Unexpected encounter

The palace was strangely silent. A week had passed since Aldric's unmasking and downfall, yet the castle lingered in a fragile hush—like a wound half-healed. Dayne stood on the balcony overlooking Frostmourne's courtyard, clad in silver-and-blue ceremonial armor. The kingdom buzzed with whispers, hope, and uncertainty.

I approached him, forcing a smile."You really want this?" I asked quietly.He sighed, leaning on the balustrade. "It's not me in the spotlight—it's you. I'm okay with that. I just needed the title."Candy hovered behind, her eyes still red-rimmed and haunted. Beltai's death felt closer than seven days. Elira stood quietly beside her, hands clasped in front of her, the weight of recent revelations pressing down on her small shoulders.

My voice shook slightly. "Then this is goodbye?"Dayne swallowed. "Yeah. But not forever. I'll stay. I'll build the kingdom. Make sure when you come back, this world's still worth it."I nodded, leaning in for a quick hug. Candy gave him a shaky half-hug. Elira offered a distant nod—words failed her.He cleared his throat: "Just… don't die."I smirked. "That would wreck your reign."He cracked a small grin. "Don't test me."

♦♦♦

We left the palace gates by midday. Frostmourne sprawled behind us—towering spires, bustling markets, and a kingdom in flux. Soldiers lined the roads, some bowing, some glaring. I guessed half knew we'd freed them, and half don't know what to expect from the new ruler—especially if it's a 17-year-old boy. Candy clutched a small pendant—Beltai's pendant. Elira stared straight ahead, blade sheathed, expression unreadable.

We headed east, toward the Eluvian Wilds—a place rumored to hold the world's oldest trees, deepest shadows, and perhaps, our next clue. My promise to Dayne rang in my mind: a world worth exploring. Candy had said nothing, but her nod was firm. Elira's seat beside me on the wagon gave the only answer I needed.

♦♦♦

As the sun dipped low on the first night, we found a clearing with ancient ruins, scattered stone statues, and moss-covered altars. Odd sigils glowed faintly on some pillars. Magic. Old magic. I didn't fully understand their meaning—but whoever carved them had power older than demonic corruption.

We set camp. Candy set up a fire and played with her ice magic. Elira practiced sword forms, channeling light mana, cutting air with elegance. I leaned back, letting the warmth sting my face. It felt...right. Freedom smelled like smoky embers and possibility.

Candy sighed, petting the ice shards like they were lifelines. "He'd have loved watching this," she whispered.Elira looked at her. "He... would've been proud of you."Candy's hand froze. "Yeah." Then she shook it off.

Elira turned to me. "You ever wish things were different?"

"What do you mean?" I asked

"I mean do you ever wish you weren't summoned in this world? From the day you were summoned, you have been treated awfully, doesn't it ever hurt you knowing we ruined your life?"

I moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If I hadn't been summoned, I wouldn't have met you, now would I?"

She looked away probably hiding a blush. "Just... this feels so real."

"It is," I said softly.

♦♦♦

I woke to silence. Campfire had died. Candy and Elira were gone. My senses screamed—something was wrong. I pulled Excalibur out of my inventory and sprinted out of the ruins.

Candy lay wounded at the clearing's edge, Elira slumped near her side. Shadow wolves surrounded them—sleek, malformed canines, veins glowing with foul magic, eyes burning violet. Candy was pinned but conscious. Elira's body glowed with a dying ward. Their voices were quiet.

Candy whispered. "They're draining me..."Elira whimpered. "Dan—"

I raised my sword and screamed. "EXCALIBUR!" Light burst from the sword, showering the area in pure brilliance. The wolves howled, backing away, retreating into darkness. One wolf—a beast folk—emerged, stepping into the light without flinching. her guise fell away as I approached: she was tall, muscles honed, her silver hair was long and beautiful as it stretched all the way to her hips. Her purple eyes were eyeing me suspiciously but her gaze lingered a bit too long on the holy sword. She wore nothing but animal fur to hide her chest and lower body but it hung to all the right spots giving her more charm. But what caught my eye the most was the nine fluffy looking tails waving behind her.

"You wield the Hero's Blade," she said. Voice low. I stared at her. "Who are you?" She nodded toward Candy. "You just saved her. That counts."Candy winced but looked up, fear in her eyes. The wolf-woman knelt beside her—and the others reverently stepped back which caused Candy to flinch.

"I am Trihexa," she said. "Alpha of the Moonfang Pack."My muscles tensed. "You attacked them."She shook her head. "No. I've worked to guard this forest, to keep demons from passing. These wolves... were once mine. Changed. I can't shut them off when they obey corruption."Elira rolled forward, pulling up a light ward. Candy forced herself to sit. I stayed rooted.

One of the wolves sank in its own shadow and appeared below me and attacked me while growling, but my reaction speed was faster and I immediately cut it into pieces.

Trihexa looked wary and said. "That sword you hold is the legendary hero's blade meaning you're the hero, true?"

"You could say that." I said.

"Then why? Why did you not fulfill the oath you made with our clan leader?" Trihexa asked as silver aura started oozing off of her.

"I think you're mistaking me with the previous hero, I've been in this world for 2 months and I spent them in hell. Please don't go mixing me up with the previous hero or blaming me for his previous actions." I retorted but in a respectful manner.

Silence fell. Leaves whispered overhead. Then:

"I see, so the previous hero failed in his quest."

Trihexa—who had bent low almost going on all fours—it's nothing sexual— stepped back fully upright. "Do you think you have the power to defeat the demon king?"

"I don't think my words would be enough to change your thinking."

"You're right, I suggest a duel."

"I know that beast folks understand each other's strength, weakness and character through battle, but are you sure?" I asked as I threw the holy sword in my invetory

Observe

[Trihexa! Alpha of the Moonfang pack! Lv: 129]

"I am sure." She answered as she went on all fours—again it's nothing sexual— and The air between us crackled with challenge. No magic. No blades. Just fists and trust.

Trihexa lunged first—fast. Her claws slashed toward my face.

I ducked, letting her momentum carry her forward, and spun a quick elbow into her ribs.

She winced, but grinned. "Not bad… for a human."

She pivoted, using her tails like whips—one lashed around my ankle, yanking me off balance.

I flipped midair, landed on a knee, and surged forward—a feint to the left, real strike to the jaw.

Her head snapped to the side, but she caught my wrist and tried to twist it.

I let her—then headbutted her square in the forehead.

She staggered. "Oof. That's... new."

I swept her legs and pinned her to the ground with a knee to her back. Her eyes widened.

For a heartbeat, we just breathed. She didn't fight back.

"…You're not just strong," she said, staring up at me. "You're controlled."

I stood and offered her a hand. "And you're not just wild. You're loyal."

She took it.

I stared at the sky. "My goal isn't just fighting demons. It's walking new lands and meeting new people and exploring this new world to the max and somewhere along the journey, defeat the demon king."

Trihexa locked eyes with me. "Then maybe I belong in your story. Because I want my forests alive, not buried. I want revenge but I also want to atone for my previous failures, and I want to start by killing the demon king and restoring my pack to how it was."

Candy straightened, staring hard at her. Elira sheathed her ward and set her jaw. Trihexa watched, silent, her eyes burning with anger, regret and passion."I have no problem with you on the team." I looked at Candy and Elira to see if they object, but Candy just said in a low voice. "Your call."

I looked at Elira. "What about you, any objections?"

"What? You're asking me?"

"I mean yeah, you're on the team now." I said bluntly.

"But—"

"I hope you're not blaming yourself for your parents' actions."

"I just feel like I did wrong by letting it happen."

"You didn't know, we don't blame you." Candy said cutting in to help me console her.

"What if these wolves are like him… should we even trust them?"

"I really don't like my loyalty questioned, but how about we form a blood pact?" Trihexa suggested

"Sure."

She nodded, then crouched, motioning to Candy. "Let me help you heal before you bleed to death."

Night deepened as the three wove magic—cargo of ice, light, shadow. I cornered Trihexa gently. "I'll need your strengths—transforming wolves, stealth, forest mastery."She tilted her head. "In return, I'll follow your blade. I'll hold my pact in blood to rid this world of the Demon King's corruption."

I extended my hand. She pressed her palm to mine. A spark of magic ignited. The wolves—less monstrous, more obedient—howled once, then they sank in their shadows which joined my shadow for safety and easier movement. A bond was sealed.

♦♦♦

Dawn hazed over the trees. Trihexa wandered off, returning with fresh fruit, clean water. Her wolves kept watch. Her pride seemed tempered. Candy had her ice dagger—but her grin returned, warmer than any fire. Elira polished her sword in quiet contemplation, glancing at me. I caught her eye and smiled.

I slung Excalibur over my back. Elira looked at Trihexa. "Will you stay?"

Trihexa shook her head. "I will be accompanying you on your journeys."

We stepped from the ruins, three humans and one wolf woman, with rogue wolves as silent guardians in the shadows. The Eluvian Wilds breathed around us — old roots, new tension, ancient magic stirring again.

Our eyes caught a distant mountain ridge through the trees—black spires scarred with lava-red veins. Clouds smoked above it.

Trihexa spoke quietly. "The Demon King's first fortress lies in that mountain. Below town of Mir'Dahn… and beyond that, deeper corridors."

Candy swallowed. "Sounds like a trap."

I stared at the ridge. "Then that's where we start." I said grinning

Elira's hand was on her sheathed sword. "Walking straight into traps on purpose was not how I imagined an adventure with the hero would start."

"Don't call me that, It's creepy."

"It's the most glamourous title anyone could hold, yet you find it creepy?" Trihexa said looking at me amused.

"I prefer Dan than this 'title'."

"…Dan." Elira said in a low whisper that is barely audible, but Trihexa and I heard it and the blush on Elira's face made her easy to read causing Trihexa to smirk at me.

So, we walked toward that smoke-lined ridge—Dan, Candy, Elira, Trihexa, and the Moonfang wolves in our shadows—toward the next chapter of a new world full of shadows and hope.

♦♦♦