The monstrous creature roared again, its voice reverberating through the valley like a death knell. Eson's legs burned as he sprinted alongside Lira, but fear propelled him forward. Behind them, the ground cracked and splintered under the beast's massive weight, sending shards of rock flying into the air.
"Where is it coming from?" Eson shouted over the chaos, his breath ragged.
"The Ashen Wastes are full of forgotten horrors," Lira replied grimly, her bow already drawn. "That thing must have been awakened by your reckless use of Soulfire."
Eson's stomach churned at her words. Was this his fault? The sigil on his palm pulsed angrily, as if mocking him. He clenched his fist, trying to suppress the rising tide of panic. Now wasn't the time for self-doubt.
"We can't outrun it forever!" Lira snapped, glancing back. The creature was gaining on them, its red eyes glowing brighter with each step. "We need to fight."
"Fight? Are you insane?" Eson stared at her in disbelief. "We're no match for that thing!"
Lira smirked, though there was no humor in her expression. "Then it's a good thing I'm here to keep you alive. Follow my lead—or die trying."
Lira skidded to a halt near a cluster of jagged boulders, motioning for Eson to take cover. She notched an arrow and fired it with precision, aiming for the creature's glowing red eye. The arrow struck true, eliciting a deafening roar of pain. But instead of slowing down, the beast only seemed angrier.
"Its weak point is the eyes," Lira called out, reloading her bow. "Distract it while I find another opening!"
Eson hesitated, his mind racing. How could he possibly distract something so massive? Then he remembered the tendrils of blue flame still flickering at his fingertips. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out from behind the rocks and raised his hand. "Hey, ugly! Over here!"
The creature turned its head, its gaze locking onto him. For a moment, Eson felt paralyzed by the sheer malice radiating from those crimson eyes. But then the sigil on his palm flared to life, sending a surge of energy coursing through his veins. Tendrils of Soulfire erupted from his fingers, forming a barrier just as the beast lunged forward.
"Not bad," Lira muttered, impressed despite herself. "Now hold it steady!"
She took advantage of the distraction, firing another arrow that lodged itself deep into the creature's other eye. This time, the beast staggered, its movements becoming erratic. With a final, desperate swipe of its claws, it collapsed to the ground, dissolving into a cloud of black smoke.
Eson sank to his knees, his body trembling from exhaustion. The sigil on his palm dimmed, leaving behind a faint burn mark. He stared at it silently, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions—relief, guilt, and a lingering sense of unease.
"You did well," Lira said, approaching him cautiously. Her tone was softer now, almost approving. "But don't think this is the end. That thing was just a scout. Whatever disturbed it will send more."
"What do you mean 'whatever'?" Eson asked, his voice sharp. "You said it was my fault."
Lira sighed, kneeling beside him. "Your reckless use of Soulfire didn't help, but the truth is, someone—or something—is deliberately awakening these creatures. And they're using fragments of the Eternal Flame to do it."
Eson frowned, his mind struggling to process her words. "So we're not just fighting the Emberlords anymore?"
"No," she replied gravely. "This goes deeper than any of us realized."
As they prepared to move on, Lira noticed something glinting amidst the ashes where the creature had dissolved. She picked it up—a shard of crystal, smaller than the one Eson had first touched, but pulsing with a faint orange glow.
"This… this is part of the Eternal Flame," she whispered, her voice tinged with awe. "It must have been inside the creature, fueling its power."
Eson reached out tentatively, but Lira pulled the shard away. "Don't touch it—not yet. These fragments are dangerous. They corrupt anyone who wields them without understanding their true nature."
Her warning sent a chill down Eson's spine. If even fragments of the Eternal Flame were this perilous, what would happen when he confronted the Emberlords themselves?