The warm, dim light of dawn filters through the windows of a humble cabin. Tomas, lying on a humble wooden bed, his scars covered in bandages, wakes to a light scent of chamomile and mint permeating the air. A young woman enters with a wooden tray holding a steaming cup and a cool cloth. Her dark green hair is tied back with a simple ribbon, and her emerald eyes shine with a mixture of concern and relief at seeing Tomas awake.
Tomas was left speechless by the presence emanating from the young lady, who gave him an air of calm, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Young lady (In a firm but soft voice):
— I'm glad you woke up. —
As he approaches the bed Tomas is lying on.
— Even though you've woken up, you should continue resting. Most of your wounds have already closed, but that wound on your abdomen seems like it will take longer. —
Tomas remained silent as he tried to understand the situation he found himself in.
Tomas (Hoarse, and with a weak voice):
— Where am I...?, And who are you...?
Young lady (While showing her a smile):
— This is my home, we're in the village of Virendale, and my name is Alenya... Alenya Jadehart. My father and I are the village doctors, and I found you wounded in one of the nearby caves where I gather medicinal herbs. —
Tomas, who is somewhat disoriented and with a sharp pain in his abdomen, reaches for his Cryotum dagger. Alenya stops him with a quick movement, placing the wooden tray she was carrying on the table near the bed where Tomas was.
"You should avoid making those movements while injured. If it's your dagger you're after, I'll return it to you when you're fully recovered. In the meantime, drink this." Alenya hands him the cup that was on the tray, which had a calming aroma of honey and ginger root. Tomas takes a sip and frowns.
Thomas (Between teeth):
—It's sweet… —
Alenya gives a slight smile as she watches Tomas's expression.
Alenya (While laughing):
— Hahaha... I didn't expect to see an adult with so many wounds that he couldn't stand a sweet drink. —
Tomas simply remains silent as he sips from his cup and watches Alenya laugh.
Alenya sits on the bed where Tomas is and with a curious look continues her conversation with him.
—Now that I think about it, I've already given you my name, but you still haven't told me yours. What's your name? —
Tomas (Quietly):
— That's right, my name is Tomas... Tomas Silver. —
The dawn light was intensifying, dyeing the cabin golden. Alenya finished adjusting the bandages and took a step back, watching Tomas with a mixture of curiosity and caution. Her emerald eyes shone as if they held ancient secrets, but her soft voice broke the silence:
Alenya:
—Tomas Silver… —
He repeated her name, as if tasting her.
— A name that sounds like dry leaves crunching under the snow. Are you from the north, perhaps? —
Tomás shifted his gaze toward the window, where the forest was beginning to awaken. He wasn't used to answering questions, especially those that probed his past.
Tomas (Feigning indifference):
—Maybe... I don't really remember much about my past. —
Alenya didn't flinch. She took the empty cup and placed it on the tray, but before she stepped back, her fingers brushed the edge of the blanket covering Tomás. A fleeting, but warm touch.
Alenya tilted her head, her jade pendant brushing the edge of the blanket.
Alenya (Muttering):
—The wounds of the body heal... —
As Alenya murmured her jade pulsed in time with her voice
— But the ones you hide here… —
His finger traced a circle on his own chest, where the pendant glittered.
—They're like poisoned roots. If you don't pull them out, they'll grow until they choke you.
Tomas felt his Cryotum dagger vibrate in the corner, as if trying to communicate something to him regarding the pendant Alenya was wearing. Tomas tried to concentrate, but the situation with Alenya was unfamiliar to him, leaving him disconcerted.
Alenya's eyes fell on his chest, where his heart was beating.
— Those are the ones that take the most time... —
Tomás unconsciously clenched his fists. It was the first time anyone had spoken about his invisible scars. He didn't know whether to feel exposed or relieved.
Tomas (Trying to divert the conversation):
—Is that your way of analyzing all the strangers you bring here? —
Alenya (Smiling without any trace of mockery):
—Only those who carry daggers made of Cryotum—
He answers while taking a low tone of voice.
— That blade… is no ordinary weapon. It belongs to the Frozen Lands of Nordheim, doesn't it? —
The atmosphere became tense, because the reaction of his dagger seemed to not be simply due to Alenya's pendant, and it seemed to hide many more secrets than he believed.
—The Cryotum chooses its bearers—
Alenya muttered, as if reading his thoughts.
—And he has chosen you for something more than shedding blood. —
Before Tomas could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed outside. The door creaked open, revealing an older man with gray hair and gray eyes: Elion Jadehart, Alenya's father.
Elion:
—Daughter, preparations for the valerian harvest… —
He stops when he notices that Thomas has woken up.
— Ah, our guest has returned to the world of the living. —
His tone was gentle, but Tomas noticed the way Elion examined Cryotum's dagger, placed on a chest in the corner. It wasn't the gaze of a simple doctor, but that of someone who recognized the power of the ancient metal. Tomas could only hide his surprise, as it seemed this wasn't just any village, or at least not this family.
Alenya (While introducing Tomas to her father):
—Father, this is Tomas... Tomas, Elion Jadehart. —
The old man nodded respectfully, but Tomas didn't miss the glimmer of concern in his eyes.
Elion:
—Welcome to our home, stranger. Though I hope your stay here doesn't attract any… complications. —
The warning was veiled, but clear. Tomas nodded briefly, understanding the message: "Don't bring your war to our door." As Elion left, Alenya took a bottle of ointment and placed it on the nightstand.
Alenya (In a loud voice):
—Rest, you still have to watch over your recovery. —
As he stepped outside, a breeze blew through the window, caressing the jade pendant around his neck. The stone gleamed slightly, and for a moment, Tomas swore he saw the reflection of a large tree in it.
Alenya returned at noon with a basket of valerian roots, her hands stained with dirt. Tomas, now sitting on a stool by the window, followed her every move. The sunlight filtered through the foliage drew golden patterns on her green hair, reminding Tomas of the stained-glass windows of an abandoned cathedral he had looted years before.
Thomas (Suddenly):
—Why did you save me? —
Breaking the silence. His voice sounded raspy, as if the words were scratching his throat.
— He could be a bandit. A murderer.
Alenya placed the basket on the table without taking her eyes off it.
Alenya:
—Herbs don't judge. They heal whoever needs them. —
He replied, slipping a bunch of thyme between his fingers.
—Also, your gaze, though sharp, is not that of a bloodthirsty person. That same thing can be seen reflected in your Cryotum dagger. For that is a very special metal. It feeds on will… and yours still shines, even though you try to hide it. —
Tomás stifled a grimace. No one had spoken to him like that since… *ever*.
Thomas:
-And you? -
He counterattacked, pointing at his pendant.
—That stone isn't from any market. It looks like a relic of the past, and it feels like a very ancient energy.
Alenya froze. For the first time, her mask of calm cracked, revealing a flash of pain.
Alenya (With an expression that shows pain):
—It's a legacy. —
As he let out a sigh the silence remained for a few seconds
—One that my mother paid for with blood. —
That night, as Elion checked Tomas's bandages, the full moon bathed the cabin in silver light. The old man dropped a bottle of arnica tincture, and as he bent down to pick it up, his robe fell open, revealing a mark on his collarbone: a stylized tree, identical to the one engraved on Alenya's pendant.
Thomas (Curious):
—Do you know anything about high elves? —
Thomas asked, while with an expression that showed an indifferent look he pointed at the symbol.
Elion straightened slowly, his gray eyes clouding like a lake at dawn.
Elion:
—The High Elves are sacred beings, beings of legend who are charged with protecting the world tree Eryndor. —
He replied, adjusting his robes with a sharp movement.
— But even legendary beings... Sometimes they drop a few seeds. —
And before Tomás could continue insisting, a howl was heard in the distance as if it were tearing through the night.
Before Tomas could continue, a scream tore through the night. Alenya burst into the cabin, her jade gleaming with an unearthly glow.
Alenya (Panting):
—The wolves! —
While his concern is evident on his face.
— There's a pack in the forest. Something's angered them. —
Tomas quickly grabbed his dagger before Elion even noticed, unable to stop him. Cryotum's dagger began to vibrate as if responding to the light emitted by Alenya's jade pendant. Runes began to be carved into the blade as they glowed an icy blue, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Thomas (In a loud voice):
—Stay here—
Thomas orders, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side.
Alenya blocked him with an arm, her emerald gaze burning.
Alenya:
—You're not the only one who knows how to fight—
He answers as he leaves the room, quickly returning with a large number of small bottles which contained various poisons.
— You won't have to worry about me, I can defend myself at least, but you're still injured so in the worst case you'll need my assistance if your injuries worsen. —
In the forest, shadows breathed. A dozen black-furred wolves, with eyes as red as embers, surrounded a wounded deer. But these were no ordinary beasts: their fangs dripped a purple liquid, and between their paws, the ground withered.
Elion (Muttering):
—Shadowwolf! —
Elion muttered, having followed them despite Tomas's protests.
—Creatures of Clan Vel'Tharion… This is a message. —
Alenya stepped forward, her jade pulsing in unison with the Cryotum.
Alenya (Whispering):
—They don't seem to be just wolves… —
As she stares at them, a sudden thought comes to her.
— They're mirrors. They reflect the darkness we carry within. —
The first attack was a flurry of claws and ice. Tomas moved on instinct, his dagger slashing in deadly arcs, but each wound he inflicted on the wolves closed too quickly. Alenya, meanwhile, danced among the beasts, evading them while throwing her poison bottles as she delivered the antidote to Toma and his father.
Elion (Shouting):
—Jade, Thomas! —
From the rear Elion shouts to Tomas
— Use the jade! —
In a moment of distraction, one of the Shadowwolves charged at Alenya. Tomas reacted without thinking: he threw his dagger, burying it in the beast's eye, and ran toward her. Alenya's pendant burst into an emerald flash, and the Cryotum, still impaled on the wolf, echoed with an ancient chant.
The Shadowwolves howled in agony as a green mist consumed them. When it dissipated, only frost-covered bones remained.
Back at the cabin, Elion reflects on what was happening because the beasts that were going to attack the village were the creatures that belonged to one of the five clans that were in charge of protecting the seals that limited the territory against angels and demons according to the treaty that was signed after the end of the great holy war.
—This is strange, because those creatures appeared here, those wolves are from the continent of Eldarya. —
Meanwhile he approaches Alenya and takes her pendant, opening it, and that's how Tomas manages to see a small piece of wood inside the pendant.
— Maybe this is what they were looking for. —
Tomas (Confused):
"That piece of wood? How could that be so valuable?" Alenya answers Tomas, a hint of melancholy on her face.
Alenya:
— That piece of wood belongs to the world tree Eryndor. —
Elion continues.
Elion:
— Alenya's mother is a half-blood descendant of a high elf, who was one of the guardians of the saint Sylvara Elyndra. —
Tomas (Surprised):
- I understand... -
Tomas was unable to process the information that had been revealed to him so suddenly.
— Wait... so the seed you were referring to was about Alenya's mother and Alenya herself. —
Alenya (With melancholy):
— So a seed, huh... —
He expressed while watching his father
Elion (Trying to change the subject):
— T... That's true..., but even so, those of Clan Vel'Tharion would not have to be interested in a small fragment of Eryndor since they could ask the High Elf who protects it in this generation to observe it or even take a small piece of it since their clan has a noble mission. —
While scratching his head thinking about the possibilities.
— Ah... I don't understand, anyway, whether this is a coincidence or not, you should be more careful Alenya. —
Alenya:
— It's okay, Dad. —
In turn, Alenya turns her gaze towards Tomas to reply.
— Tomas...! You'd better not jump into danger like this when you haven't fully recovered yet. —
Tomas simply shows a downcast look inexplicably at Alenya's words.
Days pass and Tomas has recovered enough to be able to move more freely. He feels a familiar presence and heads towards it.
Tomas (with disgust):
— What are you doing here, Lyrion? —
Lyrion emerges from the shadow in which he was hiding and appears before Tomas with his unique and annoying smile.
Lyrion (Mocking):
— Hahaha... who would have thought I'd see the great domesticated Wolf as a house dog. —
Tomas quickly approaches and points his dagger at Lyrion's throat while showing an expression of annoyance at his presence.
— Wowowow... Calm down, mate. —Tomas quickly cuts the conversation short.
Tomas (Annoyed):
—We are not partners! —
Lyrion:
—Oh... that really depresses me. —
Tomas presses the dagger even further against Lyrion's neck.
— I understand... well that doesn't matter anymore, I came to give you some news and a warning. —
Lyrion takes a breath and prodigiously.
— I found you thanks to my special means, but don't underestimate the Blood Moon's information network, so I recommend you get away from here and report the success of your mission at once. —
After Lyrion's words, Tomas slowly lowers his dagger, but his gaze doesn't lose its intensity. Lyrion, his mocking smile intact, blends into the shadows, his voice remaining a whisper.
Lyrion:
— Remember, Silver Wolf: Your strength came from your solitude, if you tie yourself to a pack to protect, it will only make you vulnerable. —
Before disappearing completely, he throws out a sealed scroll bearing the Blood Moon symbol. Tomas opens it and reads:
"Mission accomplished. Return to the Crescent Moon for final debriefing. – Aetheria Argentum"
Aetheria's name resonates like a threat. Tomas burns the scroll, emanating its energy, but remains silent.
That night, Alenya finds Tomas in the forest, cleaning his Cryotum dagger under the moonlight while he is absorbed in observing the light emanating from it.
The wind caresses the jade of her necklace, which shines in sync with the ancient metal.
Alenya (In a low voice):
— How much do you think about? —
Tomas who was lost in his thoughts.
Tomas (Surprised):
—Oh, I didn't notice you were close—
Alenya gets closer to Tomas, sitting next to him while, like him, she watches the moon.
Alenya (Insisting):
— You still haven't answered me. —
Tomas:
— …I'll have to go soon. —
Tomas answers after taking some time to think about it.
— This afternoon an annoying acquaintance reminded me of the kind of life I have, and what I can't have. —
Alenya, hearing those words, brings her body closer to Tomas's, making closer contact.
Alenya (In a soft voice):
— Wouldn't the life you have be a life by my side... —
Alenya says those sweet words as her face blushes and then hides it from Tomas's gaze.
Tomas is bewildered by Alenya's words.
Tomas:
— Maybe a life like that… would be the best. —
And on the night when the moon and stars shone brightly, Tomas gently embraces Alenya as they join their lips together in a sweet kiss.
Dawn paints the sky in shades of gold and violet, illuminating the small village of Virendale. The cabin of Alenya and her father, Elion, is wrapped in a tense calm. Tomas prepares to leave, adjusting the straps of his Cryotum dagger, while Alenya watches him from the doorway, her jade pendant glowing softly. The wind caresses her green hair, and the scent of chamomile and mint permeates the air, reminding Tomas of the recuperative days he spent there.
Alenya (With a trembling voice):
—Will you come back? —
Tomas (Avoiding her gaze, while adjusting his dagger):
—I can't promise something I don't know if I can keep. —
Alenya (Approaching, holding a bracelet woven with herbs):
—Then take this. It's a bracelet made with herbs that scare away wolves... and shadows. —
Tomás (Taking the bracelet, noticing how it shines slightly when it touches his skin):
—Is it magic? —
Alenya (Smiling sadly):
—It's protection. And a reminder that no matter how far away you are, there's always a light to guide you back.
Tomas (Looking directly at her):
—Alenya, I'm not a good man. I've done things I can't forget... things I don't want you to see. —
Tomas's gaze reflected a mixture of pain and determination.
Alenya (Putting her hand to her heart):
—I don't judge you by your past, Tomás. I see you for who you are now... and who you could be.
Tomas (Squeezing the bracelet, feeling its warmth):
—If I come back...—
Alenya (Interrupting him, firmly):
—When you come back. Because I know you will. No matter how dark the road, there will always be a reason to come back.
Tomas (Nodding slowly, with a bitter smile):
—You're too optimistic for someone so small. —
Alenya (Laughing softly):
—And you're too pessimistic for someone so strong and big. Besides, you're carrying your Cryotum dagger, and a metal like that has never been easy to control.
Tomas (Sighing, as he puts the bracelet on his wrist):
—Maybe... but I don't know if that's enough reason. —
Alenya (Taking her hand, with an intense look):
—Then find one. For you... and for me. —
The sun begins to rise over the mountains, illuminating Alenya's face. Tomas feels a mixture of pain and hope as he looks at her. For a moment, the world seems to stand still.
Thomas (In a low voice):
—I don't know if I deserve this... to deserve you. —
Alenya (Smiling, with tears in her eyes):
—It's not about deserving, Tomás. It's about choosing. And I choose you, with everything you are.
Thomas (Approaching, with a vulnerable expression):
—Then... wait for me. I don't know how long it will take, but I'll be back. —
Alenya (Nodding, a tear falling down her cheek):
—I'll wait for you. But promise me one thing...—
Tomás (Looking into her eyes):
-Whatever. -
Alenya (In a firm voice):
—Don't let the darkness consume you. Remember, there's something beyond the blood and ice... there's light. And that light awaits you here.
Tomás nods, feeling the weight of her words. With one last glance at the cabin and the village that welcomed him, he turns and starts walking toward the forest. Alenya watches him from the doorway, her jade pendant shining brightly.
Alenya (Whispering, as Tomas disappears into the trees):
—Come back to me, Thomas Silver... Come back to me. —
The wind carries her words like an echo, and Tomás, although he can no longer see her, feels her presence in the bracelet on his wrist.
Tomas returns to one of the headquarters of the Order of the Blood Moon, and his expression has not changed at all, but as he completes more missions, his encounters with Alenya become more noticeable in the subtle changes in attitude he displays.
The Order's black marble hall vibrated with stealthy footsteps as Thomas crossed the threshold. His cloak, redolent of the wild herb scent of Virendale, contrasted sharply with the sulfur and burnt-metal air of the bastion. A group of rookie recruits parted as he passed, but this time, Thomas did not avoid their gazes. One of them, a young demon with twisted horns, dared to nod in respect.
New Recruit (Quietly, to his partner):
— Did you see? The Silver Wolf almost smiled… —
Thomas pretended not to hear, but his fingers brushed the empty flask near the Cryotum dagger he kept on his belt. Inside, traces of Virendale honey remained.
In the hallways, the surveillance runes flickered with a warmer hue as they detected their Rei. Even the darkness seemed to recede before him.
In the training room, where daggers drew arcs of death, two assassins exchanged whispers while cleaning their weapons:
Assassin 1 (Rubbing a dagger with snake venom):
—Did you notice how long it takes him to get back now? His missions used to last three days… now they're weeks.
Assassin 2 (Sharpening a blade with disdain):
—He's growing roots somewhere. They say the Web of Whispers is on his trail… but someone's erasing his tracks.
Aetheria Argentum, the First Quarter Moon, watched from the shadows. Her silver hair gleamed like ice in the torchlight, and her crimson eyes followed Tomas's every move with disdain.
Aetheria (Muttering):
—A human playing at being a wolf…—
Adjusting her black silk glove.
—Luminis makes a mistake by trusting him. —
In the Eclipse Chamber, a circle of ebony thrones surrounded a map of Ethalios etched into the floor. Aetheria sat with vampiric grace, while Luminis Umbra, Lord of the Eclipse, floated in the center like a corporeal shadow.
Aetheria (In a mellifluous voice, full of ice):
— Humans forget their place. They feed on hope… and that makes them weak. —
A hologram of Tomas materialized on the table: images of him negotiating with mercenaries instead of killing them, treating minor wounds in remote villages, and sleeping under the stars instead of in the Order's lairs.
Crescens (Cracking his knuckles, his scar gleaming in the torchlight):
—His King has grown… but his loyalty is bled dry.
Aetheria (Slamming the table, making the blood wine cups tremble):
—It's a threat! We control beasts by breaking their souls… not by feeding their hearts. That human is their chain.
The hologram changed: Alenya was walking through Virendale, her jade gleaming even in the projection. Aetheria gestured theatrically to the pendant.
— Take it. Destroy his village. And when he comes to save her…—
His crimson eyes fell on Luminis Umbra, who watched from the shadows.
Luminis (In a deep voice, emerging as a tangible shadow):
— …We'll offer you a deal. Your love for your life… and hers. —
Nox Mortiferum (An elderly necromancer with a voice like sawdust):
— What if he rebels? Now he's capable of hurting even a Moon…
Aetheria (Smiling with all her fangs exposed):
—That's why I'll lead the attack. If the Wolf bites... I'll enjoy ripping out his fangs. —
As the Council dissolved, Lyrion appeared before Aetheria in a swirl of shadows. His smile was a challenge.
Lyrion (Playing with a spirit ice dagger):
— Watch your step, Cuarto Creciente. Tomas isn't the only one hiding roots… —
Aetheria (Grinding him with a murderous look):
—Threats, Lyrion? You're a squad leader… not a Luna. —
Lyrion (Laughing as he faded away):
— The moons wane… but the shadows are eternal. —
Tomas is resting in the village of Alenya and is informed about his next mission through a gem with a communication rune.
Dawn was turning the sky violet as Tomas adjusted the strap of his Cryotum dagger. Alenya, standing on the threshold of the hut, held her jade pendant in one hand, as if the stone could hold it. The wind played with her green hair, and Tomas memorized every detail: the sparkle of her emerald eyes, the curve of her sad smile, the way the dawn light reflected on the heirloom jade.
Tomás (In a hoarse voice, avoiding her gaze):
— I'll be back before the moon waxes. —
Alenya (Whispering, with a hint of irony):
— You promise as if time obeyed you. —
Thomas didn't answer. He simply told him
He knew that promises in his world were cracks through which death seeped. Instead, he handed her a small crystal vial carved with ice runes:
Thomas:
—I've recently become more proficient with runes. If the jar glows brighter than usual… break it. I'll… feel it. —
The vial contained a shard of Cryotum, imbued with its Rei. Alenya took it, and for a moment, their fingers intertwined. There were no more words. Tomas set off north, on a mission that smelled like a trap: "Intercept a shipment of demonic weapons in the Pass of Sighs."
As Tomas heads down the dark path toward the Pass of Sighs, Cryotum's dagger glowing faintly in the fading moonlight, his figure blends into the gloom of the forest. Each step takes him further from the village of Virendale and the only light left in his soul, while his mind echoes with Lyrion's words and the promise of revenge. His wounds throb in sync with his resolve, and each sigh seems to carry the weight of an inescapable fate.
Miles away, on a towering crag above the village, Aetheria Argentum, the Crescent Moon, looms in the shadows. With a cold, calculating gaze, she summons her squadrons as her subordinates deploy like a dark tide, ready to strike at the village of Alenya. The atmosphere in that fortress of vengeance pulses with the silent din of deadly preparations, and the crimson glow in her eyes reveals an ancient hatred for everything Tomas represents.
Atop a hidden hill, Lyrion takes up position, his figure barely visible in the twilight. Thanks to his unique ability, he observes two reality screens: on the left, the solitary silhouette of Tomas, perched on the path of his mission; on the right, Aetheria and its lethal orders advancing toward the village, a harbinger of a storm of fire and shadows. Meanwhile, Lyrion activates his polycognition ability, allowing him to observe several situations simultaneously, provided that one of his targets has been previously marked by him.
And Tomas was marked during his fight in the test of the towers and in the case of Aetheria Lyrion marked one of the assassins who accompanied her
With the gold coin he always carries in his hand, Lyrion slowly spins it, letting the clinking blend with the echo of destiny.
Lyrion (Muttering while laughing in an ironic voice):
—One face a wolf... the other, a bloody moon. Will the Silver Wolf be able to break his chains and forge his own destiny, or will he fall to the darkness that haunts him? —
The wind carries his words through the trees as the two paths separate into the night, each marked by the inescapable weight of betrayal, revenge, and redemption. Thus, at that very moment, Ethalios's destiny seems to fork, and Lyrion, shadowwatcher, laughs softly, knowing the game is just beginning.
With that echo of uncertainty and defiance, the night closes, leaving in suspense the promise of an uncertain future, in which light and darkness will fight to define the destiny of all.