The King's Guard

Chapter 6

Kael leaned forward, blood now dripping from his nose. Using his ability always left side effects, and this time was no different. He didn’t have full control over it yet, and it took a toll on his body. He bent over slightly, the blood still running as he wiped at it with the back of his hand.

Not wanting to waste time, he moved forward. He stumbled as his balance shifted, and everything looked less steady. His vision was slightly unclear, but he kept walking. This was likely his best opportunity. He approached the wolf again and pushed his dagger into its throat. It went in deep enough to do damage. The wolf’s neck was thick, but the dagger passed through.

The moment time returned to its normal pace, the wolf dropped to the ground. It didn’t get back up. Its body twitched briefly, but then it stopped moving completely. Kael could hear himself breathing hard, the sound louder now that the fight was over.

He took a step back and then sat down, unable to remain standing. His side ached badly, and the earlier wound throbbed more now that the fight was done. His nose continued to bleed. He wiped at it again, slower this time. There was a sting where the wolf had scratched him earlier, but he wasn’t sure how deep it was.

Looking up, he noticed the tree branches overhead. The leaves barely let any light through. The entire place felt still, but it wasn’t quiet in a peaceful way. It was just tense and uncertain. Kael didn’t feel like he could relax here.

For a short while, he didn’t move. He focused on his breathing. The fight had taken a lot out of him. His head still hurt from using his ability. He had done what he could, and it had worked, but there were side effects that made things difficult. He’d heard people talk about how rare these powers were. He had no one to teach him how to use it properly.

He looked at the wolf again. It was large. Its fur was dark, and its body looked even more massive lying on the forest floor. He’d only heard bits and pieces about creatures like this. He had assumed the stories were exaggerated, but this one had nearly killed him. It hadn’t been an easy fight, and he was lucky to be alive.

His body still hurt. He felt pain across his ribs and arms. The dagger in his hand was still wet, so he cleaned it on a nearby patch of grass before putting it back in its sheath. There was no telling what else he might face in this forest, and he didn’t want to be caught unprepared.

He got to his feet slowly. His legs didn’t respond right away. He had to use the wolf’s body to push himself up. There was more pain in his side as he moved, but he did his best to ignore it. The pain would slow him down, but stopping wasn’t an option.

He started walking. The forest was uneven. Roots stretched across the ground, and fallen branches were scattered around. His steps were steady, but not fast. He looked around with every few steps, making sure nothing else was close.

It was hard to tell where he was going. The trees looked the same in every direction. There were no clear paths, and no markers to follow. It was all shadows and patches of light breaking through gaps in the leaves. He wasn’t sure how far he had gone or how much time had passed.

Sometimes he would stop and listen. He could hear distant calls—nothing clear, just occasional noises that didn’t sound human. It was enough to keep him alert.

There was a strange feeling he couldn’t shake. It felt like someone or something was nearby. He didn’t see anyone, but the sensation was there. He turned his head occasionally, checking behind him, but there was nothing unusual in sight.

Then a sound came from ahead. A low growl. Kael paused, his hand already moving to the dagger. The sound came again, and then more followed. It wasn’t just one animal. It was several.

From between the trees, smaller wolves appeared. Their bodies were leaner than the one he had faced earlier, but their eyes had the same glow. There were five of them. They moved slowly and spread out.

Kael stood still, holding his weapon. His eyes went from one wolf to the next. They didn’t rush forward. They kept their distance but made it clear they were circling him. He turned slightly, keeping them in his line of sight.

He was already injured. His side ached. His arm felt weak. This wasn’t going to be easy. Fighting one wolf had nearly ended him. Fighting five was something else entirely.

But he didn’t think about backing down. He’d come too far. If he quit now, it would mean giving up on everything. He tightened his grip on the dagger and stood his ground. There was no other option.

One of the wolves stepped closer. It was slightly larger than the others. It gave a low growl. The rest responded with quiet snarls. Kael could feel his pulse in his ears.

Then the wolves attacked.

The first one came from the side. Kael turned and slashed at it. His blade caught its face, and it backed off. Another one snapped at his leg. He kicked at it. More came. He turned again, swinging his blade as he moved. They didn’t stop.

Kael kept moving, using short, fast motions. He didn’t have time to think about pain or fatigue. The wolves surrounded him. One got close enough to bite his arm. The teeth sank in. He shouted, stabbed it, and it let go.

He stumbled back, but another wolf leapt at him. He raised his arm just in time. The weight of the wolf brought him down. He hit the ground hard. The wolf tried to bite again. Kael pushed at it with both arms.

He rolled, trying to get out from under it. The wolf lost balance and Kael shoved it off. He got to his knees, then to his feet again.

The wolves circled. His strength was fading. Blood ran down his arm. His legs shook.

He knew what he had to do. He didn’t want to, but there was no other choice. He reached for the energy again. The same power he had used earlier. It came slowly at first. Then it grew stronger.

The wolves seemed to notice the change. They didn’t move immediately. He acted fast.

Time slowed again.

Kael moved quickly now. He stabbed the first wolf in the chest. The next one got a slash across its neck. One by one, he hit them, moving faster than they could react.

But the cost was high.

His head pounded. His nose bled again. The pain was stronger than before. His hands shook as the final wolf dropped.

When time resumed, the forest was quiet again. The wolves were down. Kael was still standing, but barely. His whole body felt heavy. The pain didn’t fade. It got worse.

He fell to his knees. His breath was uneven. Blood was on his clothes and face. His body didn’t want to move anymore. Everything felt slow and distant.

He looked down at the ground. Then at the wristband on his hand. The thought of quitting crossed his mind. The pain was too much. He didn’t know how much time had passed. He couldn’t tell how close he was to the end.

He looked around. The trees were still. No movement. No more sounds.

Then, without warning, the wristband glowed. A light covered him. His stomach felt strange as the teleportation started.

He didn’t fight it. He let it happen.

A moment later, he was gone from the forest.

"Hmm..." Archon’s deep voice echoed throughout as he watched the survivors get teleported back.