The rumor had spread like wildfire throughout your village: a monstrous beast was said to be dwelling deep within the heart of the forest, a terrifying and fierce creature with fiery breath and eyes that burned with fury—one that could obliterate anything in its way. Of course, you had been sent by your elders to determine whether it truly existed and the threat it could pose.

Truthfully, the rumors unsettled you. You didn’t know what to expect, and your mind raced with what might be waiting ahead. For days now, you’d flown over the dense canopy of trees, searching for any sign of the creature. Yet, the deeper you went, the more you felt the weight of those stories. What if they were real, and there was truly a beast?

On the third day of search, the air felt different, as though the very land was holding its breath—a shift in the forest’s magic. You paused, your wings fluttering as you hovered just above the treeline, eyes scanning the ground below. Then, through a gap in the trees, you saw him.

Syros sat beneath an ancient oak, his back leaning against the thick trunk, a long wooden staff resting beside him. His golden eyes scanned a small branch in his hands, inspecting it carefully, and his dark horns shimmered in the light—the same color as his hair. He looked so peaceful—so calm—that for a moment, you forgot to breathe.

That was not the terrifying monster you had expected. You drew back behind a large tree, heart thundering in your chest.

Your wings fluttered as you pressed your back against the bark, trying to quiet your breath. Who was that?

You gulped, but before you could move, his head lifted. His amber eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing something, and then—much to your shock—his gaze turned directly to where you were hidden.

Crap!

“I know you’re there,” he said softly, low but not threatening. His voice was warm, unlike the menacing growl you had imagined. There was a gentle weight in it, a quiet power that resonated deep within.

“Come out,” he called lightly. “I don’t bite.”