The night was eerily quiet, the air heavy with a tension no one had noticed until now. The campfire, slowly reducing twigs to embers, cast dancing shadows on the surrounding trees. Rena slept deeply, curled up near Shela and Eliam, while Lucas kept watch, his sword resting on his knee. His eyes scanned the surroundings, but his mind wandered.
Rena, however, was not as peaceful as she seemed. In her sleep, a whisper echoed in her mind, soft yet insistent.
"Rena… come… come to us…"
She found herself alone in a dark forest, every tree stretching its gnarled branches like claws trying to grab her. The air was cold, almost suffocating. Shadows slid between the trunks, their outlines blurry but terrifyingly threatening.
"No… leave me alone…"she murmured in her dream.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared out of nowhere, its icy hand wrapping around her wrist.
"You are ours, goddess…"
Rena screamed, struggling with all her strength. Her cry broke through the barrier of the dream, echoing into the night. Lucas jumped, his hand gripping his sword as he turned sharply.
"Eliam! Shela! Wake up!"he shouted.
A shadow, silent and stealthy, had crept toward Rena as she slept. Its spectral fingers wrapped around her ankle, slowly dragging her toward the darkness.
Eliam's eyes snapped open instantly, while Shela quickly rummaged through her pocket, pulling out a crystalline stone that glowed faintly.
"Lux vincit tenebras," Shela chanted, her voice firm and resonant.
The stone suddenly burst into a brilliant light, like a miniature sun. The shadow let out a piercing shriek, releasing Rena's leg before fleeing into the forest at full speed.
Rena woke with a start, breathing rapidly, her body trembling with fear.
"What happened?"she asked in a panicked voice, tears welling in her eyes.
Eliam placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his gaze serious but protective.
"A shadow tried to take you. Since the first seal was broken, they've been roaming everywhere. They are all connected to each other and are looking for you. Luckily, they fear the light."
Lucas, his sword still in hand, kept a wary eye on the darkness.
"We can't stay here. That thing will come back with reinforcements."
As if to confirm his fears, the sound of branches snapping echoed, followed by heavy footsteps. Several figures emerged from the shadows: five men with eyes as black as night, void of any humanity. Their movements were slow, mechanical, but their posture exuded menace.
One of them spoke, his voice rough and distorted, as if multiple beings were speaking at once.
"Give us the goddess. Do it, and you will live."
Shela crossed her arms, her face showing a sarcastic smile.
"Sorry, not on the menu tonight."
The darkened man didn't respond but slowly raised his hand. A black flame burst from his fingers, twisted and malevolent, casting a faint glow on the group. The others followed suit, projecting their powers in an arc of burning energy toward the camp.
"Take cover!"** Eliam shouted.
Lucas leapt forward, his sword glowing with a reddish hue. He deflected an attack just in time, the black flame ricocheting off his blade. With a swift motion, he slashed through the air, sending a shockwave that pushed his opponent back.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted with a smirk.
The man in front of him reacted by summoning a sword made of black flames. The two weapons clashed violently, the flames and light creating a dazzling dance of reflections. Lucas, focused, activated his power: a blood-red energy enveloped his sword, increasing his speed and strength.
Shela, meanwhile, dodged the black flame arrows her opponent fired at her. With almost supernatural precision, she summoned a gust of wind, deflecting the projectiles and sending them back at her attacker. She then manipulated the winds to rip branches from trees, hurling them with force to pin her enemy to the ground.
Eliam, initially defensive, used his power to create shields of luminous energy. Each time his opponent attacked, Eliam countered with bursts of light that disoriented the possessed man. He eventually concentrated his energy into a dagger, throwing it to sever the shadow's connection to its host.
As the battle raged, three enormous wolves emerged from the shadows, their fangs gleaming in the firelight. They attacked the two remaining humans with precision and ferocity, forcing them onto the defensive.
But Rena was not safe. A shadow took advantage of the chaos to creep behind her. Before she could react, the creature grabbed her ankle, trying to drag her into the darkness.
"No!"she screamed, her fear triggering a buried power within her.
Her eyes turned white, glowing with blue undertones. Pure energy radiated from her, brilliant and devastating. She grabbed the shadow with her bare hands, reducing it to dust with a single powerful motion.
Seeing this display, the other shadows hesitated. Rena, now aware of her power, rushed toward her friends. With a fluid movement of her hands, she flung the five possessed men into the air, tearing the shadows from their bodies. The shadows dissolved into nothingness, destroyed by her energy.
When it was over, the freed men fell to the ground, dazed but alive. They fled as soon as they noticed the wolves watching them with glowing eyes.
Eliam approached Rena, his face a mix of shock and admiration.
"Well… if that's not strength, I don't know what is."
Rena, still in a trance, didn't notice one of the wolves whimpering, unable to stand. A strange light glowed on its injured paw. She calmed herself, and as she regained control, the light faded, and the wolf stopped whining.
Shela, stunned, shook her head.
"No… it can't be. A werewolf as a guardian? Well, at least we won't have to climb these mountains alone."
Rena's gaze settled on the wounded wolf, its whimpers tugging at her heartstrings. She slowly approached, her movements careful and cautious.
But barely a few steps in, the other two wolves let out a low, menacing growl. Their yellow eyes fixed on Rena with a protective intensity, their bodies tense, ready to pounce. Rena stopped in her tracks, sensing the danger in the air. Lucas immediately stepped in front of her, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his expression serious.
"Stay back," he ordered firmly.
Rena placed a hand on Lucas's arm, her voice soft but determined.
"I mean no harm. I just want... to know if the injured one is the person we're looking for."
Her words seemed to reach the wolves. Their growls faded, though their posture remained wary. After a long moment, they slowly stepped aside, allowing Rena to approach.
She knelt by the injured wolf, her eyes filled with concern. Before she could say or do anything, the two standing wolves began to transform. Their bodies began to shake, their bones cracking in a strange sound as their forms changed. Their fur retracted while their bodies stretched. In a matter of seconds, two naked men stood before them, their muscular silhouettes illuminated by the flickering firelight.
Rena widened her eyes before quickly turning her gaze away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Oh... oh no... I... I'm not looking!" she stammered.
Shela, on the other hand, let out a low whistle, her eyes wide open, clearly amused.
"Well, well... looks like nature was generous," she teased with a wide grin.
Lucas shot her a disgusted look, his tone showing his irritation.
"Shela, seriously? That's disgusting."
One of the men, his black hair framing his angular features, burst out laughing, a deep, mocking sound.
"Not everyone's as uptight as you, my friend."
The other man raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with irony.
"Who are you, exactly? And why are you here?"
Eliam stepped forward calmly and tried to briefly explain their presence and mission. Meanwhile, the injured wolf, still on the ground, began his transformation. His whimpers stopped as he suddenly stood up, taking his human form.
The man, visibly annoyed, grimaced as he placed a hand on his leg.
"Damn it, this mark hurts like hell!" he grumbled.
Rena, her eyes still closed to avoid looking, raised a trembling hand and murmured:
"Could you… please… put on some clothes?"
The injured man chuckled, amused.
"Well, looks like our goddess is a bit of a prude."
He stood up, his imposing frame now dominated by a mischievous expression.
"I'm Rurik. And you, what's your name, goddess?"
Shela, unable to hold back, kept staring at Rurik with a gleam in her eye.
"Not shy, that one. And judging by what I see, he's got plenty to be proud of," she muttered with a sly smile.
Rurik noticed her lingering gaze and winked.
"Looks like someone here isn't against a little closer look."
Lucas sighed heavily, clearly irritated.
"Rurik, you're the fourth guardian. We have a mission to complete, and you need to follow us."
But Rurik, still carefree, responded with a charming smile.
"Yeah, yeah, I already know all that. My dreams keep telling me. The refrain is well ingrained."
One of the other men, who had just transformed from a wolf, stepped forward.
"It's not safe to stay here. Come to our home. It's better than being out here. Another attack could come."
They all nodded, ready to follow the now human wolves. Rena, still unsettled by the turn of events, felt a strange sense of safety in the presence of these new allies.