NHI04

Synopsis:

In the war-scarred land of Eldoria, where ancient powers sleep and kingdoms tremble beneath political unrest, a boy named Synoh Vindral rises from tragedy.

Once a hunted child fleeing with his dying mother, Synoh’s only companion was a mysterious black wolf named Fel, the son of the legendary beast Fenrir. Trained in secret by a nameless knight—his own father in disguise—Synoh grows into a prodigious swordsman, mastering the elusive Shadow Dance style and carrying the burden of a forgotten prophecy.

At the prestigious Knight Academy, Synoh meets Lux Alaric, a noble and fellow prodigy who dreams of changing the world. Together, they forge a brotherhood tested by rivalries, betrayals, bloodshed, and the heavy cost of leadership.

As dark forces awaken and the ancient prophecy looms, Synoh must uncover the secrets of his origin — and decide whether he will rise as Eldoria’s savior... or become the harbinger of its destruction.

In a world on the brink of chaos, the howl of destiny cannot be silenced.

BlackWolf Origin

Division 10 set up camp along the lake's edge, the water stretching out like a sheet of black glass under the moonlight. Lanterns glowed faintly, their light barely reaching the surface. A cold wind blew in from the water, carrying the scent of damp reeds.

The knights tried to stay in good spirits—Dred was telling Aloy and Meth one of his ridiculous "heroic tales" while Ursa sat quietly sharpening her blade—but everyone's eyes drifted toward the lake more than they cared to admit.

A faint, almost sweet humming sound.

At first, it was so soft that Meth thought it was just the wind. But as it grew clearer, the hair on her arms stood up. Aloy stopped mid-laugh, and even Dred went quiet. The sound had an odd pull to it—gentle, coaxing, as if whispering come closer.

Goosebumps rippled across the camp. Captain Elara stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at the water.

"Stay in camp. No one goes near the lake," she ordered, her tone firm but lower than usual.

Synoh kept his gaze locked on the dark surface. Inside his mind, Fel's voice spoke, unusually cautious.

"This isn't a mindless beast… it's waiting for something."

"Waiting for what?" Synoh thought back.

"Not prey. Not exactly. It wants… something specific. If I'm right, it won't come out until it gets it."

"Then you'll wish it had stayed sleeping."

The humming slowly faded, leaving the camp in a heavy silence. The lake lay still again, but the chill in the air lingered long after.

After the humming faded, most of the camp tried to shake it off and go back to their duties—but Synoh didn't. He went straight to Captain Elara, his expression more serious than usual.

"Captain," he said quietly, so the others wouldn't overhear. "Fel told me something important. That… thing in the lake—it's not attacking yet because it wants something."

Elara frowned, lowering her voice as well. "Fel? That's your source? Where did he get this information?"

Synoh hesitated. "I'll explain later. For now, just trust me."

Elara studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. She turned to address Division 10.

"Listen up. We don't know what this thing wants, but we're going to lure it out on our terms. I'll need five people to go to the center of the lake in one of the fishing boats."

Ursa immediately stepped forward. "Fine. I'll go."

Dred sighed dramatically. "Guess that means I'm in too."

Meth raised her hand timidly. "I'll go… just don't make me look down at the water."

Elara's eyes shifted to Synoh, and he simply nodded.

The last spot was filled by a tall, quiet knight named Rowan.

Minutes later, the five of them were rowing into the middle of Lake Beck. The moon hung low above them, and the water was so still that the ripples from the oars seemed unnaturally loud.

The deeper they went, the heavier the air became. Meth shivered. "It's like the air's getting… thicker."

Ursa gripped her weapon tighter. "Feels like it's watching us."

By the time they reached the center, no one was speaking. Even Dred, usually the loudest of the bunch, was staring into the dark water beneath them.

Then, without warning, the surface broke.

A massive, shadowy form surged upward, sending waves rocking the boat violently. Long, fin-like spines rose above the surface, followed by a serpentine neck glistening under the moonlight. Its eyes glowed faintly, locked directly onto the five knights.

Whisper of the Water