Chapter 1: The Cycle of Death
-Nyxandria-
A small girl wandered through her house, looking for her mother. She wasn’t in the bathroom or her bedroom. Just as she opened the door to the downstairs bedroom, something dropped onto her body.
Pain exploded through her limbs, and she screamed. An iron scent filled the air as the feathered bird monster ate from her body while she lived until the light faded from her eyes.
…
The young deer looked up as its mother tensed. She looked around and saw the rest of the herd all gearing up to run away.
A loud bang echoed throughout the valley as a small piece of metal was shot through the fawn’s cranium.
The corpse was left to rot as crows picked it apart.
…
Mawle was weak. His whole life, he was weak.
Too weak.
He felt the fist of the other wendigo collide with his skull and send him into the wall. His single remaining antler broke upon the contact, and another part of his psyche lost hope.
“So what’ll it be, weakling?” Erik asked, grabbing him by the hair and pulling him up. “Work for us or accept another beating.”
“Kill me,” Mawle spat. “I’m worthless anyway.”
“Gladly,” Erik said, grinning. This time, the fist hit his neck, and he slipped away, his eyes lingering on the emblem of a vulture on the other wendigo’s arm.
…
Erin cowered as the huge Roc let out another roar and let loose a burst of ice magic high above.
“Erin!” The Gold-Rank Adventurer, Anden, shouted. “Quick, come over here!”
Erin turned and dashed toward her savior, but she was cut short as a spell impacted him.
When the dust cleared, there was nothing but a large spike of ice sticking from the ground.
The bird still didn’t turn its attention to Erin, though. It continued walking forward and spreading its destruction.
It didn’t even notice when a single clawed foot crushed her.
…
As the sun set behind the waves, old Jonas rowed his boat back to shore, the familiar creak of the oars providing a rhythm that had soothed him for years.
But today was different.
A sharp pain shot through his chest, forcing him to drop the oar. His hand clutched at his heart as the boat drifted farther from shore. The horizon blurred before his eyes, and the cold sea splashed against his skin.
He whispered a prayer, but it was lost to the wind. His body slumped forward as his last breath was swallowed by the ocean.
A seagull flying above cawed as it alerted its friends to something else to feed on.
…
A young squirrel scurried up the tree, searching for the last few acorns before winter settled in.
But something caught its attention—a movement in the bushes below. Its curiosity drew it closer to the ground, where it froze upon seeing the looming shadow above.
The hawk swooped down, talons extended, and in one swift motion, talons pierced its body.
The bird's wings beat fiercely, carrying its prey to the high branches, where the little squirrel’s body went limp.
…
Maria had been on patrol for hours, eyes darting between the shadows, heart racing with the anticipation of an enemy approach.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the world exploded around her. A blast from a long-range explosive spell tore through the earth, sending her flying backward.
Her body crashed into the dirt, blood seeping from a wound in her chest. She tried to push herself up, but her limbs felt like they were made of stone.
Her vision faded as the cold earth embraced her, the sounds of battle dying with her final breath.
…
A sparrow flew low over the garden, its wings beating in rhythmic precision.
It was a beautiful day, and the sun warmed its feathers as it glided. Suddenly, a shadow moved across its path.
Before it could react, the eagle’s beak was upon it. The bird barely had time to chirp as it was lifted into the air. With one sharp twist of the predator’s neck, the sparrow's struggles ceased.
The eagle carried its prize away, leaving the garden empty once more.
…
The man stumbled down the narrow alley, his legs unsteady from the night’s drinking. He had no real destination, just a desperate need to escape the world for a moment.
But the world didn’t seem to want to let him go. A sudden pain shot through his side, and he fell to his knees.
Blood soaked through his shirt as the knife wound burned. He gasped for air, but his breath came in ragged gasps. The attacker was already gone, vanishing into the shadows.
The man’s eyes fluttered, and the alley fell silent as he slipped away.
…
The fox moved cautiously through the tall grass, its bright eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of danger.
It was hunting, its sharp instincts guiding it toward the scent of a rabbit. But as it stepped into the open, a loud crack echoed across the field.
A piece of lead tore into the fox, and it crumpled to the ground. Its blood stained the earth, and the world it had once known began to fade into a final darkness.
The hunter’s silhouette loomed above, unaware of the life he had just taken.
The screech of a hawk echoed through the woods.