The mist clung to Elysian's cloak as he ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of the village fading behind him. Here, the trees were ancient and twisted, their branches stretching toward the sky like skeletal arms. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and every now and then, he caught glimpses of faint, shimmering lights flitting between the trees.
Elysian remained alert, his senses heightened as he stepped lightly over roots and rocks. His years as a top player had taught him to recognize subtle clues in the environment—shifts in temperature, the scent of something unusual, the quieting of nearby wildlife. These were often the harbingers of danger.
If there's a magical creature lurking here, I'll need to be ready, he thought, his hand resting on the hilt of a blade from his inventory. Though he had immense magical power, sometimes a simple weapon was the best tool for dealing with threats.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees. He stilled, his gaze sweeping the shadowed underbrush. Out of the mist, a massive beast emerged—wolf-like in form, but twice the size of any ordinary wolf, with fur as dark as night and eyes that glowed a sinister red.
Dire wolves… he realized. They weren't in the early levels of the game. Has the magic of this world begun reviving creatures like these?
The beast snarled, its muscles coiling as it prepared to lunge. Elysian felt a thrill of adrenaline as he quickly calculated his options. Normally, this kind of creature would be a challenge for most adventurers. For him, though, it was a welcome warm-up.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand, summoning a faint glow. "Aria, suggest a spell for subduing, not killing."
Aria's voice responded calmly, "Based on your intentions, the Bind spell would be effective. It will restrain the creature without causing harm."
He nodded, focusing his energy. In seconds, shimmering chains of light erupted from his fingertips, wrapping around the dire wolf before it could strike. The beast struggled against the magical bindings, but they held firm.
"Easy there," he murmured, studying the creature. It was powerful, with deep reserves of magic that pulsed beneath its dark fur. This world had indeed grown stranger over the centuries. Creatures like this, once nearly extinct, seemed to be reappearing.
The dire wolf growled lowly, its glowing eyes fixed on him with defiance.
"Calm yourself. I'm not here to harm you," Elysian said softly. With a final, gentle incantation, he released the wolf, allowing it to regain its freedom.
The wolf remained still, watching him intently, as if assessing his intentions. Then, with a low huff, it turned and bounded off into the shadows, vanishing among the trees.
Elysian exhaled, feeling a mix of satisfaction and curiosity. The encounter had given him insight into the magic lingering in this world. If creatures like the dire wolf were returning, then the threads of ancient magic he'd sensed before might be more pervasive than he'd thought.
This world is far more alive with magic than I anticipated, he thought, intrigued by the possibilities. The guild might have more to learn from these woods than they realize.
His mission complete, he made his way back through the forest, a faint smile on his face. For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt a spark of true adventure—and a connection to this world that went beyond his memories of the game.