Aurelia’s Vision I

"Huh?" Aurelia found herself lost in a strange, winding maze. The air was damp, thick with moisture, and carried the occasional stench of rotting carcasses, a clear sign that she was underground. Each step she took echoed against the black walls, amplifying her isolation. Disoriented and alone, she proceeded cautiously with her short legs.

"Why am I seeing this vision?" She wondered, a sudden sense of déjà vu forming in her mind. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pinpoint the memory.

The tunnel arched above her, its ceiling crafted from an eerie black rock that seemed to swallow light. She paused to take in her surroundings. The place looked like a dungeon of some sort, its oppressive darkness pressing in on her. The only source of illumination was the small ball of fire floating in her palm — her Empyrion spell. Swallowing hard, she tried to steady her nerves, but a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.

Then, a deep, guttural growl shattered the silence. Aurelia jolted upright, her eyes darting around in alarm. The sound echoed ominously, making it impossible to pinpoint its source. Her heartbeat quickened, each pulse pounding louder in her ears.

A shriek rang out behind her.

Terror seized her, and without a second thought, her instincts screamed at her to run. Her legs propelled her forward, a panicked scream escaping her lips. The relentless shuffling of footsteps, more than just two legs chased her, closing in.

Up ahead, a faint glow flickered in the distance. A corridor of light.

Despite her exhaustion, she pushed forward, dashing towards the warm amber glow. As she burst through the accessway, she momentarily shut her eyes, blinking against the sudden brightness.

She found herself in a vast, cavernous space. The rocky ceiling stretched ten metres high, towering over her. And in the centre of it stood something ancient — a weathered red Torii gate, its worn surface whispering of forgotten history.

But before she could turn to see her pursuer, a forceful blow struck her, sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed onto the rough, abrasive floor with a sickening thud, tumbling sideways.

Her pink tunic tore, exposing her scraped, raw skin. Blood oozed from the wounds, the pain excruciating.

"Ow…" She whimpered softly, her body trembling. She tried to stand, but numbness spread through her limbs.

A shadow loomed over her.

A massive wolf, the size of a fully grown man, let out a bone-chilling howl before lunging at her with its monstrous fangs.

Tears streamed down Aurelia's face. Her body curled up instinctively, her small hands covering her head as sheer terror consumed her.

Then~

"AURELIA!"

A voice boomed across the cavern, halting the beast in its tracks.

Its massive paws twisted mid-air, redirecting its momentum towards a new challenger.

A white-haired boy stood his ground, feet planted firmly, unfazed by the monstrous creature before him. He watched its every move, calculating. The moment the beast lunged, he sprang aside, moving with effortless agility. The wolf collided with the ground, the impact forcing a gust of air from its lungs.

Without hesitation, he raised his arm. "Empyrion!" He commanded.

The air around him crackled with energy. Glyphs spiralled down his body, flowing through his arm and condensing at his fingertip. A small, dense orb of energy formed, pulsating with fiery intensity.

"Fire!" He shouted.

A split second later, a searing flame erupted from his palm, tearing through the air with an ear-splitting boom. The force of the blast sent shockwaves outward, stirring the dust around them.

But his aim was slightly off. The attack barely grazed the beast's thick hide, singing its fur rather than inflicting serious damage.

The wolf let out a deafening snarl. Its eyes gleamed in the dim light, burning with an almost demonic rage. Saliva frothed at its mouth.

"Z'smite me!" the boy cursed under his breath, frustration laced in his tone. His stance shifted, adjusting for the next attack. The beast circled him warily, as though it had enough intelligence to anticipate his movements.

It stood a head taller than the eleven-year-old boy before it. And yet, he stood firm.

He refused to let it reach the girl.

His red eyes flickered towards Aurelia, still sprawled on the ground. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he thought, No point worrying about her now. If I don't take this thing down, we're both done for.

Raising his hand once more, he aimed at the beast.

"Empyrion, fire!" He roared~. Nothing happened.

His breath hitched. "My mana is drained…!" He murmured in shock.

The beast sensed his hesitation.

Without warning, it sprang to the left, using the cavern wall to propel itself forward. With terrifying speed, it hurled its massive body at him, fangs and claws glistening in the firelight.

The boy barely had time to react.

Jaws clamped down on his arm.

Pain exploded through him as he was thrown onto the cold, hard ground. The wolf's fangs tore into his flesh, gnawing through his guard. He grit his teeth, suppressing a scream as agony surged through his twisted arm.

Five metres away, Aurelia watched in horror. Her face turned pale.

"ZETA!" She cried out, her hands trembling as she aimed at the beast.

"DO IT!" Zetius bellowed. "BURN IT!"

He shoved his broken limbs into the creature's jaws, stopping it from biting down further. The wolf snarled, its muffled growl vibrating through its throat, but its fangs dug in deeper. Blood pooled onto the ground.

"But… but I'll burn you too!" Aurelia's voice wavered, hesitation gripping her.

"DO IT!!!" Zetius roared, his body convulsing from the pain. His shoulder wrenched from its socket, sending another wave of agony through him.

"Aahhh!!" He howled in pain. Aurelia remained frozen, unable to act.

"Hades' hell, Aurelia!!" Zetius screamed, his vision darkening as his consciousness threatened to slip away. His breath grew shallow~.

No.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay awake.

"Empyrion…!" He chanted, voice breaking from the strain.

The beast's throat began to glow.

A second later, an infernal blast erupted from within. The scorching flame shot outward, incinerating everything in its path.

A violent explosion rang through the cavern.

The creature let out a final, blood-curdling shriek before collapsing to the floor.

Smoke and charred flesh filled the air. Blood painted the ground in deep crimson.

The beast lay motionless.

Lifeless.