Azriel's pulse raced as he dashed through the dense underbrush, his breath ragged, each step heavier than the last. The sound of the scream had triggered something deep inside him, a primal urge to protect, to act before it was too late. He didn't know who or what had made that noise, but it didn't matter. The moment his feet had carried him forward, his mind had gone into overdrive.
'Focus. Don't stop.'
The trees blurred around him, the forest's shadows thick with the night's approach. Azriel's hands gripped the Sigil tightly, the magical energy crackling along his veins, urging him onward. The Sigil hummed, almost as though it recognized the urgency of his actions. It felt alive in his grasp, as though it was pushing him toward his goal.
'What the hell was that scream?' Azriel thought, his heart pounding in his chest. 'And why does it feel like I've heard it before?'
The eerie shriek echoed again, closer this time. The sound cut through the stillness of the night like a knife. It wasn't human. There was something wrong about it, something unnatural. Azriel's instincts screamed at him, warning him of danger—real danger, not the kind of skirmishes he'd dealt with before.
'I need to be ready for anything,' Azriel reminded himself. 'This isn't the same as running from those hunters. This feels different. Much worse.'
He pushed his legs harder, sprinting through the thickening trees, until a clearing finally appeared before him. The sight that met him stopped him dead in his tracks.
In the center of the clearing, a massive, twisted figure stood hunched over a crumpled form on the ground. The creature's body was covered in tattered, shadow-like tendrils that seemed to shift and pulse with dark energy. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, an unholy hue that sent a chill crawling down Azriel's spine. The figure was slowly bending down to its victim, a soft, menacing sound emanating from its throat.
Azriel froze, his heart pounding in his chest. His breath came out in shallow, uneven gasps. He had to act fast.
'I'm not strong enough to face that thing,' Azriel thought, panic rising in the back of his mind. 'I don't even know what that is!'
The victim on the ground—a young woman, her face pale and twisted in agony—was barely moving. Azriel's heart clenched as he took in her fragile form. The creature was clearly feeding on her, or perhaps something worse. The very sight of it made Azriel's blood run cold.
'What the hell is that thing? What kind of monster is this?' Azriel's mind spun, his instincts at war with his conscience. 'I need to help her. But I can't take that thing on alone.'
He didn't have time to think, not with the creature so close. His grip tightened on the Sigil, and a strange surge of power flowed through him. The Sigil pulsed again, this time more violently, as if reacting to the danger. A voice—louder, clearer—whispered inside his mind, coaxing him.
'Use it. The power is yours to command.'
His breath hitched. The voice was familiar—too familiar. It was the same voice that had whispered to him when he first awakened the Sigil's power. It was guiding him, urging him to unleash its full potential.
'I'm not ready,' Azriel thought, dread rising in his chest. 'What if I lose control? What if it's too much?'
But the image of the woman, her life slipping away with every passing second, was enough to push him forward. Without another thought, Azriel lifted the Sigil high, its dark energy flowing through his veins like fire. His vision blurred as raw power surged into him, filling his muscles, making them ache with the strain of containing it.
The creature noticed him then. Its eyes snapped toward him, glowing with malevolent intent. The moment their gazes locked, Azriel felt a shudder run through his body, as if the creature could see straight into his very soul. It growled, deep and guttural, its twisted form lurching toward him with alarming speed.
'It's coming for me,' Azriel thought, panic rising in his chest. 'I can't let it reach me.'
His mind was a maelstrom of fear and doubt, but one thing was clear: he had no choice. The Sigil's power was his only weapon. He could either embrace it, or risk losing everything.
'I have to do this.'
Azriel's feet moved before he consciously told them to. He could feel the power coursing through him, and as the creature lunged, he thrust his hand forward. A bolt of black energy shot from the Sigil, striking the creature square in the chest. The impact caused the thing to stumble back, its massive form reeling as the dark energy crackled against its twisted flesh.
The creature howled in pain, but the sound was almost... triumphant. As if it had expected this attack, and it was only a precursor to what would follow. The tendrils on its body seemed to flare with a dark glow, and before Azriel could react, it surged forward once again, faster than before.
'Damn it,' Azriel thought, desperation clawing at his throat. 'It's too fast. I can't keep up!'
But then, just as the creature was about to strike, a flash of light erupted from the trees behind Azriel. He didn't see the source of the light, but the creature did. It screeched and recoiled, its eyes wide with fear.
Azriel spun around, confusion clouding his thoughts. Another figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, cloaked individual with a staff glowing with an ethereal light. The figure raised the staff, and a blinding burst of energy shot out, striking the creature once more. This time, the creature let out a shriek of pure agony, its form disintegrating in a flash of smoke and light.
Azriel stood there, stunned, his body trembling with adrenaline. The Sigil in his hand pulsed weakly, as if in response to the sudden onslaught. The energy from the battle had left him exhausted, but the relief of seeing the creature fall was enough to steady his breath.
The cloaked figure approached, his steps slow and deliberate. Azriel tensed, ready to defend himself, but the figure only raised a hand in greeting.
"Don't worry," the figure said in a calm, melodic voice. "I'm not here to harm you."
Azriel eyed the figure warily, still uncertain. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
The figure lowered his hood, revealing a sharp-featured face with piercing eyes and a calm expression. "I'm a friend," the figure said. "Or at least, I hope to be."
Azriel was silent for a moment, his mind still spinning from the events. He glanced at the woman lying on the ground. She was still breathing, but barely. Without hesitation, Azriel rushed to her side, checking for any immediate signs of injury.
The figure stepped forward, offering a hand to help. "You're lucky you found her," the figure continued. "This forest is filled with creatures like that one. Dangerous... but I'm guessing you've already learned that the hard way."
Azriel nodded, still focusing on the woman. "I don't know what happened to her... but I'm not letting her die here."
"Good," the figure replied, the edge of a smile forming on his lips. "You're stronger than you think, Azriel."
Azriel looked up at the figure, startled. 'How does he know my name?' he thought, suspicion creeping in.