The village of Eldermere was alive with activity, the sound of hammers and saws echoing through the air as the villagers worked to fortify the wall. Aric moved among them, his hands calloused and his muscles aching, but his mind sharp and focused.
He had spent the last few days helping wherever he could—repairing the wall, setting traps, and even teaching the villagers how to improve their defenses. His knowledge from the soul journey had proven invaluable, and though the villagers were still wary of him, they had begun to accept his presence.
But despite their efforts, the tension in the air was palpable. The wolves were a constant threat, their howls echoing through the forest at night. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before they attacked.
Aric was working on a trap near the edge of the forest when he felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Lira standing there, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.
"You're not from around here," she said, her voice low and steady.
Aric straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. "No, I'm not."
Lira studied him for a moment, her green eyes narrowing. "Why are you helping us?"
Aric hesitated, then shrugged. "Because I can. And because I don't have anywhere else to go."
Lira didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over the trap he had been working on. "This is good work," she admitted. "But it won't be enough."
"What do you mean?" Aric asked, frowning.
Lira's expression darkened. "Those wolves… they're not normal. They're smarter, stronger, and more organized than any animal should be. And they're just the beginning."
Aric's stomach churned as he remembered the creature he had faced in the forest. "What do you think they are?"
Lira shook her head. "I don't know. But I've seen things in the forest—things I can't explain. And I think you have, too."
Aric didn't respond, but the look in his eyes must have given him away, because Lira nodded as if she had confirmed something.
"You're not just some lost traveler, are you?" she said, her voice softer now.
Aric hesitated, then shook his head. "No. I'm not."
Lira studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Whatever you're hiding, it's your business. But if you're going to stay here, you need to be honest with us. We can't afford any more surprises."
Aric nodded, though his mind was racing. He wanted to tell her the truth, but how could he explain something he didn't fully understand himself?
----
The wolves struck that night.
Aric was jolted awake by the sound of screams and the clash of steel. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding as he grabbed the makeshift spear he had fashioned from a branch and a sharp stone.
He burst out of the hut to find the village in chaos. The wolves were everywhere—their glowing eyes and sleek black forms moving like shadows through the night. The villagers fought bravely, but they were outmatched.
Aric didn't hesitate. He charged into the fray, his spear striking true as he drove it into the side of a wolf. The creature yelped and retreated, but more were coming.
"Aric!"
He turned to see Lira fighting off two wolves, her dagger flashing in the moonlight. He rushed to her side, his spear striking one of the wolves and forcing it back.
"We need to get to the gate!" Lira shouted, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
Aric nodded, and together they fought their way through the village, their movements synchronized as if they had been fighting together for years.
When they reached the gate, they found Garrick and a group of villagers holding the line. The wolves were relentless, their glowing eyes filled with a strange, unnatural intelligence.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Garrick shouted, his voice strained.
Aric's mind raced as he tried to think of a plan. Then he remembered the energy he had felt in the void—the strange power that had saved him before.
He closed his eyes, focusing on that feeling, and felt a surge of warmth in his chest. When he opened his eyes, his hands were glowing with a faint, golden light.
The wolves hesitated, their glowing eyes narrowing as they assessed the new threat.
"Now!" Aric shouted, and the villagers surged forward, their weapons striking true as they drove the wolves back.
The battle was fierce, but the villagers fought with a determination born of desperation. And slowly, the tide began to turn.
When the last wolf retreated into the forest, the village was silent except for the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional cry of pain.
Aric stood in the center of the square, his hands still glowing faintly, his chest heaving with exertion. The villagers stared at him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.
"What… are you?" Garrick asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aric didn't know how to answer.
----
The villagers worked through the night to tend to the wounded and repair the damage. Aric helped where he could, but his mind was elsewhere.
The energy he had summoned during the battle was still there, just beneath the surface, waiting to be called upon. But it was also a reminder of how little he understood about himself and the world he now found himself in.
As the sun began to rise, Lira approached him, her expression unreadable.
"You saved us," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Aric shook his head. "We saved each other."
Lira studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Whatever you are, you're one of us now. But you need to be careful. Not everyone will see you as a hero."
Aric knew she was right. The villagers might have accepted him for now, but his newfound abilities would only raise more questions—questions he didn't have answers to.
As he looked out over the village, the first rays of sunlight breaking through the trees, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
The wolves were a threat, but they were just the tip of the iceberg. And whatever was coming, he would need to be ready.