From the survivor to the vanisher

Aditya used to see the patients near by villages, He used to those stories. But one of them

The village of Sablewood had always been cloaked in an air of mystery, but in recent weeks, the unease had grown unbearable. Livestock vanished without a trace, and strange howls filled the night. The villagers whispered about glowing eyes that appeared in the darkness, watching, waiting.

Aditya had heard these tales before, often dismissed as superstitions. But as he stood at the edge of the fields, staring into the misty expanse where the latest disappearance had occurred, he felt an unexplainable chill. His training under Dhruv had taught him to separate fear from logic, but tonight, something was different.

"Are you going to stare into the mist all night, or do you plan to investigate?" Dhruv's voice broke the silence.

Aditya turned to see his master leaning casually against a tree, his dark robes blending into the shadows. Dhruv's presence was both reassuring and unsettling. He always seemed to know more than he let on, and his cryptic remarks often left Aditya questioning everything.

"I'll investigate," Aditya replied, gripping a vial of moonflower elixir. "But I'd appreciate some guidance."

Dhruv's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Guidance spoils the lesson. Go. Find the truth. I'll be here if things... get out of hand."

Aditya sighed, knowing he wouldn't get more from his master. With a deep breath, he stepped into the mist, his senses heightened by the elixir.

The fields were unnaturally quiet, the usual hum of insects replaced by an oppressive stillness. Aditya moved carefully, scanning the ground for clues. His enhanced vision picked up faint tracks leading toward the forest—a mix of hoof prints and something else, something clawed.

As he followed the trail, the howling began again, low and mournful. It seemed to come from all directions, echoing through the trees. Aditya's heart raced, but he forced himself to remain calm. Fear was the enemy of reason.

Then he saw it. A pair of glowing eyes watching him from the shadows. Slowly, the creature stepped into the moonlight. It was unlike anything Aditya had ever seen—a monstrous fusion of wolf and shadow, its form flickering like a flame caught in the wind.

The creature growled, and Aditya felt its weight pressing on his mind, a primal fear clawing at his sanity. He reached for his talisman, the one Dhruv had given him, and held it aloft. The runes glowed faintly, pushing back the creature's oppressive aura.

The beast hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing. Then, with a snarl, it lunged.

Aditya barely dodged the attack, rolling to the side as the creature's claws raked the ground where he had stood. He threw a vial of silver dust, the particles sparkling in the moonlight as they struck the beast. It howled in pain, its shadowy form flickering and weakening.

But the attack only seemed to enrage it. The creature charged again, faster this time, its claws reaching for Aditya's throat.

A blinding light suddenly filled the clearing, and the beast let out an earsplitting shriek. Dhruv stepped forward, holding a talisman that burned like the sun. The creature recoiled, its form dissolving into wisps of black smoke.

"Enough," Dhruv said, his voice calm but commanding. "This one is beyond your abilities, Aditya. But you showed courage."

Aditya collapsed to his knees, trembling but alive. "What... what was that thing?"

"A shadow beast," Dhruv replied, tucking the talisman away. "It's drawn to places where the veil between realms is thin. This village sits on a leyline, a conduit of spiritual energy. Such places attract... unwanted attention."

Aditya stared at the fading smoke, his mind racing with questions. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Dhruv's expression darkened. "Because some lessons must be learned through experience. Now you know the danger. Next time, you'll be better prepared."