Fear and Courage

The engkanto's voice, a symphony of the forest's whispers and the undercurrent of magic that flowed through every leaf and root, resonated with a note of dissatisfaction at Lucius's response. It was not the affirmation of a personal creed they sought, but the acknowledgment of a destiny far greater than the man before them seemed willing to accept.

"You speak of protection, of standing against the darkness," the voice intoned, echoing around him, as if carried by the very wind. "Yet, you carry a prophecy on your shoulders, a destiny singularly yours—to confront and halt the Bakunawa, the devourer of light. Your purpose extends beyond the blade, beyond the battles you've known."