Adrian's muscles ached as he followed Lyra through the dense undergrowth of the eastern forest. They had left the castle at dawn, moving under the cover of fog, which draped the trees like ghostly curtains. The earlier excitement of the day had quickly been replaced by grim anticipation; they were heading deep into territory where shades had been spotted just days before.
The events of the previous day still lingered in Adrian's mind: the marking stone he'd destabilized, the shades that had chased them, the knowledge that his presence here was like a beacon to the Dark Queen's forces. Even now, a part of him wished he could turn around and retreat to the safety of the castle walls.
Lyra paused, holding up a hand, and Adrian stopped in his tracks. She crouched down, her eyes scanning the forest floor. Adrian leaned in, trying to see what she was looking at, but all he could make out were the tangled roots and patches of moss.
"Tracks," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Fresh. Something big passed through here recently."
Adrian frowned, instinctively reaching down to adjust the enchanted gloves on his hands. "A shade?"
"No." She shook her head, a shadow passing over her face. "Something more dangerous. The Dark Queen has creatures at her disposal that make shades look harmless."
Adrian's stomach twisted. "And we're hunting it?"
Lyra gave him a look that was half reassuring, half warning. "We're just observing. If we see anything, we retreat and report to Meric."
He nodded, swallowing hard, and they pressed on. The trees thickened as they moved deeper into the forest, branches stretching above them like skeletal fingers, blotting out the morning sun. The air grew colder, and an unnatural stillness settled over the area, as if even the forest creatures sensed something ominous.
Adrian could feel his senses heightening, the Gloves of Calculation buzzing faintly as they attuned to his intent. The gloves had become an unexpected lifeline, allowing him to see subtle patterns in the environment, even a faint energy trail where magical creatures had passed. He could just make out traces of dark energy clinging to the trees and ground around them.
"Whatever we're tracking," he murmured, "it left some kind of residue."
Lyra glanced at him, impressed. "You can sense that?"
He nodded, focusing on the faint traces of magic swirling in the air. "It's like a dark trail, almost invisible, but it's there."
"Good." Lyra's voice was tense but approving. "That ability will be invaluable if we have to navigate through heavily corrupted areas."
They continued forward, Adrian following the faint magical trail as it wound between trees and over thick roots. Each step seemed to pull them further into the darkness, and he could feel the malevolent energy growing stronger. It clung to his skin, making him shiver as though a cold mist had settled around him.
Then, without warning, the forest opened into a small clearing. In the center, a massive creature lay slumped on the ground, its body partially hidden in the shadows. Adrian's breath caught in his throat as he took in its hulking form, covered in scales that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Its limbs were twisted and unnatural, each ending in razor-sharp claws, and its face was a horrifying mix of wolf and serpent.
"By the stars," Lyra whispered, her face pale. "It's a Blood Hunter."
"A… what?" Adrian stammered, keeping his voice low.
"Blood Hunters are one of the Queen's most loyal creatures," Lyra explained, her eyes locked on the beast. "She creates them by corrupting natural predators with dark magic. They're ruthless, unrelenting… and almost impossible to kill."
Adrian's heart hammered in his chest. The creature looked like something out of a nightmare, its closed eyes twitching as if it could wake at any moment. Even in its dormant state, he could feel the raw power radiating from it, a dark energy that seemed to press down on him like a physical weight.
"We need to leave," he whispered, taking a step back.
But before they could move, the creature stirred. Its eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of glowing red orbs that seemed to pierce the shadows. A low, rumbling growl echoed through the clearing as it lifted its head, focusing directly on them.
"Run!" Lyra hissed, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into the cover of the trees.
They sprinted through the forest, the Blood Hunter's growls growing louder behind them. Adrian's heart pounded, his legs burning as they dodged branches and leaped over roots. He could hear the creature crashing through the undergrowth, getting closer with every step.
They reached a dense thicket, and Lyra pulled him down behind a large tree. She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, her breathing shallow. Adrian tried to calm his own breath, his entire body tense as he listened to the sounds of the creature moving closer.
The Blood Hunter paused just beyond their hiding place, sniffing the air. Adrian held his breath, every nerve in his body screaming at him to flee, but he forced himself to stay still. He glanced at Lyra, who had drawn one of her daggers, her eyes fierce and focused.
The creature let out a low growl, its red eyes scanning the area. Adrian could see it clearly now, its dark scales gleaming with an unnatural sheen, and he felt a surge of dread. They couldn't outrun this thing forever.
Then, almost instinctively, Adrian reached out with his mind, focusing on the creature's energy. He didn't know if it would work, but he tried to use the Gloves of Calculation to read its movements, to find some weakness in its form.
As he concentrated, faint lines began to appear across the creature's body, like cracks in its armor. He could see where the magic that sustained it was concentrated, where the Queen's dark energy had fused with its natural power. If he could disrupt those points…
"Lyra," he whispered, keeping his voice low. "I think I can weaken it."
She looked at him, disbelief flickering in her eyes. "Adrian, that thing will tear you apart."
"I know," he replied, his voice steadier than he felt. "But I can see… connections, places where the magic binding it is vulnerable. If I can hit one of those spots, it might give us a chance."
Lyra hesitated, her gaze torn between fear and resolve. Finally, she nodded, gripping her dagger tightly. "Just be quick. We won't get a second chance."
Adrian took a deep breath, steeling himself. He focused on the nearest weak point he could see, just below the creature's left shoulder, where the dark magic pulsed faintly. He had to make this count.
Before he could second-guess himself, he stepped out from behind the tree, aiming his gloved hand at the spot. The Blood Hunter's head snapped toward him, its eyes narrowing, and it let out a furious snarl, charging forward with terrifying speed.
Time seemed to slow as Adrian extended his hand, focusing all his will into the Gloves of Calculation. He felt the magic gather in his palm, a faint glow illuminating the space between him and the creature. Just as it lunged, he released the energy, a sharp beam of light striking the weak point he'd targeted.
The impact sent a shockwave through the creature, and it let out a bloodcurdling roar, staggering as cracks spread across its body. Dark energy seeped from the wound, its movements slowing as the corrupted magic began to unravel.
"Now, Lyra!" Adrian shouted.
Lyra sprang forward, moving with lethal precision. She plunged her dagger into the creature's neck, twisting it to sever the dark tendrils of magic that bound it. The Blood Hunter thrashed, but its strength was fading, its body collapsing under the strain of the disrupted enchantments.
With one final, gurgling snarl, the creature fell silent, its form disintegrating into dark mist that drifted away on the wind.
Adrian staggered back, his breathing ragged, the adrenaline leaving him lightheaded. He looked down at his hands, the faint glow of the gloves fading, and a sense of awe and disbelief washed over him.
Lyra approached him, her face a mixture of relief and admiration. "That was… incredible," she said, her voice breathless. "You actually did it."
He managed a shaky smile. "I guess accounting skills can be useful after all."
They both laughed, the tension finally breaking as they stood over the dissipating remains of the Blood Hunter. But as the last traces of the dark mist faded, Lyra's expression grew serious.
"This is only the beginning," she said, her voice low. "If the Dark Queen knows we can defeat her Hunters, she'll send something worse. We need to be ready."
Adrian nodded, a newfound determination settling in his chest. He had come to Lunaris as an unwilling hero, but he was beginning to understand the depth of the responsibility he carried—and the power he was only beginning to unlock.
As they turned to head back to the castle, Adrian cast one last look over his shoulder, a spark of resolve lighting his gaze. The Dark Queen's forces were coming, but so was he.