When Cire finally finished the long, arduous climb, he stood again in the glade. He took a moment to absorb the surroundings, noticing details he hadn't before. The glade was quiet, the air heavy with a strange stillness. At the far end, the cliff loomed, its edges cloaked in swirling mist that gave it an almost otherworldly quality.
He cautiously approached the cliff's edge, gazing down into the dense fog below. A shiver ran through him as questions bubbled in his mind. 'What is this place? This forest?' He shook his head and pushed the thoughts aside. He had more immediate concerns.
He turned his attention to the Virtus flowing within him. Following Praesul's instructions, he focused on channeling it into his legs. A tingling sensation spread through his muscles, foreign yet exhilarating. 'It's so strange to feel this', he thought, his chest tightening. After years of numbness… 'Is this a curse or a blessing?'
Determinedly, he guided the Virtus through his lower back, hips, thighs, knees, and feet. The connection felt more potent with each passing second. He braced himself, then leaned forward and broke into a run.
The ground blurred beneath him as he dashed through the glade faster than he ever thought possible. The wind whipped against his face, sharp and exhilarating. For a moment, he felt unstoppable. But he forced himself to stop, skidding to a halt near the edge of the forest, unwilling to stray too far from Praesul's cave.
Breathing steadily, he glanced back to ensure he could still see the glade and the cave entrance in the distance. I can't get carried away. I need to stay close.
As his excitement faded, curiosity crept in. 'If Virtus can make me faster, could it also sharpen my senses?' He closed his eyes, focusing on channeling Virtus to his ears. For a moment, nothing happened. His frustration grew, but then it hit him. Of course—it needs to reach my brain.
Carefully, he redirected the Virtus upward, establishing a connection to his mind. When the flow steadied, the world around him changed. His sight became sharper, and each leaf and blade of grass suddenly became distinct. He could hear the faint rustling of distant foliage, the hum of insects, and even the subtle breeze shift. His sense of touch heightened too, the ground beneath him now a tapestry of textures.
He marveled at the transformation, but the moment was short-lived. A deep, guttural growl cut through the silence—a sound unlike anything he had ever heard. Cire froze, his enhanced senses pinpointing the direction of the noise. Slowly, he crept forward, keeping within sight of the cave entrance.
Ahead, in a small clearing, he saw it. A massive creature loomed over a pack of wolves. Like the one he had fought before, the wolves launched fireballs from their mouths, but the creature barely reacted.
It stood five meters tall, its grotesque form both terrifying and unnatural. It balanced on three spindly spider legs, its body covered in a beetle-like shell, and its head twisted like a serpent's. One of its three arms swung wildly, sending wolves flying with each strike.
Cire ducked behind a tree, his stomach churning. 'That must be a locked Sigil', he thought, sensing the immense Virtus radiating from its core.
He watched in silence as the battle raged. The wolves were losing—three of them already lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies charred and broken. But the locked Sigil wasn't unscathed. Its movements were sluggish, and its strikes were less precise.
Finally, the creature let out a piercing hiss. A bolt of lightning cracked through the sky, striking the remaining wolves. When the flash subsided, only one wolf remained, its legs trembling as it struggled to stay upright.
The locked Sigil hissed again but didn't press the attack. Instead, it turned and fled, its speed shocking despite its injuries. Cire let out a slow breath, relief washing over him. 'If it had noticed me…' He pushed the thought away.
His gaze shifted to the lone wolf. It was barely alive, its breathing shallow. 'A free kill', he thought grimly. Enhancing his legs and upper body with Virtus, he crept closer. With a swift motion, he slashed its neck, and the wolf crumpled.
He grabbed its lifeless body, ready to drag it back to the cave, but paused. Something felt… off. He glanced back at the clearing, noticing one of the fallen wolves lying protectively in front of a crude nest.
Inside the nest was an egg.
Cire approached cautiously, his enhanced senses picking up the steady pulse of Virtus emanating from it. The egg shimmered faintly, its surface smooth and metallic.
'Is this… a wolf egg?' he wondered, frowning. 'No, that doesn't make sense. Wolves don't lay eggs.' Cire wasn't sure.
He knelt, studying the egg as unease crept over him. 'Was the locked Sigil protecting this? Is this what it was after?'
His hand hovered over the egg, a strange sense of connection pulling at him. He couldn't explain it, but he felt compelled to protect it. 'What are you? 'He thought, as the glow of the egg seemed to respond faintly to his presence.