Chapter 2: Beasts of the Twilight Glade
The sun rose steadily over Silverspring, its golden rays glinting off the rippling Whispering River and lighting up the cobblestone streets. The town buzzed with its usual morning activity: merchants setting up shop, apprentices darting back and forth, and villagers greeting one another with cheerful smiles. But within the walls of the adventurers' guild, the air was thick with unease.
A farmer stood in the center of the common room, his face pale and his voice trembling. His hat was crushed between his hands as he explained his plight to Kaelyn Embermere, who listened intently, her expression sharp and focused.
"It wasn't normal," the farmer stammered, his voice cracking with emotion. "It—it glowed, like it was on fire, but the flames weren't natural. They didn't burn anything but themselves. It killed my sheep—two of them—left them in pieces. It didn't even eat them, just tore them apart."
Kaelyn's fingers drummed lightly on the counter, the rhythmic sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room. "You said it glowed. What color?" she asked, her tone steady.
"Purple," he replied. "A deep, unnatural purple. I've lived near the Twilight Glade all my life, but I've never seen anything like that."
The mention of the Twilight Glade caused several of the younger adventurers to glance uneasily at one another. The forest was known for its untamed magic, its beauty shadowed by stories of strange beasts and whispers of ancient power. Few dared venture deep into its heart, and those who did often returned changed—or didn't return at all.
Kaelyn straightened, her scar catching the morning light. "Sounds like corruption," she said, her words clipped. "Whatever it is, it's dangerous, and we can't afford to let it roam freely."
She turned her gaze to the gathered adventurers, scanning their faces with a practiced eye. Most avoided her gaze, shifting nervously or looking to their boots. None of them wanted the assignment, and Kaelyn wasn't surprised. Corruption wasn't something to be taken lightly.
"I'll go."
The voice was calm and steady, cutting through the tension like a blade. All heads turned toward the protagonist, who had remained quiet in the corner until now. He rose from his seat, adjusting the scabbards on his back as he stepped forward.
Kaelyn nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I thought you might volunteer."
By mid-morning, the protagonist stood at the edge of the Twilight Glade, the dense forest stretching out before him like a great, living wall. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating patterns that danced across the forest floor. Beneath its serene surface, however, was an unmistakable hum—a subtle vibration in the air that told him the Glade was alive in ways beyond the natural.
He adjusted the straps on his leather armor and unsheathed his twin swords. Their polished steel gleamed in the dappled light, the faint traces of magical enchantments shimmering like threads of gold along their edges. The weapons felt familiar in his grip, their balance comforting against the tension building in his chest.
He stepped into the forest, and the sunlight immediately dimmed, swallowed by the thick canopy above. The air grew cooler, heavy with the earthy scent of moss and damp soil. Each step was calculated, his boots gliding silently over the ground as he moved deeper into the Glade. The hum of magic grew stronger, warping into something darker, more distorted.
The first signs of the beast appeared within minutes. The ground was torn up, claw marks gouging deep into the soil. Nearby, the remains of an animal lay scattered, its body unrecognizable save for a few tufts of fur. The protagonist crouched beside the carcass, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. Purple scorch marks laced the surrounding area, glowing faintly in the dim light. He didn't need to touch them to know they were unnatural.
A low growl echoed through the trees, faint but unmistakable. He rose to his feet, his grip on his swords tightening. His breath slowed, his focus narrowing as he honed in on the sound.
The corrupted direwolf appeared like a shadow stepping out of the darkness. Its fur was blackened and streaked with veins of glowing purple, pulsing like molten fire. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, filled with a rage that could only come from something twisted by chaos.
It let out a snarl and lunged forward without hesitation, its movements unnervingly smooth.
The protagonist sidestepped the charge, his blades flashing as they carved through the air. The direwolf's claws sliced toward him, each swipe leaving trails of purple light that shimmered and vanished. He countered with precise strikes, his swords deflecting the beast's attacks while leaving deep gashes in its corrupted hide.
The battle was relentless. The direwolf fought with a feral intensity, its movements wild and erratic. The energy radiating from its body crackled like lightning, forcing the protagonist to stay on the defensive. He danced around its strikes, his blades landing blow after blow, each one chipping away at the threads of chaos that bound the beast.
The forest bore witness to their clash. Trees shuddered as the creature's power rippled through the air, and the vibrant greenery began to wilt under the weight of its corruption. The protagonist moved with deadly precision, weaving between the direwolf's attacks as he searched for an opening.
Finally, the beast overextended itself, lunging in desperation. He seized the moment, driving both swords into its chest with all his strength. The direwolf let out a piercing howl, its body convulsing as the glow in its eyes faded. Purple light spilled from its wounds like embers before dissolving into the air, leaving behind only silence.
The clearing felt eerily still as the protagonist stood over the fallen creature, his breath ragged and his blades dripping with an eerie black ichor. The corruption was gone, but the marks it had left on the forest were unmistakable. The vibrant hues of the Twilight Glade had dulled, the pulse of its magic weakened.
He sheathed his swords and turned to leave, his steps careful and deliberate as he retraced his path back toward the edge of the forest. The tension in his chest didn't ease—it grew heavier, fueled by the questions left unanswered. This wasn't a natural predator. Something had twisted it, made it into a force of destruction. And if there was one, there could be more.
By the time he returned to Silverspring, the sun hung low in the sky, casting the town in shades of amber and gold. The townsfolk greeted him with cheers and applause as he entered the guildhall, their faces bright with relief. The farmer who had come to Kaelyn that morning clasped his hands together, his voice shaking as he approached.
"You've done more for us than we can ever repay," the man said, his tone thick with gratitude. "Thank you."
The protagonist nodded, his expression neutral despite the warmth in the room. Kaelyn approached him as the crowd began to disperse, her steel-gray eyes sharp with unspoken questions.
"Well?" she asked, her tone clipped. "What did you find?"
"Corruption," he replied. "Something twisted that beast. It wasn't natural."
Kaelyn frowned, her fingers drumming against the hilt of her sword. "If that's true, then it's not just a one-off. We'll need to keep an eye on the Glade—and on the town."
He nodded, but his gaze drifted toward the window, where the sun was slipping below the horizon. His thoughts lingered on the scorched marks and the direwolf's haunting glow.
Whatever had touched that creature was still out there. And it wasn't done.