Night fell faster in the Aurelion Forest.

  As the sky turned deep blue, shadows already crept between the pine trunks, then the world darkened to a thick, ink-like black.

  The party halted on a small clearing among the tall trees — ground relatively even, with a few large stones to sit on. Kaelus had chosen the spot not because it was safe, but because other choices were far worse.

  They did not make a large fire.

  Only small embers to warm water and hands. A bright blaze would be an invitation to things they must not meet.

  An unnatural silence hung, heavy as a wet cloth thrown over the whole wood.

  Kaelus crouched, testing the soil with the tip of his sword sheath. His left hand brushed a bit of the sod — damp, loose. His movements were calm, but his eyes were not.

  He moved close to Thalion.

  “Here,” he said shortly, pointing to a seat sheltered by a large root.

  Thalion obeyed, pulling his cloak tighter. The cold bit; air tried to slip through the smallest gaps. But that was not what made him tense — it was the soldiers’ behavior.

  No jokes.

  No laughter.

  Only speech when necessary.

  One soldier reached for bread from his pouch, but his hand trembled and he dropped it.

  “Do you hear it?” another whispered.

  “Hear what?”

  “Exactly that. Nothing at all.”

  Thalion hugged his knees tighter. He watched Kaelus, who inspected the air, the earth, the shadows as if reading something unseen.

  “They’re right,” Kaelus murmured. “Too quiet.”

  He had just stood when something made him turn— a small, almost imperceptible motion.

  But the whole company felt it, like a cold current sweeping their skin.

  Kaelus spoke very low, almost a breath.

  “Everyone. Ready.”

  No need to repeat.

  Soldiers straightened. Swords drew. Spears were raised. The quiet rasp of metal sounded far louder in the still forest.

  Thalion stared at Kaelus, panic on his face.

  “M-Master Kaelus?”

  Kaelus did not answer. His eyes pierced the dark soil as if he could see something moving beneath it.

  Silence...

  Until—

  BLAGHHHHH!!

  The ground just behind one soldier EXPLODED. Clods and small stones flew.

  “DODGE!!” Kaelus roared.

  The man leapt back with instinctive speed — and the instant he moved, something burst from the earth:

  A pointed, serrated jaw.

  Gray, rough scales.

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  Tiny red eyes glowing like embers.

  A Burrower Drake.

  Soldiers of Aurelion called it: the flesh-splitting digger.

  The thing growled, a low sound that vibrated like grinding stone. It was not large, but its scales were thick as plates.

  “By Aedryon… what is a Burrower Drake doing at this altitude!?” one soldier hissed in panic.

  The forest, which had been still, came alive — the monster’s hoarse sound echoing between the pines.

  Some ordinary soldiers backed away, fear plain on them.

  Kaelus?

  Kaelus smiled thinly.

  So did his three elite men. They glanced at one another like hunters who had sighted a rare prize.

  “Looks like our night won’t be boring,” one whispered.

  The Burrower Drake snarled, then dove back into the earth with a hiss —

  nggrrHHHTTHHH—RRTTT—RRTTT—

  like a metal serpent burrowing.

  An elite soldier hurled a spear.

  WHUNK!

  The spear struck the creature — pierced its scales a little, only a shallow wound.

  Thalion cried out, “Sir! It’s— it’s diving again!”

  Kaelus gripped Thalion’s shoulder.

  “Climb the tree. Now.”

  “But—”

  “Now.”

  Kaelus’s tone left no room for doubt.

  Thalion scrambled up the nearest tree, hands shaking. Ordinary soldiers followed, some in a panic.

  Kaelus raised his Ilvorn — the stone that stored and channeled human Arkanis.

  Three elite soldiers did the same. They drew their Ilvorns and poured Arkanais into the stones; the air grew heavy, as if pressure dropped a degree or two.

  “Listen,” Kaelus said quietly. “It’s digging. Very fast.”

  The sound came again.

  GRRRTTT—GRRRTTTTT—HHRRTTT—

  Turning.

  Closing in.

  Too close.

  The elite men steadied, ready to strike.

  “Prepare,” Kaelus lifted his Ilvorn a fraction. “It will surface in—”

  THE GROUND ERUPTED!

  The Burrower Drake burst forth with the force of a felled tree ripped from the earth.

  Kaelus and the elites slammed their stones into the ground at once; their Ilvorns flared bright.

  “Dornis…! Their Ilvorns turned green followed by KALTHOR!!”

  Arkanais energy raced, searing through the loose earth —

  and in an instant…

  THE SOIL HARDENED.

  From soft to rocklike, a dark green stone.

  The Burrower Drake tried to dive —

  KRAAAAAKK!!

  Its head struck the new stone. The creature was thrown back, muffled cries of anger.

  “NOW!” Kaelus shouted.

  The elite soldiers surged, precise and trained as a deadly dance. Kaelus moved fastest of all. He leapt a fraction, giving momentum. His sword rose.

  SLASHHH!

  A clean, straight cut across the creature’s neck. The scales split like wet paper. Dark blood spurted.

  The Burrower Drake choked — a final hiss — then its body collapsed.

  The forest fell silent again… only now the air carried the smell of blood and wet earth.

  The elite soldiers cheered softly, relief in their claps. They thumped each other like men who’d finished a routine duty, not battled a subterranean hunter.

  “Not bad,” one said, kicking the hard scale. “Thick stuff. Will fetch a good price.”

  “Worth more than that,” another replied.

  Up in the trees, the ordinary soldiers and Thalion stared, mouths open.

  Unbelief. Astonishment at how fast men could move.

  Kaelus looked up.

  “Oy. Down. It’s safe.”

  Thalion climbed down slowly — his foot slipped a little. Kaelus caught him with one hand, like catching a bag of grain.

  “You all right?” Kaelus asked.

  Thalion nodded quickly, still pale. Kaelus smoothed his hair once.

  “Go sleep. You’ve seen enough for one night.”

  The party settled, some from exhaustion, some from shock. The elite men stayed awake, keeping watch in a circle, eyes on the dark.

  Kaelus leaned against the great root, Ilvorn on his lap. He watched Thalion — the boy already curled and asleep in his thin cloak.

  And in Kaelus’s chest, he thought:

  If this boy can endure all this… he’s not merely someone to protect. He could become far more than an ordinary soldier. Perhaps greater than I am.

  Kaelus drew a long breath and let the night swallow his thoughts.

  Outside, the Aurelion Forest still lived.

  And in its darkness… something else might already be waking.

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  But simply reading and enjoying this tale is more than enough—I am already deeply grateful.