The marsh had grown darker than usual, though the moon still hung low in the sky. Mist rolled off the water in thick tendrils, curling around trees and reeds, hiding dangers that Liora could now sense with more clarity than ever before. The bond with the Beast thrummed within her, alive and insistent, guiding her senses to every movement in the fog.
Corren stood at the edge of the shrine, spear ready, eyes scanning the treeline. Maren's figure flickered in the shadows near the altar, chanting softly, hands weaving symbols in the air. Every gesture reinforced the Circle, every whispered word drawing energy into the bond that now connected Liora and the Beast.
From deep within the marsh, a low, resonant growl rolled across the water. The ground trembled. Liora's chest tightened as she felt the Sleeper's presence surge closer. Its weight was immense, pressing against the Circle like a tidal wave of shadow and cold.
"The bond will be tested," Maren warned, voice barely audible over the wind. "Brace yourself. It will push against you—against both of you."
Liora nodded. "I'm ready."
The first wave of fragments struck almost immediately. They were larger than before, grotesque shapes of darkness writhing with jagged edges, eyes like molten frost. They came in a coordinated surge, rushing the Circle from multiple angles at once. Liora could see them through the bond, not just as shapes but as intent. The Sleeper was testing her, probing for weakness.
The Beast crouched beside her, muscles coiled. Its presence flooded her senses—its awareness, its strength, its fury. Liora could feel its heartbeat as her own, hear its low growl as her own voice in the marrow of her bones.
"By the bond, by the Circle, by the marsh itself," she shouted, hands raised. "You shall not pass!"
The Circle flared with golden light, pushing the first wave back. Shadows hissed and twisted, reforming into new shapes almost instantly. One lunged directly at her, claws slashing through the air. The Beast leapt, knocking it aside with a swipe of its massive paw.
The second wave hit harder. This time the fragments moved with speed and precision, coordinated in ways that suggested intelligence. Liora felt herself pressed to the limit, the Circle's energy straining under the assault. Her chest burned, her limbs shook, and for the first time since bonding, she felt fear creeping in.
The Beast sensed it too. Through the bond, its thoughts surged into her mind: Focus. Control. Do not falter. We are one.
She drew a deep breath, centering herself, and let the bond flow fully. Energy surged from her hands into the Circle, into the Beast, and outward, radiating across the marsh. The fragments screeched, recoiling under the combined force.
Maren's chanting grew faster, sharper. Lines of light traced along the stones, reinforcing the protective barrier. Corren shouted, driving back panicked villagers who had crept too close to the edge.
The Circle held.
But the Sleeper had more than fragments. From the far edge of the marsh, a massive shadow emerged. Its form was jagged, taller than any tree, with frost-veined limbs that twisted unnaturally. It moved with deliberate force, each step creating waves of frost and darkness that pushed against the Circle.
Liora's knees sank into mud as she felt its presence pressing against her mind. Through the bond, the Beast growled, deep and resonant. It is testing us. Do not give ground.
"I won't," she whispered. The Circle flared again, golden light rippling outward, the fragments screaming in response.
The giant Shade struck next. The ground shook. Trees bent under its movement. Even the wind seemed to recoil. Liora felt the full weight of the bond pulling at her consciousness, demanding focus, demanding control. Every muscle, every nerve, every heartbeat was linked to the Beast, every breath synchronized with its own.
It was overwhelming.
A sudden screech split the night. One of the fragments broke through the outer edge of the Circle, striking a villager. Corren reacted instantly, throwing himself between the creature and the human, spear plunging through shadow, but the impact sent him sprawling backward into the mud.
Liora screamed, unleashing a surge of energy through the Circle. Light erupted from her palms, striking the intruding fragment. The creature dissipated in a scream that echoed across the marsh.
The Beast lunged beside her, antlers brushing the stones of the shrine, claws digging deep. Through the bond, Liora could sense its fury, its protective instinct, and its power amplifying her own. Together, they formed a living conduit, channeling energy that far exceeded the Circle's usual strength.
The Sleeper hesitated. Its massive form loomed in the distance, rippling with shadow, frost veined like cracks across a frozen lake. For the first time, Liora felt that it respected the bond.
Maren approached, breathless. "You've stabilized it—for now," she said. "But this is only the beginning. The Sleeper will keep testing the bond, learning your strengths, probing your weaknesses. You must be ready."
Liora nodded, still kneeling, hands trembling from exertion. "We'll be ready," she said. "We have to be. I won't let it destroy the village. I won't let it destroy the marsh. And I won't let it destroy us."
The Beast lowered itself beside her, its massive head resting near her shoulder. Through the bond, she could feel it relax slightly, acknowledging her resolve.
The first true wave had been held. The Circle remained intact, stronger than ever, but the threat of the Sleeper's full awakening loomed. Liora's vision extended beyond the marsh, sensing the stirrings of the ancient power that had slept for centuries. It was patient, intelligent, and relentless.
And it was coming closer.
The night stretched on, and the village remained alert but unaware of the full scope of the danger. Liora stood at the edge of the Circle, feeling the bond thrumming beneath her skin. The Beast moved alongside her, ready for the next surge.
The Sleeper's presence continued to grow, and she knew that tonight had been only a test. It would return, stronger, smarter, more focused. And the Circle, no matter how powerful, could only hold if she remained strong, if the bond remained unbroken.
Her gaze swept the misted marsh, golden light reflecting in the fog. "We're ready," she whispered.
The Beast growled in agreement, and the bond pulsed in response—a living, breathing force of will and power, standing between the village and the ancient darkness awakening from its slumber.