My Soul card is a Reaper

As they neared the entrance, Elias spared a glance over his shoulder.

The Aeni, determined to crush the resistance, pursued them relentlessly.

The ground shook with their thunderous approach, but Elias pressed on, his heart pounding with every step.

The secret tunnel, carved into the hillside, provided a momentary sanctuary for the villagers. Elias, his chest heaving, gestured urgently. "Get inside! We'll hold them off as long as we can."

The villagers hesitated for a moment, their eyes locked with Elias's determined gaze. Without a word, they disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel, leaving Elias to confront the approaching Aeni alone.

As the first wave of Aeni closed in, Elias unleashed a flurry of strikes, his staff cutting through the air with a swiftness born of desperation. The villagers inside the tunnel heard the snarls and roars, the clash of metal against scales, and Elias's commanding voice urging them forward.

Within the tunnel, whispers of fear circulated among the villagers. "Will Elias make it out alive?" one asked, while another murmured, "He's buying us time; we have to trust him."

Back outside, Elias fought fiercely, his movements fueled by a primal instinct to survive.

The Aeni leaders, recognizing him as a significant threat, closed in with calculated aggression. Despite the odds, Elias held his ground, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness.

In the midst of the battle, Elias felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins. The ground beneath him trembled as he underwent a transformation, his body shifting and contorting into a powerful, hybrid form. Fur sprouted from his skin, and his senses heightened to an otherworldly level.

The villagers, peering from the safety of the tunnel, gasped at the sight of Elias's transformation. "He's one of them," someone whispered, the revelation hanging heavy in the air.

With newfound strength, Elias unleashed a devastating assault on the Aeni. His strikes were swift and precise, the enhanced agility of his transformed state allowing him to outmaneuver the giant creatures.

One by one, he felled the foot soldiers and even faced off against the leaders, determined to protect the village at any cost.

However, the sheer numbers of the Aeni overwhelmed Elias. Despite his valiant efforts, fatigue began to set in, and the relentless assault took its toll. The Aeni leaders, regrouping with a sinister glint in their eyes, prepared for a final, decisive strike.

Just as the Aeni closed in for the kill, a mysterious figure emerged from the shadows. Clad in dark attire and wielding a pair of gleaming blades, the newcomer moved with a deadly grace. The Aeni, momentarily bewildered, turned their attention to this unexpected threat.

The newcomer, who introduced himself as Tosva, danced through the battlefield with unparalleled skill. Blades flashed, and Aeni fell in his wake. The air resonated with the clash of metal, punctuated by the roars of defeated creatures.

Elias, barely standing, watched in awe as Tosva singlehandedly turned the tide. "Who are you?" Elias gasped, his voice a hoarse whisper.

Tosva spared him a brief glance, a sly smile playing on his lips. "I'm Tosva. Let's just say I'm just like you, a half Aeni and a half Yer. Now, focus on the target."

Together, Elias and Tosva fought side by side, their combined strength overwhelming the remaining Aeni. The battlefield, once a scene of chaos, now lay littered with defeated creatures.

As the dust settled, Tosva turned to Elias. "You can't stay here. Your secret is out, and they'll come for you. The remaining villagers won't be able to trust you either, regardless of your heroic deeds. Come with me to my village. It was built especially for outcasts like us."

Elias, still catching his breath, hesitated for a moment. The villagers emerged from the tunnel, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and uncertainty. Finally, Elias nodded. "Lead the way, Tosva. Eldora is no longer safe for me."

As they walked away from the battered village, Tosva spoke, "You'll find a new purpose with us. Aeni or not, you're one of us now."

And so, with the village of Eldora in the distance, Elias stood on the outskirts, the once-tranquil village now a battlefield strewn with the fallen.

Tosva, the mysterious savior, led the way through the dense forest, his dark cloak billowing in the wind. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and the distant echoes of the Aeni's roars.

As they traversed the shadowy woods, Elias couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. His senses, heightened by his recent transformation, tingled with unease. "Tosva," he began, his voice a low murmur, "Did you feel that presence too?"

Tosva cast a sidelong glance at Elias, and furrowed his brows, "What you mean?"

"Nothing," Elias shook his head. "I guess I'm just paranoid," he tried to assure him with an awkward smile.

To change the atmosphere, he shifted the topic by asking, "How did you find me, by the way?"

Elias replied, "Coincidence, Elias. I was just roaming the lands to vanquish the Aeni as a part of my monthly quota but luckily spotted you."

"Monthly quota?" Elias was confused.

"At our village, if we choose to become a warrior, we go through basic training and once we finish it, we will be given monthly quotas to fill, in order to gain more techniques," Tosva explained as they walked into the forest, not hiding the information to gain his trust.

"I see…"

Tosva's footsteps echoed through the silent forest. "You're strong, Elias. Stronger than you realize. And your strength can be an asset against the Aeni. We could use someone like you in our fight. But, whether you become a warrior or a normal citizen is entirely your choice."

"I wish to become a warrior." Elias, with a steely resolve, told his decision within ten seconds after being given a choice, taking Tosva by surprise.

"Really?" Tosva couldn't believe his ears for a moment.

Elias stopped walking and looked straight into his eyes, "From today onwards, my job is to save as many people like me." His face is full of seriousness.