The sun was dipping low in the forest behind him. Roderick helped lead the Baron's company — a column of armoured knights and shifty mages - deeper into the woods. The trees absorbed the waning light of day that hung with a pregnant stillness. The air was thick, charged with the tangy scents of pine and earthy decay. Greed festered beneath their shining armours, whispers of the "elf bounty" whispered among them like an infectious disease.
One knight, his visor up, grinned at his friend. "A real elf, caught and chained—enough gold to put me on the road to retirement."
Another mage's eyes glinted with hungry excitement. "Displaced elven mana... I heard it is worth more than a king's ransom."
But, as they continued into the wood, the whispers twisted into silence, until silence swallowed them whole. The forest was eerily silent. There were no more birdsong, no more buzzing and humming insects. The woods closed about them, transforming the licks of greed into nervous fidgets.
One knight, still young and mostly impressionable, frowned. "Where are the birds? Where are the animals," he asked as he clutched more tightly to his sword, something was wrong.
Another mage, old and wise enough, turned to Roderick. "Why is it so silent?" he asked quietly. "What are we about to walk into?"
Roderick gulped against the Sizeoner knot lodged in his throat, sweat beading on his forehead. "Nothing," he lied. "We just have to keep moving. We're close to the mine." There was no time for more than that.
But before any of them had the chance to argue, out of the silence came a scream; sharp and terrified, echoing from behind them.
They turned, and there he was; Valdrak.
The white tiger raced out of the dark like a wraith of death; its hoary form rushing ahead, claws glittering like blazing blue of summoned mana. Landing among the rear guard of knights, the first knight to contest was barely able to lift his shield, when Valdrak's claws ripped it and the man attached to it, with savage ease.
Blood sprayed out, soaking the multiple trees swollen underneath their yoke; there was collective panic as shouts rose up as the knights raised their shields to defend; their enforced ranks were vanquished in the wake of the beast's fury.
The mages hefted their staves, mana suddenly crisping in the air. One of the mages threw a spear made of ice, just as Valdrak turned; opening its huge jaws, followed by an even larger expanse of white hot mana erupting from its throat, shattering the ice and sending the mage tumbling limply on to the forest floor.
A knight charged as his sword rose over his head, Valdrak met him with a swift blow from a paw, breaking the man's breastplate with a sickening crack. As Valdrak finished with him, another knight rushed around him for the flank, only for Valdrak's tail to lash out, laced with mana, bursting that man's skull in chunks.
The mages gathered their strength, forming a circle of chant— of flame and water. Streams of fire accost Valdrak's flanks, distracting the mana woven into his fur. Valdrak roared, and the ground rumbled beneath him.
A lunge into the mages' ranks had his claws exploding into their circle. A water mage raised a temporary shield made of water, but Valdrak's fangs managed to get through it and blood and water sprayed everywhere.
Roderick stood on the outside, dumbfounded by this slaughter. All around him, men screamed and died, fallen knights who had ridden beside him, mages he had trusted in breaking the will of the forest. All to the white demon that moved beautifully like a nightmare.
As the last of the screams faded, he remained the last living creature on the battlefield. Valdrak had blood running from his mouth, his deep blue eyes which showed wisdom, history, and knowledge were piercing into Roderick—infinity in an observant gaze unyielding as a rock.
Roderick's legs trembled beneath him while he stood locked in attention—paralyzed and terrified to draw his sword.
A quiet voice broke the ambiance of mortality from the trees behind him. "Valdrak," Dion said quietly, walking out of the trees and shadows, "Spare him."
Valdrak snorted and Roderick felt the heat of Valdrak's breath which was now facing him. Roderick thought he might die now too—whole other reality—but Valdrak opened his massive jaws and turned and walked back to the bodies of the dead and began ripping the shoulders and necks apart—seemingly without concern.
Mira stood to the side of Roderick with no color in her face and wide eyes. Burizan, cowardly and craven, stood still and shocked to death by all of the bodies.
Dion stepped closer to Roderick, his youthful face stern with a cocked neck. "Loot them." He said quietly. "Their potions, their weapons—loot it all, and bring it back to Eclion."
Mira swallowed and nodded, her hands already working to strip the fallen of their armor. Burizan, hesitated, but of course the cold edge of Dion's tone left him no choice.
Roderick turned back to Dion, his face devoid of blood. "What. What do I do now?" he whispered.
Dion's eyes were cold and steady. "Go back to your Baron," he said. "Tell him the forest has answered."
Roderick swallowed hard, and shakily turned and shoved off down the forest path, mind reeling, soul hollow.
Far away from the blood-soaked glade, in the quiet of creaking carriage, Alfrenzo removed the cracked voice modulator and the heavy mask. Sweat beaded at Luenor's brow, his youthful face pale but intact.
He exhaled a long, shaking breath. "That was... harder than I thought," he admitted softly to Faren, who sat beside him. "Acting like that old monster..."
Faren smiled a small, grim smile. "You played the part well, Luenor."
Luenor's gaze was distant. "It's only a part," he said quietly. "But I have to make it real. Alfrenzo is out there now—so I have to make Luenor just as strong."
Hunter, riding alongside, nodded. "And you will," he said simply. "Because Alfrenzo's power is only the beginning… and yours will have to be more than an act."