Aedric raced toward the village, the glowing amulet bouncing against his chest with every step. The screams grew louder, blending with the sound of shattering wood and the panicked cries of villagers. When he reached the edge of Emberfall, his worst fears were confirmed: the once-quiet village was under attack.
Shadows moved like living smoke, slithering through the streets. They coalesced into monstrous forms—hulking beasts with glowing red eyes and limbs that seemed to flicker in and out of existence. Their movements were unnatural, as though the air itself resisted their presence.
Aedric ducked behind a wagon, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He watched as one of the creatures lunged at a villager, its clawed hand slicing through the air. The man screamed as the beast struck, leaving behind not blood, but a strange, shimmering void where his chest should have been. The villager collapsed, lifeless, his form fading as though swallowed by the shadows.
Aedric clutched the amulet tightly. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. The veiled woman had spoken of powers, but he felt no different—just the same helpless boy who couldn't even catch fish most days.
"Aedric!" a voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Mara, the village blacksmith's daughter, sprinting toward him. Her auburn hair was matted with sweat and ash, and she carried a short sword that looked too heavy for her.
"Get out of here!" she shouted, her voice hoarse. "It's not safe!"
"No kidding," Aedric muttered, glancing at the shadow creatures. "What are those things?"
"I don't know!" Mara panted. "They came out of nowhere. The elders tried to fight them, but nothing works. Blades go right through them, and fire doesn't even faze them."
Aedric swallowed hard, his gaze falling to the glowing amulet in his hand. "She said I had powers," he murmured, more to himself than to Mara.
"What?" Mara asked, her eyes narrowing.
Before he could explain, one of the shadow beasts turned its attention toward them. It let out a guttural growl, its form shifting and distorting as it bounded forward.
"Move!" Mara shouted, grabbing Aedric's arm and pulling him back just as the creature's clawed hand swiped through the space where he had been standing.
Aedric stumbled, his heart hammering in his chest. The beast loomed over them, its crimson eyes locking onto the amulet. It hissed, its form quivering as if drawn to the object's light.
Without thinking, Aedric raised the amulet. The symbols on its surface flared, brighter than the sun, and a surge of energy erupted from it. The shadow beast recoiled, letting out an otherworldly shriek as the light engulfed it. Its form wavered and then dissolved, scattering like ash in the wind.
Mara stared at Aedric, her mouth agape. "What... what was that?"
"I don't know," Aedric said, his voice trembling. "But I think it's the only thing that can stop them."
As if on cue, more of the creatures began converging on their position, drawn to the light of the amulet. Aedric's grip tightened around it. He didn't know how to control its power or what it would cost him, but he had no choice.
"Get behind me," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
"Aedric, you can't—" Mara began, but he cut her off.
"Just do it!"
Mara hesitated but obeyed, stepping back as Aedric faced the oncoming shadows. The amulet pulsed again, the light spreading out in waves. As the creatures closed in, Aedric felt something stir within him—a spark of courage, or perhaps desperation. He raised the amulet higher, and the light flared, driving back the darkness.
But the effort left him staggering. The energy drained him, leaving him weak and gasping for air.
"Aedric!" Mara caught him as he swayed.
"They're not gone," he whispered, his eyes fluttering open.
She looked around. The shadows had retreated, but their glowing eyes remained, watching from the edges of the village.
"This isn't over," Mara said grimly.
"No," Aedric agreed, his grip on the amulet tightening. "It's just beginning."