Sunlight twisted between the evergreens, catching the dust that danced off the leaves of the underbrush and sweeping it into the forest's canopy. Evan stretched, trying to keep the sleep from his eyes. The cold ration of salted jerky that hung in his mouth did little to quell the ice that permeated through his veins. Or quell the fire in his stomach.

"Oh, Tahlia, take this. Since magic is a last resort, you'll need something to defend yourself," Claire said handing her a dagger.

Tahlia took it in both hands. Her heart was warmed by the thought that neither of the siblings wanted to push her to do something she wished not too. She knew the price of using her magic would mean the noble soul would find neither peace nor suffering, just cease in its existence, so it was too great a cost for her. Evan and Claire seemed to understand that without question.

The three walked in a file with Tahlia leading the way. Claire took the rear, leaving Evan to walk with his hands behind his head in the middle. He gazed lazily at his surroundings. Moss crept up most of the tree trunks and devoured all of the fallen logs. Dew sparkled like crystals and emeralds between its tender tendrils in the rays of sun that managed to make it to the forest floor. The shrubs and other low growing plants were the only thing with a lifecycle short enough that the moss couldn't devour.

As they pressed deeper, he noticed peculiar shaped rocks covered in the green creepage. They were perfectly circular on the edges but looked like shattered glass near their radius. They were hollow as well.

"What are those rocks?" Evan pointed to one poking from a bush.

"Relics of a world long forgotten. This forest used to be the source of all life for the world. Now it plays host to the trees and that which dwells within them."

Evan's mind filled with fantasies of what that world must've looked like. A world where the sky was unreachable, and oceans separated earth and rock. What kind of magic existed in that world, he wondered?

A rustle in the bushes to his left tore him from those dreams. He jumped, flinging his hands forward. Claire reached for her sword, and Tahlia's head shot over her shoulder.

All three froze. Evan's heart seamed to stop in his chest, and he held his breath. The fear of one of the beasts Tahlia spoke of hung at the forefront of his mind. Should they run? He wanted to. The cannons they'd offloaded back at the ship could kill these beasts; he was certain.

A fox of golden fur emerged, sniffing at the air toward them. Evan relaxed, sucking in a lungful of air. He heard his sister also release a panicked breath behind him.

Then the fox was no more. Like a blur of brown and red, it was torn from the spot where it stood. In its place was a beast covered in dark fur. It stood twice as tall as Evan. Its claws dug into the fox's body as it tore a chunk from it and swallowed. Golden eyes fixated on Evan, and the beast dropped the fox.

It swished its tail and showed its red stained fangs. A low growl came from deep within its belly.

Evan and Claire drew their swords. It was just as Tahlia had described—a Gnalicore—standing upright like a man with the body of a wolf.

"Over here, beast!" Claire shouted.

The monster's ears twitched toward her and its head followed. It rolled its shoulders forward and pressed its hands into the ground.

"Sis, watch out!"

The best flung itself at Claire. Evan could barely track it through the air. Claire raised her sword, catching the beast's mouth with it. She fell as the Gnalicore mounted her. It chomped at her sword and tried to rip it away with its claws, but Claire managed to keep her blade between them.

Evan reached behind his back for his gun but grasped at air. He'd forgotten he left it with his belt back at the ship. He charged, trying to get in close, but the monster flailed its tail to and fro, making it impossible for him to get within reach without getting stuck.

He rapped his sword against his breastplate. The sound pulled the beast's attention to him, and it leapt from Claire. Evan anticipated and jumped away. The beast caught itself and whirled around. It stood and circled Evan.

"Evan!" Claire shouted.

The beast leapt into the air. Its claws raised to tear Evan to ribbons. Evan side stepped and let his sword cut at its side as it came down. He felt his blade bite into the flesh, but the beast seemed unphased. He was sure that strike would've fell any man. But this was no man.

The creature lashed at him with its claw. Evan parried—his sword arm being knocked away like paper. He stepped back, keeping just beyond the reach of the Gnalicore's claws. Evan slice at the palms of the beast, but his scratches seemed to be payed no mind.

A crack echoed through the forest, and the Gnalicore stumbled as a bullet ripped through its thigh.

Tahlia screamed, descending onto the Gnalicore's head and driving her dagger into its eye. The Gnalicore howled in agony and flung her from his head. Tahlia pulsed her wings, stopping herself in the air before she slammed into a tree.

As it threw Tahlia, the tail whipped towards Evan. Evan raised his sword, but feared it wouldn't be enough.

"Hey!" Claire shouted, pulling the monster's attention once more.

The tail whipped away from Evan. The beast rushed Claire once more. She ducked under it, pushing her sword into the other leg. The monster cried out again, staggered, but remained upright. Claire swiped another bullet from her belt to load her gun again. Tahlia tried to get close from above, but the beast swatted at her while moving toward Claire.

Its speed had been taken from the leg wounds at least, but its strength remained. Claire managed to shove the bullet into her gun, only for the Gnalicore to rip it from her grasp. Rivulets a crimson followed it. Claire reeled in pain and pulled her arm to her chest.

"Claire, no!" Evan cried, charging the monster.

"Evan, stay back!"

But he didn't listen. Evan took his sword in both hands, aiming the tip for the center of the Gnalicore's chest. "Come at me!" He bellowed.

The Gnalicore turned its head to Evan, its snout rippling as it growled. The muscles flexed and the claw it had raised crashed into Evan's breastplate before he could strike. Evan felt his feet leave the earth, and he flew backwards. He slammed into a tree, and if it weren't for his cuirass, he probably would've broken his back. However, the plate absorbed most of shock, leaving his lungs empty, but him alive.

Evan's vision bruised and he watched the as the beast summoned what strength it could from its legs to lunge for him, knocking Claire down as it did. Tahlia threw her dagger. The blade fell flat on the beast's back and bounced off.

Evan ground his teeth, pulling himself up. Time seemed to slow. His heart raced, and he felt fear take him. This was it. The last words he'd said to his sister echoed in his mind. He felt his heart sink. He didn't want anger to be the last memory he had of her.

Evan summoned what strength he could and rolled. The monster crashed into the tree, shaking needles and bits of bark from the branches. It shook its head and snapped back towards Evan.

Evan searched for his sword as the Gnalicore stood on its legs once more, its claws resting at its sides. It showed its fangs and opened wide. Evan could see the intent to rip his throat from him in its eyes.

He felt his hand wrap around his sword's hilt, and he brought it up as the beast fell upon him.

"Evan!" Tahlia and Claire shouted.

A crack from Claire's gun echoed, and the forest fell silent.

A warm wetness seeped into Evan's pants. Saliva and blood dripped on his face as the beast hung on his hilt. The weight pushed into his body, and he felt his arms screaming to be from under it. He tried but couldn't roll the beast from him.

"Help!" he panicked. His breaths became shallow and fast. "Get it off me!"

Claire and Tahlia rushed to him and heaved the monster from him. The thing slumped off Evan and lay dead on the moss. Evan crawled backwards away from it. The color drained from his face. Thick, dark blood smeared his cuirass and stained his leather pants.

"Evan!" Claire dropped her pistol to her side and wrapped an arm around him. She buried her face between his shoulder and neck. No sooner than she embraced him did she search him for injuries. "Are you hurt? Can you stand?"

"I-I'm fine..." he said, grabbing his sister, his eyes never leaving the creature. Although, he wasn't entirely convinced he was.

Tahlia landed beside him and fell to her knees, searching him over for any wounds. "I don't see any wounds or quills from the tail, can you stand?"

"I think so."

Tahlia stood and grabbed Evan's hand helping him to his feet.

"Claire, your arm!" Evan said, turning to his sister.

"It's fine. It's just a scratch."

"Tahlia!" Evan looked at her.

Tahlia shook her head. "There's no danger. It's only the tail that contains the toxin. But we should wrap it to keep it from being infected."

"Use my hood." Evan held up the hood of his shirt.

Tahlia collected her dagger, wiping the blood on the moss before cutting Evan's hood off and into strips. She then looked at Claire's arm. "Can you move it?"

"Yes, but its sore."

"It may be a sprain. Try not to use it, okay?" she said as she pulled the gauntlet off. She wiped the blood away with one of the strips of linen, then wrapped another over it and tied it.

Claire grimaced as Tahlia tightened the bandage. She pulled her gauntlet back over her forearm and holstered her pistol.

Evan wiped his sword clean on the moss and used the bloodied strip of his hood to soak up what he could from his cuirass. He noticed three scores in the steel across his chest. A reminder that without it, the beast would've torn into his chest instead. Still, the steel remained intact.

Their nerves were frayed as the exchange a glance between each other. Without a word, they continued to press deeper into the forest. The rest of the walk was calm as the sun held high overhead. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional birdsong that fluttered between the canopy. However, Evan's legs couldn't seem to stop shaking. His muscles ached, and his mind raced.

It was the same after his pilot's test. The thought of being in a fight. Although watching the Leaves and Shrikes perish was nothing compared to the intimacy of this kill. Then, it was just the screams of the dying. This time, it was the thick smell of iron in his nose mixed with the gurgling of blood in the beast's throat.

He knew he had no choice, but still he couldn't shake the fact that it was his hands that took the life.

He glanced back to Claire. She seemed as composed as ever. Was it because she wasn't the one to make the kill? Had she done it before? No amount of training the Academy gave him on taking life prepared him for the weight of it.

Claire caught his gaze. Evan snapped his back to his front. She felt her heart twist itself into knots. She wished it had been her that had taken the Gnalicore's life. The pain and confusion of it was clear on her brother's face in that moment. She didn't want to accept it, but he was right—she couldn't protect him anymore.

"We're here..." Tahlia said, stopping.

Evan and Claire knit their brows together as they stepped from behind her. Tahlia had led them to a large clearing. A pointed stone sat on the other side from them, almost claimed entirely by the moss. Near its point, a small circle had been eaten away, showing the trees behind it.

"This doesn't look like a place people would live," Claire said.

"Uhm..." Evan scratched his head. "Sorry, we aren't actually here to pay respects to her people. Tahlia, is this—"

"It is." She stepped into the clearing.

A flame sparked in the center of the stone's circle. Evan and Claire's eyes shot wide. The sky above turned golden again. Evan hadn't realized the lateness of the hour. Sunlight seemed to fill the isle, collecting like water in the clearing.

"Who walks upon my alter?" an omniscient voice emanated from between the trees.

Evan and Claire grabbed the hilts of their swords.

"Tahlia!" Evan called in hush, but the winged girl kept walking towards the stone.

Evan and Claire followed her, sticking close and watching the sides for whatever was the origin of the voice. As Tahlia reached the stone, she wiped away the moss to reveal an engraving in a language neither Claire nor Evan had ever seen.

The runes ignited themselves in flame as Tahlia's fingers brushed over them. "Fira de ausra en orcto te Ifirit!" she spoke in tongue. The flames grew, and the sun seemed to collect into a beam at the center flame in the stone's circle. She repeated the words like a chant.

The beam grew tighter and brighter, causing Evan and Claire to shield their eyes. No sooner than the light flashed, did it dissipate. Evan blinked. The stone lay dormant once more, but Tahlia seemed different. She turned. Her eyes illuminated white light. She pointed over their heads.

Evan and Claire whipped around. Towering over them, barely taller than the trees, was a great beast with black horns twisting skyward from its wolf like head. A flame-licked mane stretched along its back, and its body was covered in auburn fur. It rested on its haunches, thick as tree trunks, and whipped a black arrow-shaped tail behind it. Great black claws extended from its hands. The beast snorted smoke, and with each movement, embers and flames ignited and faded between its fur.

"Behold, the Flamed God, Ifirit." Tahlia said.