"Who is he?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. Zarak's expression turned grave, his brows furrowing as he bent closer, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
He placed his hands on my arms, his grip firm but gentle. "Aries," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I don't have time to explain everything. But you need to listen. You have to grow stronger, no matter what it takes. You must lead the charge, stop them before it's too late."
His words carried a weight, and the desperation in his tone was unmistakable. Something was off, but before I could process it, he took another step closer to me.
He was inches away now, his breath warm on my skin. "I can't do this anymore," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can't defeat them, but I'll use every last bit of mana I have left to teleport you away."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "Teleport me? Zarak, what are you—"
His grip tightened slightly. "You need to conquer it, Aries. The power of the Aetherstone... it's yours now. You must understand what it holds. It will change everything." His voice wavered, a mixture of determination and pleading, and before I could protest, his hand shot up.
A faint, ethereal glow began to emanate from his fingertips, swirling in the air around us. I could feel the weight of the magic, its presence nearly suffocating.
"What is this?" My voice cracked with confusion, panic bubbling up in my chest. "Zarak, stop! I don't understand. Please—"
I tried to step back, but his hands held me firmly in place. The energy around us intensified, the magic crackling like an electric storm. "Zarak, I don't understand, what are you saying? Who am I supposed to stop?" My voice wavered with fear, but he just stared at me, his expression resolute.
"Promise me, Aries," he said, his voice desperate now, but before he could finish, the teleportation spell surged to life, and I felt an overwhelming sensation of weightlessness.
A dizzying whirlpool of colors engulfed me, and for a split second, I thought I might lose consciousness. But just as quickly, the world around me shifted. The earth seemed to tremble beneath my feet, and then, everything was still.
The next moment, I was no longer in the dark cave. The forest spread before me, dense and unfamiliar, shadows stretching out like claws in the fading light. I staggered to my feet, breathless, still disoriented from the abrupt teleportation.
I spat out the taste of dirt, rubbing my mouth with my sleeve. "Where did I even end up?" I muttered under my breath, scanning the surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and damp leaves, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures echoing through the trees.
"So... he teleported me near the forest," I said to myself, still trying to process the abrupt transition. My heart was racing, but a strange sense of relief washed over me as I realized that, while unfamiliar, the forest wasn't entirely disorienting. At least I wasn't lost, not yet.
"Huhff," I exhaled, a nervous laugh escaping. "I thought he'd send me somewhere worse. I was scared for nothing."
I let my shoulders relax for a moment, but the uneasy tension in my gut remained. I had no idea where I was, or how long I'd been gone, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone.
I started moving, my feet crunching softly on the forest floor, my eyes darting through the trees. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp wood, and the faint rustling of leaves played like a soft symphony around me. But something felt... wrong. The silence in the deeper parts of the forest pressed down, unsettling in its unnatural stillness.
"Hmm... I need to get back," I murmured, quickening my pace. "Gramps will be worried. I don't have time to waste."
As I navigated through the thick forest, my eyes caught sight of a lifeless fox lying on the ground, its body limp and cold in the shadows of the underbrush. A chill crawled up my spine, and I knelt down, gingerly picking it up.
"Some food here," I muttered, though the thought didn't bring the comfort I expected. The fox's body felt unnaturally heavy, and a deep unease settled in my chest.
Examining the body more closely, I noticed strange, jagged claw marks slashed through its flesh. They were deep, precise. A shiver ran down my spine.
"What the—?" I whispered to myself, eyes wide in disbelief. "What could've done this?"
Before I could contemplate it further, a desperate cry split the stillness of the forest.
"Aaaahhh! Help me!" The shout was ragged, filled with terror. My heart skipped a beat, and without a second thought, I darted towards the sound.
I pushed through the thick underbrush, branches snapping against my skin. The cries grew louder, more frantic, pulling me forward with a primal urgency. My breath quickened, and my pulse raced in my ears as I pushed forward, panic clawing at my chest.
I burst into a small clearing—and froze.
Three twisted mana creatures, their forms writhing in unnatural, ethereal tendrils, were attacking a figure on the ground. Their bodies pulsed with dark energy, their hollow eyes glinting with hunger.
The person they were attacking was struggling, trying to fend them off, but they were outmatched. "Get away! Please, go away!" they screamed, their voice trembling with fear.
The creatures seemed to feed off the fear, growing stronger with each desperate plea. A strange, suffocating aura filled the clearing, the air growing thick and oppressive. I could feel it, the darkness closing in, making the space feel like it was swallowing us whole.
I didn't think—there was no time for thought. Without hesitation, I stepped forward, positioning myself between the creatures and their victim.
"Get off of here, you filthy monsters!" My voice rang out, loud and commanding. The creatures froze, sensing my presence.
One of them, its form like a shadow twisted by the moonlight, charged toward me, its tendrils lashing out.
"Not good," I muttered, my instincts kicking in as I raised my fist. Flames flickered on my hand, small but enough. The magic sparked in the air, crackling with heat.
The creature was fast, but I was faster.
I slammed my fist into its center, a burst of heat and power exploding from my hand. "Flame Emperor!" I whispered, feeling the magic surge through me. My knuckles connected with the creature's body with a sickening crunch, sending a shockwave through my arm.
It staggered back, shrieking in pain, the tendrils twisting in agony. I stood firm, eyes burning with resolve.
The creatures paused, reeling from the sudden assault. The one I'd hit flopped backward, its monstrous form flailing in a desperate retreat. The others hesitated, unsure, and I could sense their confusion.
"You want to feed off fear?" I spat, stepping forward. "Well, you'll have to deal with me first."
The air between us thickened with tension as the creatures regarded me warily.