Chapter 4 – Journey to a New World

The sky above us was beginning to darken, the cool evening breeze carrying the scent of distant rain as we rode along the narrow path. It felt like hours since we left Vaelthar behind, the city's towering spires fading into the horizon. The road ahead seemed endless, a winding trail through thick forests and rolling hills that stretched far beyond what I could see.

Seraphine was riding ahead of me, her pace steady, never slowing. The air around us was filled with the sounds of birds in the trees and the rustle of leaves underhoof, but beneath it all, I could feel the tension of the journey hanging in the air. Every step of the horse seemed to pull me further from the world I knew, deeper into a place I had no control over.

I hadn't spoken much since we left the city, my mind still reeling from the weight of everything Seraphine had told me. I was the last of the Zeroth bloodline, the heir to powers I barely understood. The responsibility felt too heavy, and the fear of what that meant for me—and the world—gnawed at me.

"Do you always ride so fast?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

Seraphine glanced back over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "You need to learn to keep up. The journey ahead isn't going to be easy, Kalen. It's better to get used to it now." Her voice was calm but carried an authority that made it clear she wasn't in the mood for any complaints.

I gritted my teeth but said nothing, nudging my horse to match her pace. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden. I could feel the mark on my hand again, the familiar burn, though this time it wasn't overwhelming. It was just... there, a constant reminder of the power stirring within me.

After a while, the landscape began to change. The dense forest gave way to open plains, the sky overcast and heavy with the promise of rain. A few hours later, the first drops began to fall, lightly at first, then harder, as if the heavens themselves had decided to weigh us down.

Seraphine didn't even flinch at the downpour. I, on the other hand, had to pull my cloak tighter around me to shield myself from the rain. "How much farther?" I asked, looking over at her.

"We'll make it to the village by nightfall. We'll rest there for the night. You'll need the rest before we head into the wilderness beyond," she replied, her voice steady, unaffected by the rain.

We continued onward, and as the sun began to set, the outline of a small village appeared in the distance, nestled against the edge of a forest. The warm glow of lamps flickered in the windows of small cottages, and the smell of food wafted through the air. My stomach growled at the scent, reminding me that it had been far too long since I had a proper meal.

But before we could reach the village, the forest around us seemed to shift. A strange rustling from the bushes ahead caught my attention. I glanced at Seraphine, but she didn't seem surprised. In fact, her hand was already moving to the dagger at her belt.

"You sense it too," she said, her voice low, her eyes scanning the shadows.

A growl echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of something large moving through the underbrush. I felt a shiver run down my spine. This was no wild animal. It was something far worse.

From the darkness of the woods, a massive shape emerged, its glowing yellow eyes fixated on us. Its body was covered in matted black fur, and it had the size and strength of a bear, but its movements were too fluid, too predatory. It was a Twisted Beast, a creature born from dark magic and corruption.

The Twisted Beast wasn't of this world—it was a product of the Council of Shadows' experiments. These beasts were imbued with unnatural strength and heightened senses, created to hunt and kill anyone who posed a threat to the Council. They were ruthless and relentless, often used as assassins or trackers in the darkest corners of the land. Its glowing eyes were a sign of the magic that kept it alive, a magic that could not be killed by ordinary means.

In one smooth motion, Seraphine urged her horse to sidestep, her hand drawing a short staff from her back. Her fingers traced intricate runes in the air, and as she did, the staff began to grow longer, its once-short form stretching and shifting as magical energy swirled around it. The runes glowed brightly, pulsating with an ethereal light, and then with a swift motion, she slammed the staff into the ground. The force of the strike sent a shockwave through the earth, rippling the air around us with crackling power. The beast paused, growling, as if it was caught in some invisible web.

"You stay back," Seraphine commanded without turning to me. "This is my fight."

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could speak, the beast lunged, its jaws snapping. Seraphine was faster. With a flick of her staff, a burst of purple light erupted from the tip, slamming into the creature with the force of a thunderstrike. It howled in pain, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it swiped its claws, raking across the ground toward Seraphine.

She dodged effortlessly, her movements precise and deliberate. She was calm, controlled, every strike of her staff lighting up the air with crackling magic. The creature roared again, and for a moment, I thought it would overwhelm her, but she didn't falter.

With a final movement, Seraphine lifted her staff high, and a wave of energy surged from it, slicing through the beast's body in a blinding arc. The creature let out a final scream before collapsing to the ground in a heap.

Before I could take a breath, our horses were spooked by the sudden chaos, rearing up in panic. My own horse bolted, racing off into the distance with no regard for me. Seraphine's horse wasn't far behind. The beasts' howls had disturbed the peace of the forest, and neither of our mounts was going to stay calm for long.

"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Now what?"

Seraphine was already scanning the area, but she didn't seem worried. "We walk," she said bluntly. "The nearest village is still some ways off. We'll need to make it on foot now."

I could only nod, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief. The horses were gone, and the journey would continue on foot—without the comfort of speed and ease we had before.

We trudged through the rain, the weight of the encounter still heavy in the air. The village was a distant glimmer of light, but it was all we had to look forward to. As we walked, the silence between us grew heavier, but Seraphine remained focused, never wavering.