Natura Noctis short stories

The light in her: Lena's struggle against the essence of the night

Once upon a time there was a young woman called Lena who lived in a small village. She was a friendly and cheerful person who was liked by everyone. She had a dream: she wanted to see the world and meet new places and people. She wanted to have adventures and have fun.

But her village was very isolated and secluded. It was in a valley surrounded by high mountains. There was only one way out, which led through a dense forest. The forest was dangerous and full of wild animals. The villagers rarely ventured into the forest and even more rarely beyond it.

Lena often felt cramped and bored in her village. She longed for more freedom and excitement. She wanted more from life.

One day she heard about a legend that piqued her interest. It was about the creatures of the night, a mysterious race that lived far away in the mountains and were rarely seen in public. They were very beautiful and powerful, but also terrifying and unpredictable. It was said that the creatures of the night possessed a special magic that allowed them to use the darkness to their advantage. They could make themselves invisible at night and thus hide from human sight. They could also fly over incredible distances and thus surprise their victims unnoticed.

Lena was fascinated by the creatures of the night. She wanted to learn more about them. She wanted to see them and talk to them. She wanted to know how they lived and what they thought.

She decided to go in search of them.

She packed her things and left her village on a night without a moon. She walked through the forest and followed an old path that led to the mountains. She was not afraid of the dangers of the forest. She had only one goal in mind: to find the creatures of the night.

She wandered through the mountains for days until she finally discovered a cave filled with a bluish light. She felt a strong attraction to the light. She went inside the cave.

In the cave she saw something incredible: it was a large altar on which lay a crystal that shimmered in all the colours of the rainbow. It was the magical artefact of the creatures of the night.

Lena was overwhelmed by the sight. She walked up to the altar and touched the crystal.

At that moment, she felt a wave of energy flow through her body. She felt her senses sharpen and her surroundings become clearer. She felt her skin grow cooler and her hair grow longer. She felt her eyes change and her teeth become more pointed.

She felt herself transforming.

But she also felt another presence in her mind. It was a gentle voice telling her:

"Welcome, young woman. You have made a wise choice. You have chosen beauty."

"What, who are you? What happened to me?" asked Lena, confused.

"I am your friend, your teacher, your lover," said the voice. "I am one of the beings of the night. I am here to help you discover your true self. I am here to show you how to use the artefact."

"The artefact?" asked Lena.

"Yes," said the voice. "It is an ancient crystal that has the power to control the night. It is the source of our magic.

Lena felt the being of the night trying to take over her mind. It was the crystal that gave him this power. He wanted to make her his mate, to bind her to his dark world. He whispered sweet lies in her ear, promised her eternal love and power.

Lena fought back with all her might. She remembered her life as a human, her family, her friends, her dreams. She didn't want to give up what she was. She didn't want to become a monster.

She sensed a weakness in the creature of the night. He was afraid of the light. He was afraid of her.

She concentrated on the crystal in her hand. She felt it pulsing, drinking her blood. But she also felt him giving her something: a spark of his light.

She used this spark and let it grow inside her. She let it light up her body and her mind. She let it dispel the shadow.

She heard the being of the night scream. He felt her resistance, her strength. He felt his grip on her fade.

Lena opened her eyes and looked at him. He was a man of breathtaking beauty, but also of cruel ferocity. He looked at her with hatred and fear.

Lena lifted the crystal and hurled it against the wall of the cave. The crystal shattered into a thousand pieces.

The creature of the night groaned and fell to the ground. He was powerless without the crystal. He was alone without Lena.

Lena stood up and walked out of the cave. She saw the sunlight rising on the horizon. She felt the warmth on her skin.

She was free.