The night stretched endlessly over the Blackthorn Forest, its dense canopy blotting out the moonlight. Shadows wove through the trees like silent specters, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves. Somewhere in the distance, a lone owl hooted, its cry swallowed by the rustling of unseen creatures lurking beyond the veil of darkness.

Elias moved carefully, each step measured, his breath shallow. He had no desire to become another nameless corpse in these cursed woods. He clutched his tattered cloak tightly around himself, though it did little to shield him from the cold that gnawed at his bones. Hunger clawed at his stomach, a dull ache that had become all too familiar. His last meal had been nothing more than stale bread and a few dried berries.

The world was unkind to the weak, and Elias knew this better than anyone.

At sixteen, he had no home to return to. No family waiting for him. No legacy to uphold. He was nothing more than a wanderer, scraping by on whatever scraps fate threw his way. It had been months since he had fled his village, chased away by the accusing glares of people who once called him one of their own.

A thief. A curse-bringer. A burden.

The words still echoed in his mind, but Elias forced them away. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing did—except survival.

The night deepened, and the mist thickened, curling around his ankles like ghostly fingers. Blackthorn Forest was infamous, a place whispered about in fearful tones. Many who entered never returned, and those who did spoke of things that should not exist.

Elias didn't believe in legends. Or rather, he had no choice but to ignore them. Superstition wouldn't fill his stomach, nor would it keep him warm.

But something about this night felt different.

The air had changed.

It was subtle at first—a shift so delicate that it was barely noticeable. The usual hum of nocturnal life had quieted, leaving behind an eerie stillness. The wind no longer rustled through the leaves. The distant calls of animals had vanished.

Silence.

A cold shiver ran down Elias's spine.

Then he heard it.

A low, rumbling growl.

It came from the shadows ahead, deep and primal, vibrating through the very ground beneath his feet. It was not the snarl of a common beast. This sound carried weight—an ancient resonance that stirred something deep within his bones.

Elias's grip on his rusted dagger tightened. He had no delusions of victory against whatever lurked in the darkness, but he would not die without a fight.

The mist parted.

Golden eyes emerged from the abyss, glowing like molten suns.

Elias's breath hitched.

A creature unlike any he had ever seen slinked forward, its form weaving between the trees with an unnatural grace. Its fur shimmered under the faint moonlight, a swirling mixture of deep blue and streaks of silver, as if the night sky itself had been woven into its being.

It was massive, standing taller than any wolf or bear. Its claws pressed into the damp soil with deliberate intent, leaving behind faintly glowing marks.

This was no ordinary beast.

Elias knew the stories—tales of creatures that roamed the infinite realms, beings of legend that chose their own fate. Some became companions to those deemed worthy, granting them strength beyond mortal limits. Others devoured the unworthy, their bones lost to the wilderness.

Which fate awaited him?

The beast tilted its head, golden eyes never leaving his.

Elias could feel it.

A presence—vast, consuming, pressing down on his very soul. It was as if the creature wasn't just looking at him but through him, unraveling every secret, every fear, every thought buried deep within.

A test.

Elias forced himself to stand firm, despite the primal instinct screaming at him to run.

Finally, the creature spoke.

"You are not ready… yet."

The voice was deep, resonant, echoing within his very mind.

Pain.

Searing, burning pain tore through Elias's chest, ripping a gasp from his lips. He collapsed to his knees, clutching at his shirt as something carved itself into his skin—something unseen yet undeniable.

He could feel it spreading, an ancient force etching its mark into his very being. His vision blurred, his heartbeat pounded in his ears, and a tidal wave of exhaustion crashed over him.

The last thing he saw before the darkness swallowed him whole—

Was the beast's knowing smile.