Ananiel

We return to a less crowded inn, where Yuka is fiddling with her bow, and Cecil is reading a book.

“We’re ready”

I hear Khalid say as he nudges the spear, showing off my new weapon. Cecil closes his book and gets up from the table.

“That took a while.”

He lets out a yawn as Yuka approaches with a rather annoyed face.

“Do you know what time it is? It’s past midday and the sun is starting to go down!”

Khalid scratches and lowers his head,

“Sorry… Had to find the perfect weapon for Clover over there.”

I let out a forceful chuckle,

“Haha… Alright, so where to?”

Yuka points out the door,

“To the farmlands out east!”

We walk through the door inconveniently on the same road towards the blacksmith.

The gray clouds grew slightly darker as we arrived at the east gate of Cornelius. The wind was relatively still as we gazed over fields of corn and wheat. Following the main road, we eventually point out a distant farmhouse.

“Over there!”

Yuka exclaims as she paces ahead of everyone else. Increasing our pace, we find ourselves in front of the farmhouse. Khalid approaches the front door and knocks.

“Hello?”

Khalid asks and waits for a response.

“Hello, hello?”

He repeats once more, but no response. Carefully twisting the doorknob, Khalid opens the door to a deserted, empty hallway tarnished by claw marks.

“What the heck happened here?

I hear Khalid whisper as we make our way into the house. It was as if a beast snuck in and fought the farmer. The scratches dug into the walls, and signs of bite marks gnawed into the door frames. Cecil began a prayer as I opened up Dominic’s request.

“There have been sightings of a potential beastly manifestation around the farmlands. I reckon it be investigated and reported back to me or any Watchers in the area. Please, do be careful and wager if it is dealable by yourself, or if this problem needs assistance from us.”

I fold the paper back into my pocket and let out a sigh.

“Hey guys, do we want to continue with this hunt now?”

I look towards Khalid as he looks back and forth at Yuka and Cecil.

“I don’t know… this is definitely a danger we were not expecting.”

Khalid scratches his head as Yuka perks up

“I want to know what happened here. There’s no way that a creature like this could possibly exist.”

Yuka sticks her finger into the claw mark and seems lost in thought.

“Hmm, I’m curious too. But it will be risky.”

Cecil comments as he pulls up a wooden chair. I reached into my satchel and inspected what was in there.

1 red scroll

1 teal scroll

1 green scroll

1 Orange scroll

I take them out and ask,

“Do you guys know what these scrolls do?”

Cecil's eyes perk up as he takes the orange scroll and hands it to Khalid.

“Well count us lucky, I think with these scrolls it could make this easier.”

Cecil smiles as he points at the other scrolls

“The teal one will make you happy, the green helps with focus, and the red slows down enemies. The orange one will help boost strength when used.”

He hands one to each of us. Yuka received the red scroll, Khalid got the orange scroll, and I received the green scroll. Cecil smiles brightly as he tucks away the teal scroll into his attire.

“Alright, I think we are ready enough.”

I hear Khalid say as he gestures to us to exit the door. We make our way out and onto the main path towards the forest. The scent of wet dirt lingered in the air as a chill hung low. The sky turned increasingly dark as we wandered through an off-beaten path. Leaves of brown spread between the withering trees as flakes of snow drifted from the sky. Gradually, the ever-darkening clouds hovered over the land. A lonesome moon hung above, barely piercing through the wispy, smoke-like clouds below. The frigid wind howled through the dark forest as the scent of smoke filled the air. A lone campfire illuminated the darkness. Looking back and forth at each other, we decide to approach the camp. A lone individual with a tarnished cap and patchworked clothes tended to the flames.

“It’s nice to see you again.”

Lantern throws the stick into the fire and glances at the four of us. Taking the initiative, I step forward and go for a seat.

“It’s nice to see you too.”

I gesture to the group,

“Come sit, I know this guy.”

The party sits around the campfire as Lantern sets up a pot of water.

“You know it’s dangerous out here? A beastly manifestation wanders this woods.”

Lantern lets go of the pot and gazes up towards the sky. No stars could be seen through the darkness above. Yuka awkwardly smiles at the campfire and glances at Lantern,

“...What’s a beastly manifestation?”

Lantern lets out a sigh as snow descends on the fire.

“A beastly manifestation… A collective belief or desire for something. Especially of a bestial nature, coming to reality.”

The darkness around us seemed to stir as we leaned closer to the light.

“A creature only heard from stories… Often mysterious and out of sight”

The trees creaked in the distance as the wind’s howl swirls around the fire. Lantern hurriedly pours the water over the campfire as footsteps dash through the surrounding darkness.

“Be prepared, it’s here”

We raise our weapons and position ourselves around the camp. The faint wisps of smoke plume up as the moonlight suddenly flickers. One pass, two passes, three passes. The creature darts across the treeline, vanishing into the ever-expansive darkness.

“Over there!”

Khalid points his sword at a silhouette in the distance. A wolf's head pokes out from a tree as Yuka fires an arrow. Thud* A low reverb echoed in the tense silence. Slowly, our eyes adjusted to the darkness. However, only a silhouette of movement darted between the trees. It was as if the darkness itself was the creature’s cloak.

“Watch out!”

Cecil exclaims as a massive figure swipe at me. I quickly fall to the ground as the figure dashes back into the trees. Suddenly, the air became heavy. Soft vibrations shook the area around us as everyone felt unease.

May starlight twinkle,

it's beautiful,

and bountiful,

Light.

Words formed around Lantern as twinkling wisps of light emerged around the forest. Immediately, our attention shifted to the beastly manifestation. A creature, around 7 feet tall, with knife-like claws and a wolf’s skull. Its form towered above us as its sharp eyes peered toward the party. Awe and fear filled our faces as a screeching howl bellowed from its maw. The scent of blood filled the air as Yuka prepared an arrow. With a satisfying twang*, the arrow soared into the creature’s torso. It glared at us and immediately started dashing towards us. Khalid stood in the creature’s path. Its lengthy arms reach at Khalid, but he barely blocks it with his sword. Blood marks his tarnished sleeve as he barely dodges another swipe.

“Help him out!”

Lantern shouts at me as I tighten the grip on my spear and sprint towards the creature. Thrusting forward, I felt the spear dig into its skin. Khalid jumps back, hoping to catch a breath as I barely manage to pull out the spear.

“Look out!”

Khalid shouts as the creature turns around and goes for a bite, snapping onto the spear’s shaft. I attempt to pry the weapon out but find myself lifting off the ground. The creature smirked widely as I was flung into the air, soaring towards the trees. Slamming into a tree, I nauseously gaze towards the rest of the party. I look up at the creature; its hounding eyes glare as it bolts toward me.

“Sh*t”

I weakly crawl on the tree and raise my spear towards the creature. Blinking twice, the beast got ever closer as my legs gave out, narrowly avoiding its broad swipe. Arrows wisp in the air as Yuka desperately shoots at the creature. Khalid dashed towards me, but it was too late; the beast was raising its arm into the air and going for a killing blow.

“Is this the end?”

Closing my eyes, my mind quickly processes every option I have to get out. Hazily looking up at the creature, I feel the world starting to flicker. Anger curls my face as I raise my spear high up.

“Not yet!”

I roar as the weight of the creature’s strike slams down at me. Feeling my arms give out, I See the creature going in for another strike. My hazy eyes look up as letters start trailing from the creature’s form. Sticking my hand out, an intense feeling of hunger and spite funnels towards me.

Envelop me, O’fleeting wind

My eyes glare at this creature as the wind tears around me. Cuts streaked the trees and the dirt. I close my eyes, the world standing entirely still as an invisible force flows around me. Pushing my palm forward, a massive gust of wind shoots forward, knocking away the creature. Noticeably feared, the beast leaps back and starts running away. Khalid, noticing this, gives chase. Swing after swing, he tears up the creature's skin as it bolts away. Cecil glares at the incoming creature and quickly doses some daggers with his blood.

“Get some fire, quickly!”

He shouts at Yuka and Lantern. Nodding at each other, Lantern tosses a lit torch towards Yuka as she raises it in her bow. Prepping the daggers, Cecil slowly counts down as the creature rushes towards them.

“3… 2… 1…”

Cecil throws his daggers at the creature, which quickly lands. Yuka raises her shot as Cecil shouts

“Now!”

The torch soars in the air and lands on the creature. Instantly, the fire trails toward Cecil’s daggers and the beast tumbles forward. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, The creature falls to the ground and flings itself towards Yuka, extending its maw. In a moment of shock, Yuka freezes up.

“Sh*t!”

Khalid tears the orange scroll, and his face reddens. A faint aura flares up as he quickly jumps between the creature’s maw and Yuka. Chomping down, Khalid screams as his arm gets punctured by its teeth. The creature vigorously shakes its head and tugs off Khalid’s arm.

Huff* Puff*

Khalid hastily thrusts his arm into its eye and starts wrestling the creature.

“Get off of him!”

Cecil lets out a raging cry and jumps onto the creature. Plunging his daggers repeatedly for as many times as he could muster. Soon, Khalid glances up at the sky as pain aches. Tears start trailing down Yuka’s face as she crawls backward in horror. It was a gruesome scene, but eventually, the creature stopped twitching. Everyone collapses to the ground as the beast lays still. Finally, the creature has been slain.

Letting out a sigh, we all compose ourselves as Cecil rolls off the creature and stands up.

“Quickly Light a campfire!”

He pleads as Lantern does as commanded. Limping from exhaustion, Cecil quickly rushes over to Khalid, who stands upright, paralyzed from exhaustion.

“O’ Ithax, I command your holy essence… ”

Cecil murmurs as he wipes some blood off his face. Trails of orange light wisp into the air and slowly funnel their way onto the gaping wound. Khalid held still as tears flowed down his eyes. Yuka sat nearby, curled up, and sobbed. Khalid, Noticing this, barely turns his head around and smiles

“What’s wrong?”

She tucks her arms in her face and replies

“Your arm…”

He forces a smirk and playfully responds

“What… about my arm?”

“It’s gone, and it’s all my fault.”

Yuka starts sobbing again, and after seeing this, Khalid tries to comfort her.

“It’s not anyone’s fault. You all fought well.”

“But that arm was your sword arm?”

“So? I can always learn again. It’s just swinging…”

Khalid's optimism dies down as he ponders deeply and collapses as the paralysis fades away.

“How about we get some much needed rest?”

Lantern stands up and gestures towards me to come close. Heading over, we all sat close to the campfire, each of us in silence as we embraced the warmth of the flame. Closing my eyes, I could only imagine the amount of pain Khalid was going through as I quickly fell to sleep.