Liam soared through the night sky, his wings cutting through the cold air with ease. The moon cast a pale glow over the world below, but the world felt far away, like a distant memory he couldn't quite grasp. The transformation into a Wyvern had been both exhilarating and terrifying. His body had become stronger, more powerful, but with that power came an overwhelming sense of displacement.
Every beat of his wings reminded him of how much he had changed. He wasn't the same creature that had slithered through the forest anymore. No longer a mere Basilisk, he was now something else—something greater, but also something alien. As he flew higher, the wind rushing past his face, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was becoming something unrecognizable.
Yet, despite the fear that tugged at him, a part of him reveled in the new sensation. The rush of air against his scales, the strength in his muscles, the fire that burned in his chest—it was intoxicating. He had always been afraid of change, of losing who he was. But now, the power coursing through him felt like a release, a liberation from the constraints of his old form.
But it wasn't just the physical change that was troubling him—it was the emotional weight. The more he evolved, the more distant the world below seemed. His connection with Elena, the one person who had shown him kindness in this strange new world, felt like it was slipping through his claws. The bond they had shared had been his anchor, but now, as he flew farther and farther from the ground, he wondered if it was enough.
He hadn't spoken to her much since his transformation. He didn't know what to say. How could he explain this? How could he make her understand that, in his quest for power, he feared he was losing something more important?
The sound of wings flapping beside him brought him out of his thoughts. He turned his head sharply, his eyes narrowing in the darkness. Another Wyvern—its silhouette was unmistakable against the night sky.
It was Elena.
She had followed him.
Her eyes met his, and in them, he saw a mixture of concern and determination. She was flying alongside him, her own wings powerful and graceful, the wind carrying her as effortlessly as it carried him.
"Liam," she called, her voice cutting through the wind. "I know this is difficult, but you can't keep running from this."
"I'm not running," Liam snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. The words were tinged with frustration, but as soon as they left his mouth, he regretted them.
"I didn't mean to… it's just…" He trailed off, the words failing him as he struggled to explain the storm of emotions raging inside him.
"You're afraid," Elena said, her tone soft but firm. "You're afraid of what you've become, and I understand that. But you can't let that fear control you. You've changed, Liam, but you're still you."
Liam's eyes flickered to her, but he didn't respond. He couldn't. He was still too unsure of who he was, of what he had become. His new form was a constant reminder of how far he had come—and how far he still had to go.
"Liam," Elena said again, her voice cutting through his confusion. "Look at me."
He turned his head, his sharp gaze locking with hers. There was no judgment in her eyes—only understanding. "You've evolved, yes," she said, "but that doesn't mean you've lost yourself. You can control this power. You can choose how you use it. You don't have to be the beast."
Liam's wings faltered for a moment, a tremor of doubt running through his body. Could it really be that simple? Could he truly control the power he had gained, or was he doomed to become a mindless monster?
The wind shifted, and for a moment, everything seemed to pause. He was hovering in midair, suspended between the earth below and the vast, endless sky above. He could feel the raw power inside him, pulsing with an intensity he had never known. It was all-consuming, overwhelming, yet strangely freeing.
But Elena's words stuck with him. You don't have to be the beast.
A new wave of determination swept through him, and he straightened his wings, feeling the strength in every muscle. The fire in his chest was still there, but now it was a fire he could control, a power he could wield.
"I'm not the beast," Liam said, his voice steady. "I will never be the beast."
Elena smiled, a look of relief washing over her face. "I knew you could do it."
They flew side by side for a while, the night air rushing past them, the world below silent and still. Liam felt more at ease now, as though the weight that had been pressing down on him was finally starting to lift.
But as they neared the edge of the forest, Liam could see the flickering lights of the Blackwood estate in the distance. The reality of the world he had left behind was pulling him back, and the battle was far from over. There would be more challenges ahead, more enemies, more obstacles. But now, with Elena by his side, he knew that he wasn't alone.
The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time since his transformation, he felt a glimmer of hope. He had power, yes—but he also had control. And that, he realized, was the most important thing of all.