Alaric and Clem crouched behind a large boulder, their breaths shallow as they took in the sight before them. The clearing was dominated by a strange, glowing stone embedded in the ground, pulsing with an ominous energy. Alaric recognized it from the legends: the Heart of the Forest, a powerful artifact thought to have been lost to time. Two advanced-tier beasts—one a massive, serpentine creature with obsidian scales and glowing red eyes, the other a hulking, armored brute with spiked limbs and a maw that dripped with acidic saliva—stood guard, their gazes fixed on the stone.
Alaric's eyes narrowed. "That must be the source of the beasts' aggression. We need to destroy it."
"Clem, can you take on an advanced-tier beast?" Alaric asked.
"No, but I can distract it for some time," she answered.
"Then let's choose. I'll handle the brute," Alaric said, feeling a surge of excitement as he anticipated the challenge.
Clem nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll distract the serpent. Once you've taken it down, join me to finish the serpent."
They exchanged a brief, determined look before slipping out from their hiding place. Clem moved like a shadow, her daggers flashing in the dying light as she engaged the serpentine beast. Alaric focused on the brute, his hands glowing with the last vestiges of the amber stone's power.
The brute charged at Alaric, its spiked limbs slamming into the ground with bone-rattling force. Alaric dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the acidic spray that followed. He countered with a burst of light energy, the attack striking the beast's armored hide and causing it to stagger. Summoning a light disk, Alaric hurled it at the beast, the attack slicing through its tough hide.
Despite his efforts, the brute proved resilient, its movements relentless. Alaric felt the strain of the fight as the sun dipped lower, weakening his powers. He dodged another swipe from the brute's spiked limb, narrowly escaping injury. As the beast lunged at him again, Alaric used his petrification ability, causing the beast to slow and partially turn to stone.
With a final, mighty effort, Alaric drove his fist into the beast's chest, the impact shattering its heart and sending it crashing to the ground. But the effort had taken its toll. A sharp pain shot through Alaric's side where the brute had grazed him with its claws. He pressed his hand to the wound, managing to heal it just enough to stop the bleeding, but the sun had already set, and his powers were fading.
Stumbling, Alaric joined Clem, who was still battling the serpent. He could barely stand, but his determination pushed him forward. Together, they managed to land a series of coordinated attacks, finally taking down the serpentine beast.
As the last of the beasts fell, Clem looked at Alaric, her eyes wide with concern. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," Alaric said through gritted teeth. "We need to deal with the Heart of the Forest. Can you collect the crystal?"
Clem nodded and went to search and collect the core.
Alaric approached the glowing stone cautiously, its dark energy pressing against their senses like a physical weight. Alaric could feel his powers waning, but he knew they had to act quickly. Placing his hands on the stone, he felt a strange resonance between the Heart of the Forest and the dark power within him. The stone's energy flared, and Alaric's eyes turned a deep, menacing black. For a moment, he felt a surge of dark power, barely under his control.
With great effort, Alaric managed to suppress the dark energy, though he could still feel it lurking just beneath the surface. They needed to report this discovery to his grandfather.
"Clem, we need to take it to Grandfather first," Alaric said. Clem complied, carefully extracting the Heart of the Forest before they made their way back to the village.
When they reached the village, the Arch Duke was waiting for them, his expression tense. "What did you find?"
Alaric and Clem recounted their discovery, the Arch Duke listening intently. When they finished, he sighed heavily. "This is troubling news. If such a powerful object was able to corrupt the beasts, there may be more out there. We must remain vigilant."
"Grandfather," Alaric said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "I need to speak with you in private. It's important."
The Arch Duke looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. Follow me."
They retreated to the Arch Duke's private chambers. Alaric, struggling with the lingering pain and the weight of his secret, took a deep breath. "Grandfather, there's something you need to know. When I gained powers of light, I didn't understand. But recently, I've also started to experience something else... a dark power."
The Arch Duke's eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent, allowing Alaric to continue.
"I can't control it fully," Alaric admitted, his voice strained. "But when I touched the Heart of the Forest, I felt a connection. The dark power inside me resonated with it. I don't know what it means, but I'm afraid of what I might become if I can't control it."
The Arch Duke's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Alaric's shoulder. "Thank you for telling me, Alaric. We will find a way to help you harness and control this power, just like your mother. But you must promise me to be careful. The path you walk is dangerous, and the power you hold could easily consume you."
Alaric nodded, feeling a mix of relief and fear. "I promise, Grandfather. I'll do everything I can to control it."
The Arch Duke squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Good. Now rest. We'll discuss our next steps in the morning."
As Alaric left the room, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The journey ahead would be fraught with danger, but he knew he had to be ready. For his village, for his friends, and for the promise he had made to himself.
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The following day, as Alaric prepared for his next mission, Clem approached him, a concerned look on her face. "I've been thinking about what happened yesterday. The Heart of the Forest... it wasn't just a random find. Someone must have placed it there."
Alaric nodded. "I've had the same thought. It's too powerful to just be lying around. But who could have done it?"
Clem's eyes darkened. "There's one possibility. The Royal Guardian Academy entrance tests are coming up. It's known that the Academy faces challenges to test the recruits. What if this was one of their tests? To see who could find and deal with the Heart of the Forest? They do this kind of thing to sellect student for entrance test every year"
Alaric's heart pounded. "If that's true, then we're being watched. And not just by anyone, but by those who control the future of the kingdom's protectors. This changes everything."
Clem nodded. "We need to be even more careful. If the Academy is testing us, there's no telling what other challenges we'll face."
As they prepared to leave the village, Alaric couldn't help but feel a sense of impending challenge and opportunity. The Royal Guardian Academy entrance test was known for its rigorous trials, but if they had already faced one, what more awaited them? He exchanged a determined look with Clem. They were ready for whatever came next. Or at least, they hoped they were.