The forest felt different now, more familiar—as though Alaric was no longer merely trespassing but becoming a part of its dark heartbeat. The shadows of the Darkwood felt like an extension of his own will, responding subtly to his thoughts, bending under his touch. He had been practicing his new powers, pushing the boundaries of the skills granted by the Undying Tree.
Tonight, he was not alone.
A soft rustling to his left caught his attention, and he turned to see Lina emerging from the undergrowth, her face pale but determined. She had come alone, slipping away from the village with only the moonlight to guide her.
"I thought you might be here," she said, her tone laced with wariness. "The villagers are worried… but I think you know more than you're telling us."
Alaric watched her silently for a moment, weighing his words. She was bold to come here alone, especially when her questions might bring her dangerously close to answers she wasn't ready to hear.
"You're not wrong," he replied, his voice soft yet unyielding. "But there's a reason for my silence. This power isn't something everyone can understand, Lina. It's… ancient, and it requires a bond with forces beyond the realm of mortals."
He sensed the flicker of fear in her eyes, but she held her ground. "And this bond you're forming—is it what has brought this darkness upon the village?"
Alaric's gaze hardened. "No. This darkness was here long before I arrived. I am merely… learning to wield it."
She looked down, her fists clenching as she fought to reconcile the man she knew with the dark path he was choosing. "Then why are you hiding it from us? The elder believes the Order is coming, but what if they don't arrive in time?"
He felt a pang of impatience. She couldn't see what he saw, couldn't sense the vast, consuming potential of the Undying Tree's power. But he also knew that she was more than just a curious villager—she was clever, intuitive, and perhaps brave enough to face the truth.
"Lina, if you're willing to listen, I'll show you the truth," he said, his gaze intense. "But understand, once you see it, there's no turning back. You'll have to choose between the safety of the village and the power that lies beyond."
Her jaw clenched, and after a long moment, she nodded. "Show me."
---
Together, they walked through the twisted maze of trees, their steps silent in the moonlit underbrush. The air grew thick with the unnatural stillness that pervaded the deeper parts of the Darkwood. Alaric led her to the hollow where the Undying Tree stood, its roots curling like skeletal hands, faintly glowing with the trapped energy of countless souls.
Lina stared, transfixed by the eerie beauty of the tree. Her breath hitched as she took in the ghostly lights that hung from its branches, pulsing softly like living creatures.
"This… this is the source?" she whispered.
Alaric nodded. "It's a conduit to the spirit realm, a place where the boundary between life and death is thin. It consumes the souls of the living, feeding off them to grow stronger."
She stepped back, horrified. "And you're willing to… use this? At the cost of lives?"
"Not recklessly," he replied, his tone firm. "The Undying Tree offers power, but it requires sacrifice. The forest is full of creatures—beasts, spirits, even those already twisted by darkness. They will serve as fuel for my strength."
Lina's eyes narrowed. "And if that's not enough?"
Alaric met her gaze, unflinching. "Then I'll have to find other sources."
She took a step closer, a flicker of desperation in her expression. "Alaric, there must be another way. I know you want power, but at what cost? Elden Hollow isn't just a village—it's full of people who trust you, who might even follow you if you led them."
He shook his head, frustration tightening his voice. "They wouldn't understand. They see only the danger, not the potential. But you… you could help me. Stand by my side, help me channel this power for the good of the village."
Lina hesitated, the inner conflict evident on her face. She wanted to believe in him, to trust that he could wield this dark power without succumbing to it. But the shadow of doubt lingered.
"Just promise me," she said, her voice low, "that you won't let it consume you."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I promise, Lina. I will wield this power, not be ruled by it."
---
As they returned to the village, Alaric felt the pull of the Undying Tree's influence within him, a dark voice whispering at the edge of his mind. It was a subtle urge, a desire for more souls, for more power, but he forced it down. For now, he needed to keep his promise.
In the following days, Alaric began to test the limits of his new skills. His abilities with Soul Harvest allowed him to drain the essence of small creatures in the forest, feeding the Undying Tree without endangering the villagers. Each soul he took strengthened him, his control over shadows growing sharper, his connection to the tree deeper.
But the villagers grew increasingly uneasy. Strange shadows lurked at the edges of the village at night, and livestock disappeared without a trace. Rumors spread of dark forces stalking the forest, and Elder Gareth became increasingly suspicious.
One night, Gareth confronted Alaric, his face set with grim determination.
"Alaric, enough with your secrets," the elder demanded. "I know you've been spending time in the Darkwood, and these disturbances are no coincidence. If you know something, speak now."
Alaric held Gareth's gaze, a calm confidence in his eyes. "I've found a way to protect the village, Elder. But it requires… unconventional means."
Gareth's eyes narrowed. "Unconventional? You mean dangerous. You've been playing with forces you barely understand, Alaric. This is no mere ritual—you're meddling with death itself!"
"Sometimes the only way to combat darkness is with a greater darkness," Alaric replied, his voice steady. "With the power of the Undying Tree, I can summon forces that no ordinary weapon or spell can match. I can ensure Elden Hollow's safety."
The elder shook his head. "This path will only lead to ruin. I cannot let you endanger the village for the sake of your ambition."
Alaric's gaze hardened, his patience fraying. "The village's safety is all I seek. I would sooner protect it than see it fall. But if you insist on standing in my way…"
The unspoken threat lingered in the air, and Gareth's eyes flickered with a mix of anger and fear. He took a step back, his voice quiet but resolute. "Be careful, Alaric. Power is a treacherous master."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Alaric alone in the darkened street.
---
The encounter with Gareth left Alaric tense, a simmering anger that refused to dissipate. The elder was a fool, too blinded by fear to see the potential he held. And yet, part of him knew that Gareth's words held truth—power was indeed treacherous, a force that could easily consume if not controlled.
That night, he returned to the Undying Tree, feeling its pull stronger than ever. The tree seemed to sense his frustration, its branches swaying as if in invitation.
"They do not understand you, Alaric," it whispered, its voice weaving through his mind like a dark lullaby. "They fear you… as they should. But there is another way."
"What way?" he asked aloud, feeling the weight of the tree's presence in his mind.
"There is a pact, a bond that will ensure my power flows within you unendingly. No more would you have to struggle for strength. My roots would become part of you, and your soul… would fuel my eternal hunger."
Alaric hesitated. The offer was tempting, a chance to claim power beyond anything he'd ever dreamed. But he knew it would cost him dearly. His soul would be bound to the tree, forever connected to its dark hunger.
"What would happen to me?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"You would transcend," the tree replied, a hunger in its voice. "You would become more than mortal, a true master of death, bound by the strength of the ancient world."
Alaric closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his choices press upon him. The path before him was steeped in darkness, fraught with danger. Yet, he knew that without this power, he would be helpless to protect the village from the growing darkness.
He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening.
"I accept," he said, his voice unwavering.
The Undying Tree's roots shot forward, wrapping around his wrists, his chest, and his legs, binding him to its ancient trunk. A surge of dark energy flooded into him, filling every corner of his soul. The pain was intense, a searing heat that burned through his veins, but he welcomed it, feeling himself transform, feeling the power take root within him.
As the tree's energy subsided, Alaric opened his eyes, now glowing with a faint, ethereal light. He could feel the tree's power within him, a dark force that would guide him to his destiny.
Elden Hollow would be safe. And he, Alaric, would be its sovereign protector—no matter the cost.