Howl of the Unbound

Chapter 3: The Crystal Within

The storm passed by morning, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. The wind had subsided, but the aftermath still clung to the air—damp, oppressive, like a heavy fog. Leia sat beside Sain, her back against the cool stone of the canyon, watching the first weak rays of sunlight break through the clouds.

She wasn't sure if it was the storm or the burden of the decision she'd made that left her feeling exhausted. Helping Sain, guiding him, meant putting herself at risk. But the strange energy radiating from him—the Core Crystal inside him—could be the key to her freedom, her vengeance.

She glanced down at the man lying in front of her. His fever had broken, but his condition hadn't improved much. His skin was still too pale, his body trembling under the weight of whatever strange affliction had taken hold of him.

She'd given him some of her best medicine, enough to stabilize him for now. But it wasn't enough. If she didn't get him out of the canyon soon, he might die before they could make any real progress.

Sain stirred, groaning softly, and his eyes fluttered open. His gaze was cloudy at first, as though he were fighting his own consciousness, but it cleared when he locked eyes with her.

“You're still alive," Leia said flatly, her voice laced with more curiosity than concern. She kept her distance, leaning against the rock with her arms crossed.

Sain's lips twisted into a weak smile, though it was more a grimace than anything resembling joy. “For now," he muttered hoarsely, his voice cracking. “How long have I been out?"

“Too long," she replied, her tone sharp. “We've got to keep moving. The longer we stay here, the more chance we have of being caught. The storm might've covered our tracks, but it won't last forever."

Sain nodded faintly, trying to sit up. His body trembled, and he winced, his face contorting in pain. “I... I need to show you something. You need to see it, Leia. It's... it's the only way."

Leia raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “What are you talking about?"

Sain's hand reached for his chest, fingers brushing against the fabric of his worn tunic, and with a visible effort, he pulled it aside. His skin—pale, bruised, and dotted with sweat—shimmered in the weak light. It took Leia a moment to notice the faint, glowing pattern beneath his skin, a web-like shape that shimmered with an iridescent glow.

At first, it looked like nothing more than a trick of the light, the shadow of the storm still lingering in the canyon, but then it became clearer. A crystalline pattern, intricate and faint, traced across the surface of his skin.

Leia leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “What is that?"

“It's the Bone Devouring Core Crystal," Sain said quietly, his voice strained. “It's inside me, buried deep in my chest, but it's more than just an artifact. It's... it's the key to everything. To the plague. To the power they've been hiding. And to your Brand."

Leia's breath caught in her throat. The Bone Devouring Core Crystal. It was more than just a legend, then. She had always assumed it was nothing more than a story whispered among the exiles. A fable meant to inspire hope, like the idea of the Wolf God's return. But seeing it now, pulsing beneath Sain's skin, she realized just how much she didn't understand.

“The Crystal can help me?" she asked, her voice quiet, disbelieving. “How?"

Sain's expression darkened, his lips pressed tightly together. He took a shallow breath, his chest heaving. “The Core has the power to reverse the Bone Devouring Ceremony. It can undo the Brand. At least, that's what the Royal Guard believes. But it's unstable. It's a weapon, not a cure. I've been carrying it for years... trying to find a way to control it. But now..." His voice trailed off, the weight of his words settling between them.

Leia felt a tightness in her chest. The idea of undoing the Brand, of regaining her wolf form—it was a dream she had buried long ago, one she hadn't dared to hope for. But if it was true, if this Core could truly give her back what she had lost...

“I don't care about your mission, Sain," Leia said sharply, cutting off his next words. “I care about getting rid of this Brand. And if this Crystal is the key, then I'll use it—no matter the cost."

Sain winced at her words, his eyes flickering with a mix of gratitude and regret. “It's not that simple. The Crystal... it's killing me, Leia. It's taking me apart from the inside out. Every time I use its power, it accelerates the process. But I didn't have a choice. The Citadel needed me to keep it under control. They needed someone who could withstand it."

Leia stared at him, her mind racing. “So, what you're saying is that if I help you—if we use the Core to undo the Brand—it might kill you?"

Sain nodded weakly. “I'm already dying. I've known it since I first accepted the Core into my body. But if it can save you... if it can stop the plague, I'm willing to sacrifice whatever's left of me."

Leia's eyes softened, just for a moment. She wasn't used to feeling pity, especially not for someone like Sain, but there was a flicker of something—maybe respect, maybe something deeper—that she couldn't ignore.

“Fine," she said, her voice firm. “Then we'll make it count. I'll help you. But you're going to have to trust me."

Sain's gaze met hers, his expression earnest despite the pain etched on his face. “I trust you more than anyone else I've met, Leia. And I don't have much time left."

He reached up, his fingers trembling as he carefully pulled his tunic away from his chest to expose the glowing Crystal. The iridescent web beneath his skin pulsed with a rhythmic beat, as if it had a life of its own.

Leia couldn't tear her eyes away. The glow was hypnotic, almost like the pulse of her own heartbeat. This was the heart of the plague, the very thing that had started everything—the Bone Devouring Ceremony, the suppression of the Outcast Branded, the control over the bloodlines. All of it had stemmed from this dark power.

She took a deep breath and slowly reached out, her fingers brushing against the glowing skin over the Crystal. The moment she touched it, a jolt of energy shot through her, sharp and electric, making her recoil.

“I won't let it kill you," she whispered.

Sain's eyes closed as he let out a soft breath. “We don't have much time. The Citadel will come for us soon. But if we can get to the Wolf God Ruins... maybe we can stop it all."

Leia nodded, her resolve hardening. There was no turning back now.

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