Bound By Beasts: The Tamer Who Defied Fate

The moon hung low over Eryndral as Nyx, Zerin, and Lys crept along the outer wall of House Valdris. The estate loomed over them like a fortress, its spires reaching into the dark sky. The faint glow of torchlight flickered along the perimeter, casting long shadows across the cobblestones.

"This is a bad idea," Zerin muttered, his daggers glinting faintly as he scanned the area. "By which I mean, it's my kind of idea."

Nyx shot him a glare. "Quiet. We're here to scout, not get caught."

Lys hugged her cloak tighter around her thin frame, her eyes darting nervously. "The servants' entrance is this way," she whispered, pointing to a small, unguarded door set into the wall.

Nyx nodded. "Lead the way."

The trio moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the damp ground. Umbra, Nyx's black panther, slunk silently beside her, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows. The tension in the air was thick as they reached the servants' entrance. Lys hesitated, glancing over her shoulder before pushing the door open.

The narrow door creaked softly as they stepped inside. The air was damp and carried the faint scent of mildew and smoke. Narrow stone corridors stretched ahead, dimly lit by sparse lanterns.

"These passages run beneath the estate," Lys whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Servants use them to move supplies without being seen. They're not well-guarded, but we still need to be careful."

Nyx gestured for Umbra to stay close. The panther padded beside her, its fur blending seamlessly into the shadows. "How many guards are inside?"

"I don't know," Lys admitted. "But they've increased security recently. I overheard some of the overseers mentioning shadow beasts being used as sentries."

Zerin frowned. "Shadow beasts inside the estate? That's bold, even for the Veilborn Order."

"They're not the large ones you've fought before," Lys explained. "These are smaller, more controlled—like hunting hounds."

Nyx's jaw tightened. "We move quickly. No unnecessary risks."

The group followed Lys deeper into the passages. The faint hum of distant activity grew louder with each step. They soon reached a large chamber where the stone walls gave way to wooden supports. Dim light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating stacks of crates marked with strange runes.

Nyx crouched beside one of the crates, running her fingers along the markings. "These are shadow-forged runes. They're infusing the weapons with corruption."

Zerin pried open a crate with his dagger, revealing rows of blackened blades. The weapons seemed to hum with dark energy, their edges unnaturally sharp. "These aren't just for decoration. They're arming an army."

Lys clutched her arms, her voice trembling. "I overheard the overseers talking. They've been sending these weapons to other cities—smaller towns first, to avoid suspicion. They plan to spread them further after the meeting tomorrow night."

Nyx exchanged a grim look with Zerin. "This is worse than we thought."

Umbra sniffed at one of the crates, growling low. Nyx placed a calming hand on the panther's back. "Stay alert. We're not alone down here."

Lys led them to a narrow stairwell that spiraled downward. The air grew colder as they descended, and the faint glow of runes lit their path. At the bottom, they found a heavy iron door etched with intricate carvings.

"This leads to the underground chamber," Lys whispered. "It's where they keep the most important things. I've only been here once."

Nyx pressed her ear to the door, listening intently. The faint sound of chanting reached her ears, along with the rhythmic scrape of something heavy being dragged. "There are people inside," she said, her voice low. "We need to be careful."

Zerin smirked, twirling a dagger. "When am I not?"

Nyx ignored him and carefully pushed the door open.

The chamber was vast, its walls lined with shelves filled with scrolls, artifacts, and weapons. In the center of the room stood a massive stone pedestal, where a shimmering orb of dark energy hovered.

Three cult operatives were gathered around the pedestal, their voices low as they chanted. A faint pulse emanated from the orb, sending ripples of energy through the room.

Nyx signaled for the group to stay hidden, her gaze fixed on the cultists. "That orb… it's feeding corruption into the weapons," she whispered.

Zerin's expression darkened. "We should destroy it."

"Not yet," Nyx said firmly. "We need more information. If we act now, we might lose our chance to learn what they're planning."

Lys clutched Nyx's arm, her voice trembling. "We need to leave before the guards realize we're here. They're always checking this place."

Before Nyx could respond, Umbra's ears flattened, and she let out a low growl. The cultists froze mid-chant, their heads turning sharply toward the shadows where the group was hiding.

"Intruders!" one of them shouted.

"Move!" Nyx barked, leading the group back toward the stairwell.

The cultists gave chase, their shouts echoing through the chamber. Lys stumbled but was quickly steadied by Zerin, who muttered, "Don't slow down now."

As they reached the stairwell, Zerin threw a dagger that struck a lantern, plunging the chamber into darkness. "That'll buy us some time," he said with a grin.

Nyx shot him a glare but focused on getting everyone out. Umbra darted ahead, growling as another shadow beast appeared in the passage. The panther lunged, its claws raking through the beast's dark form.

"Keep going!" Nyx shouted, her daggers flashing as she deflected a strike from one of the pursuing cultists.

The group emerged into the passages above, their breaths ragged as they sprinted toward the servants' entrance. Frost coated the walls behind them as Eryk's frost wolf appeared in the nick of time, covering their retreat.

Eryk's voice rang out as he joined them. "Thought you might need backup."

---

The group reached their safehouse on the outskirts of the city. Kaelron was waiting for them, his expression tense as they entered.

"What happened?" he asked.

Nyx handed him a shadow-forged blade she had taken from the crates. "The cult is manufacturing these weapons and distributing them across the kingdom. They're preparing for war."

Kaelron examined the blade, his jaw tightening. "And the meeting tomorrow night?"

Nyx nodded. "It's more than a gathering. It's a war council. They're consolidating their power and planning their next move. If we don't stop them, they'll destabilize the entire realm."

Eryk leaned against the wall, his tone grim. "Then we strike tomorrow. No more waiting."

Kaelron's gaze hardened as he looked at his companions. "This is our chance to stop them. Let's make it count."