~•~
The journey to the Forbidden Forest had begun under the weight of urgency. The soldiers moved carefully, forming a tight, protective circle around their king, the prophet Eryndor, and the princess Evalith. The shadows of the ancient trees swallowed the light, and the oppressive quiet of the forest pressed in, making every step feel heavier.
The air itself seemed alive, breathing with something ancient and malicious. The ground beneath their feet creaked ominously, and strange shapes flickered in the edges of their vision—blinking eyes that glowed faintly, like lanterns hidden in the dark. The forest was not merely a place; it was a being—watching, waiting, ready to pounce.
As they moved deeper, the mist grew denser, swirling around their ankles. The trees whispered—not with leaves, but with shifting branches, bending slightly as if bowing to something unseen. Eryndor, always the cautious one, felt the weight of something ancient settle in his chest. He clenched the cursed book tightly in his hands, his knuckles turning white.
"This forest… it watches," Eryndor muttered, his voice barely audible over the faint rustling of leaves.
"It listens to every sound, every breath," one soldier whispered, his grip tightening on his sword. "There's something alive here... something that doesn't want us to find the book."
A sudden gust of wind blew through the clearing, colder than before, sending shivers down their spines. The air itself seemed heavier—charged with magic that pulsed faintly beneath the surface. The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to fear the forest or what might lie ahead.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees. From the shadows, dark shapes began to emerge—wolves, but larger than the ordinary creatures of Safara. Their fur shimmered with an unnatural glow, reflecting faint beams of crimson lightning that flickered through the dense canopy. Their eyes glowed faintly, their expressions cold and calculating—far more intelligent than any predator they had faced before.
"They're not ordinary wolves," Kael hissed, gripping his sword tightly. "They serve something… something far worse."
One of the soldiers tightened his grip on his spear, scanning the surrounding darkness. "Look—there's something else... It's watching."
From the deeper shadows, something far more terrifying emerged—a creature unlike anything they had seen before. It wasn't simply a wolf—it was larger, its body pulsating with dark energy. Its eyes burned crimson, its fangs gleaming as it stepped forward. It radiated an oppressive aura—powerful and ancient. This was no ordinary beast—it was the guardian of the Forbidden Forest, the one spoken of in whispered legends.
The ground beneath them trembled slightly as the beast's presence grew heavier. Its gaze locked onto them with cold, predatory precision. The soldiers instinctively tightened their formation, raising their weapons, but they could feel the sheer power emanating from the creature—the weight of something far older than their time.
The guardian let out a low, guttural growl—deep and menacing. It didn't move to attack immediately. Instead, it watched, studying them with unsettling patience.
"It knows," Eryndor murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "It knows why we're here… It knows the prophecy."
Kael stepped forward, his sword ready but his expression wary. "What do you want?" His voice was steady, though he couldn't hide the slight tremor beneath the surface.
The guardian didn't answer with words. Instead, its gaze flickered—piercing through the minds of each soldier, its presence seeping into their thoughts like a toxin. It knew why they had come.
"You seek what cannot be found… why do you persist?"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. The air grew colder still, and the oppressive silence stretched. No one dared breathe. The guardian hadn't moved, but its presence weighed heavily on them, suffocating and unnerving.
Eryndor's fingers clenched tighter around the cursed book. His eyes flicked to the soldiers around him—palpable fear starting to spread through them. He cleared his throat and spoke carefully, his voice carrying the weight of someone who had faced fate before.
"We came for the book… to save his highness. To stop whatever plague this guardian has awakened. This is our duty to the kingdom, and we will not turn back."
The guardian hissed softly, a sound that echoed deep within the minds of all present. "You are fools to seek it. This forest guards what is not meant to be touched—what was never meant to be found."
The soldiers gripped their weapons tighter, but they could feel it—this creature wasn't simply a beast. It was something more. Ancient. Powerful. Something tied to the very soul of the forest.
Suddenly, another sound—a faint rustle in the distance. More movement. From the shadows, more creatures began to emerge—more wolves, their crimson eyes gleaming hungrily. These weren't ordinary beasts—they were magical, twisted by the essence of the forest. Their movements were precise, coordinated, as though they followed a command none could see.
"Brace yourselves!" Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. "They're coming!"
The wolves attacked swiftly—relentlessly. Claws slashed through the air, snapping at shields and armor. Arrows flew into the darkness, but more emerged from the fog, their numbers seemingly endless. The soldiers fought with everything they had, but the odds quickly turned against them.
The beasts were too fast, too numerous. Every strike they made seemed to be followed by another, more cunning creature. One by one, soldiers fell—their screams lost in the cacophony of growls and clashes. Some were dragged into the shadows, vanishing without a trace. Others were overwhelmed, their bodies torn apart by the magical claws of the wolves.
Panic spread like wildfire, fear biting at their minds. Shields were shattered, spells faltered, and the once-unwavering ranks of soldiers began to break. Some fell to their knees, weakened by exhaustion and the sheer onslaught of enemies.
"Keep fighting!" Kael roared, slashing through another wolf. "Stay together!"
But the beasts were relentless. Their numbers seemed infinite, and every slash of their claws cut through the ranks of soldiers. Magic spells flared—brief flashes of icy frost and flaming blasts—but they were met with resistance. The forest itself seemed to absorb their magic, twisting it into something darker.
Evalith stood at the center of the formation, her hands glowing faintly with the intent to control minds of anything even the skies. Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, but she fought through the exhaustion. She summoned sharp spikes of frost, driving them into the advancing wolves, but her powers began to falter under the weight of continuous attacks. The cold she conjured wasn't enough to hold back the tide.
"You'll burn out!" Eryndor called, concern etched into his voice. He turned sharply to the soldiers, his expression grim. "Protect the princess! Guard her with your lives!"
But even Eryndor could feel it—there was no stopping the creatures. The tide was too overwhelming, and their numbers too great. Magic alone wouldn't be enough.
Suddenly, from the shadows, a new figure emerged—a creature darker and more sinister than the others. Its fur shimmered with shadow, its eyes glowing a deep, malevolent blue. It wasn't like the wolves—it was something far older and more powerful. This was the true guardian of the Forbidden Forest—the one spoken of in the prophecy.
The ground trembled under its steps, as if the very forest itself reacted to its presence. Its gaze locked onto Eryndor, then flickered to Evalith—studying them both with cold, unrelenting scrutiny.
"It's here…" Eryndor murmured, fear creeping into his voice.
Kael, seeing the danger, bellowed, "Hold them back! The guardian has revealed itself!"
But even Kael could see—their strength was slipping. The guardian watched, observing every move, measuring their every attack. It wasn't here to fight, but to test—to see whether they had the resolve to continue or would crumble under the pressure.
As more wolves joined the fray, their cries and growls blending into a terrifying symphony of death, the soldiers began to falter. One by one, they were dragged into the shadows—vanishing without a trace. Their desperate efforts were in vain.
Evalith's powers faltered further. She swayed slightly, her knees weakening under the strain. Her mind control began to thin, unable to hold back the advancing wolves. The cold that once seemed so promising was fading, leaving her defenseless.
"Hold on!" Kael shouted as he fought by her side. His sword glimmered faintly with his skilled blood sword, but even his magic wasn't enough. The wolves had grown too strong—too many. They moved with precision, overwhelming them in sheer numbers.
"Get back!" Kael pushed Evalith gently behind him, shielding her with his body as more wolves advanced. "You need to rest—now!"
"No!" she protested, determination flashing in her eyes. "I can't leave now! Not after everything…"
But before she could summon her powers again, the guardian's gaze turned fully to her. It watched her intently, its eyes burning with an otherworldly power.
"Princess…" it murmured, its voice low and resonant, echoing in her mind. "You are the key… but only if you have the courage to face what lies ahead"