The cave loomed in eerie silence. A thick, cold fog slithered across the uneven floor, coiling around rocks and vanishing into shadowed crevices. Water droplets echoed throughout the cave. There, in the corner of the cave, sat Arthur, resting with his back against the cold stone wall.
A faint voice, gentle and ethereal, called out to him from somewhere deep within.
"...My chosen one…"
His eyes blinked open. Pale light shone through cracks in the ceiling, casting shifting shadows across the jagged walls.
"It's that voice again…" Arthur muttered to himself.
Somewhere beyond, the faint roar of a beast echoed a reminder of him of the danger lurking outside.
"I hate this," he groaned, voice low. "I'm tired and I'm hungry. But I can't leave,not until I kill that thing." He sighed and glanced around the cave.
His eyes landed on the object beside him. Resting against a rough rock was a beautiful sword, it was his sword.Lacrimosa. Its blade shimmered with a soft, living glow. Its hilt bore strange engravings. Arthur inhaled as the scent of damp earth and ancient stone filled his lungs. He slowly reached out for his sword. The moment his fingers touched the cold metal, warmth surged up his arm like a heartbeat. The chill he once felt, now faded.
Then a sharp prickling pain sensation in his right arm. His thoughts drifted back to the moment he got the wound.
…
The forest was quiet, except for the soft crunch of leaves beneath Arthur's boots.The sun was setting, the canopy giving out a beautiful but eerie amber vibe to the forest . By the old graveyard just outside town, Arthur searched for the beast that's responsible for killing the unsuspecting travelers. His Job was to hunt it down and kill it.
While walking Arthur heard a soft rustle from the trees to his left. Instinctively, Arthur's hand dropped to his sword. He slowly stepped forward cautiously, eyes scanning his surroundings.
But before he could reach the brush — Something lunged at him.
A blur exploded from the undergrowth, catching him off guard. Arthur flinched, barely managing to dodge. The beast flew past him, its claws slicing through the air where his neck had just been.
"Ah! What the fuck?!" he shouted, eyes wide in shock and confusion.
The beast landed with a heavy thud. It was a towering, lion-like monster covered in coarse black fur, its thick mane bristling like a crown of thorns. Standing nearly two meters tall.
"That's a fucking Dreadmane..." Arthur muttered, still stunned.
'One swipe of its claws can tear through armor. I might really die if I'm not careful.'
The beast charged. But Arthur dodged again, pivoting to the left. In one smooth motion, he unsheathed his sword and swung in a wide arc.The blade carved into its shoulder, spraying thick, dark blood.
The Dreadmane shrieked and It lashed out with its claws. Arthur raised his guard against the beast's relentless assault. It pushed him back toward a tree, each blow rattling his arms.
He couldn't block them all and one vicious strike slipped past his guard and tore into his right arm.
"Gh—!"
He gritted his teeth and drove his elbow into the beast's snout, forcing it back.
Then he stabbed forward his blade sinking into its chest. Arthur paused, thinking the blow had finished it. But then its paw rose.
His eyes widened. "Oh no..."
A brutal swipe followed. Arthur was sent flying, his body flung through the air like a ragdoll.
"Arrghh, damn that hurt..." he groaned, staggering to his feet, breath ragged and nervous.
Blood seeped slowly from the gash beneath his leather armor. His right side was going numb. Across from him, the beast snarled and staggered, still bleeding.
The beast's eyes locked on Arthur's every move. As the beast was about to lunge another attack. Arthur's instincts screamed, he moved just as the Dreadmane pounced, claws outstretched, and mouth wide open in a savage roar. Arthur rolled to the side, avoiding the crushing weight of the beast.
'Too close.'
He rose to one knee, blade already drawn. The moment the beast turned, Arthur lunged—his sword flashing in a tight arc aimed at its flank.
'A shallow cut. Not deep enough.'
The Dreadmane howled and twisted mid-motion, its tail whipping around and slamming into Arthur's ribs.
"Ghk—!" He staggered back, breath knocked out of him.
It snarled, eyes burning with fury. Blood dripped from its wound, matting its thick black fur, but it kept its stance low and aggressive, circling Arthur.
Arthur tightened his grip on Lacrimosa, His muscles ached, his right arm throbbed from the earlier blow. But he held his ground.The two locked eyes. Just as the beast ready itself to pounce again.
Arthur raised his hand. A sudden burst of golden radiance erupted from his palm, flooding the forest clearing in a blinding flash.The Dreadmane halted mid-leap, snarling as the light seared its vision. Its paws dug into the ground, skidding to a stop as it recoiled.
Arthur stood firm, the glow enveloping him like a quiet flame.
Warmth spread across his body. The pain in his right arm faded. When he glanced down, the gash that had soaked through his clothes was gone and healed. Arthur's breathing slowed and has steadied. The light faded from his hand.
Across from him, the beast vision slowly cleared. It didn't charge again.The Dreadmane lowered its stance, eyes narrowed. The beast circled once around Arthur, slowly, silently… still watching him.Then, with a low growl, it turned. Step by step, it began to back away. And without another sound, the beast disappeared into the trees,vanishing into the woods as the encroaching night swallowed the last of the sky.
Arthur stood there, a little puzzled, then smirked.
'I should've gone and finished it off, right?' he thought, chuckling as he sheathed his sword. 'The damn thing was wounded while my wounds are gone. heh It would've been easy. Tsk tsk tsk'
His grin widened. 'NAH, FUCK THAT.'
He turned on his heel and bolted, sprinting through the dark woods like something was chasing him which, honestly, wasn't far from the truth but eventually, he found a small cave and decided it was the safest place to rest and without hesitation, he slipped inside.
The cold stone floor greeted him with silence and Arthur collapsed near the far wall, exhaling hard. He tore a strip from his ruined cloak and wrapped it around his right arm where the wound used to be.
"Any second now" just as the words left his mouth, a sharp pain suddenly pricked Arthur. The wound had reopened, The one that the beast gave to Arthur.
"If only the power I hold could really heal wounds," he muttered bitterly, biting back a groan. As he let out a hollow laugh.