Chapter 3 — Clash at Eldwynd Temple

Third Person (alternating focus between Scarlett and Kaiden)

The jagged silhouette of Eldwynd Temple loomed before Scarlett Everine as she stumbled from the treeline, her chest heaving with each breath. The first rays of dawn broke through the gray sky, spilling pale light over the crumbling spires and faded murals etched into the stone. Scarlett paused a moment, her amber eyes scanning the path ahead. The temple clung to the mountain’s edge like a wounded beast, its walls cracked and weathered, but still imposing. She clutched her dagger tightly, the leather-wrapped hilt slick with sweat from her trembling hand. Every muscle in her body ached from her frantic flight through Fangshade Forest, but she pressed on, spurred by the memory of her pursuers.

The forest behind her had quieted, but Scarlett knew better than to trust its false peace. The mage-hunters were relentless, shadowing her every move, their drones a constant hum like flies around carrion. She cast one last glance over her shoulder, her dark auburn hair falling in disheveled strands across her face. The forest was still. For now. Scarlett’s instincts screamed at her to keep moving, and she muttered under her breath, “No rest for the hunted,” her sarcasm failing to mask the desperation beneath her tone.

She turned back toward the temple, her boots crunching against the gravel path as she approached its entrance. Her steps faltered briefly as she stared up at the ancient structure, a flicker of unease creeping through her. This place felt wrong, like a living thing watching her, and yet the faint warmth in her veins—the magic woven into her blood—seemed to hum in recognition, as though calling her forward. Swallowing her hesitation, Scarlett forced herself to move, slipping through the corroded iron doors that groaned under their own weight.

A chill enveloped her immediately, the air thick with damp stone and faint traces of ozone. Her sharp gaze darted across the dimly lit hall, taking in the faded murals covering the walls. Scenes of unity—mages, werewolves, and humans standing together beneath the twin moons—stared back at her, their colors dulled by time and neglect. Scarlett’s lip curled, a bitter pang stirring in her chest. She couldn’t imagine a world where those factions had ever coexisted in harmony. Not after everything she’d seen.

Her dagger remained drawn as she moved cautiously deeper into the temple, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. Her blood tingled faintly, reacting to the residual magic saturating the air. The sensation was both familiar and unwelcome, a constant reminder of the power coursing through her veins. The same power that made her a target.

Scarlett’s thoughts fragmented as a low growl rumbled through the silence.

Her dagger was in her hand before she fully registered the sound, her body lowering into a defensive stance. The growl had come from the shadows ahead, where the hall opened into a larger chamber. She strained her senses, her werewolf instincts sharpening as she scanned the darkness. The dim light from the cracked windows revealed little, but she caught the faint gleam of steel.

“Step out,” Scarlett demanded, her voice steady despite the rapid thrum of her pulse. “I’m not in the mood for games.”

A figure emerged slowly from the shadows, broad-shouldered and menacing. Scarlett’s grip tightened on her dagger as her eyes locked onto his. The man—no, the werewolf—stood tall, his piercing blue gaze fixed on her with unflinching intensity. His dark hair was unkempt, his rugged features etched with weariness, but his stance radiated controlled power. Twin obsidian blades rested on his back, their edges gleaming faintly in the dim light.

“You’re trespassing,” he said, his voice low and edged with warning.

Scarlett’s lip curled in response. “Didn’t realize this ruin had an owner.”

“It does now,” he replied, stepping closer. His movements were deliberate, almost predatory. “And I don’t take kindly to uninvited guests.”

Scarlett’s amber eyes narrowed. Her exhaustion tugged at her limbs, but she refused to let it show. “I didn’t come here for a fight.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” the man said, his gaze flicking to the dagger in her hand. “You don’t look like someone out for a casual stroll.”

“And you don’t look like someone who minds his own business,” Scarlett shot back, her tone sharp with sarcasm. She took a cautious step backward, aware of how tightly the werewolf was coiled. He was ready to strike, every line of his body humming with tension. Despite her bravado, she couldn’t shake the instinctive awareness of his strength. He was dangerous—far more so than the hunters chasing her.

“I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. “But don’t mistake my patience for leniency.”

Scarlett bristled at his tone, but the sound of distant drones humming outside silenced her retort. Her sharp gaze flicked toward the temple doors. The hunters were closing in. She turned back to the stranger, weighing her options. He was clearly no ally, but he wasn’t a mage or a human either. That made him slightly less of a threat. Maybe.

“They’re after me,” Scarlett admitted, her voice clipped. “Mage-hunters. If you want me gone, fine. But if they catch me, they’ll burn this place to the ground.”

The werewolf’s expression didn’t change, but she caught the momentary flicker of something in his eyes—recognition, perhaps, or consideration. He studied her for a long, tense moment, his stance easing fractionally. She could almost feel the weight of his thoughts as he looked her over, as though searching for something unspoken. Finally, he spoke.

“Name?”

“Scarlett.”

“Kaiden,” he said shortly, his gaze still pinned on her. “And if you’re lying to me, Scarlett, you’ll regret it.”

Scarlett didn’t have time to respond before the drones’ hum grew louder, vibrating the temple walls. Kaiden’s head snapped toward the entrance, his sharp features hardening.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, drawing one of his blades. He shot Scarlett a look, his expression grim. “Stay close. If you’re bringing trouble into my temple, you’re helping me deal with it.”

Scarlett hesitated, her pride bristling at his commanding tone. But she wasn’t stupid. She nodded once, gripping her dagger firmly as Kaiden moved past her, his movements swift and purposeful. He led her through the main hall to a smaller side chamber, where arrays of glowing runes pulsed faintly along the walls. The air buzzed with latent magic, setting Scarlett’s blood on edge.

Kaiden gestured to a series of levers embedded in the stone. “Traps,” he explained curtly. “They won’t stop them for long, but they’ll buy us time.”

Scarlett nodded, her sharp mind already assessing the layout of the room. The runes, the levers, the narrow entrance—all of it could be used to their advantage. She moved quickly, positioning herself near the doorway while Kaiden activated the first set of traps. A low rumble echoed through the chamber as stone shifted and locked into place.

The first drone appeared seconds later, its metallic body gleaming as it hovered into the chamber. Scarlett didn’t hesitate. She lunged forward, slashing at its core with precision. Sparks showered the floor as the drone sputtered and fell, its hum silenced.

Another followed, and then another. Scarlett and Kaiden fought in tandem, their movements sharp and efficient. Kaiden’s blade cut through the air like a shadow, striking with deadly accuracy. Scarlett’s blood thrummed with energy, her every instinct sharpened by the fight. She moved with the fluid grace of a predator, her dagger finding weak points in the drones’ armor.

But the hunters were relentless. The drones kept coming, accompanied by the distant sound of boots echoing through the temple halls. Scarlett caught Kaiden’s gaze mid-fight, and in his eyes, she recognized the same calculation she was making: they couldn’t hold them here.

“We can’t hold them here,” he said, his voice tight with urgency. “There’s a stronger ward deeper in the temple. It should keep them out—but we’ll have to make it there first.”

Scarlett nodded, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. “Lead the way.”

Kaiden didn’t waste time. He motioned for her to follow, and they sprinted through the labyrinthine halls of the temple. Scarlett’s lungs burned, but she pushed herself forward, matching Kaiden’s pace. The sound of their pursuers grew louder, the hunters closing in with each passing second.

They rounded a corner and skidded to a halt as the hall opened into a vast, circular chamber. A stone altar stood at its center, adorned with glowing runes that pulsed in rhythm with Scarlett’s heartbeat. The air thrummed with power, the same energy that had haunted Scarlett since the moment her blood had been altered.

Kaiden moved swiftly to the altar, his hands brushing over the runes as he muttered under his breath. A faint barrier shimmered into existence, encasing the chamber in a protective glow. Scarlett stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the runes as they flared brighter.

“What is this place?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaiden’s blue eyes met hers, their intensity cutting through the dim light. “The heart of the temple. If they break through, this might be our last stand.”

Scarlett’s throat tightened, but she nodded. Her grip on her dagger tightened as the sound of boots grew deafening. The hunters were here.

Kaiden’s blade gleamed as he turned to face the doorway, his stance ready. Scarlett moved to stand beside him, her determination hardening into resolve. Whatever came next, they would face it together.