The victory in the forest had given Selene a renewed sense of hope. The Forest Kin's pledge of loyalty was a significant step forward, but she knew it was just one piece of the larger battle against Alaric. As she, Lirael, Valeria, and their newfound allies marched deeper into the northern territories, the air grew colder, and a tense silence settled over the group.
Selene walked beside Eryndor, the leader of the Forest Kin, who carried himself with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. "How far does Alaric's influence spread in these lands?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
Eryndor's expression darkened. "Too far. His agents move in secret, corrupting villages and twisting creatures of the wild into monsters. We've fought off several attacks, but they grow bolder with each passing moon."
Lirael, walking slightly ahead, glanced back. "We can't let him continue to poison these lands. Every victory he claims strengthens his hold."
Valeria, her staff glowing faintly as she used it to detect lingering dark magic, paused. "There's something ahead. A presence… faint, but troubling."
The group halted as Eryndor raised a hand, signaling silence. He knelt and pressed his palm to the ground, his sharp eyes scanning the forest. "There's movement nearby. Not human. Be ready."
Selene's grip tightened on her shard, its light faint but steady. The group moved cautiously, their steps silent as they followed Eryndor's lead. The trees thickened, their branches intertwining to form a dense canopy that blocked out the fading sunlight. Shadows danced in the corners of Selene's vision, and she felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the forest, followed by the snapping of branches. Selene turned just in time to see a massive creature step into the clearing. It was unlike anything she had ever seen—its body was covered in jagged, blackened fur, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light. Horns twisted from its head, and its claws gleamed like obsidian.
"What in the name of the stars is that?" Lirael hissed, drawing her sword.
"A shadowbeast," Eryndor said grimly. "One of Alaric's creations. They're rare, but deadly. Be careful—its strength is unmatched."
The shadowbeast let out a deafening roar, its massive form lunging toward the group. Selene reacted instinctively, raising her shard to create a barrier of light. The beast slammed into it, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the clearing. Selene staggered but held her ground, the shard's magic reinforcing the barrier.
Eryndor and Lirael moved quickly, flanking the creature. Eryndor's blade glowed with a faint green light as he struck at the beast's side, but his attack barely left a mark on its thick hide. Lirael darted in from the other side, her sword slicing at the creature's legs. It howled in rage, swinging a massive claw that forced her to leap back.
Valeria stood at the edge of the clearing, chanting a spell. Her staff glowed brighter as tendrils of light shot out, wrapping around the shadowbeast and holding it in place. "Now! While it's restrained!" she called.
Selene focused her energy, the shard pulsing in her hand. She released a blast of light that struck the creature square in the chest. It let out a pained roar, its movements growing more frantic as it struggled against Valeria's magic.
But the shadowbeast wasn't alone.
From the darkness emerged three more creatures, smaller than the first but just as menacing. They spread out, their glowing eyes locking onto the group.
"We've got company!" Lirael shouted, positioning herself between Selene and the advancing creatures.
Eryndor's kin sprang into action, their arrows flying through the air and striking the smaller beasts. One fell, its body dissolving into shadows, but the others pressed forward, their claws slashing at anything in their path.
Selene's heart pounded as she fought to keep her barrier intact against the shadowbeast's relentless attacks. "We need to end this quickly!" she called out.
Eryndor nodded, his gaze fierce. "Aim for its core. That's its weak spot—where Alaric's magic binds it."
Selene focused on the beast's chest, where a faint, dark glow pulsed beneath its fur. She channeled the shard's energy, its light intensifying as she prepared another attack. "Valeria, keep it restrained a little longer!"
"I'm trying!" Valeria's voice was strained, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she maintained her spell. The beast thrashed wildly, breaking free of one of the tendrils but still held by the others.
With a deep breath, Selene unleashed her magic. A beam of pure light shot from the shard, piercing the shadowbeast's core. It let out a final, ear-splitting roar before its body dissolved into a swirl of shadows that dissipated into the air.
The remaining beasts, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. Eryndor and his kin took advantage of the moment, striking them down one by one until the clearing was silent once more.
Selene lowered her shard, her body trembling from the effort. "Is everyone alright?"
Lirael wiped blood from a shallow cut on her arm. "Nothing I can't handle."
Valeria leaned on her staff, her breathing heavy. "That was… close."
Eryndor approached, his expression grim. "These attacks are becoming more frequent. Alaric is testing us, trying to wear us down."
Selene looked at the spot where the shadowbeast had fallen, her mind racing. "He knows we're gathering allies. This attack wasn't random—it was a warning."
Valeria's gaze darkened. "And it means he's watching us. We need to be careful—there could be spies among the villages."
Eryndor nodded. "There are whispers of betrayal among our own ranks. Not all who live in these lands are loyal to the light. Some have been swayed by Alaric's promises of power."
Selene's jaw tightened. "Then we'll root them out. We can't afford to let his influence spread any further."
As they prepared to move on, Selene couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows were closing in. The victory against the shadowbeast felt hollow, a reminder of the immense power Alaric still wielded. But she refused to let fear take hold.
Her mother's legacy depended on her strength. And she would not fail.