Eragon Arctis crouched in the shadows of the ruined wall, clutching a dull knife that felt as useless as a twig in his shaking hand. The low growl of the Etherion beast prowling nearby sent chills down his spine.
It had come from nowhere—an azure-scaled beast with six glowing eyes and a sleek, serpentine body. It moved with predatory grace, sniffing the air for him. Kael knew he couldn't outrun it.
The beast lunged.
A surge of heat erupted from Kael's chest. Pain seared through him as a glowing mark burned into his skin—a spiraling sigil of ancient design. The beast halted mid-strike, its eyes wide with something akin to recognition.
A voice echoed in Kael's mind. "Protocol Activated: Etherion Contract Initiated."
In an instant, Kael saw the beast's memories—a flash of soaring over mountains, of battles waged in forgotten ages. It wasn't just a creature; it was a being with a name: Lunara.
The mark pulsed again, and Kael felt an overwhelming connection form between them. The beast shimmered, shrinking, reshaping, until a girl with sapphire hair and glowing golden eyes stood before him.
"You..." she said, her voice trembling with shock. "You've awakened the Protocol. What are you?"
Kael had no answer. But deep inside, he felt a power stirring, ancient and unrelenting. And it terrified him.