Alex Fredrick wasn't one for the great outdoors. A typical university student in the quiet countryside city of Qwent, he usually spent his weekends indoors at the small apartment he shared with his dog, Verwel. But this Saturday, Verwel's unusually restless behavior prompted Alex to do something out of character – take him for a walk in the nearby forest. Stepping out at 8:41 PM, Alex, expecting a brief stroll, didn't bother with his phone. Just fifteen minutes in, Verwel, bursting with unexpected energy, slipped his leash and darted deep into the trees.
Concern overriding caution, Alex plunged into the forest after his dog. He found Verwel near an old oak, engaged in the rather mundane act of burying a large deposit. Relief short-lived, Alex soon realized they were lost. The city lights, which should have been a comforting guide, failed to appear. Stress and anxiety mounting with every passing minute, Alex checked his analog watch obsessively – 10:00 PM, 10:13 PM, 10:26 PM.... After walking an estimated twenty-five kilometers in the wrong direction, he finally decided to turn back.
It was precisely 11:00 PM when it happened. The night sky violently transformed, becoming a blindingly clear, light blue, as if the midday sun had suddenly appeared, turning the cold night air oppressively hot. A moment later, a deafening, explosive sound erupted from the direction he had just come from – where Qwent lay. The sheer force of the blast struck his ears, forcing him to the ground in agonizing pain.
Chapter 2: The Shadow and the Sacrifice
Verwel's persistent licking eventually roused Alex. He pushed himself up, brushing off dirt and debris. Looking up, he saw it was morning. His watch, its glass now cracked but still ticking, read 10:56 AM. Around him, the forest trees were strangely lifeless, leaning away from where the city should be. A chilling realization dawned: the city was bombed. Despite his lack of strong ties there, having grown up in foster care after his parents left him, the thought was horrifying. As he ran towards the assumed location of Qwent, denying what he knew, he pondered who could have attacked the city, seemingly without reason.
Lost in thought, he suddenly saw a shadowy figure seated on the ground ahead, enveloped in a dark aura. Verwel stopped dead, barking, but Alex froze when the shadow turned its gaze towards his dog. As Verwel's eyes met the shadow's, the dog cowered behind Alex in terror. The shadow rose, impossibly tall and dark, emanating weakness despite its terrifying appearance. Paralyzed by fear, Alex felt the shadow approach. As it drew near, its aura drained the energy from his legs, making him collapse. Seeing life drain from Verwel nearby, Alex understood – he was encountering death.
The shadow leaned down and murmured in a language Alex somehow instantly understood: "Here, you can have it, my power you can take, as I'm slowly dying". It touched his forehead with a cold finger, and Alex felt a warm energy enter him before fading.
He woke again in the forest, which now appeared green and alive, as if the explosion never happened. But he was held by tree roots that seemed to feed on him. Tearing himself free, some roots piercing his skin, he felt weak from blood loss. Then, the memory of Verwel's fate returned. He found Verwel's body, half-rotted, impossible after just hours. Crying over his friend, he noticed his tears burned his clothes and killed the grass they touched. He wondered if he'd gained the shadow's power, the ability to take life. Desperate, he decided to try and revive Verwel with his blood.
His pocket knife broke trying to cut himself, his skin unnaturally tough. Realizing his skin was as strong as metal, he targeted his eye. Willing to sacrifice his eye for Verwel, he tore it out. His blood made the grass grow. He put his eye on Verwel's head and dripped blood on him. The body healed, but the heart didn't beat. He fed his eye to Verwel. Still no sign of life. Bandaging his eye wound, he lifted Verwel's lifeless body and began walking towards where the city used to be.
He found the city a deserted wasteland where only the living seemed to have been wiped out. Taking shelter in a former library during the rain, he questioned if the shadowy figure caused this devastation. Putting Verwel down, he heard something – Verwel was alive!. The dog thrashed as if in a nightmare. When Verwel woke, his eyes seemed to hold universal secrets. Alex hugged him, his clothes burning on contact with Verwel's fur, realizing the "curse" had affected his dog too.
Later, Alex found himself back in the forest, the shadowy figure nearby, but smaller and less intimidating. This time, Alex understood his language perfectly. The shadow, Xerark, revealed he was the realm's protector who used his dying energy to create a shield, wiping out life but saving the realm. Surprised to find Alex alive, Xerark transferred some power to him in case the barrier failed. Alex woke up the next morning, burdened with the knowledge of the city's sacrifice and his new power.