The caravan rattled along the uneven dirt road, flanked by dense forest on either side. Amanda, Eryndor, and Fenris walked near the rear, their cloaks drawn tight against the chilly morning air. The job had been simple enough: escort a small group of merchants delivering goods to a remote village. It was exactly the kind of low-profile work they needed while avoiding the nobles' ever-watchful gaze.
Eryndor kept his hand resting on his weapon, his sharp eyes scanning the tree line. "This path is too quiet," he muttered, his voice low enough for only Amanda to hear.
"It's the wilderness," Amanda replied, her tone calm but alert. "Quiet doesn't always mean safe."
The merchants ahead laughed and chatted, seemingly unconcerned with the dangers of the road. Their wagon creaked under the weight of its cargo—crates filled with food, cloth, and a few barrels of wine. One of the merchants, a plump man with a graying beard, called back to the group.
"Not much farther now! Another hour and we'll reach the village."
Amanda nodded but didn't lower her guard. The last thing she needed was to be caught off guard by bandits or worse. Her thoughts drifted to the books and scrolls she had acquired the previous day. Though she hadn't had time to delve deeply into their secrets, she already felt the potential they held.
Fenris, padding along silently beside her, broke the quiet. "I smell something—blood."
Amanda's gaze snapped to the wolf. "How far?"
Fenris tilted his head, sniffing the air. "Not far. Maybe just ahead."
She glanced at Eryndor, who had overheard. He gave a grim nod, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Moments later, the caravan rounded a bend in the road, and the source of Fenris's warning became clear. A broken wagon lay across the path, its wheels shattered and its contents spilled across the ground. Bloodstains darkened the dirt, and the bodies of two horses lay motionless nearby.
The merchants froze, their chatter silenced by the grim scene. The plump man muttered a curse under his breath. "Bandits, most likely."
Amanda stepped forward, her senses on high alert. She extended her mana, feeling for any lingering traces of magic. A faint residue prickled at the edge of her awareness—dark, chaotic, and recent.
"This wasn't just bandits," she said quietly. "Something else was here."
Eryndor crouched near one of the horse carcasses, inspecting the deep gashes along its flank. "These wounds… they weren't made by ordinary weapons. Too jagged. Too brutal."
The merchants huddled together, their fear palpable. "We should turn back," one of them whispered.
"No," Amanda said firmly, her voice cutting through the group's unease. "We move forward. Stopping here makes us vulnerable."
The plump man hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But let's hurry."
As the caravan carefully navigated around the wreckage, Amanda kept her focus trained on the forest, her mind racing. Whatever had caused this wasn't far, and it was likely still watching.
They hadn't gone much farther when Fenris growled low in his throat. "We're being followed," he said, his golden eyes glowing faintly.
Eryndor glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim. "How many?"
"I can't tell. But they're keeping their distance—for now."
Amanda's lips pressed into a thin line. "Let them follow. If they strike, we'll be ready."
The group pressed on, the tension thick in the air. The merchants whispered nervously among themselves, their earlier camaraderie replaced by fear.
Suddenly, a rustling noise came from the trees ahead, and a figure stepped onto the road. It was a man, his clothes ragged and his face pale. He stumbled forward, clutching his side.
"Help… please…" he croaked before collapsing to the ground.
The merchants hesitated, unsure whether to approach. Amanda moved first, kneeling beside the man. His breathing was shallow, and his skin was clammy to the touch. She noticed claw marks raking across his torso, the wounds fresh and still bleeding.
"What happened?" she asked, her tone sharp.
The man's eyes fluttered open, his gaze unfocused. "Beast… in the woods… attacked us… it's coming…"
Amanda stood quickly, her aura flaring as she turned to Eryndor. "Get the merchants moving. Now."
Eryndor didn't argue, ushering the panicked group back toward the wagons. Fenris bared his teeth, his hackles raised as a deep growl rumbled in his chest.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the forest, followed by a low, guttural snarl. Amanda's crimson eyes locked onto the treeline as a massive creature emerged.
It was a monstrous wolf-like beast, its fur matted and its eyes glowing an unnatural red. Its body was covered in jagged scars, and its mouth dripped with saliva as it stared at the group hungrily.
"A mana-corrupted beast," Eryndor said, drawing his weapon.
Amanda's aura surged around her, a mix of crimson and black energy crackling in the air. "Keep it away from the merchants. I'll handle this."
Fenris growled in protest. "You're not fighting it alone."
Amanda smirked. "Then stay close."
The beast charged, its speed belying its massive size. Amanda raised her hand, summoning a wall of fire to block its path. The creature snarled and leaped through the flames, unscathed.
Eryndor lunged forward, his blade slashing at the beast's side, but it barely flinched, swiping at him with a massive paw. He dodged just in time, rolling to his feet.
Fenris lunged at the creature, his fangs sinking into its hind leg. The beast howled in rage, thrashing to shake him off.
Amanda focused, her hands glowing as she summoned a barrage of crimson mana bolts. They struck the beast, each one exploding on impact, but the creature seemed to absorb some of the energy, its wounds closing almost as quickly as they were made.
"It's feeding on mana!" Eryndor shouted.
Amanda's mind raced. The corrupted beast was more resilient than she had anticipated, and its ability