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Kael crouched low in the tall grass, his heart pounding like a drum. The forest loomed before him, a wall of shadows and silence that swallowed sound and light. His fingers tightened around the shaft of his crude spear, its splintered wood biting into his palm. He had heard the stories—the Wilds weren't just home to beasts. They were alive, a breathing, restless thing that punished the unwelcome.
But Kael had no choice. The village was starving, and he had to prove himself. The only hope left lay deep within the forbidden woods—something no one had dared seek for years. Something that could turn their fate.
He took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness.
The air changed immediately, heavy with the scent of damp earth and something metallic. A low growl echoed from deep within the trees. Kael froze, his breath catching. He had been warned to turn back if he heard the beasts, but something tugged him forward—curiosity, or perhaps the desperation to break through his limits.
A flicker of light caught his eye. At first, he thought it was sunlight breaking through the canopy, but this glow was alive, pulsing faintly like the heartbeat of the forest itself. He crept closer, wary of every sound around him.
The sight stopped him cold.
A massive wolf-like beast lay crumpled in the dirt, its silver fur matted with blood that glowed faintly in the dim light. Its eyes, an otherworldly blue, locked onto him, unblinking and fierce. The creature's chest rose and fell weakly, every breath labored. Beside it, a man in battered armor leaned against a jagged rock, his chest rising and falling in shallow gasps.
Kael's throat went dry. He'd heard stories of beasts like these—spirits bound to magic, capable of terrible power. But this creature… it didn't look fierce. It looked exhausted, defeated.
"Boy…" the man rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "You've… come."
Kael stepped back instinctively, his spear trembling in his hands. "I—I didn't mean to—"
"There's no time." The man's hand shot out, grabbing Kael's wrist with surprising strength. "The bond… you must take it. Or the beast will die… and so will you."
Kael shook his head, panic rising in his chest. "I don't understand!"
The man's grip tightened, and the glow from the beast flared, enveloping them both in blinding light. Kael felt a rush of heat, a surge of energy that stole his breath. Images flashed in his mind—ancient battles, roaring storms, and a connection so deep it felt like his soul was being torn apart and rebuilt.
When the light faded, the man was still.
The beast stirred.
Kael fell to his knees, his chest heaving. His hand tingled where the man had touched him, now faintly glowing with the same light. The beast rose slowly, towering over him, its glowing eyes unblinking.
It didn't attack.
Instead, it lowered its head, and Kael felt a pulse of recognition, a silent promise. He was no longer alone.
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