It began with silence.
Villages in the southern reaches of Lycanridge stopped sending messages.
Then came the screams.
Then the blood.
Then the dark.
---
Zariah stood at the edge of the Crimson Expanse, a region once untouched by Trial Fire. The air was thick. The wind didn't howl. It hissed.
Selya beside her.
Solara behind.
Vael watching.
From the shadows emerged twelve figures.
Not beasts.
Not ghosts.
Not wolves.
Shapeshifters.
Eyes like embers.
Breath like rot.
They didn't kneel.
They didn't bow.
They whispered:
> "We are the Aswang. We do not burn. We consume
The Twelve Aswang of the Americas
1. Malvera – The Crimson Maw
2. Tirien – The Bone Whisperer
3. Sarka – The Hollow Fang
4. Velis – The Skinwalker
5. Nyxen – The Dream Drinker
6. Orraka – The Blood Weaver
7. Threnis – The Night Caller
8. Kaelis – The Flesh Thief
9. Yllith – The Shadow Bride
10. Dren – The Maw of Silence
11. Syrra – The Pale Flame
12. Fenraxis – The Devourer of Light
Villagers vanish, leaving only bones and whispers.
Trial Fire dims, sensing corruption.
Solara dreams of blood, waking with claw marks.
Selya finds a scroll, sealed in flesh.
It speaks of a pact, broken by flame centuries ago.
Vael reveals Frostborne once hunted Aswang.
Fenrir refuses to enter, sensing death.
Malvera speaks, her voice like venom:
> "You are not protectors. You are prey."
Zariah replies:
> "Then let the prey bite back."
Tirien attacks, his form shifting mid-strike.
Zariah counters, channeling Soulflare.
Sarka vanishes, reappearing behind Solara.
Selya intercepts, her blade singing.
Velis mimics Zariah, confusing the Pact.
Solara sings, revealing truth through sound.
Nyxen invades dreams, wolves scream in sleep.
Vael binds minds, freezing memory.
Orraka weaves blood, turning it into blades.
Zariah burns it, her aura pulsing.
Threnis calls the night, stars vanish.
Selya carves light, restoring the sky.
Kaelis steals flesh, wearing wolfskin.
Zariah strikes, severing illusion.
Yllith whispers, turning wolves against each other.
Solara counters, her voice anchoring unity.
Dren silences the Pact, no one can speak.
Zariah channels Mindflare, breaking the silence.
Syrra burns, her flame pale and cold.
Zariah endures, her aura resisting.
Fenraxis rises, larger than the flame tree, darker than prophecy.
The Reckoning of Fenraxis
He didn't roar.
He consumed.
Light.
Sound.
Hope.
Zariah didn't strike.
She endured.
She channeled Soulflare, Mindflare, and Stormbind.
She became rhythm.
She became resistance.
She became flame.
Fenraxis cracked.
His breath shattered.
His eyes dimmed.
He fell and died.
The Crimson Remnant
The Aswang were gone.
Their bodies turned to ash.
Their whispers silenced.
But the land did not heal.
The Crimson Expanse pulsed with something left behind.
Not a corpse.
Not a curse.
A relic.
Zariah stood at the center of the scorched field.
Selya beside her.
Solara behind.
Vael watching.
Fenrir growling low.
The Trial Fire flickered.
The relic was buried beneath the bones of Fenraxis.
A blade.
Not forged.
Formed.
From hunger.
From shadow.
From memory.
Solara knelt beside it.
> "It's not a weapon," she whispered.
> "It's a wound."
Selya stepped back.
> "Then why does it call to us?"
Zariah didn't answer.
She reached for it.
The blade pulses, reacting to Zariah's touch.
It speaks, not in words—in hunger.
Solara hears screams, not from the blade—from herself.
Selya sees visions, wolves devouring wolves.
Vael freezes the air, but the relic burns through frost.
Fenrir howls, backing away.
The relic reveals a name: Virethorn.
It was once wielded by a god, now forgotten.
Zariah sees her own face, reflected in its edge.
She drops it, but it floats.
The Pact gathers, sensing change.
Some wolves kneel, others flee.
Solara sings, trying to calm the relic.
It screams, shattering her voice.
Selya draws her blade, ready to strike.
Zariah stops her, whispering:
> "It's not attacking. It's remembering."
The relic shows a vision, of a throne carved from bone.
Zariah sits, and the throne appears beneath her.
The Pact gasps, unsure whether to follow.
Vael steps forward, revealing a Frostborne prophecy.
It speaks of a flameborn who wields hunger.
Zariah stands, refusing the throne.
The relic dims, sensing rejection.
But it doesn't vanish.
It embeds itself into the Trial Fire, changing its color.
The flame turns black, then silver.
Solara weeps, sensing fate fracture.
Selya whispers:
> "We didn't destroy it. We became it."
Zariah carves a new mark, not a glyph—a scar.
The Pact doesn't kneel. They howl.
The Temple of the Silver Flame
The Awakening of the Relic
The Crimson Expanse had quieted.
But silence is not peace.
The relic—Virethorn—had embedded itself into the Trial Fire, reshaping its rhythm. The flame no longer burned red.
It shimmered silver.
And the wolves of Lycanridge began to dream again.
Not of glory.
Of reckoning.
Zariah stood before the Temple of the Silver Flame, a structure long buried beneath the cliffs, now revealed by the relic's pulse. Its walls were carved from obsidian and bone. Its doors opened not with touch—but with memory.
Selya alongside
Solara behind.
Vael watching.
Inside the temple, the air was heavy.
Scrolls floated midair.
Tears stained the stone.
And wolves knelt—not in worship.
In grief.
The Wolves of the Temple
1. Thorne Ashclaw – Keeper of the Forgotten Flame
2. Elaris Moonbind – Whisperer of Lost Scrolls
3. Kaelith Frostmane – Strategist of the Hollow Vale
4. Veyra Stormfang – Shadowguard of the Pact
5. Maelis Greysong – Historian of the Flame Trials
6. Riven Hollowstep – Seer of the Namelessfire
7. Luneth Emberwake – Voice of the Rebellion Flame
8. Dareth Ironhide – Sentinel of the Southern Verge
9. Nyra Veilthorn – Keeper of the Temple Tears
10. Syrra Flameborn – Zariah's blood cousin, long thought lost
Syrra stepped forward.
Her eyes shimmered silver.
Her voice cracked.
> "You weren't supposed to find this temple."
Zariah replied:
> "Then why did it open for me?"
The scrolls speak, whispering names of wolves long dead.
2. Nyra weeps, her tears turning to flame.
3. Solara reads a prophecy, one that names Zariah as the last flameborn.
4. Kaelith finds a map, etched into the temple floor.
5. It leads to a second relic, buried beneath the Vale of Hollow Echoes.
6. Thorne warns:
> "The relics do not serve. They consume."
7. Zariah touches a scroll, and sees her own death.
8. Selya finds a blade, forged from silver flame.
9. Vael senses frost, deeper than any he's known.
10. Fenrir growls, sensing a beast beneath the temple.
11. The walls tremble, revealing a hidden chamber.
12. Inside is a throne, carved from tears and bone.
13. Zariah refuses to sit, but the throne pulses.
14. Syrra reveals her truth:
> "I was taken by the relic. I became its voice."
15. Solara sings, trying to calm the flame.
16. The flame screams, shattering the scrolls.
17. Elaris binds the fragments, preserving memory.
18. Riven sees a vision, of Lycanridge burning.
19. Zariah asks:
> "Is this our future?"
20. Riven replies:
> "Only if we choose silence."
21. The relic pulses, revealing a second name: Ashveil.
22. It was once Zariah's mother's blade.
23. Selya finds it, buried beneath the altar.
24. Zariah holds both relics, and the temple dims.
25. The Trial Fire flickers, unsure.
26. Solara weeps, sensing fate fracture.
27. Syrra kneels, whispering:
> "You are not just flame. You are the tear."
28. Zariah carves no glyph, but the walls respond.
29. The temple opens, revealing the Vale of Hollow Echoes.
30. The Pact doesn't kneel. They howl.
The Council Beneath Echoes
The Vale of Hollow Echoes
The temple had opened.
The relic had awakened.
And the Vale—long buried beneath Lycanridge—now pulsed with memory.
Not of flame.
Not of frost.
Of silence.
Of choices.
Zariah stood at the edge of the Vale.
Selya beside her.
Solara behind.
Vael watching.
Fenrir silent.
The Pact gathered.
Not for war.
For council.
Inside the Vale, the air shimmered.
Scrolls floated.
Tears stained the stone.
And wolves waited.
Not for orders.
For truth.
The Council of the Hollow Vale
1. Zariah Flameborn – Flame that rewrote prophecy
2. Selya Stormblade – Voice of resistance
3. Solara Veilvoice – Song of memory
4. Vael Frostborne – Anchor of silence
5. Fenrir – Chaos chained
6. Thorne Ashclaw – Keeper of the Forgotten Flame
7. Kaelith Frostmane – Strategist of the Hollow Vale
8. Veyra Stormfang – Shadowguard of the Pact
9. Maelis Greysong – Historian of the Flame Trials
10. Riven Hollowstep – Seer of the Namelessfire
11. Nyra Veilthorn – Keeper of the Temple Tears
12. Syrra Flameborn – Zariah's blood cousin, relic-marked
The council sat in a circle of stone.
The relic pulsed at the center.
Silver.
Silent.
Waiting.
Dialogues of Reckoning
Thorne:
> "We've seen beasts. Gods. Hunger. Now relics speak louder than wolves."
Zariah:
> "Then let wolves speak louder than relics."
Kaelith:
> "The Vale hides something. A second relic. One not forged. One buried."
Selya:
> "We don't need more power. We need more truth."
Solara:
> "Truth is fractured. The relic shows us pieces. We must choose which to bind."
Vael:
> "The Frostborne once sealed this Vale. We feared what slept beneath."
Veyra:
> "Then why open it now?"
Zariah:
> "Because silence is no longer protection. It's permission."
Maelis:
> "The scrolls speak of a beast. Not of flame. Not of hunger. Of sorrow."
Riven:
> "I saw it in vision. It weeps. And its tears burn."
Nyra:
> "The Temple Tears match its rhythm. We are already bound."
Syrra:
> "I touched the relic. It showed me its name. Griefspire."
The relic pulses, revealing a hidden passage.
2. Scrolls ignite, showing visions of wolves lost to sorrow.
3. Solara sings, her voice cracking the stone.
4. Selya finds a blade, etched with names of the fallen.
5. Vael senses frost, deeper than any known.
6. Fenrir growls, sensing a beast awakening.
7. Thorne warns:
> "We are not ready."
8. Zariah replies:
> "Then we become ready."
9. Kaelith uncovers a map, leading to the beast's chamber.
10. Veyra scouts ahead, finding bones wrapped in silver flame.
11. Maelis reads a scroll, naming the beast: The Mourning One.
12. Riven sees a vision, of Zariah weeping blood.
13. Nyra weeps, her tears turning to fire.
14. Syrra touches the relic, and it screams.
15. The Vale trembles, revealing the chamber.
16. Inside is a cocoon, pulsing with sorrow.
17. Zariah steps forward, her aura steady.
18. The cocoon cracks, revealing the beast.
19. It speaks, not with voice—with grief.
20. Zariah listens, and weeps.
21. Selya draws her blade, but hesitates.
22. Solara sings, calming the chamber.
23. Vael binds the sorrow, freezing its spread.
24. Fenrir howls, anchoring the Pact.
25. Thorne kneels, whispering:
> "We are not warriors. We are witnesses."
26. Kaelith carves a mark, not of war—of memory.
27. Veyra shields the relic, sensing danger.
28. Maelis records the moment, etching it into flame.
29. Riven sees the future, and it weeps.
30. Zariah speaks:
> "We are not just protectors. We are the sorrow that even beasts must remember."
The Chamber Beneath the Vale
The Vale of Hollow Echoes had opened.
The relic pulsed.
The council had spoken.
And now, the beast stirred.
Not with rage.
With sorrow.
Zariah stood at the mouth of the chamber.
Selya beside her.
Solara behind.
Vael watching.
Fenrir silent.
The Pact gathered.
Not for conquest.
For reckoning.
Inside the chamber, the walls wept.
Not water.
Memory.
The air shimmered with grief.
The cocoon pulsed.
Then cracked.
From within emerged the Mourning One.
A creature of shadow and light.
Wings like torn parchment.
Eyes like forgotten stars.
Its breath was not fire.
It was regret.
The beast does not roar, it sighs.
Solara hears a song, one she sang as a child.
Selya sees her mother, lost to the first Trial.
Vael feels frost, deeper than any he's known.
Fenrir backs away, sensing kinship.
Thorne kneels, whispering:
> "It remembers us."
Kaelith sees a map, etched into its wings.
Veyra touches its breath, and weeps.
Maelis reads a scroll, naming it Griefspire.
Riven sees a future, where wolves forget how to howl.
Nyra weeps, her tears turning to silver.
Syrra steps forward, her relic pulsing.
The beast speaks, not in words—in memory.
Zariah listens, and sees every wolf she's lost.
The Trial Fire dims, sensing sorrow.
The Namelessfire pulses, offering silence.
Solara sings, her voice trembling.
The beast cries, its tears burning the stone.
Selya draws her blade, but hesitates.
Zariah steps forward, unarmed.
She speaks:
> "We are not here to fight. We are here to remember."
The beast pauses, its wings folding.
Vael binds the chamber, anchoring the grief.
Fenrir howls, not in rage—in mourning.
Thorne carves a mark, not of war—of memory.
Kaelith kneels, whispering:
> "Let sorrow speak."
Veyra shields the Pact, sensing danger.
Maelis records the moment, etching it into flame.
Riven sees the future, and it weeps.