LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 13: Stirring the embers
Chapter 13: Stirring the Embers
The tension in the village was palpable. Players had begun to retreat from the village square, unsettled by the presence of a fiery figure like Lyra. Although they couldn't see Aeris, the aura surrounding Reiji and the dire wolf sent a clear signal—this was no ordinary player.
Lyra floated beside Reiji, her humanoid form glowing faintly as the heat of her presence warmed the air. Her fiery hair swirled gently, and her wings folded elegantly behind her. Meanwhile, Aeris sat on Reiji's opposite shoulder, her tiny dragon form radiating annoyance, her golden eyes shooting occasional glares at Lyra.
Reiji walked through the village with his new companions, trying to wrap his head around his ever-complicating situation. His dire wolf, which had been following silently, paused and growled lowly at the sight of several armed players huddling near the entrance of the village.
"They're waiting for you," Aeris said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Reiji glanced at her. "I figured as much. They're not going to let me walk out of here with a monster like this."
Lyra smirked. "You could let the wolf deal with them. It would be a fitting demonstration of the power you've bestowed upon it."
Reiji frowned. "Yeah, and then I'd have an entire guild hunting me down. No thanks."
Aeris crossed her arms. "At least you're learning to think ahead. Maybe you're not completely hopeless."
Ignoring her jab, Reiji stepped forward, addressing the group of players blocking the gate. "Let me guess, you're here for the wolf?"
One of the players, a heavily armored warrior, stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the fading sunlight. "You're damn right we are. That thing's a walking treasure trove of loot and experience. Hand it over, and we'll let you leave in one piece."
Reiji smirked, his hands resting casually at his sides. "You really think you can take it from me?"
The warrior hesitated, glancing at the dire wolf. The beast's crimson eyes glowed ominously, and its muscles rippled with barely restrained power. The players behind him shifted nervously, their confidence wavering.
"You don't understand what you're dealing with," Reiji continued, his voice calm but firm. "This isn't just a random monster. It's mine, and it's not going anywhere."
Lyra leaned closer to Reiji, her voice low and teasing. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."
The warrior gritted his teeth, raising his sword. "Enough talk! Take him down!"
The group of players charged forward, weapons drawn. Reiji sighed, his eyes narrowing. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."
The dire wolf stepped in front of him, its growl deep and menacing. With a single leap, it lunged at the nearest player, its claws slashing through their armor like paper. The player's health bar plummeted, and they were thrown backward, crashing into the ground with a thud.
The other players hesitated, clearly unprepared for the sheer power of the beast. But their hesitation didn't last long. Spells and arrows flew through the air, aimed directly at the wolf.
Reiji raised his hand, activating one of the few abilities he had left. A shimmering barrier formed around the wolf, absorbing the incoming attacks.
"Not bad," Lyra remarked, her tone impressed.
Reiji ignored her, focusing on the battle. The dire wolf tore through the players with ruthless efficiency, its movements a blur of claws and fangs. Within minutes, the group was defeated, their avatars fading into shimmering light as they were forced to respawn elsewhere.
As the last player disappeared, Reiji lowered his hand, letting the barrier dissipate. The village was silent once more, save for the crackling of Lyra's flames.
"Well," Aeris said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "that was subtle."
Reiji shot her a glare. "What was I supposed to do? Let them kill me?"
Lyra chuckled, her golden eyes gleaming. "You handled yourself well. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."
Reiji sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is going to keep happening, isn't it?"
Aeris nodded. "As long as you keep drawing attention to yourself, yes. You've made it clear that you're not just another player. And now that Lyra's here, things are only going to get more complicated."
Reiji glanced at Lyra, who was watching him with an amused expression. "Speaking of which, why are you even here? What do you gain from sticking around me?"
Lyra's smile widened. "I've already told you, Fateweaver. Your power has the potential to reshape this world. I intend to ensure that the Phoenix race benefits from that."
"And you're just going to follow me around until that happens?" Reiji asked, his tone skeptical.
Lyra's wings fluttered slightly as she floated closer. "Something like that. Consider it an alliance of convenience—for now."
Reiji sighed, shaking his head. "Great. Just what I needed—more complications."
Aeris smirked. "You'll get used to it. Or you'll crash and burn. Either way, it'll be entertaining to watch."
Reiji rolled his eyes, turning to leave the village. The dire wolf followed close behind, its crimson eyes scanning the horizon for potential threats.
As they walked, Lyra floated beside Reiji, her fiery presence a constant reminder of her power. Aeris perched on his shoulder, her tiny dragon form radiating smug satisfaction.
Reiji couldn't help but feel like he was caught between two forces far beyond his control. But as daunting as his situation was, he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.
The world of Eternal Realms was vast and unpredictable, and Reiji was determined to carve out his own path, no matter the obstacles in his way.