The night was eerily quiet as Min Khant sat by the flickering campfire, the heat of the flames barely enough to cut through the chill in the air. Aren, Fenrir, and the others had already settled down for the night, but his mind was far from peaceful.
His encounter with Fenrir had been strange—too strange, even by his standards. The man had shifted from wolf to human with little more than a thought, yet the power in his eyes was undeniable. Min Khant couldn't help but wonder: if Fenrir was this strong, then what of the other legends he had read about? What other secrets lay hidden in this world?
As the fire crackled, Aren sat next to him, clearly troubled. "You're thinking too hard again," Aren muttered, his tone a mix of concern and exasperation. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
Min Khant chuckled softly. "It's nothing. Just trying to piece everything together."
"I know that look," Aren said, his eyes narrowing. "I've seen it before, and trust me, it never leads to good things. You're not planning to go off on your own again, are you?"
Min Khant glanced at him, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You're one to talk. If I remember correctly, you're the one who usually gets us into trouble."
Aren raised an eyebrow. "Touché. But seriously, you can't keep going down this path alone. Whatever's coming next, we're in this together."
"I know," Min Khant replied, his voice low. "But I feel like we're being watched. Like there's something out there waiting for us."
Aren's eyes scanned the darkness beyond their camp, his hand instinctively going to his sword hilt. "I've felt it too. It's not just the forest, is it? There's something bigger at play here."
Min Khant nodded, his gaze lost in the flickering shadows. "Something much bigger."
Before Aren could respond, a howl cut through the stillness of the night. It was distant, but the unmistakable sound of a wolf echoed through the trees.
Fenrir stirred, his golden eyes flashing as he rose to his feet. "That's not just any wolf," he said, his voice tense. "It's the cry of the Shadow Wolves."
"Shadow Wolves?" Min Khant asked, standing up as well.
Fenrir's face was grim. "The beasts of the shadows, born from the dark magic that once plagued the land. They're not just regular wolves. They were created for one purpose—to hunt and kill anyone who threatens the ancient powers that still linger in this world."
"And why are they after us?" Aren demanded.
Fenrir looked at him, his eyes full of regret. "I fear their master has taken an interest in you, Min Khant. The one who controls the shadows—the one who seeks to manipulate fate."
"Who are they?" Min Khant asked, his voice steady despite the rising tension in the air.
Fenrir's gaze was hard. "The Shadow King. A being as old as the world itself, born from the first cracks in the fabric of time. He has been waiting for someone like you to come along—someone who can change the course of destiny."
Min Khant's blood ran cold. "And what does he want with me?"
Fenrir stepped closer, his expression darkening. "He wants to control you, to bend you to his will. You, with your ability to rewrite fate, are the key to his power. The moment you entered Yvarin Forest, you became a target."
Aren clenched his fists. "So, what now? We just sit here and wait for these wolves to attack?"
Fenrir shook his head. "We can't wait. They'll come for us in the dead of night, and by then it'll be too late to defend ourselves. We need to leave—now."
Without another word, Fenrir began packing up his things. Min Khant exchanged a glance with Aren, who seemed to share his unease.
"Where do we go?" Min Khant asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Fenrir's eyes flickered toward the horizon. "There is a place, hidden in the northern reaches of the continent. An old temple, sealed for centuries. It is said to house the only weapon capable of defeating the Shadow King. But we must reach it before the wolves catch our scent."
Min Khant didn't hesitate. "Lead the way."
The group set off under the cover of darkness, moving swiftly through the forest, Fenrir taking the lead with his keen senses guiding them. As they traveled, Min Khant couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. The shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally long, as if the very forest itself was alive, watching their every move.
Hours passed, and the forest grew denser, the air heavier with each step they took. Min Khant could feel the oppressive weight of the dark magic pressing in on him, and the howl of the Shadow Wolves grew louder.
Suddenly, Fenrir halted, raising his hand. "We're not alone."
A shadow darted across the path ahead of them, too fast to be seen clearly. Another howl echoed, this time much closer.
Min Khant gripped his sword hilt. "What do we do?"
Fenrir turned to face them, his golden eyes gleaming. "We fight."
Before Min Khant could respond, a group of black shapes emerged from the shadows. The Shadow Wolves were upon them, their eyes glowing with a sinister light, their forms barely visible in the dark mist that surrounded them.
"Stay close," Fenrir commanded, his voice cutting through the air like steel.
The first wolf lunged at him, but Fenrir was faster, his blade flashing in the dim light. He moved with deadly precision, his strikes swift and clean, taking down the first wave of wolves with ease.
Min Khant fought alongside him, his sword flashing through the darkness. He could feel the power of the ancient magic coursing through the blade, guiding his movements as he cut down the shadow beasts one after another.
Aren was not far behind, his sword clashing with the wolves in a flurry of strikes. He was still a skilled fighter, though not as fast or precise as Fenrir. But with each swing, he seemed to grow more confident, more accustomed to the chaos of battle.
But despite their best efforts, the Shadow Wolves kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
Fenrir growled in frustration. "We can't hold them off much longer. We need to get to the temple—now!"
With a final slash, Min Khant cleared a path ahead, his heart pounding in his chest. "Let's go!"
The group sprinted through the dark woods, the howls of the Shadow Wolves echoing in their wake. Every step felt like an eternity, the weight of the darkness pressing down on them as they pushed forward.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the dense forest opened up, revealing a towering structure in the distance—the ancient temple.
"We're almost there!" Min Khant shouted, his breath ragged.
But as they neared the temple, the ground beneath their feet trembled. The Shadow Wolves were not far behind. The battle was far from over.
End of Chapter 17