The banquet was a peculiarly tense experience. The food was delicious — aromatic stews, freshly baked bread, and vegetables that seemed to have been picked that very morning. Yet, the atmosphere at our table was freezing. Elara refused to look in my direction, focusing instead on asking the Court Sage technical questions about the local flora. Vespera, on the other hand, seemed unbothered, savoring the food and even winking at me occasionally — much to Elara's clear displeasure. Liriel ignored everyone and criticized every dish served to her, though I caught her silently complimenting the wine.
Princess Lyra, seated at the head of the table with her father, King Fenrir — an imposing man with wolf ears and a thick gray mane — observed our dynamics with subtle interest. Her presence was a constant reminder of my embarrassment at the hot springs, but also of the mission ahead of us.
The next morning, we gathered in the main courtyard, equipped and — in most cases — rested. King Fenrir presented us with a detailed map of the Whispering Forest, with the areas of corrupt activity marked in red.
"Start from the eastern edge," he instructed, his voice a deep growl. "The beasts there are smaller, but the corruption seems to be spreading from that point. Be careful. They are no longer the docile creatures we once knew."
Lyra approached me, her steps silent. "The Court Sage prepared a few vials of antidote for the corrupting mist. It may not be effective against a direct attack, but it can help if you inhale the vapors." She placed a small leather pouch in my hands, her fingers brushing briefly against mine. A chill ran up my arm. "Come back safely, Takumi."
"We will," I said, feeling the weight of Elara's and Vespera's gazes on me.
The walk to the forest's edge was quiet, the tension from the previous day still hanging heavily in the air. Yet, as soon as we crossed the first line of trees, the atmosphere shifted. The fresh morning air turned into a damp chill. The whispers of the forest here were not like those in Therasia; they were distorted — raspy, angry murmurs that brushed against the skin like thorns.
"What a horrible place," Vespera muttered, her good mood vanishing. She drew an arrow, her eyes scanning the dense vegetation.
"Stay focused," Elara said tensely. She gripped her staff firmly. "I can feel the corrupt energy. It's… aggressive."
Liriel hovered a few inches above the ground, her nose wrinkled. "The web of life here has been torn apart and patched with threads of pure malice. It offends the senses."
We pressed deeper. The change in the flora was alarming. Healthy silver-barked trees were being choked by black, pulsating vines. Flowers that should have been colorful had withered into brown, twisted buds. The sweet smell of decay filled the air.
Then we heard it — a low growl coming from behind a dense bush of black leaves.
We all took our positions. I unsheathed my sword, feeling the familiar weight of danger.
The creature that emerged was a wolf — or at least, it had once been. Its fur, which should have been gray, was stained with black and purple. Its eyes glowed with a sickly violet light, and thick black drool hissed as it hit the ground. Growing from its skull, like grotesque branches, were thin, twisted horns made of an obsidian-like material.
"By the gods," I whispered.
The corrupted beast snarled, baring its sharp, stained fangs, and crouched to attack.
"Vespera!" I shouted.
Her arrow was already in the air. It flew straight — a rare precise shot — and buried itself in the creature's shoulder. The beast howled in pain and rage but didn't fall. Instead, the wound began to smoke with purple fumes, and the arrow seemed to dissolve.
"What the hell?" Vespera exclaimed, quickly reloading.
"Fire!" Elara shouted. "Liriel, I need you to contain it!"
Liriel raised one uninterested hand. "Very well. But don't expect me to stoop to fighting every rabid dog we come across." A barrier of golden light appeared between us and the wolf, which slammed against it with a frustrated snarl.
Now it was my turn. I advanced, sword raised. The beast was fast, spinning and trying to bite my leg. I dodged its attack and slashed its flank. The blade struck, but the sensation was strange — like cutting through hardened leather. The creature howled again, but the wound seemed shallow.
"Elara, now!" I shouted, keeping the beast's attention on me.
Elara closed her eyes, her face tightening in concentration. "Fulgor Solaris!" she cried.
A small sphere of pure white light shot from her staff. This time, it didn't waver. She held it steady for one, two, three full seconds before gasping and letting it go. The sphere struck the corrupted wolf in the chest.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The beast screamed — a sharp, agonized sound — and staggered back. The darkness in its fur seemed to retreat for a moment around the point of impact, and the violet glow in its eyes flickered.
It was the opening Vespera needed. Her next arrow flew, finding the creature's exposed throat. This time, it didn't dissolve. The beast fell to the ground, convulsed for a moment, then went still.
We all stood there, panting, staring at the dead creature. The victory was bitter. That wasn't a natural monster; it was a victim, turned into something horrible.
"Why didn't my arrow work the first time?" Vespera asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"The corruption must have regenerative or corrosive properties," Elara said, approaching the body cautiously. She examined the dissolved arrow. "But the light… pure light seems to harm it. I… I actually did it."
There was a gleam of triumph in her eyes, dimmed by the grim nature of our discovery.
Liriel lowered the barrier and floated toward us. "Light magic is the natural antidote to this darkness. It's elementary." She nudged the body with her foot. "But this is only a hunting hound. The source of the corruption must be far more powerful."
That's when I saw it. Where Elara's light magic had struck the wolf, a small spark of something gleaming was embedded in the charred flesh. I knelt and, with the tip of my sword, pried it loose. It was a small crystal fragment, no larger than a fingernail, pulsing with a faint, sinister purple light.
"What is that?" Vespera asked, leaning closer to look.
Elara took the fragment, her face pale. "I can feel… intent in it. It's not just chaotic darkness. It's directed. It's… a beacon."
Liriel took the crystal from Elara, examining it with renewed interest. "A tracker. Or a conduit. This little fragment is attuned to a much greater source of power. It's channeling the corruption into this creature — and likely into all the others."
She crushed the crystal in her hand. It crumbled into purple dust that quickly dissipated into the air. "Finding and destroying the source of these crystals must be our top priority."
I looked toward the dark forest ahead of us, now understanding the true nature of our mission. We weren't just hunting corrupted beasts. We were hunting an architect. Someone — or something — was actively implanting this corruption, using these poor creatures as vessels.
The first strike had been a success. We had a lead. But the discovery made the forest — and our mission — far more sinister. The Seventh General wasn't just a brute; he was a strategist, a corrupter. And now, we were one step closer to his game.