But he did not have the energy to care.
The survivors slumped against the cave walls, their weapons slipping from bloodied hands. Groans of pain filled the air as wounds were tended to with torn cloth and makeshift bandages.
Near the fire, Mira knelt beside a wounded man, her hands trembling as she pressed cloth against a gaping wound. "Stay with me," she whispered.
Joss leaned against the barricade, his face pale but determined as he tightened the wrappings on his arm. "We lost too many," he murmured, his eyes scanning the carnage.
Aelric stumbled toward the place where Duran had made his stand. The man's hammer lay there, bloodied and broken, but unmistakably his.
Aelric knelt, his fingers brushing the weapon's hilt. His throat tightened, and for a moment.
Elysia stood beside him, her chain coiled tightly in her hand. "He gave us the time we needed," she said softly, her voice heavy with respect.
Aelric's gaze swept over the survivors, his mind racing as the pieces began to fall into place. The timing of the attack. The potion. Varik's sudden escape. The weight of realization settled heavily on his chest, sharp and undeniable.
His throat tightened. He turned to Elysia, his voice low but cold. "It was Gerrick, wasn't it?"
Elysia hesitated, her eyes clouded with regret. "Aelric…"
"Don't." His tone cut through her excuse before it could form. "It was him. Say it."
She exhaled slowly, avoiding his gaze. "Yes. He used the potion to draw them in… so Varik and his group could escape in the chaos."
The words were like a punch to the gut. Aelric's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms as fury surged through him. Gerrick, who had stood beside him, who had laughed with them, had betrayed them all. Duran died for nothing because of him.
He clenched his fists, knuckles whitening. The betrayal cut deeper than any blade.
Just then, the message repeated again:
[Mark of Loyalty ready to activate. Accept Kane's fealty to complete the bond]
Aelric spotted Kane sitting apart from the group, his posture tense, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. His dagger lay across his lap, the blade nicked and dulled from the recent battle. Kane poked at the dirt absently, his brow furrowed in thought.
He took a deep breath, regaining his calm. "Take a short break. We need to be ready to leave."
Aelric approached Kane, taking a deep breath to steady his thoughts. "How are you holding up?" he asked.
Kane hesitated, then shrugged. "I'm alive. Can't say I expected that after everything out there." He picked up his dagger, turning it over in his hands. "I keep thinking about Duran… and the others we lost. Feels like we're just waiting for the next wave to finish the job."
Aelric studied him for a moment. Kane's fear was palpable. "I know it's hard," Aelric said. "But we survived because we stood together. And we'll keep surviving the same way."
"You think we will escape?" he asked, hope and fear warring in his eyes.
"Yes," he said but hesitated before saying the rest. "I've unlocked something new—a skill related to my Dominion power. It's called the Mark of Loyalty. I don't know what it does but I can it can make us stronger. I… I need someone I trust to help me activate it."
Kane's eyes widened. "A Dominion? Really? That's incredible! What should I do?"
Aelric was taken aback by Kane's swift acceptance. He'd expected hesitation, maybe skepticism. Instead, Kane seemed eager—perhaps clinging to any glimmer of hope. "Just trust me," Aelric said. "And swear loyalty. It doesn't need to be elaborate, just honest."
"Okay," he said. "I'll do it. Just… give me a moment."
He pushed himself to his feet, his movements stiff and unsure and dropped clumsily to one knee. The gesture was earnest but awkward, his knee hitting the dirt with a thud. His hands fumbled, settling uncertainly on his thigh as he glanced up at Aelric.
"Uh…" Kane's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "I—I, Kane, swear loyalty to you, Aelric." He paused, as if unsure whether he should add more. After a heartbeat, he nodded to himself and continued. "I'll, uh, follow you and… do my best to help. No matter what."
Aelric blinked, taken aback by Kane's effort. It was raw, unpolished—and completely genuine.
As Kane's words faded, the air around them seemed to hum, faint at first but growing louder, like the strings of a bow being drawn taut. Aelric felt a ripple of energy pass between them, sharp and undeniable.
Then the world shifted.
The cave blurred as Aelric's vision changed, snapping into a new perspective. He saw... himself. His dirt-smeared tunic, his bloodied hands clutching a sword, his narrowed gaze fixed intently on Kane.
"What is this?" Aelric whispered, his voice tinged with awe and unease.
Kane stiffened. "What do you mean?" he asked aloud.
But Aelric wasn't hearing Kane's voice anymore. He was feeling it. The words echoed in his mind, clear and unmistakable, as though they were his own thoughts.
Kane's voice came again, but not from his lips.
"Wait. Did I just... think that at you?"
Aelric staggered back, his heart racing. "Kane, I can hear you. In my head," he said aloud.
Kane's eyes widened. "You can? That's insane! Is this part of the bond? Oh gods, we can... we can talk like this?!"
Aelric nodded slowly. "We can communicate—no one else can hear us."
The connection hummed, the mental link clear and sharp as if they were standing in each other's minds.
"This is incredible," Kane thought, his excitement crackling across the bond.
Aelric blinked as another thought from Kane pressed into the link, unspoken but undeniable: "I hope I don't mess this up. He's counting on me."
The hum shifted again, deepening into a resonant pulse that filled the air around them. Aelric's vision snapped back to his own as a glowing message appeared before his eyes:
[Telepathic communication with followers unlocked]
[Shared Senses with followers unlocked]
[Rank up follower Kane to Lesser?]
Without hesitation, Aelric whispered, "Yes."
Energy surged into Kane, his body jerking as mana poured into him like a river breaking through a dam. He gasped, clutching his chest as the glow intensified, swirling around him in spiraling arcs of light.
Aelric staggered, the connection drawing in the excess mana to his own mana core. Heat rushed through him, and he could feel the core expanding, stretching, growing stronger. The sensation was overwhelming, almost painful, but exhilarating all the same.
Kane cried out as the energy surged into him, condensing into a glowing orb in his chest. The air around him shimmered as his mana core took form.
When the glow faded, Kane staggered to his feet, his breathing heavy but steady. His posture was different now—stronger. His shoulders squared, his gaze clear, and his hands steady. He flexed his fingers, testing their strength as though he were discovering his body anew.
"I feel... incredible," Kane said, his voice filled with awe. "What just happened?"
"You've ranked up," Aelric replied, his own voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "Your mana core has formed. You're at the Lesser rank now."
Kane's jaw dropped. "My what? I've never trained in mana. How did you do it?"
"Well…." Aleric said, unsure of how to answer. He had no idea about what, how, or the extent of the changes that occurred. It was as much a mystery to him as it was to Kane.
But he was elated. In a short amount of time, huge changes had occurred and the groups power increased drastically. His mana core had even grown by half.
A new system window flickered before Aelric:
[Name]: Aelric
[Rank]: Lesser
[Dominion]: Unknown
[Dominion Form]: Nascent
[Art]: Firebolt
[Skill]: Unknown
Mark of Loyalty:
[Bond: 1]
[Pledge: 0]
[Vow: 0]
[Oath: 0]
[Dominion Mark]: None
Aelric exhaled slowly, his emotions a tangled mess of exhilaration and uncertainty.
Kane stared at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists. A faint shimmer of energy danced across his fingertips, a faint blue glow that reflected in his wide eyes. "I can feel it," he said, wonder filling his voice. "The mana… it's like it's alive inside me. I've never felt anything like this before."
Aelric smiled faintly. "You'll get used to it. For now, focus on learning to control it. It'll make you stronger."
Kane looked up at Aelric, his expression shifting from amazement to gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice soft but earnest. "I don't know why you chose me for this, but I won't let you down."
The bond between them hummed faintly, a subtle reminder of the connection they now shared. "Let's put that strength to use. The others are waiting."
As Aelric and Kane returned to the group, the survivors were already preparing to move. Weapons were checked, makeshift packs secured, and nervous glances exchanged as the firelight flickered against the cave walls.
Elysia eyed them curiously. "Everything all right?"
"Better than all right," Aelric replied. "Kane's ready, and so am I. Now we need to focus on getting out of here."
"Do you have a plan?" Joss asked, tightening the straps on his gear.
Aelric nodded. "I've been thinking about that. With as many Howlfangs as we've killed, I doubt there are many more in the immediate area. Their numbers aren't infinite, and we've thinned the pack significantly. This is the best chance we'll get."
Lysa frowned. "But what about reinforcements? The Alpha is also still out there, and it could be rallying more from the deeper forests."
"That's why we need to move now," Aelric said. "Our goal is to make it across the gorge. It's our best chance of survival. That's not Howlfang territory, and I don't believe they will chase us far."
Mira stood, determination hardening her features. "I'm ready."
Elysia glanced between them. "Just remember, the scent from the potion does not wear off easily and Howlfangs will still be attracted to us."
"Alright, let's move," Aleric said.
Gathering their belongings, the five survivors—Aelric, Kane, Elysia, Joss, Lysa, and Mira—slipped into the shadows, moving swiftly and silently through the terrain.
*****
A/N:
There we have it—the first glimpses of the system! It might seem a little bare right now, but there's so much room for Aleric to grow and develop within its framework. As he learns more and starts to uncover its potential, the system will become a key part of his journey.
This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to show you how it all unfolds. Stick around—there's a lot of growth, challenge, and excitement ahead!