Virtus The keys of Desire

"Tinca," Cire muttered as he closed the stone door behind him, watching it meld seamlessly into the rock wall until it appeared like a mundane boulder. With Byru perched on his shoulder in her translucent bird form, they began their search. Byru's ability to locate Sigils was invaluable, making the process far more efficient. But this time, they weren't hunting for food—they were the prey. 

Byru led Cire toward a hill, her soft glow intensifying as they approached. Cire crouched low, his body tense and his gaze focused. Ahead, resting its massive back against a towering tree, was a bear unlike any Cire had ever seen. The creature's immense body, at least five meters tall, was covered in thick fur streaked with brown markings. It exuded raw power even in its slumber.

Cire took a deep breath and focused on sensing the bear's Virtus. Praesul's lessons on identifying Sigils with Locks came to mind: "sharpen your senses and feel the flow of Virtus." Locked Sigils would have their energy concentrated in a single area, while Lockless creatures had Virtus flowing freely throughout their bodies. Humans, Praesul had explained, were different; they lacked locked energy altogether, making it easier for Key Masters to conceal their power from one another. But despite this insight, Praesul had never revealed how to detect a concealed Key Master and how to assess how many keys was he holding.

'Focus, Cire,' he reminded himself, pushing those thoughts aside. The bear's Virtus was immense but flowed freely, without the distinct concentration of a Lock. 'A Lockless, then—but it's close to evolving. Perfect. Desperation makes them dangerous, and I need a real fight.'

A grin formed on Cire's face. He glanced at Byru. "Stay back for this one," he whispered. Byru chirped softly, her glowing eyes reflecting her concern. But Cire needed to face this challenge alone.

He stepped into the clearing and began to release his Virtus. The process was painstakingly difficult—far harder than he remembered when he had first leaked Virtus so recklessly. Now, every bit of energy required precise control. 'How did it flow so easily before? he wondered bitterly. No matter—I can't afford to let the whole forest know I'm here. I don't want to find out what creatures crave my Virtus.'

Cire crouched low, picking up a small stone. He hurled it at the bear, striking its nose. The creature stirred, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. One of its eyes cracked open, scanning its surroundings. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the bear lunged forward, its massive frame crashing through the trees as it charged toward Cire's hiding spot.

Cire darted to the side, moving in a wide arc around the bear. His fist shot forward, landing a solid blow on its side. The bear roared in pain, stumbling briefly before regaining its balance. Cire smirked. 'I need to make it angry, push it to its limit.'

He released more Virtus, letting it ripple through the air. The bear's nose twitched again, and its glowing eyes burned with rage. It planted its massive paws on the ground, and the earth trembled beneath them. Cire barely had time to react as jagged spikes of stone erupted from the ground, aiming to skewer him.

'Sharpen your senses' Cire told himself, evading the onslaught with fluid, almost dance-like movements. His feet skimmed the ground as he twisted and leapt, narrowly avoiding the deadly spikes. His heart pounded in rhythm with the pulsing mark on his chest, the violet light faint but steady.

'What is your desire?' he thought, his mind tuning into the bear's Virtus. 'You want to kill me—no, that's not it. You want to absorb me. You want to devour me.' The realization sent a surge of energy through him. His mark pulsed brighter, and faint purple hues of began to manifest in his vision, painting the battlefield in surreal, glowing shades. Every time the bear was about to release his skill, purple hues appeared where the next attack would be. Cire struggled to keep up at first, but gradually, he grew accustomed to the purple manifestations.

The fight became a dance of evasion and observation. Cire moved in sync with the bear's attacks, guided by the shifting purple hues. He could feel the creature's rage, its desperation. Cire was exhilarated, and he didn't want the feeling to end. But then, suddenly, the colors faded. The mark on his chest dimmed, and the bear's intent vanished.

The creature froze mid-attack, its glowing eyes wide with fear. It turned sharply and began to flee, its massive body crashing through the underbrush. Cire stood still, puzzled for a moment. 'Why can't I sense its wishes anymore? What changed?¡

Then it struck him. He grinned. 'It's not that I can't sense its wishes—I misunderstood. It doesn't want to fight anymore. It wants to flee, no, it wants to survive.'

As if to confirm his realization, the purple hues returned, forming a faint, ethereal string in the air. It pointed toward the bear's escape path, leading deeper into the forest. Cire tightened his grip on the dagger in his left hand, his smile widening.

"Byru," he called, his voice calm but resolute, "tonight, we'll eat bear."

Byru chirped in response, her tone light and cheerful, as though sharing his excitement. Together, they moved into the shadows, ready to claim their prize.