OWAIN — THE BEAST AND THE PIT
Pain sharpened Owain's senses.
Blood dripped into his eye.
His ribs screamed.
His claws were fractured at the tips.
But his heart—
His heart thundered with Kanah's voice pulsing through the bond.
"Owain… don't die… please…"
He would not die.
Not while she needed him.
Not while her voice shook with terror.
The giant Hunger beast charged again—
a towering mass of black bone and shadow, its claws dragging sparks across the stone.
Owain lowered his stance.
His wolf eyes flashed.
"COME ON."
The creature lunged.
Owain slid beneath its arm—slashed its ankle—leapt upward—grabbed its jaw—
and ripped.
The creature screeched as its face tore open into a cloud of black smoke.
Owain landed hard, rolled, and forced himself to his feet.
The giant roared, regenerating instantly.
Owain spat blood.
"Fine. Round two."
The Hunger creature observing him tilted its head.
Its voice was quiet and infuriatingly calm.
"Your spirit should have broken.
Your bones should have shattered.
Your mind should have drowned."
Owain growled.
"You underestimate who I'm fighting for."
The giant monster charged again.
Owain didn't dodge.
He ran right at it.
Their impact cracked the stone floor.
Owain's claws glowed gold-white—Kanah's resonance burning in his veins—
and he plunged both hands into the creature's chest.
The smoke screamed.
The walls shook.
Owain roared.
"GIVE HER BACK!"
He tore the creature in half.
It dissolved into nothing.
The pit trembled violently.
The Hunger creature watching him finally stepped forward.
Its eyes—
white voids—
narrowed.
"You wield her resonance."
Owain breathed hard.
"No.
She lends it."
"She cannot."
Owain smirked, weak but defiant.
"She just did."
The creature studied him.
Owain's breathing slowed.
Time stretched thin.
Then—
A new sound echoed.
Not from the Hunger.
Not from the pit.
Not from his thoughts.
From Kanah.
Her voice—raw, shaking—rang in his chest.
"Owain… it hurts… it hurts so much—please—come—come find me…"
Owain collapsed to his knees.
Not from weakness.
From the intensity of her pain.
"Kana…
Kana—
I'm coming—"
The Hunger creature's voice lowered.
"She awakens."
Owain's breath froze.
"W-what—?"
"Her father forces the seed open."
Owain's body went cold.
"No…"
"And if she wakes as Devourer…
she will not recognize you."
Owain's heart twisted so violently he nearly vomited.
"She knows me.
She ALWAYS knows me."
"Not when hunger controls her."
Owain dug his claws into the stone, snarling.
"I don't CARE.
I'll bring her back."
"How?"
Owain's voice broke.
"By calling her name."
The pit went silent.
The Hunger creature stared.
Then—
Slowly—
softly—
It smiled.
"There is another way."
Owain rose unsteadily.
"Tell me."
The creature tilted its head.
"Face her future."
The pit cracked open beneath him.
Owain fell—
Not into darkness—
But into visions.
VISION — KANAH
Owain landed on soft ground.
A meadow.
Beautiful.
Glowing with moonlight.
Then—
A figure approached.
Bare feet.
Long dark hair.
A white dress that clung gently to her body.
Kanah.
Owain's breath caught.
"Kana—?"
She lifted her face.
And Owain froze.
Her eyes—
One gold.
One black-steel.
Slitted.
Devourer.
Her expression was gentle.
Sweet.
Deadly.
"Owain," she said calmly, "you came."
Owain's body trembled.
"Kana—no—this isn't you—"
She smiled serenely.
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do—"
She stepped closer.
"Would you die for me?"
Owain swallowed.
"Yes."
"Would you kill for me?"
Owain hesitated.
"Kana—don't ask me that—"
She tilted her head.
"Would you let me take everything you are?
Your breath?
Your life?
Your soul?"
Owain stepped back.
"Kana—stop—this isn't real—this isn't you—"
Her Devourer eye glowed.
"You're mine."
Owain's chest tightened painfully.
"Not like this."
Her expression cracked.
Anger.
Hurt.
Hunger.
"If I wanted your life," she whispered,
"would you give it?"
Owain's voice broke.
"No."
Kanah froze.
Her eyes widened—almost childlike.
"No…?"
Owain's throat tightened with pain.
"No," he whispered.
"If you asked me to die…
I would ask you to live."
The world shook.
Kanah blinked, confused.
"Owain…?"
"Kana… you don't want my death.
You don't want my pain.
You want me.
You want my heart."
Her lip trembled.
"Owain… I'm scared…"
He stepped closer, reaching for her.
"Kana. I know."
But the moment he touched her hand—
Everything shattered.
Kanah screamed—
The meadow dissolved—
And Owain was ripped back into the pit.
KANAH — FORCED AWAKENING
Her father entered the chamber with steps like thunder.
Ilai threw herself in front of Kanah instantly.
"No—stop—please—she is in pain—!!"
Kanah's father ignored her.
"Move, servant."
Ilai trembled but stayed firm.
"She's not ready—my lord—she's fighting—!"
Kanah screamed, collapsing to the floor, her nails tearing through stone.
Her father extended a hand.
"Kanara.
Stand."
Her legs jerked violently.
She screamed.
Ilai grabbed her in panic.
"NO!! My lord—please—!! She will BREAK—!!"
Kanah's father's eyes narrowed.
"You are shielding her."
Ilai swallowed.
"Yes."
He raised one hand.
Power crackled.
Kanah screamed, "ILAI—NO—!!"
Ilai braced for death.
But her father didn't strike.
He paused.
Studying Ilai.
"You fear her hunger."
Ilai whispered sharply:
"I fear the cruelty of a lord who'd force it."
Kanah gasped.
"Ilai—what are you—?!"
Her father tilted his head.
"You defy me."
Ilai lifted her chin.
"If saving her is defiance, then I stand guilty."
Kanah sobbed, clutching Ilai's sleeve.
"Ilai—please—don't—"
Her father lifted his hand again—
Then stopped.
Kanah's Devourer eye burned.
Black-gold.
Her heartbeat thundered like a drum.
Her father lowered his hand slowly.
"She is close."
Ilai's eyes widened.
"No—no—Kanah—don't—DON'T—!!"
Kanah doubled over, screaming into her hands.
Her voice cracked:
"I'M NOT—ONE OF YOU—!!
I'M NOT—!!"
Her father's voice lowered to a whisper.
"Say my name."
Kanah choked.
"Never—!!"
"Say it."
"No—!"
"SAY IT."
Kanah arched her back in agony.
"I—WOULDN'T—EVEN—IF—I—COULD—!!"
Her father's aura twisted around her like chains.
"Then speak your first word."
Kanah's breath vanished.
Ilai gasped.
"No—NO—she's too young—!! My lord—please—!!"
Her father ignored her.
"Speak it."
Kanah's body convulsed.
Her blood pulsed black-gold.
Her eye glowed like a demon star.
Her veins darkened.
Ilai cried, "KANAH—FIGHT—!!!"
Kanah's mouth opened—
A sound escaped.
Not human.
Not beast.
Not magic.
A LANGUAGETHAT DIDN'T BELONG TO THIS WORLD.
Her father smiled.
Ilai collapsed backward in horror.
Kanah whispered—
"V'ra esh tal… Ahr'ven ka…"
The Devourer's First Tongue.
Ancient.
Forbidden.
World-ending.
Kanah covered her mouth in terror.
Her father whispered reverently:
"She speaks it."
Kanah sobbed:
"N-no—
NO—!!
OWAIN—HELP ME—!!"
And far away—
In the pit—
Owain heard her voice in the language that could end the world.
His heart stopped.
"KANA—!!"