He took a short walk, his small legs carrying him with a determined stride, until he reached the edge of the small wood. From his perspective, craning his neck upwards, the trees soared into the sky, their leafy crowns so high they seemed like the stuff of giants from old tales. He had never dared to venture into a forest before. His parents, their faces etched with a seriousness he rarely saw, had filled his young mind with stories of dangerous magical beasts that lurked within the shadowy depths.
Caston and Jaden, the kind souls who had taken him in, had told Salson since he was just a babe in arms that they had found him nestled on their doorstep one misty morning. They didn't know who his real parents were, their origins a mystery lost to time. But for Salson, those unknowns held little weight. His world revolved around Caston and Jaden, their warm smiles and calloused hands his only true anchors.
Driven by a curiosity that tugged at his small heart, Salson pushed past the initial trepidation and stepped into the woods. The air immediately shifted, growing cooler and carrying the earthy scent of damp soil and decaying leaves. The trees grew closer, their branches intertwining overhead, creating a canopy that dappled the forest floor in shifting patterns of light and shadow. The wood grew denser with each step, the sounds of the outside world fading into a hushed symphony of rustling leaves and the distant chirping of unseen birds.
Then, through the dense foliage, a flicker of color caught his eye. A soft, yellowish light pulsed in the distance, beckoning him forward like a tiny star fallen to earth. His small feet quickened their pace, his heart thumping with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. He had to know what it was.
Pushing past a thicket of thorny bushes, the scene that unfolded before him stole his breath. A monstrous beast of nightmare fuel stood in a small clearing. It was immense, its body a hulking mass of black fur that seemed to absorb the very light around it. Six enormous legs, thick as tree trunks, supported its weight, and a long, serpentine neck stretched upwards, ending in a round head filled with rows upon rows of needle-sharp teeth. It was the very image of the terrifying creatures his parents had warned him about.
But what truly captivated Salson's attention was the light surrounding the beast. It wasn't an inherent glow of the creature itself, but rather a swirling aura, like a luminous insect dancing in frantic circles. As he focused his young eyes, he realized the light was a person, no older than himself, with pointed ears that could only belong to an elf.
The little elf darted around the massive beast, their hands flashing as they shot bolts of pure light at its shadowy form. "Die, die, go away from here!" the elf cried out, their voice high and filled with desperate determination. Yet, the monstrous creature seemed unfazed, lumbering slightly as if swatting at an annoying fly. It even let out a low, rumbling sound that Salson could only interpret as amusement.
A surge of protectiveness, a feeling he hadn't known he possessed, welled up within Salson. He couldn't stand by and watch this small figure face such a terrifying foe alone. He gripped the small, crudely fashioned dagger at his hip, the weight familiar and comforting in his hand. With a burst of adrenaline, he lunged forward, aiming for one of the beast's thick hind legs.
The dull thud of the blade meeting flesh was followed by a wet tearing sound. A spurt of dark, viscous blood erupted from the wound, splattering the forest floor. The monstrous creature roared, a chilling sound that echoed through the trees and sent shivers down Salson's spine. But he didn't falter. Driven by an instinct he couldn't explain, he continued to strike at the beast's legs, his small arms working furiously.
The elf, startled by the sudden attack, materialized in a flash of light beside Salson. Their bright eyes, the color of emeralds, widened in surprise. "Human," they exclaimed, their voice filled with astonishment, "how did you manage to wound this abomination?"
Salson, his chest heaving, simply replied, "I wounded it with my dagger, but I didn't think so much blood could come out." He had seen blood before, of course. The messy business of slaughtering chickens back at their small farm was a familiar sight. The dark red liquid, the metallic scent – it didn't particularly faze him.
"This creature," the little elf explained quickly, their gaze flicking back to the still-roaring beast, "appeared after a dark wizard used a terrible spell. It absorbed all the magical creatures of this forest. I noticed it when I could no longer feel their energy. My name is Brihan, and I am the only son of the elven king. And like you, I am only five years old."
As if in response to Brihan's words, the monstrous creature whipped its head around, its shapeless mouth opening to unleash a beam of crackling purple energy. It shot towards them with terrifying speed, but Brihan reacted instantly, a shimmering barrier of light erupting in front of them, deflecting the destructive blast.
"You've angered it," Brihan said, their small face grim. "To defeat it, we'll have to combine our strengths. Do you have any experience in a fight?"
Salson shook his head, his grip tightening on his dagger. Brihan let out a small sigh, their shoulders slumping slightly. "Then give me your dagger," they said, their emerald eyes meeting Salson's. "At least we'll defeat it together."
Without hesitation, Salson offered his weapon, the rough wood of the handle warm in his palm. "I made this dagger with my own hands," he said, his voice surprisingly steady. "Make good use of it."
"One last thing," Brihan asked, their gaze softening slightly. "What is your name?"
"My name is Salson," he replied, a small sense of pride swelling in his chest.
Immediately, Brihan deactivated the shimmering barrier, the purple energy dissipating harmlessly into the air. Holding Salson's simple dagger, Brihan uttered two words, their voice resonating with an unexpected power: "Pure purification."
A wave of golden light washed over Brihan's small form, intricate patterns of yellow markings appearing on their skin. The crude iron of Salson's dagger pulsed with the same radiant energy, its dull surface now glowing with a fierce, bright yellow. With a sudden burst of speed that belied their small size, Brihan darted towards the lumbering beast.
From the creature's sides, thick, black tentacles erupted, lashing out in a desperate attempt to strike the agile elf. But Brihan was too quick, using the flailing appendages as a makeshift bridge, leaping from one to the next with incredible agility until they reached the creature's broad back. With a swift, fluid motion, Brihan brought the glowing dagger down, a searing line of light cutting through the monster's thick hide.
The massive creature shuddered, a final, agonizing shriek tearing through the forest before it split in two, its shadowy form collapsing onto the forest floor with a resounding thud. As the dust settled, Salson and Brihan saw the source of its unnatural life force – a huge, pulsating black core that tumbled out of the creature's remains and onto the damp earth.
Brihan, still perched on the remnants of the beast, tossed Salson's dagger back to him. "I'm too high up," they called down. "You take care of the core!"
Instinct took over. Salson caught the glowing dagger in mid-air, his body moving with a speed and grace he didn't know he possessed. In a blur of motion, he dashed towards the pulsating black core and brought the glowing blade down in a swift, violet-tinged arc. The core split in two with a sickening crack, and a moment later, it exploded in a burst of dark energy.
The two children, their bodies slick with sweat and their hearts still pounding in their chests, collapsed onto the soft earth. Brihan, the golden markings on their skin fading, turned to Salson, their emerald eyes filled with curiosity. "How did you make that dagger?" they asked, their voice still slightly breathless.
Salson wiped a bead of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "I live with two blacksmiths," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "I've been learning their craft since I was little." He then tilted his head, his own curiosity piqued. "You, on the other hand, what were you doing in the countryside south of Saxasol?"
Brihan sighed, a hint of melancholy in their expression. "As I said before, I am the only son of the elven king. But I decided to escape from that oppressive house to travel the world." The young elf gestured to their attire – a bright canary yellow jacket adorned with gold buttons, worn over a simple cotton shirt and faded yellow long pants. "In five years," Brihan continued, a flicker of excitement returning to their eyes, "I will unlock the special ability of all elves. It's called Elf Dive, and it consists of an enhancement and acquisition of abilities, both known and unknown. Moreover, they enhance the user up to the maximum possible level. Obviously, this changes from elf to elf, but my father Rhon has brought it to a level equal to an Equilibrium."