Elias hesitated, clearly weighing their options. Finally, he gave a slow nod. "Lead on, then. But no tricks."
Thorn raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "No tricks," he agreed, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise. He turned and began walking, his lantern swinging in a rhythmic pattern that seemed to draw them deeper into the forest's grip.
As they followed, Kai kept a close eye on their new companion. Thorn's presence was like a double-edged sword—a potential ally, but also a wild card whose true intentions remained hidden.
They walked for hours, the forest growing darker and the path more treacherous. Suddenly, Thorn stopped, raising a hand to silence them. He knelt down, touching the ground lightly.
"What is it?" Kai whispered, his nerves on edge.
Thorn looked up, his face suddenly serious. "Trouble," he said simply.
The ground rumbled beneath them, and a deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows. Out of the darkness slithered a massive creature, its body covered in scales that glinted like steel in the dim light. It was a wyrm, a rare and dangerous beast known to dwell in the oldest parts of the forest.
Kai drew his dagger, the ember inside him sparking with adrenaline. Thorn unsheathed his sword, the grin gone from his face. "Looks like you've brought more than just yourselves into the forest," he muttered.
Elias stepped forward, his staff glowing brightly. "Stand together," he ordered. "We fight as one."
Before Kai could react, the wyrm lunged at them with astonishing speed. Thorn and Elias sprang into action. Thorn's sword flashed as he struck at the beast's side, his movements quick and precise. Elias summoned a barrier of light, blocking a swipe from the wyrm's razor-sharp tail.
But the wyrm was relentless. It reared back, letting out another earth-shaking roar before snapping its jaws at Elias. The old scholar barely managed to sidestep, thrusting his staff forward to unleash a blinding flash of light that sent the beast reeling.
Kai darted in, aiming for the wyrm's underbelly, where its scales were thinner. He drove his dagger deep, feeling a rush of satisfaction as the blade struck true. The wyrm shrieked in pain, thrashing violently. Its tail whipped around, catching Thorn across the chest and sending him crashing into a tree. He hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him.
"Thorn!" Kai shouted, but there was no time to check on him. The wyrm rounded on Elias, its jaws snapping shut just inches from his head. Elias swung his staff, releasing a shockwave of energy that pushed the wyrm back. But the effort left him staggering, his face pale.
Kai's heart pounded. He rushed to his mentor's side, gripping his dagger tightly. "We need to finish this now," he said.
Elias nodded weakly. "We have to strike at its head. That's where it's most vulnerable."
Before they could coordinate another attack, the wyrm lunged again. This time, its tail lashed out in a wide arc, catching both Elias and Kai off guard. The blow sent Elias sprawling, his staff clattering to the ground, its light dimming. Kai was thrown back, his head slamming against a rock. Pain exploded behind his eyes, and for a moment, the world went black.
When Kai came to, he saw the wyrm looming over the unconscious forms of Elias and Thorn. The beast's maw opened wide, ready to deliver the killing blow. Desperation surged through Kai. He pushed himself up, the ember inside him flaring wildly. He could feel its heat spreading through his chest, burning hotter and brighter than before.
"Not like this," Kai muttered, clenching his fists. He reached deep within himself, grasping at the ember with everything he had. It roared to life, the heat surging through his veins until his skin felt like it was on fire.
Wings of pure light erupted from Kai's back, their radiance cutting through the darkness. The wyrm hesitated, its sickly yellow eyes narrowing at the sudden display of power.
Kai launched himself forward, his wings propelling him with blinding speed. He slammed into the wyrm's side, knocking it off balance. The beast let out a deafening screech, its jaws snapping at him. Kai dodged, his body moving instinctively, guided by the ember's power.
He circled around the wyrm, his wings beating furiously as he rose above it. With a roar of his own, Kai dove down, plunging his dagger into the wyrm's skull. The blade sank deep, piercing through the hard scales. The wyrm thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge him, but Kai held firm, his entire body glowing with the ember's light.
"Die!" Kai shouted, channeling every ounce of power he had into the blade. The light from his wings flared, blindingly bright. The wyrm let out one final, agonized roar before its body went limp. The ground shook as it collapsed, its scales dimming and losing their metallic sheen.
Kai pulled his dagger free, stumbling back as exhaustion hit him like a wave. He fell to his knees, panting, his wings flickering before fading away entirely. The ember inside him dimmed once more, its heat receding to a faint, comforting pulse.
He crawled over to Elias, shaking the old man gently. "Elias, wake up," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
Elias groaned, slowly opening his eyes. He looked up at Kai, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You did it," he whispered. "You awakened your power."
Kai nodded, too exhausted to speak. He glanced over at Thorn, who was also stirring, groaning as he pushed himself up.
Thorn looked at the slain wyrm, then at Kai, a mix of awe and respect in his eyes. "Well, I'll be damned," he said with a grin. "Didn't think you had that in you."
Kai managed a weak smile. "Neither did I," he admitted.
The three of them sat there for a moment, catching their breath. The forest was quiet again, the danger having passed. But Kai knew this was just the beginning.
He looked at Elias, who was already struggling to his feet. "We need to keep moving," Elias said. "We still have a long way to go before we reach Elderglen."