I ran through the forests of my childhood with a steel sword in hand and a grin wide on my face.
The wind rushed against me, sending my unnatural pink hair streaming behind me. I wore a white tunic on my torso, and black trousers and boots on my legs. Simple, standard attire.
I was a noble, sure, but a lesser one. I was never raised to care about fashion, especially not out in the wild.
Despite being only fifteen, a year before my awakening, I was allowed to travel the forests alone. Jumping over logs and skipping past small ponds was the fuel of my life.
To be one with nature. It was a concept I truly loved, despite the dangers it brought.
But I'd always tell myself...
If the Zalethi Knights risk their lives on the battlefield every single day, then why can't I do the same in a mere forest?
As the sun began to set, I came across a familiar opening. At its centre sat a lake of red water, with birds resting on lily pads across its surface.
The opening was surrounded by red trees that stretched high into the sky, casting long shadows across the lake.
But the moon shone through, bright enough for me to admire the beauty of the place.
Sitting on a familiar log, I watched the birds chirping to one another, my mind filling with thoughts.
Mother and Father will want me home soon... I wish I could just spend the night out here instead. Who needs the comfort of a bedroom?
Chuckling to myself, I picked up a stone and tossed it into the lake. The birds flapped and scattered into the air, rustling through the leaves.
But then, from somewhere to the east, another sound broke the calm.
My ears perked up, and I turned my head toward the shadows beneath the trees. My hand rested on the hilt of my sword, wondering if a wild boar or deer would come bursting out.
The thought made me smile. I welcomed any chance to practise with my blade.
Rising to my feet, I crept around the edge of the lake toward the source of the sound. The entire time, I stayed low, my sword tight in a single-handed grip.
Then... the sound came again. A ruffling in the underbrush.
My golden eyes scanned the dark woods.
That doesn't sound like an animal—
"E'Moule!"
A grizzled, inhuman noise yanked me from my thoughts. I snapped my head toward a figure emerging from the trees.
At first, it was hard to see as its body blended with the shadows.
But when it stepped into the moonlight, my heart froze with terror.
It looked like a man, but not one of the living. It stood around six feet tall, with a grey mop of hair hanging down over its face.
Its skin was onyx-black, laced with gold lining. The way it shimmered reminded me of crystal, and a white essence slowly leaked from its body. Its arms hung limp at its sides as it stared directly at me from across the clearing.
The birds had vanished. Even the fish below the water's surface seemed to disappear.
I swallowed hard, every part of me sensing the danger radiating from the creature. I knew exactly what it was, but that only made things more confusing.
I'd been to that very spot dozens of times before.
So why? Why now?
"Blightcursed," I whispered.
The word alone sent a shiver down my spine.
In the world of Aloth, a natural essence seeped throughout the land.
Blight.
It was the essence that the awakened drew into their cores to use their magics and manifestations. However, if one had no more Blight left in their core, and yet tried to draw from the essence to use magic...
The result was what lay in front of me. The Blightcursed.
"E'moule!" The beast growled again, the words unfamiliar to me.
Slowly I took a step backwards, but as I did, the Blightcursed man took a step towards me.
I cursed to myself as I continued to retreat.
I hadn't awakened yet. There was a low chance that I could beat such a creature without magic, no matter how great my swordsmanship skills were.
However, what happened next told me that I might have a chance.
The Blightcursed took another step forward as it opened its mouth to talk.
"E'mon—"
Its words were cut off as a dribble of flames fell from its mouth. It was like a spark, falling to the ground and sizzling into the cold grass.
It was at that moment that I realised.
The man was on the Fire Pathway before becoming Blightcursed.
Under any other circumstances, my death would have been certain. It felt like I had been blessed by the saints.
And so, I stood my ground.
"Come at me, you creature!" I shouted, pointing my sword towards it. "Come at me and—"
The Blightcursed vanished.
In an instant, I burst into sweat.
"W-where on Aloth did you—AUGH"
My words were cut off as a sharp pain stabbed into the left side of my stomach. It felt like time had slowed.
I looked to my left to see the Blightcursed up close and personal. Its golden eyes glared deeply into mine as its fist left its imprint on my stomach.
It was a disgusting amount of force for a punch, and if not for adrenaline, and having been hit harder before, I would have fell unconscious.
But thankfully, the Blightcursed had done exactly as I had asked it to.
It had closed the distance.
Gritting my teeth through the pain, I reached my free hand up and grabbed my hand around the creature's neck, making sure to keep my other hand right around the handle of my weapon.
And then before it could launch another attack, I used my body as leverage to drag myself down to the side, taking the beast with me.
The thing was lighter than I had expected, or perhaps I was just strong, but we both went tumbling to the side and fell.
Falling into the red water of the lake beside us.
SPLASH
It was hard to keep my senses as I was submerged in the water, but I had to stay focused and gather my bearings. Even a second wasted could lead to my plan being torn apart.
My left hand was still gripped tight onto the Blightcursed. Its shiny skin and glowing eyes allowed me to keep the focus on its location.
The beast opened its mouth, making a gargling sound which sent bubbles floating to the surface of the water.
And then, the sound of steam hissed through the water.
The Blightcursed had done what I had expected. The pressure had caused it to try and activate one of its skills. A skill that belonged to its pathway.
The pathway of flames. It would not work underwater. Dragging it down there had kept me safe from it's most powerful attacks.
My lips twisted into a smile, but I managed to hold my breath. Then, with all my force, I raised my sword and thrust it towards the man whose neck I had in my grasp.
My sword pierced dark flesh.
More gargles followed, alongside white, milky blood that began to seep from the creature's face.
I had penetrated my blade into its gaping mouth.
Instantly, I felt the beast's body go weak. But it was yet to fall limp.
I needed to finish the job.
Pulling my blade back and then thrusting it forward again, I pierced the Blightcursed heart. Then its abdomen, then its head once again.
The red lake had been filled with white blood. The Blightcursed had gone limp and started to evaporate.
I... Wore a smile on my face. I had slain a Blightcursed as an unawakened fifteen-year-old.
I knew what the implications would be.
I had done something most believed to be impossible, and as a result, I felt a change taking place in the depths of my stomach.
My core has begun to awaken.