Void space

The beast's massive paw engulfed me as it ran through the forest with an incredible speed that left me breathless. The rush of wind whipped through my hair, but my thoughts were in turmoil. What is happening? Why is it not eating me? It should be feasting on me right now, but instead, it's running deeper into the heart of the forest.

I struggled to process the situation. Where is it taking me? What's going on?

The beast continued its relentless pace, charging through the trees, each step echoing like a distant drum. The landscape blurred around me as we traversed the dense woods, drawing closer to the center of the forest where danger seemed to pulse in the air. 'It's almost as if we're nearing the very core of this place...'

After an hour, the beast's speed remained unfathomable. We were nearly at the heart of the forest now. I could feel the shift in the air—a change in the forest's energy. The trees seemed older here, their roots tangled in a deeper, more ancient magic.

Then, without warning, the beast came to a halt. It was still as a stone, its head lowered, and its golden eyes fixed on something ahead. My heart raced in my chest as I turned to look.

In front of us stood a man—young, but with an air of authority that made the world feel like it had paused for a moment. He appeared to be around twenty-two, with long white hair that shimmered like silver threads in the sunlight, his yellow eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. He wore a simple black outfit, his pale skin almost blending with the light around him. A small wooden house stood behind him, casting a shadow that felt oddly out of place in the otherwise vibrant surroundings.

The man's eyes locked onto me, sharp and full of questions. His gaze was piercing, and it was clear he knew more than he was letting on. Without a word, a black sword materialized in his hand. The blade gleamed with an ominous aura, its edge sharp enough to cut through the very air. He pointed it at me, his expression stern.

"Why is godly energy emanating from you?" he demanded, his voice carrying a weight that made my blood run cold.

I met his gaze with calm determination. "I'm not going to tell you anything until you answer a question for me first."

The man's lips curled into a slight grin. "Do you understand your situation right now?" His voice was full of both curiosity and a hint of amusement.

I met his challenging gaze, unwavering. "Yeah, I understand it perfectly. But if you kill me now, who will answer your questions?"

He raised an eyebrow, impressed by my audacity. "What an amusing child," he muttered to himself. After a pause, he looked at me with a more thoughtful expression. "Fine. Let's make a deal. We'll take turns asking questions. You ask one, then I ask one. How about it?"

I nodded, agreeing to his terms. He stepped back slightly, sheathing his sword into the ground beside him with a fluid motion, as though he had all the time in the world.

"But how do I know you'll give me the truth?" I asked cautiously.

He chuckled softly. "It's up to you to decide whether you believe me or not." Then, he raised a brow. "Shall I ask the first question, or do you want to?"

I glanced back at the beast, who was watching the exchange intently. The creature gently placed me on the ground before stepping back into the trees, disappearing into the forest without a sound. Its parting was strange, as if it were obeying an order or perhaps respecting the man.

I took a breath and, now on solid ground, turned to face the strange figure once more. "Can I begin asking the first question?"

He gave a short nod. "Of course."

I glanced at the beast's retreating form before asking, "Why did that beast follow your orders?"

He sighed, as if this was a simple matter for him to explain. "I have the power to tame any beast in this world," he said. "Though, I cannot control supreme creatures I can command most of the others."

His words lingered in the air, and I felt a slight unease growing in my chest. He said, "Why is godly energy coming from you?"

He studied me for a moment, his gaze piercing. I answered, "A goddess gave me her power before she died, to complete a mission." My voice was steady, though the truth of the words carried a weight I wasn't used to bearing.

The man tilted his head, as if evaluating me. I asked, "Did you order that beast to kill all the people who were with me?"

I froze. The question was sharp, like a blade aimed straight at my heart. "No," he replied with a simple shake of his head. "I only instructed it to bring you here and keep the others at bay. They're safe now. They crossed the forest." He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, the image of my party—my mother and father—appeared before me, standing together, tears streaming down their faces.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw them again, alive but not well. I hadn't realized how much I had missed them until this very moment. Tears filled my own eyes, but a strange, bittersweet joy surged through me, knowing they were safe.

The man continued, his voice softer now. "Would you mind telling me the mission the goddess gave you?"

I looked at him, hesitation building in my chest. "No," I said firmly. "It's a secret."

He didn't seem surprised. Instead, he nodded knowingly. "I have a guess," he said after a moment, his eyes gleaming with something darker. "Is it to kill the god of this realm?"

I stiffened at the mention of it. My heart skipped a beat. 'How did he know?' "How did you know this?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.

He grinned, a smirk that felt more knowing than anything else. "Ah, so my guess was right after all," he said. "I know because I'm not from this realm. I've been watching, everything that is happening in this realm" His eyes gleamed with something ancient, something dangerous. "And now I've got my answers. I have a deal for you."

He paused for a moment, his demeanor shifting to something more serious. "I can help you. I can help you kill the gods. But in return, you must help me."

I furrowed my brow. "Why would you help me? What's in it for you?"

A strange light flickered in his eyes as he responded. "I want your help in fighting against those who killed the gods. You see, I'm not human. I'm a Phantom from another realm—the realm of Agousis, where all the gods are dead." His eyes blazed brighter, and I could feel the oppressive weight of his power building around us. "I'm not just offering you help—I'm offering you the chance to join me."

I narrowed my eyes. "So, you're not from this realm," I murmured. "Then why are you here?"

He spread his arms wide, and in that instant, something shifted. Two horns—sharp and imposing—grew from his head, and his eyes turned a sickly yellow. An immense pressure built around him, and I collapsed to my knees, the sheer force of it making it almost impossible to breathe.

I barely managed to lift my gaze. "Hey! Why show off with that much power?" I gasped, struggling to speak.

He looked down at me apologetically. "Ah, sorry. It's been a while since I've let my true power slip." He waved a hand, and the pressure melted away as quickly as it had come, leaving me gasping for air.

"I am Agius Fursus," he said, his voice quiet now but still filled with the gravity of his words. "I come from Agousis, a realm without gods. We Phantoms are the ones who killed the gods in our world. We live for seven hundred years." He looked down a faint sadness in his expression. "But I escaped here. I fled from my own kind because I discovered the truth about why we killed the gods."

I felt the weight of his words sink in, the realization of the pain behind them. "So, you want my help to fight against those who killed the gods?" I asked.

He nodded solemnly. "Yes. And in return, I offer to train you. I'll make you strong enough to fight beside me, but you must live in this forest for five years. We'll train together, and you'll learn the ways to fight the gods and the Phantoms."

I thought about it. This is my chance to get stronger, to protect my loved ones. My heart ached at the thought of being away from my parents, but I knew this was the only way I could truly protect them.

I bowed my head, the decision already made in my heart. "Okay, then. From today, I will be in your care, Master."

Agius smiled, his expression softening. "Good. Don't worry, you won't regret this. Now, go rest in the house. It's small, but it'll be enough for the two of us. Tomorrow, our training begins."

And with that, the man I would now call master, Agius Fursus, returned to his human form, his yellow eyes still gleaming with the weight of his past—and the challenges yet to come.