure who had fought for a stranger without hesitation.
My breath caught, a strange mixture of awe and fear roiling in my chest. No one had ever risked themselves for me before, let alone against monsters of this strength. And yet…he had. For a fairy, for someone he didn't know, he had fought and bled, facing unimaginable pain.
Why would he risk so much?
I took a cautious step forward, my heart pounding as I gathered the courage to use the magic I had recovered to bring him back to safety and heal him. It was least I could do for what I would do.
The sun seemed to darken as the fairy tried it's best to bring the man to safety.
[POV: Alistair]
Fucking wolves, I muttered as I woke up. Every part of my body was in pain. I just wanted to sleep but who knows how many hours I wasted. Now where was I?
I looked around and noticed the warm cozy interior. A wooden bedframe and walls was so different compared to the opulent halls of the manor. It gave me a feeling of home. I looked down huh, my body was much bigger than that.
My eyes widened, the fairy must have shrunk me down in order to treat me. I was still bigger relatively speaking I reasoned. I stood up to my full height and deeply regretted it. Those wolves should have been easier than that. Alistair's B rank strength should have taken care of them in no time. My inexperience was showing and it wasn't something I could cheat. I was an expert in close quarters combat due to my time in the military but fighting wolves isn't exactly something they teach in basic. My thoughts were interrupted as I heard someone start opening the door to the room.
I positioned myself next to the door and as soon as the figure took a step into the room I pulled them close and roughly pinned them to the wall. My forearm pressing against… her neck? I looked up at the fairy who was a much better sight now without the blood. Also much bigger relatively speaking or was I that much smaller. The fear was still there though. I let her go.
I bowed "My apologies I was still on alert due to the nature I found myself in beforehand. Please forgive me" I humbly said. I stepped back towards her "I am truly sorry" I whispered as I caressed her neck.
"What is your name?" I asked, my gaze holding hers.
"Nysa" she stuttered, her face flushing.
"What a pretty name" I murmured, leaning closer.
W..what am I doing I wondered. I stepped away and held my head.
"Are you okay" seemingly regaining her confidence.
"Where exactly am I?"
"Oh I brought you to our village. It was the only place I could treat your wounds." She said once again blushing a bright red.
I looked down at noticed why. I was shirtless except my wounds had seemed to heal. That doesn't make sense. Those should have taken months.
"Ahh fairies in our village are especially geared towards healing. It has been passed down generation through generation." Excited to talk about her history. "Come with me ill show you the village". She grabbed my arm without an answer and pulled me out the door.
The village was a sight to see. I had grown up in cities full of garbage and scum. People who ate each other from the inside out. This place was something else entirely. The people here trusted each other. I saw families laugh, children smile and warmness in the air. It made me angry. It made me happy. Nysa led me forward, her grip surprisingly firm for someone so small, and I let her guide me as we stepped onto a winding stone path.
"Penny for your thoughts" Nysa joked.
"Nothing just… thinking. This is a beautiful home you have here" I spoke.
"Thank you. It's the place I value most. More than anything or anyone." She said seriously.
I could tell she meant it. There was nothing she wouldn't sacrifice I thought.
I stumbled as a group of fairies danced around me. Dancing and darting all around. Occasionally they would stop and glance at me with a face of awe. Surely wondering of the mystery man in their village. I wondered how they would have thought of me before.
Nysa noticed my gaze and laughed. "It's beautiful isn't it. Our village has been here for as long as I know. Everything here is apart of us. The trees, flowers, and stones. We grow up hearing stories of these things and to value them and family above all else."
She pointed to a herculean tree at the center of the village. "Covering the entire place with a beautiful light. The elder says its where our power comes from and without it we would be nothing" she says with a bitter gaze.
Nysa's voice softened as she continued "Every child grows up and treats this tree like family. We don't have much but we have each other. I used to sit under that tree dreaming of ways to be a hero. Silly right?" She glanced at me with a shy smile.
"Nothing about this is silly. Many would wish to have a home as beautiful as this. I know…" My voice trailed off.
"I know?" she asked.
"A man I know. He would have liked it here". I said with sunken eyes.
"He can come you know. I'd trust a friend of yours."
"He's no friend of mine. More of the pathetic sort" I mocked.
She slapped my shoulder. "Don't say that. No one is pathetic." She truly was beautiful. Nysa had long, dark hair which fell in soft waves. Rich as night and glistening in the beautiful darkness of the village. She had tiny silver beads and delicate leaves woven into her hair giving her an ethereal look.
But it was her eyes that captivated me the most. They were amber with flecks of green. I looked into them and drank them in. This village. I wanted it. I wanted to know my neighbor and be able to ask them how they were doing. I wanted a girl as kind and beautiful as this to be forever with me. I wanted her. I wanted this village. I wanted it to be mine and mine only. Yet I knew the truth.
"Elder Misa" she bowed as I looked upon the elder of the village. Her hair a bright silver yet still a beautiful woman among her age. Her eyes held small wrinkles in the corners yet her smile was kind. Much more than any smile of mine could ever be.
"Thank you," she began softly, bowing deeply in gratitude. "You saved our Nysa. I wish I had more to offer for such a heroic act, but alas, this bow and my eternal gratitude are all I can give."
Alistair immediately stepped forward, gently raising her from her bow. "Please, Elder. There's no need. I would do it a thousand times over," he said sincerely. He looked over to Nysa to see her blush a cherry red. "All I ask in return is the location of Anyxia, the three-headed wolf".
Nysa's expression seemed to be that of despair. The elder's expression grew somber. "You would go after Anyxia? She is a creature whose only purpose was pain. With a hint of reluctance "We have a map which covers the forest down to the tree. If it can help you on your journey, please take it. Anyxia… She has killed many of us. Whatever your fate… Thank you."
[QUEST]
[???] – Slay Anyxia the Three Headed Wolf and reap the rewards
Alistair nodded his head respectfully. "It is I who should be thanking you." The sun had almost fallen. There was no time left.
As he turned to leave he felt a gentle but firm tug on his arm. "I'm coming with you" Nysa declared, her eyes determined yet somber. "After everything you've done it's the least, I could do."
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Nysa? This won't be safe."
Alistair struggled with the decision. "If that is what you wish".
A grin spread across Nysa's face, and she reached into a small pouch at her waist, drawing out a vial filled with a shimmering, silver liquid. "Take this," she said, offering him the potion. "It's one of our strongest healing elixirs. It will help you fight.
I downed the vial. I felt good. No, I felt better than I ever had. I would do what I had to do. In order to survive. In order to thrive.
[1 hour later]
The journey to the temple was covered in silence. The quiet was almost reverent and only broken by the ominous sounds that would come from the forest. Everything seemed to have eyes yet nothing did.
Nysa walked closer to Alistair, her usual brightness gone. Her face was serious perhaps because of the impending battle. Knowing this fight would be one for the storybooks.
As daylight had lessened even more, they reached the entrance to the temple, a massive stone structure nestled deep within the heart of the woods. Ancient runes etched the surface of the weathered stones, faintly glowing in the low light, casting an eerie glow around the doorway. Vines and dark ivy twisted around the columns, giving the temple an air of both regality and decay. Alistair pushed open the heavy stone doors, and together, they entered the temple's cold, silent depths.
Inside, the air grew dense, weighted with an almost stifling stillness. Each step echoed through the empty hall, and a chill sank deep into their bones. Their path eventually led to a set of towering double doors adorned with cracked, faded murals of battles long forgotten. Beyond them was the throne room.
Before Alistair opened the large, cracked doors to the throne room. He looked over to Nysa who seemed nervous and scared.
"Can I ask you a question Nysa" Alistair said his voice booming in the halls of the temple.
"A-A-Anything Alistair" her voice cracking in and out. The look on her face one of deep sadness.
"Why?" he questioned.
"w-why wh"
"Do I look a fool?" he spoke.
Nysa flinched.
[Alistair Von Harrowvane]
[Title]- Sinner – Others begin with a negative perception towards you and your actions
[Str]: B-
[Dex]: C+
[Intelligence]: A
[Mana]: D
[Endurance]: D+
Status Effect – Poisoned, you will die at moonlight.
Alistair had picked up a silver sword in the village. He unsheathed his sword. Which gleamed causing shimmering reflections that danced across the halls of the temple. The air crackled with tension.
"I had a good dream." He whispered.