It was autumn in the lands of Elysia. The canopy above was alive with birdsong, seeming unaware of the carnage below. I could feel the crisp breeze brush against my skin, as if to remind me I was still alive. The brown leaves of the forest floor that surround me were painted with the crimson color of my blood.
I lay there, my breath hitched, uneven and labored. The metallic taste in my mouth made me splutter and my blurred vision did little to obscure the dark reality of my situation. My body screamed in protest with every shallow inhalation, each movement dragging me closer to unconsciousness.
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The day had started like any other. I was out on a routine patrol with my squad. There were eight of us, including Lieutenant Aldric.
Lieutenant Aldric had been like a father figure to me. My mother passed away shortly after my birth, and Aldric took me in after my father lost his life on the battlefield. The lieutenant had served with my father during the first border war against the elven kingdom. He raised me like his own, teaching me everything I knew about duty, discipline and honor.
I joined the military at sixteen, following in my father's footsteps. After two grueling years at the academy, I graduated near the top of my class. At eighteen, I was deployed, thrown into the chaos of battle. Over four years, I earned my stripes and the rank of sergeant. My squad had been together for six months now—a diverse mix of soldiers whose skills complemented each other. Or so I thought.
We had been sent to investigate the latest in a string of monster sightings near Blackreach, a town nestled at the edge of the Verdanth Forest. Sightings like these were nothing new, but recently, they had been happening more often. I had been sending detailed reports to Aldric, urging him to escalate the matter to the capital, but my warnings seemed to fall on deaf ears.
The journey into the forest began uneventfully. Birds chirped overhead and the dappled sunlight played tricks on the undergrowth. Bleilk broke the silence first. "Renald, have you been learning any new spells recently?" he asked with a grin.
Renald chuckled. "I've been working on a love spell. Maybe Fenna will finally agree to a date."
Fenna snorted, shaking her head. "Keep dreaming, you idiot."
Laughter rippled through the group, lightening the mood. Even Jorin, the youngest of us, cracked a nervous smile. But something felt off to me. The tone of the messenger who had delivered the report earlier that morning lingered in my mind—quivering and frantic. Whatever awaited us was no ordinary beast.
As we entered a clearing, Jorin began to lag behind. His wide eyes betrayed his fear, despite his best efforts to stay composed.
"Jorin, stick close," I called, my voice firmer than usual. The boy nodded, his trembling hands clutching his spear.
Fenna shot him a reassuring grin, her sword resting casually on her shoulder. "Don't worry, kid. We've faced worse."
Garrick chuckled. "Like that time near the Western Enclave. Remember those orc raiders?"
Even the usually stoic Sovah allowed himself a quiet laugh as he reminisced on that battle.
"Focus!" Aldric snapped, cutting the conversation short. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword, his eyes scanning the treeline. "This isn't a time for jokes. Stay sharp."
We trusted Aldric's instincts—why wouldn't we? The man had led us through countless skirmishes. But no amount of preparation could have readied us for what came next.
The first sign of danger came as a flicker at the edge of my vision. A shadow darted between the trees, too fast to identify. Before anyone could react, it was upon us.
The creature burst into the clearing, massive and grotesque, with muscles rippling beneath mottled grey skin. Its claws gleamed like razors in the autumn sun and its eyes burned with an unnatural, malevolent fire. Black horns crowned its head, completing its demonic appearance. A guttural growl rumbled from its chest, shaking the very air around us.
Jorin didn't even have time to scream. The beast lunged, its claws tearing through him like parchment. Blood sprayed as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
"Defensive formation!" Aldric roared, unsheathing his sword. We scrambled to obey, trying to regroup, but the creature was too fast. It tore through our ranks with terrifying efficiency.
Renald tried to cast a spell, his voice trembling as he chanted incantations. The beast was on him in an instant, its massive claws crushing him before he could finish.
Steel clashed, and the air filled with the sickening sounds of bones breaking and flesh ripping. I swung my sword in desperation, managing to land a shallow slash across the creature's side. It roared in pain and recoiled, giving us a brief reprieve.
"Stay together!" I shouted, adrenaline drowning out my fear. But chaos reigned. One by one, my comrades fell—Fenna, Garrick, Sovah, Bleilk. Their screams echoed through the forest, each one cutting deeper into my soul.
But what would happen next, I could have never predicted.
A sharp pain erupted in my back, stealing the air from my lungs. For a moment, I thought the creature had struck me, but the angle was wrong. Staggering forward, I dropped my sword, blood pouring from the wound. Turning my head with the last of my strength, I saw Aldric standing behind me, his blade dripping with my blood.
"Why?" I rasped, the question barely audible over the carnage.
His face was cold, devoid of emotion. He didn't answer. Instead, he slipped away disappearing into the forest.
I collapsed to my knees as the battle raged on around me. The beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the very ground, and then… it was gone, drawn away by some distant sound.
The world grew quiet. The birds reclaimed their song as I lay there, paralyzed, listening to the dying breaths of my comrades. One by one, their lives faded, leaving only the rustling leaves and the faint trickle of my own blood soaking into the earth.
"Damn it," I whispered, my anger fleeting as the cold grip of death tightened around me. I had always known the risks of this life, but nothing had prepared me for betrayal. My mind reeled with questions, but as the darkness crept closer, none of it seemed to matter anymore.
I closed my eyes, resigned to my fate. Death no longer frightened me. In its embrace, I might finally find peace—a reunion with my parents. A tear slid down my cheek as I whispered a silent apology for not achieving more.
But something within me rebelled. A spark of defiance ignited, spreading through my battered body. No. I refused to let it end here. I wanted to live.
The sound of the distant drumming of hooves began to fill the silence, their rhythmic crunch against the leaves heralding the arrival of riders. Voices called out, distant but growing closer.
"Over here! Gods, what happened?" someone exclaimed.
Footsteps approached, and a hand pressed against my neck, checking for a pulse.
"General, this one's still alive!"
"Mages! Quickly, get him stabilized!" another barked. The rough authority in his tone was unmistakable. General Cross. What was he doing here?
"G…General," I tried to speak, but all that came out was a wet, bloody cough.
Cross knelt beside me, his sharp eyes assessing my injuries. "Take it easy, soldier," he muttered, his tone rough. "We'll handle things from here."
The world tilted as my vision dimmed. The last thing I heard before unconsciousness claimed me was the hurried orders of Cross and the clatter of armor as his men moved to carry me away.
It would seem fate wasn't done with me yet. Little did I know, what lay ahead would prove to be a fate far worse than death.