chapter 5: a strange beast

The gentle lapping of the lake's water greeted us as we made our way back to the shore. The late afternoon sunlight shimmered on the surface, casting ripples of gold and silver that danced with the gentle breeze. Alaria walked beside me, her usual confident swagger slightly subdued, though her eyes remained sharp and watchful. As we reached the edge of the water, I set my pack down on the rocky shore. The lake stretched out before us, vast and serene, the horizon blending seamlessly with the sky. I could feel Alaria's gaze on me as I pulled off my shirt, the fabric rustling softly in the quiet. "Enjoying the view?" I asked dryly, glancing over my shoulder. She didn't even try to hide her grin. "You could say that. Didn't think you were hiding all that under the uniform, Noctis." I shook my head, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress the faint smirk that tugged at my lips. "Try to focus. We're here to find pearls, not for you to critique my physique."

"Oh, don't flatter yourself," she shot back, settling herself on the shore. She tucked her legs beneath her, her crimson hair catching the sunlight as she leaned forward with a teasing smile. "But hey, if you're offering a show, I'm not going to complain." Ignoring her, I stepped into the water, the coolness sending a shiver up my spine. The lakebed was soft beneath my feet, a mix of sand and smooth stones that shifted slightly with every step. The water rose quickly, lapping at my waist as I moved further in, its clarity revealing small fish darting around my legs. I glanced back at Alaria, who waved lazily from her perch on the rocks. "Don't drown, darling," she called out, her voice light but laced with a hint of genuine concern. "I'm not jumping in to save you, you know."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied, taking a deep breath as I waded deeper. The lake grew cooler the further I went, the sunlight filtering through the water in golden beams that illuminated the depths. I steadied myself, inhaling deeply before diving beneath the surface. The world above vanished in an instant, replaced by the quiet, muffled stillness of the underwater realm. The water was impossibly clear, revealing clusters of aquatic plants swaying gently with the current. I kicked downward, my eyes scanning the lakebed for the clams that supposedly held the pearls. My chest tightened slightly as I swam deeper, the pressure of the water growing with each passing second. There—just ahead. A cluster of clams nestled among the rocks, their shells faintly shimmering in the dim light. I swam closer, reaching out to pry one open, but the resistance was stronger than I'd expected. My lungs began to burn, a sharp reminder that I was running out of time. I hastily grabbed one of the clams, tucking it under my arm as I turned to swim back up.

Just as I began my ascent, a shadow passed over me.

It was quick—so quick that for a moment, I thought I'd imagined it. But then it happened again, a large, black silhouette cutting across the beams of sunlight above me. My heart raced, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through me. What was that? I blinked, straining to get a better look, but the shadow was gone, the water above calm and undisturbed. My lungs burned fiercely now, urging me to reach the surface. Kicking harder, I propelled myself upward, my chest tight with the effort. Breaking through the surface, I gasped for air, the sound sharp and desperate against the quiet of the lake. The cool breeze felt like fire on my skin as I sucked in breath after breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "Noctis!" Alaria's voice called from the shore, her tone sharp with concern. "What's wrong?" I swam back toward her, my strokes uneven as I tried to shake the lingering unease. Reaching the shallows, I dropped the clam onto the rocks and sank to my knees in the water, still catching my breath. "You look like you saw something," Alaria said, crouching beside me. Her teasing grin was gone, replaced by a furrowed brow as she studied my face. "What happened down there?" I hesitated, glancing back toward the water. The surface rippled innocently, betraying nothing of what I'd seen—or thought I'd seen. "I'm not sure," I said finally, my voice low. "There was… something. A shadow. It swam right over me, but when I looked, it was gone."

Alaria's expression darkened slightly, though she tried to mask it with a shrug. "Could've been a big fish. Or your imagination. You were running out of air, right? That messes with your head."

"Maybe," I murmured, though the memory of the shadow sent a chill through me. It hadn't felt like a fish—or a trick of the light. It had felt… deliberate. Alaria leaned back, brushing a strand of crimson hair from her face. "Well, whatever it was, you're back in one piece. Let's get those pearls and get out of here, yeah?" I nodded, forcing myself to focus. The shadow could wait. Right now, we had a job to finish. Still, as I turned back toward the lake, I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone—and that whatever was down there wasn't finished with us yet.

The water embraced me again as I dove beneath the surface, its cool grip both soothing and unnerving. My thoughts raced as I descended, kicking steadily toward the cluster of clams I had spotted earlier. The shadow… what was it? A trick of the light? Or was there truly something down here with me? I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. The clams were clustered tightly among the rocks, their shells faintly glinting in the filtered sunlight. I reached out, prying them loose one by one, tucking them into the makeshift pouch tied to my waist. My movements were hurried, my pulse quickening with every passing second. Just as I reached for the last clam, it happened again. The shadow passed over me—bigger, closer, more deliberate. My heart pounded in my chest, and I froze, the clam slipping from my grasp. This time, there was no mistaking it. Whatever it was, it was watching me, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. I spun around, scanning the murky water above. The shadow was gone, but the weight of its presence lingered, pressing against my chest like a vice. My lungs burned, the demand for air growing unbearable.

Kicking hard, I shot upward, the clams clinking together in my pouch as I propelled myself toward the surface. I broke through the water with a gasp, my breaths coming in ragged gulps as I swam frantically toward the shore. Alaria was already on her feet, her emerald eyes wide with concern as she watched me stumble onto the rocky bank and dump the clams onto the ground.

"Noctis!" she called, rushing to my side. "What happened? Did you see it again?" I nodded, sitting heavily on the rocks, my hands shaking as I tried to catch my breath. "It's down there," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's real. I saw it again—closer this time." Alaria crouched beside me, her expression hardening. "What is it? Some kind of fish? A monster?"

"I don't know," I admitted, running a hand through my damp hair. "But it's not normal. It's… hunting me." Before Alaria could respond, the surface of the lake erupted with a deafening splash. Both of us jumped to our feet as the shadow burst from the water, soaring through the air before landing heavily on the rocky shore.

The creature was a grotesque marvel of nature, unlike anything I had ever encountered. Its body was sleek and elongated, glistening with a slick sheen of jet-black scales that caught the last rays of the setting sun, giving it an unsettling sheen as if it were coated in a layer of oil. Long, spindly legs unfolded beneath it, each one a nightmarish appendage ending in sharp, clawed feet that clicked against the stones with a sound that echoed like the tapping of death itself. Its head was a serpentine horror, adorned with glowing, pupil-less white eyes that radiated a chilling light, seeming to bore into my very soul with a predatory hunger. Rows of needle-like teeth lined its gaping maw, glistening with a viscous, slimy saliva that dripped onto the ground, pooling in putrid puddles that emitted a stench reminiscent of rotting fish left to fester in the sun. As it let out a guttural, otherworldly screech, the sound reverberated through the air like the wailing of lost souls, sending shivers of revulsion racing down my spine. It was a creature born of nightmares, a living embodiment of the grotesque that left a lingering sense of dread in its wake.

The creature's head tilted, its gaze flicking between us with an almost curious intensity. It took a slow, deliberate step forward, its claws scraping against the rocks with each movement.

"Alaria, stay back," I said, forcing myself to stand despite the fear tightening my chest. My light blade flickered into existence in my hand, the golden glow illuminating the darkened shore. "Stay back?" she echoed, her voice edged with disbelief. "Noctis, that thing just crawled out of the lake like it owns the place! We're not letting it get any closer."

The creature let out another screech, its body tensing as if preparing to pounce. I tightened my grip on the blade, my mind racing. It wasn't just a beast—there was intelligence in its movements, a purpose behind its attack.

"Alaria," I said, my voice steady despite the panic bubbling beneath the surface. "If this thing charges, aim for its legs. Slow it down."

"You think I don't know that?" she shot back, her voice sharp but tinged with fear.

The creature lunged, a blur of muscle and fury, its sharp teeth bared as it closed in on us. Alaria barely sidestepped in time, her blades glinting like silver as she aimed for its legs. The dagger connected with a sickening thud, cutting through sinewy flesh and eliciting a guttural screech of agony. Thick, black ichor sprayed from the wound, splattering her face and creating a grotesque canvas of violence. I seized the moment, surging forward with my light blade, the glowing edge cleaving through the air. It sliced into the creature's side with a grotesque squelch, searing its scaled skin and leaving behind a charred, jagged gash. The creature howled, a sound that chilled the blood, its body arching in agony as flames licked at the edge of the wound, turning its blood to bubbling viscera. With a furious roar, it swung one of its massive claws, a lethal arc aimed directly at me. The impact struck me square in the chest, armor crumpling beneath the force. Pain exploded through my ribs, a fiery bloom that stole my breath and sent me crashing against the jagged rocks. As I lay there, gasping, I could taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. My vision blurred, dotted with flickering spots of darkness and light.

"Noctis!" Alaria's voice rang out, laced with fear as she catapulted herself between me and the creature. She was a stark silhouette against the nightmare unfolding; the monster's claws were slick with its own gore, dripping grotesquely onto the ground. The air was thick with the stench of iron and the acrid scent of scorched flesh as it lurched, eager to retaliate, a blood-curdling fury igniting its feral instincts. The monster hissed, its eyes narrowing as it stalked closer, its injured leg dragging slightly. Alaria raised her daggers, her stance unwavering despite the fear I could see flickering in her emerald eyes.

"You're not touching him," she snarled, her voice low and dangerous. The creature hesitated for a moment, as if considering her words. Then, with a guttural growl, it turned and slinked back toward the water, its movements slow and deliberate. It stopped at the edge of the lake, its glowing eyes locking onto mine one last time before it disappeared beneath the surface with a splash. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing and Alaria's hurried footsteps as she knelt beside me. "You okay?" she asked, her voice softer now, her hands hovering over my shoulders as if afraid to touch me.

"I'm fine," I lied, wincing as I sat up. My chest throbbed, and every breath felt like fire, but I forced myself to meet her gaze. "What the hell was that thing?"

"I don't know," she admitted, glancing back at the lake with a frown. "But I don't think we've seen the last of it." Her words sent a chill through me, and I couldn't help but feel she was right. Whatever that creature was, it wasn't just a monster—it was something far more dangerous. And it wasn't done with us yet.

The silence between us lingered as the sky darkened further, the lake now a black void reflecting faint traces of starlight. My chest still ached from the creature's blow, every breath a reminder of how close it had come. Alaria sat beside me, her usual bravado replaced by quiet unease. Her emerald eyes flicked toward the lake every few seconds, the tension in her shoulders refusing to ease. "We need to finish this," I said finally, my voice hoarse. She turned to me, her expression incredulous. "Finish this? Noctis, that thing nearly tore us apart. You want to keep going?"

I nodded, forcing myself to my feet despite the dull throb radiating through my body. "We have a job to do. We're not leaving empty-handed." Alaria stood as well, but her gaze was wary. "Look, I'm all for seeing things through, but that thing… it wasn't normal. Whatever it is, it's still out there, watching us. I don't like this."

"Neither do I," I admitted, picking up the scattered clams and dumping them into the pouch tied to my belt. "But running away isn't an option. If we don't finish this now, it's going to haunt us." Alaria sighed, raking a hand through her crimson hair. "Fine. But if it comes back, we're out of here, pearls or not." I nodded, and we returned to our task in heavy silence. The clams were slick and stubborn, but the repetitive motion of prying them open kept my hands busy, even as my mind refused to quiet. Each pearl I added to the pouch felt like a small victory, though it was overshadowed by the looming presence of the lake. "You were lucky," Veylara's voice whispered, her tone smooth and unsettling. "That thing was testing you, Noctis. And you barely passed." I tensed, my grip on the clam tightening. "Not now," I muttered under my breath, careful to keep my voice low enough that Alaria wouldn't hear. "Oh, but now is the perfect time," she continued, her words sliding into my thoughts like a blade. "You saw its strength, its intelligence. That was no mere beast—it was something… ancient. And yet, you still insist on fighting battles you can't win alone."

"I'm not alone," I shot back quietly, my voice sharp. "Alaria's here."

"Alaria?" Veylara's laugh was soft but laced with derision. "A reckless girl with daggers and a penchant for chaos? She can't protect you, Noctis. Not from what's coming." I grit my teeth, prying another clam open with more force than necessary. The pearl inside gleamed faintly in the dim light, its smooth surface cool against my fingers. "What's coming?" I asked under my breath, my tone edged with frustration. "You'll see soon enough," she said, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "But know this—you won't survive without me. That creature is only the beginning, a harbinger of the trials ahead. You need me, Noctis. Stop pretending otherwise."

"Noctis?" Alaria's voice cut through the haze of Veylara's words, grounding me. I blinked, realizing I had been staring blankly at the pearl in my hand. "Yeah?" I said, my voice strained. She frowned, tilting her head. "You're doing that thing again. Zoning out. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," I lied, dropping the pearl into the pouch. "Let's just finish this." Alaria didn't look convinced, but she nodded, turning back to the clams. Her movements were quicker now, her shoulders tense as if she were bracing for the creature to return at any moment. We worked in silence until the last clam had been opened and the final pearl added to the pouch. I stood, brushing off my hands and slinging the pouch over my shoulder. "That's all of them. Let's go." Alaria stood as well, her emerald eyes scanning the lake one last time before she nodded. "Yeah. Let's get out of here before that thing decides it's hungry again." The walk back to the Adventurer's Guild was uneventful, but the silence between us felt heavy, weighed down by unspoken fears. The shadows of the forest seemed darker, the rustling of leaves sharper, as if the creature's presence still lingered, watching from the periphery. When we arrived at the guild, the usual bustle greeted us, though it felt distant. The warm glow of the lanterns and the hum of conversation did little to ease the tension in my chest. We approached the front desk, and the clerk looked up, her expression neutral.

"Finished the pearl quest, I see," she said, glancing at the pouch I handed over.

"Yes," I said, my voice flat.

She opened the pouch, inspecting the pearls before nodding. "Good work. That'll be twenty-five silver coins." She handed me the payment, her eyes flicking to Alaria. "Anything else for tonight?"

"No," Alaria said quickly, giving a strained smile. "Thanks." As we turned to leave, I could feel the clerk's eyes lingering on us, as if she sensed something was off. The inn was a welcome sight, its warm glow spilling onto the cobblestone street. Alaria and I barely spoke as we climbed the stairs to our rooms, the day's events weighing heavily on both of us.

"Goodnight, Noctis," she said quietly, pausing at her door.

"Goodnight," I replied, my voice equally soft.

I stepped into my room and shut the door behind me, leaning against it with a heavy sigh. The silence was oppressive, the memory of the creature's screech still echoing in my ears. "You did well today," Veylara said, her voice slipping into my thoughts like a shadow. "But this is only the beginning. Rest while you can, my darling. The real challenges are yet to come." Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed them aside, collapsing onto the bed. The weight of the day pressed down on me, but sleep didn't come easily. My mind was a storm of doubts, fears, and the ever-present whisper of Veylara, promising strength but offering nothing but unease.

The room was silent except for the faint creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my bed as I shifted. The thin mattress did little to comfort my aching body, and the silence wasn't soothing—it was suffocating. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the faint moonlight seeping through the cracked shutters casting pale lines across the walls. Sleep refused to come, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the lingering echo of Veylara's voice. "Rest, my dear Noctis," she cooed, her words as soft as silk and just as binding. "You'll need your strength for what's to come." I closed my eyes, trying to block her out, but it was futile. She was always there—just a whisper away, her presence as much a part of me as my own breath. "What's coming, Veylara?" I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely audible even to myself.

Her laughter was low and haunting, wrapping around me like a shadow. "You ask, but are you truly ready for the answer? The truth is never as comforting as the lies you tell yourself to survive."

"Stop speaking in riddles," I muttered, turning onto my side. My hands curled into fists, gripping the rough blanket as if it could shield me from her words. "What are you trying to say?" The air grew colder, and I could almost feel her presence materialize in the corner of the room. Though I couldn't see her, I knew she was there, watching with those piercing golden eyes. "I'm saying that the world is far darker than you realize, and you've only scratched the surface. You'll see it soon enough—the betrayal, the pain, the sacrifices you'll have to make. And when it all falls apart, you'll find yourself turning to me."

"Why do you enjoy this?" I asked, my voice strained. "Toying with me, twisting everything until I can't tell what's real and what's not. What do you gain from this?"

"Gain?" she repeated, her tone almost offended. "This isn't about gain, Noctis. This is about purpose. You and I are connected—bound by something deeper than mere coincidence. I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to guide you, to prepare you for the trials ahead." Her words were smooth, convincing even, but I couldn't shake the unease that accompanied them. "And what if I don't want your help? What if I want to figure this out on my own?" The silence that followed was suffocating, her absence more oppressive than her presence. But then she spoke again, her voice colder, sharper. "You can try, but you'll fail. Without me, you'll be consumed—by your enemies, by your doubts, by your own power. I am the only constant in the chaos, Noctis. You know this." I sat up abruptly, the blanket falling away as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My chest felt tight, my breathing uneven. "Why me?" I asked, my voice cracking. "Why did you choose me for this? There are stronger people, better people—why do you care what happens to me?" For the first time, she hesitated. Her voice, when it came, was softer, almost… tender. "Because you remind me of what I once was. Lost. Alone. Desperate for something to cling to. I see in you the potential for greatness, but also the potential for destruction. And I won't let you destroy yourself, not when you can be so much more."

Her words struck a chord deep within me, and for a moment, the anger and fear melted away, replaced by something I couldn't quite name. I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know if I can do this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can be the person you think I am."

"You don't have to be," she said, her voice like a gentle caress. "Not yet. For now, just trust me. Let me guide you. Together, we'll face whatever comes." The coldness in the room seemed to ease, her presence fading back into the shadows. But her words lingered, settling in the corners of my mind like a seed waiting to take root. I lay back down, staring at the ceiling once more. Sleep still refused to come, but this time, it wasn't because of fear. It was because of the questions that swirled in my mind—questions I didn't have the answers to, and wasn't sure I wanted to find. When dawn finally came, the light creeping through the shutters felt less like a comfort and more like a reminder. A reminder that the path I was on was no longer mine alone—and that no matter how much I tried to push her away, Veylara was always there, waiting in the shadows.