The first rays of dawn peeked through Rowen's window, warming the cool wooden floor and rousing him from a fitful sleep. Groaning, he rolled onto his side and blinked up at the ceiling, willing himself to move. The dull ache in his muscles was a familiar companion these days, courtesy of Calder's brutal training regimen.
With a resigned sigh, he swung his legs out of bed and reached for his boots. His twin siblings, Gene and Seras, were already up and causing a racket in the next room. He smiled faintly at the sound before strapping on his blades and heading to the door.
"Off to become the next great swordsman, are we?" Zoreth's voice chimed in his mind, rich with mockery.
"Something like that," Rowen muttered as he stepped outside, the crisp morning air prickling his skin.
"Or is it that you're just trying to survive Calder's charming personality? A noble quest, truly."
Rowen smirked despite himself. "You seem awfully chatty today."
"What can I say? I live for your suffering. It's the highlight of my otherwise dull existence."
Rowen rolled his eyes and set off toward the forest, where Calder's clearing awaited. The village's hum of activity faded as he followed the familiar path, trees towering overhead like silent sentinels.
Calder stood in the clearing with his arms crossed, his expression as stern as ever. "You're late," he barked, though Rowen knew full well he wasn't. Rowen shrugged. "Morning to you too."
Calder ignored him, his sharp eyes scanning Rowen's posture, his gear, his readiness.
"You've made progress," Calder said, his tone rough and clipped. "But wielding blades isn't enough to make you a fighter. Today, you'll prove you've learned something—or you'll die trying."
Rowen blinked, his throat dry. "Die trying? That's… inspiring." Zoreth's voice chuckled in his mind, low and amused. "Your mentor's motivational skills leave much to be desired. Truly a beacon of hope and optimism."
"Not helping," Rowen muttered under his breath.
Calder ignored the comment, jerking his head toward the woods ahead. "There's a cave half a mile north. Something big has taken up residence. It could be a rogue bear, or worse. Your job is to deal with it."
Rowen frowned. "What kind of something?"
Calder shrugged. "Could be a rogue bear. Could be worse. Prove you've learned something, or don't bother coming back."
Before Rowen could ask more, Calder turned and walked away.
"He really has a way with words," Zoreth quipped. "Inspiring confidence since day one."
Rowen tightened his grip on his swords and started down the path Calder had pointed out.
"Alright, Zoreth," Rowen said after a stretch of silence. "What do you think he meant by 'something worse'?"
"Ah," Zoreth said, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. "Now we're getting into the fun stuff. He's probably referring to magical beasts."
Rowen frowned. "Magical beasts?"
"Not your average animals, my boy," Zoreth explained, his tone turning almost academic. "Ordinary creatures don't develop powers. But if an animal's mana core evolves, it undergoes a transformation. Its body and instincts adapt to align with its core's element, and it becomes something… extraordinary. And by extraordinary, I mean extraordinarily dangerous."
Rowen shivered, scanning the forest around him. "Have you faced them before?"
Zoreth chuckled darkly. "Oh, I've faced many. Some are simple creatures with a single affinity. Others are a nightmare mix of elements, combining abilities in ways that will leave you breathless. Trust me, Rowen, if you face one, you'll know. Just pray it's not a dual-affinity beast, or worse."
Rowen's pace slowed. "So… what? A wolf could just decide one day to sprout fire or something?"
"Not quite. It's a gradual process, shaped by exposure to mana-rich environments or unique circumstances. A wolf with a fire-attuned core might become a Pyrosfang, its fur blazing with embers. Or a snake might transform into a Venomspire, its venom laced with toxic magic."
Rowen's hand drifted to his sword hilt. "And these… magical beasts are stronger?"
"Stronger, faster, and far more intelligent." Zoreth confirmed. "Their instincts are honed to perfection, their bodies tailored for survival. You're not fighting an animal, you're fighting the elements themselves, wrapped in teeth and claws."
Rowen swallowed hard. "Great. So Calder sent me to die alone to a magical snake."
"Look at the bright side," Zoreth said, his voice laced with mock cheer. "If you die, you won't have to wake up sore tomorrow."
Rowen sighed. "Thanks, Zoreth. Really uplifting."
"Kidding, kidding," Zoreth said quickly. "You've got this. You're faster than you think, and I'm here to make sure you don't die too embarrassingly."
The forest grew darker as Rowen approached the cave. The air felt heavier, almost electric, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath. The cave loomed ahead, a jagged opening in the hillside that radiated an unnatural heat.
"Something's definitely here," Rowen muttered.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and two glowing orange eyes appeared in the darkness.
"Oh, is that fox on fire?" Zoreth said, his tone shifting to both fascination and concern. "An Ignivulp. Their flames burn hotter than most realize, and their speed, well, you'll find out soon enough."
Rowen's pulse quickened. "That's a magical beast?"
"Indeed," Zoreth replied. "Its core is attuned to fire, granting it an array of fire attacks. Quick, clever, and very, very deadly. But don't worry, you have me. Just like the time you fought the bullies."
The Ignivulp stepped into the light, its body sleek and foxlike but wreathed in ghostly flames. Its fur shimmered like molten gold, and embers trailed from its every movement. Its glowing eyes locked onto Rowen with unnerving intelligence, the flicker of fire within them almost taunting.
Rowen's grip tightened on his swords. "It's just a beast," he murmured to himself. "Like any other animal, only… with fire."
"Ah, yes," Zoreth interjected. "A little fire never hurt anyone—oh wait, yes it did. It killed plenty of people. Careful now."
Rowen ignored him, his focus narrowing on the Ignivulp.
The beast circled him, its movements graceful and calculated. With a sudden burst of speed, it lunged, flames bursting from its paws as it closed the distance in a blur.
Rowen sidestepped, slashing at its side as it passed, but his blade barely grazed its molten fur. The heat alone made him recoil, and the beast skidded to a stop, its tail whipping through the air and scattering embers.
"Fast" Zoreth remarked. "You might want to stop trying to outpace it. Aim for the chest area, where the flames are brightest."
The Ignivulp crouched low, its fur flaring brighter as the air around it shimmered with heat. It darted forward again, this time exhaling a wave of fire that roared toward Rowen.
"Move!" Zoreth barked.
Rowen threw himself to the side, barely avoiding the inferno. The edges of his tunic smoked, and the intense heat left his skin prickling. Before he could regain his footing, the Ignivulp was already on him, swiping with fiery claws.
Rowen parried with his swords, sparks flying as metal met molten energy. He gritted his teeth, using every ounce of strength to shove the beast back. It snarled, its flames intensifying, and leaped onto a boulder to gain higher ground.
"Focus, Rowen." Zoreth said sharply. "It's not just an animal, it's fire and fury given form. But it's still flesh and blood under all that. Stick to your instincts."
Rowen exhaled slowly, grounding himself. The Ignivulp was trying to intimidate him, and for good reason. Its flames burned hotter than anything he'd faced before, and its agility made every strike a gamble. But Calder had trained him well. He could kill this thing, he just needed to think.
The beast snarled and pounced again, flames erupting from its paws mid-air. Rowen didn't dodge this time. Instead, he met its attack head-on, slashing upward with his blade to knock it off balance. The sword bit into its side, and the beast yelped, landing awkwardly as blood—glowing faintly like molten lava spattered the ground.
"See? You can hurt it." Zoreth said. "Now press the advantage before it recovers."
Rowen didn't hesitate. He surged forward, striking again and again, forcing the beast to retreat. The Ignivulp's movements grew more frantic, its flames flickering as it defended itself. But then it stopped, its molten blood pooling at its feet, and let out an ear-splitting screech.
The flames around it exploded outward, forcing Rowen to shield his face with his arms. When he looked up, the Ignivulp was glowing brighter than ever, its core pulsing visibly through its chest.
"It's desperate." Zoreth said, his tone grim. "This is its last stand, don't let up."
The Ignivulp charged, leaving a trail of embers in its wake. Rowen ducked under its swipe and drove his blade toward its chest. It twisted away at the last second, landing behind him and slashing at his back with fiery claws. He stumbled forward, pain lancing through him, but spun around in time to block its next attack.
He feinted with one blade, drawing the beast's attention, and drove his second sword into its core.
The Ignivulp froze, its body shuddering as flames erupted one last time before extinguishing completely. It collapsed to the ground, its molten glow fading.
Rowen dropped to his knees, panting and clutching his side. The burns on his arms and the fresh claw marks on his back stung fiercely, but the rush of adrenaline drowned out the worst of the pain.
"You did it!" Zoreth said, his voice both impressed and incredulous. "You actually killed it!"
Rowen's gaze fell on the faintly glowing ember core left behind in the beast's remains.
"Take it" Zoreth urged. "It's the beast's core. That is where you should be able to absorb it's essence from directly."
Rowen hesitated, then reached out and picked up the ember. A surge of energy coursed through him, heat radiating from his chest. His fingertips glowed faintly with fire, sparks dancing as the power settled within him.
"Congratulations" Zoreth said, his tone a mixture of awe and sarcasm. "You just earned your first fire affinity. Who knew my new roommate had such potential?"
Rowen smirked weakly. "Guess I'm just built different."
Zoreth let out a dry laugh. "Built different, sure. Let's see if you're built fireproof. Try not to set yourself on fire, genius."