As winter's ice finally crumbled beneath the warming sun, so too did the weakness of the boy Elias once was. After a year of grueling training under Vex's ruthless guidance, the frail child found in the forest had been reforged into something far more intimidating a warrior shaped by cold, pain, and survival.
The morning sun filtered through the thick canopy of the forest, casting dappled light across the snow-covered ground. Elias stood at the edge of a frozen lake, his muscles honed and his senses razor-sharp. His once lanky frame had transformed into a powerful, athletic build, and his jade-colored eyes now carried a confident glint, tempered by the wisdom earned through hardship.
As Vex emerged from the freezing lake, after his morning swim in the icy waters as though it were no more than a warm spring. A low chuckle escaped him as he swem to shore, unbothered by the biting cold, his eyes caught Elias's toned body. And he smiled and let out a small laughter
"I've yet to build a warrior out of you," he said casually, his gaze sweeping over Elias's toned, battle-hardened body. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Back in my day, the warriors of Clan Blackwood were forged in far harsher fires than this."
His eyes drifted toward the treeline, as if seeing another time entirely.
"We were raised in shadow and war. Ice was our cradle, and blood was our teacher. Every Blackwood child learned to fight before they learned to speak. The weak did not survive—and the strong became legends."
Vex turned back to Elias, his expression shifting from distant memory to sharp focus.
"But you…" he said, pointing at him, "you're not there yet. Still rough. Still unfinished. But we'll make something out of you soon."
He approached, pride and seriousness mixing in his voice.
"Alright, kid. It's been a full year since we started this journey. You've grown strong, but strength alone isn't enough. Today, I'm sending you on your first hunt. Your target is the Primal Beast—The Krygnar."
Vex's gaze hardened as he looked out over the frozen lake. "Because the Krygnar doesn't wake without reason," he said. "Its awakening marks the turning of a cycle—old power stirring, ancient things shifting in their sleep. When it rises, it reshapes the land around it. Forests die. Lakes freeze solid. Creatures flee or go mad."
He turned back to Elias.
"And because a warrior's first true hunt must be more than practice. It must be a trial."
Elias clenched his fists. "A trial for what?"
Vex stepped closer, his voice dropping. "For your will. Your instincts. Your right to survive in the world beyond this forest." He tapped Elias's chest. "Training sharpens the body. But only a real monster sharpens the soul."
Elias swallowed. "You trained the warriors of your clan like this too?"
A faint smile crossed Vex's face. "Worse. Much worse." His eyes darkened with memory. "The Krygnar would've been considered mercy compared to what we faced."
Silence fell between them, broken only by the distant cracking of ice.
"If you can bring it down," Vex continued, "you prove you're ready to walk your own path. And if you can't—"
He let the sentence hang.
Elias lifted his head, jade eyes burning with resolve.
"Then I die trying."
Vex's grin returned, sharp and proud. "Now you're starting to sound like a Blackwood."
"But, old man Vex… I've never even seen a Krygnar before," Elias said. "How would I know it when I find it?"
Vex smiled, a slow, knowing grin, and folded his arms. "Oh, you'll know," he said. "There's nothing else like it."
He gestured as if shaping the beast in the air. "The Krygnar stands as tall as three grown men, its body covered in jagged obsidian scales that shimmer like frozen night. A mane of thick, silver-white fur runs along its spine, crackling with faint arcs of primal energy. Its eyes glow a deep crimson, burning with the hunger of something ancient."
Vex's expression darkened. "Its horns curve backward like broken spears, and its claws are long enough to carve stone as if it were flesh. When it breathes, frost pours from its jaws, and when it roars, the ground itself trembles. You won't need a name for it, boy. Your instincts will scream it at you."
His eyes glinted with purpose. "The meat of the Krygnar is a wonder of the universe. It's said to contain nutrients and energies that can enhance one's physical and metaphysical abilities beyond imagination. But more than that, hunting the Krygnar is a test of everything you've learned. It is a rite of passage—a way to prove to yourself that you are truly ready."
Elias nodded, feeling the weight of the task settle onto his shoulders. "Where do I find it?"
Vex handed him a weathered map. "Deep in the heart of the Darkwood, there's a cave where the Krygnar slumbers. The path is dangerous, filled with threats at every turn. But I believe in you. Trust your training. Use the power within you wisely. And never—ever—underestimate the Krygnar."
Elias took the map and his gear, a surge of determination burning in his chest.
"I won't let you down, Vex."