The faint embers of dawn crept over the horizon as Eryx trudged through the dense woodland outside Eldoria’s outer territories. His muscles ached, his robes were tattered, and his mind swam with questions. Every step he took sent a dull pain through his body, but he pressed on, determined. The events of last night still clung to him like a shadow—the encounter with the phantom beast, the awakening of a magic he had never known, and the words of his dying mentor.

  "Seek the Temple of Evernight… the answers… lie within."

  Eryx clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He had never heard of the Temple of Evernight, but if it held the key to understanding his mother’s fate, then he would find it. Even if it meant walking this path alone.

  The path ahead was anything but clear. He was barely armed, and he lacked any real understanding of the magic that had suddenly surfaced within him. He could still feel the remnants of power from the battle—the way it had surged through his veins like wildfire. But now, it was silent, like a slumbering beast waiting to be stirred.

  He needed to test it.

  Stepping into a clearing, Eryx took a deep breath and raised his hand. The air around him felt charged, but unstable. He focused on the energy within, willing it to manifest once more. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint crackle of azure light flickered between his fingertips. It pulsed, unstable, and then suddenly vanished.

  "Tch." He clicked his tongue in frustration. Was the magic only a fleeting miracle? Or did he lack the ability to control it?

  "Hmph. Struggling already, oh ‘chosen one’?"

  Eryx spun around, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto the source of the voice. A young woman leaned casually against a tree, arms crossed, a smug grin playing on her lips. She had long crimson hair tied in a loose ponytail and piercing golden eyes that gleamed with amusement. Her armor was light yet practical, clearly designed for both mobility and combat, and a single sword rested against her hip, its handle worn from use.

  "Who are you?" Eryx asked cautiously, shifting his stance.

  "Celica Drayven," she replied smoothly. "Mercenary, swordswoman, and, as of now, the only person between you and certain death."

  Eryx frowned, his instincts on high alert. "I don’t recall asking for protection."

  "Oh?" Celica smirked, pushing off the tree and taking a step closer. "Well, the bounty on your head suggests otherwise."

  A chill ran down Eryx’s spine. "Bounty?"

  Celica pulled a rolled parchment from her belt and tossed it toward him. He snatched it midair and unrolled it, his stomach tightening at the sight of his own face sketched in black ink. Below, the words sent a cold dread through him:

  WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE - ERYX VELDANReward: 50,000 gold pieces

  A lump formed in his throat. He had expected consequences after last night’s events, but this? Someone wanted him erased from existence—badly.

  "You’ve stirred quite the commotion," Celica mused, watching him closely. "A young mage with mysterious powers, last seen in the ruins of Eldoria, and suddenly, a bounty that high? Someone important wants you gone."

  Eryx’s mind raced. This wasn’t just about the beast he fought—someone had been watching him. Someone powerful.

  "So what’s your move?" he asked, his voice steady despite the unease gripping his chest.

  Celica shrugged. "I was considering cashing in, but then I figured—why take the money now when I could get an even bigger reward later?"

  Eryx narrowed his eyes. "And what does that mean?"

  She smirked, stepping forward with deliberate confidence. "It means, Veldan, that I’m sticking with you. You’ve got something the world wants, and I want to see how far you’ll go."

  Eryx’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like being toyed with, but he had no choice. If mercenaries were already after him, then he needed all the help he could get—even if it came in the form of a swordswoman with an irritating attitude.

  "Fine," he muttered. "But don’t get in my way."

  Celica grinned, resting a hand on the hilt of her sword. "I was about to say the same thing."

  As the first light of morning bathed the land, the two set off toward the unknown. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: Eryx Veldan was no longer just a forsaken mage. He was a marked man, and the world had its eyes on him.

  The day stretched on as Eryx and Celica continued their journey through the wilderness. They moved cautiously, avoiding any heavily traveled roads. If the bounty on his head was as high as Celica claimed, then they needed to remain unseen.

  “So, what exactly happened in Eldoria?” Celica asked, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “Word is, the entire place was left in ruins. And you were there.”

  Eryx hesitated. He wasn’t sure how much he should tell her. “Something… unnatural happened,” he admitted. “A beast attacked, and I fought it.”

  Celica raised an eyebrow. “And survived?”

  “Barely.” He didn’t elaborate.

  She studied him for a moment before nodding. “Well, whatever you did, it got someone’s attention.”

  Silence fell between them, broken only by the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. Eryx could feel the weight of Celica’s curiosity, but for now, he wasn’t ready to reveal everything. Not until he understood it himself.

  As night fell, they found shelter beneath the twisted roots of an ancient tree. Celica built a small fire, the flames casting flickering shadows across the forest floor.

  “You should sleep,” she said, watching the flames. “I’ll take first watch.”

  Eryx didn’t argue. His body ached, and exhaustion pulled at his senses. As he lay back, staring up at the star-dotted sky, he couldn’t help but wonder—just how deep did this mystery go? And what awaited him at the Temple of Evernight?

  One thing was certain.

  His journey was only beginning.