Darian didn't wait.
He didn't trust him. Not after what happened on the ship. Not after being dragged into an unknown forest against his will.
He activated Flow Perception.
The world slowed.
The black trees. The mist. The dark elf standing before him. Everything became dense and heavy. Slow.
He saw the lines of force.
He saw trajectories.
Weak points.
He drew Nox.
The short sword flared with dark light as he lunged forward.
The elf sighed.
—Straight to violence. I like that. It won't work, but I like it.
Darian didn't listen.
His free hand rose.
Void Dominion.
Gravity multiplied around the elf. The ground beneath his feet cracked and sank—
But the elf was already gone.
A brief flash. A streak of blue light.
He reappeared three meters to the left, daggers still lowered.
—You'll need to be faster than that.
Darian pivoted.
Fire and wind.
A blast of scorching air swept through the clearing. Flames roared outward.
The elf teleported again.
The fire struck empty air.
—Why are you following me?! —Darian shouted. —What do you want from me?
—I'm not following you. —The elf tilted his head. —I waited for you. That's different.
His body blurred.
Colors merged with the environment—bark, leaves, shadows.
Gone.
Darian felt the impact against his shoulder.
The dagger struck flat-side first.
A warning.
Not a wound.
He spun—
The elf was gone again.
Another hit.
His leg.
Again with the flat of the blade.
—You'll tire before I do —the elf's voice echoed from nowhere—. And I haven't even started.
Let me out! Nox roared inside his mind. Let me hunt!
No, Darian replied. Not yet.
He's playing with us.
I know.
Darian combined water and earth.
The ground beneath them turned to mud.
A trap.
If the elf stepped there, he would sink.
But he never touched the ground.
He leapt from a branch instead.
Darian saw it through Flow Perception. Saw the trajectory.
He raised his hand.
Shadow spikes erupted from the earth. Black stalagmites shot upward like spears.
The elf twisted through the air.
Dodged every single one.
He landed gracefully in front of Darian.
—You're powerful —he said. —But undisciplined. Your powers don't obey you. You force them.
—You don't know me.
—No. But I know someone important to you.
Darian's jaw tightened.
—What are you talking about?
—Aria.
The name hit him like a punch.
Heat exploded in his chest.
His vision tinted red.
—What do you know about Aria?
—More than you do. More than her own father. I know what her grandfather is planning. I know what will happen if you don't listen to me.
Darian stopped hearing him.
Aria's name coming from that thing—from the dark elf who had dragged him here and toyed with him—was too much.
He knows where she is! Nox roared. Make him talk!
Darian, listen, Lumine pleaded. Don't lose yourself. Last time you nearly died.
I DON'T CARE! Nox's voice thundered, amplified by Darian's fury. I WANT BLOOD!
Darian, please. Lumine's voice became thin, fragile. Don't make the same mistake again.
But Darian no longer heard her.
Only the elf.
Only the fire in his chest.
Only the darkness climbing through his veins.
He raised both hands.
Shadow and wind.
The elements merged.
The air sharpened into darkness.
Shadow Blades.
A storm of black wind exploded toward the elf.
The elf teleported—
But one blade grazed him.
His arm.
A thin line of blood dripped into the mist.
First blood.
The elf looked at the wound.
Then at the blood on his fingers.
—That's new. —He looked up at Darian. —I like it. It hurts. But I like it.
Darian panted.
The attack had drained him. His control was poor. Some blades vanished before reaching their target. Others flew off-course.
But one had landed.
—I don't want to kill you —the elf said, sheathing one dagger. —If I did, you'd already be dead.
—Then tell me what you want.
—To talk. Only talk. About Aria. About what her grandfather plans to do. About what will happen if you refuse to cooperate.
—I'm not interested in cooperating with someone who stalks and kidnaps me.
—You are not kidnapped. You are safe. I could have killed you while you slept. I didn't.
—That doesn't make me trust you.
—I don't need your trust. —The elf smiled faintly. —But I will earn it.
---
Back at the inn, Vael's eyes snapped open.
Something was wrong.
He felt it through the bond he shared with Darian.
He let out a deep sound. Then a sharper one.
He became restless.
Kára woke instantly.
—What's wrong, little one?
Vael leapt from the bed. He scratched at the door. A small roar escaped him—weak, but urgent.
Kára rose immediately, grabbing her hammer.
In the next room, Varkas was already awake. His yellow eyes glowed in the dark.
Elias sat upright.
—Darian's gone —Varkas said.
They rushed into the hallway.
Kára was already there, holding Vael. The dragon struggled wildly, trying to break free.
—Easy, little one. We'll find him.
Varkas approached the courtyard door.
He inhaled deeply.
Tracking Darian's scent.
It led to the door.
Then vanished.
As though Darian had disappeared into thin air.
—The trail ends here.
Elias raised his hand. The owl descended from the ceiling and landed on his arm.
—Find him. From above.
The owl launched into the night.
Varkas closed his eyes.
Inside him, the wolf stirred.
Pack in danger, Rakshar growled.
I know.
Hunter must hunt.
I know.
Varkas opened his eyes.
—Rakshar. Come.
The transformation began.
His fur darkened into black ink. His tail turned crimson red. His eyes burned scarlet. His body expanded—larger, fiercer. Claws lengthened. Fangs emerged.
Kára stepped back.
Elias held his breath.
—I've never seen this before —Kára whispered.
Varkas's voice became layered.
His own.
And Rakshar's.
Deep. Wild. Like thunder before a storm.
He lifted his head and howled.
Not human.
Wolf.
The sound shook the inn walls.
—I found him.
He launched himself through the window. His claws shredded the frame apart.
—Follow me!
He crashed onto the ground below without injury and sprinted toward the outskirts of the city.
Kára and Elias followed, Vael in her arms.
---
Darian dropped to one knee.
Breathless.
The Shadow Blades had drained him dry.
The elf stood before him, only a few meters away. The wound on his arm no longer bled.
—Let's end this —the elf said. —You don't have to fight.
—I don't trust you.
—I know. But you need to hear me. What I'm about to tell you will change everything you think you know about Aria's fate.
Let me out, Nox roared. Let me hunt. Let me make him talk.
If you do this, there's no going back, Lumine warned. Possession has a cost.
I don't care, Darian replied. I don't have a choice.
There is always a choice.
Not this time. He knows something about Aria. I need to know what.
Not like this. Don't let Nox consume you.
There's no other way.
Darian lifted his head.
His eyes began turning white.
Fangs emerged beneath his lips.
Dark energy poured from his body.
Then—
A monstrous roar shattered the night.
Something enormous and black tore through the forest like lightning.
Varkas.
Transformed.
Black fur. Crimson tail. Scarlet eyes.
His claws slashed through the air in a brutal strike.
The elf teleported away at the last possible second.
Varkas's claws tore through a tree trunk.
Wood exploded into splinters.
The elf appeared atop a high branch, calmly smoothing out his cloak.
—Good. Now there are two of you. This just became interesting.
Varkas landed between Darian and the elf.
Protecting him completely.
He growled.
His dual voice echoed through the forest.
—You do not touch the pup.
The elf watched him from the branch.
Slowly, he smiled.
—So the beast has fangs too. —He sheathed his daggers. —I'll leave. For now.
Darian regained control.
The transformation stopped.
His eyes returned to normal. The fangs vanished. The dark energy faded.
He panted heavily and looked at Varkas.
—You came.
—Always.