Kael sat by the fire, his eyes fixed on the glowing embers. The glow from the beast still lingered in his mind—bright and blinding, yet strangely warm. He rubbed his wrist absently, where the man's grip had left a faint mark. It pulsed faintly beneath his skin, as though it had fused with something deeper inside him.
The beast lay nearby, still and silent. Its silver fur gleamed faintly in the firelight, and its eyes were closed now, as if resting, but Kael could feel the weight of its presence lingering in the air. Every breath it took seemed deliberate, as though it were fighting to recover.
Kael had never felt so alone. Even as the fire crackled and warmth spread through his chilled limbs, a strange emptiness filled him—the same emptiness that had driven him into the Wilds in the first place. His village was dying. People were starving. He had always been told to wait for help, to rely on others, but he couldn't wait anymore. He had to prove himself.
Yet now, here he was, with something beyond his wildest dreams—or nightmares—at his side. A beast, part spirit and part creature, bound to him by forces he didn't fully understand. And the man… the one who had given it to him. Gone now. Vanished into the shadows.
"Why did he give this to me?" Kael whispered to the fire, his voice hollow.
The beast shifted slightly, a low rumble escaping its throat. It lifted its head, its glowing eyes flickering open, and turned toward Kael. The creature's gaze was calm but piercing, as though it could see straight into his thoughts.
Kael shivered. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't want—"
The beast tilted its massive head, its gaze softening slightly. It seemed to understand, or at least acknowledge his confusion. No growl, no immediate threat. Just quiet recognition.
"You don't speak," Kael murmured, more to himself than the beast. "But you understand."
The creature remained silent, simply watching him.
For the first time, Kael wondered what had truly happened back there in the Wilds. The man had looked ready to die, clinging to him as though he had no other choice. And then, the glow—filling his vision, scorching hot, and searing his soul. It had felt like a merging, as though something had been taken from him and something else left behind in return. But what?
"You're not just a beast," Kael said slowly, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and suspicion. "You're… something more."
The beast stirred again, rising slightly, its muscles shifting beneath its silver coat. It moved closer, slow and deliberate, until it was only a few paces away from Kael. Its eyes never left him, watching, studying. There was something in its gaze—intelligent, yes, but something deeper, something that seemed… alive in a way that defied everything Kael had been told about beasts.
"You're not an animal," Kael whispered. "You're tied to magic—like I am now."
The creature's gaze narrowed, and it let out a low, almost soundless growl—one that wasn't threatening but more… wary. As though it too was trying to understand this new connection.
Kael took a deep breath, struggling to make sense of what had happened. "What does this bond mean? Why did it choose me?"
The beast's eyes flashed briefly—like a flicker of recognition—before it lowered its head once more. A faint pulse of energy passed between them, as if the bond between them was settling, becoming real.
Kael swallowed hard. "I can't control you… but you don't seem like something meant to be controlled. So what am I supposed to do with you?"
The creature didn't answer—at least, not in words. Instead, it sat back, its massive form relaxing slightly. The glow in its eyes dimmed, and it let out a deep, contented sigh—almost as if it were acknowledging Kael's confusion.
For the first time, Kael wondered what kind of power he had truly been given. Not just magic, but something… alive. And it seemed to respond to him—whether he wanted it to or not.
"I can't even fight," Kael muttered, shaking his head. "How am I supposed to do anything with you?"
The beast moved again, standing slowly. It walked a short distance away from Kael, its steps deliberate, measured. Then it paused, glancing back over its shoulder—waiting.
Kael watched it, his eyes narrowing. The beast was offering something—offering a chance to do more than just survive. A chance to stand for something greater, perhaps. But what was it expecting from him?
Kael rose to his feet and slowly followed, unsure but unwilling to resist. His fingers brushed the haft of his spear, still tightly gripped in his hand. Together, the two of them—man and beast—stirred in a strange harmony.
The bond had been made. Now, they would see where it led.