Bular x oc: Red Eyes

part 1: Smile and Wave

The ancient catacombs beneath Arcadia Oaks had stood silent for centuries, their secrets locked away in the darkness. Tonight, however, that silence was broken by the scuttling of tiny feet. A lone goblin, its green skin gleaming in the dim light, darted through the decaying halls. Tattered tapestries and faded paintings adorned the walls, whispering tales of a forgotten era.

The narrow passageway suddenly opened into a vast circular chamber. The goblin's yellow eyes widened as it took in the sight before it. Arranged in an intricate pattern around a central focal point were dozens of blood-red crystal structures. Each one pulsed with a soft, crimson glow, bathing the room in an eerie light.

Drawn by an instinct it couldn't explain, the goblin approached the largest crystal at the center of the formation. It was easily twice the size of the others, its facets shimmering with barely contained power. The creature reached out a clawed hand, tapping the surface gently.

The reaction was immediate and startling. The crystal flared to life, its glow intensifying tenfold. The goblin stumbled backward in alarm, colliding with one of the smaller crystals. It toppled with a resounding crash, setting off a chain reaction. One by one, the surrounding crystals fell, shattering into countless glittering shards.

As the dust settled, only the central crystal remained intact. Its pulsing light now the sole illumination in the chamber. The goblin, curiosity overcoming its fear, crept closer once more.

Without warning, the crystal erupted. Flames shot forth, igniting ancient torches lining the walls. The sudden burst of light was blinding, forcing the goblin to shield its eyes. When it looked again, the central crystal had exploded, leaving behind a figure shrouded in smoke and debris.

As the haze dissipated, a young woman emerged. Her dress, though tattered, was woven from a rich, deep auburn fabric that seemed to shimmer in the firelight. Long white hair cascaded down her back, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. She stretched languidly, as if awakening from a long slumber, then fixed her gaze on the cowering goblin.

"The year, goblin," she demanded, her voice low and slightly husky from disuse. "What is it?"

The goblin, overcome by a mix of fear and aggression, could only respond with a snarl. It lunged at the girl, claws extended. With a grace that belied her apparent fragility, she sidestepped the attack. The goblin's momentum carried it past her, slamming into the chamber wall with a sickening thud.

The girl turned, her crimson eyes scanning the room before settling on the dazed creature. A ribbon of smoke coiled around her hand, solidifying into a small, red crystal shard. In one fluid motion, she flicked her wrist, sending the improvised blade spinning through the air. It sliced cleanly through the goblin, splitting it in two.

"Fine," she hissed at the lifeless corpse. "Don't tell me. I'll figure it out myself."

With a final glance around the chamber, she strode towards the entrance to the catacombs. As she emerged into the thick forest above, she winced, having stepped on a shard of broken crystal. Crouching down, she picked up the glass-like fragment, turning it over in her hands. A drop of her own inky black blood stained its clear surface. She smiled, pocketing the shard before continuing her journey through the trees.

* * *

The girl, who called herself Kai, had been wandering the outskirts of Arcadia Oaks for hours. The modern world was a shock to her senses after her long imprisonment. She had encountered a teenager earlier, their rude behavior earning them a grisly fate. Kai now wore the boy's hoodie, pulled up to conceal her distinctive white hair.

As the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, Kai found herself at the edge of the town's canal. She wiped a smear of blood from her lips, her hunger momentarily sated. The clash of metal on metal caught her attention, and she instinctively dropped into a crouch. Moving with feline grace, she made her way towards the nearby bridge where the sounds of combat emanated.

From her vantage point, Kai could see two massive figures locked in battle. Trolls. Her eyes widened with recognition. One wore gleaming blue armor, an amulet pulsing with magical energy affixed to his chest. The other, larger and more ferocious, had obsidian skin and wicked horns that curled around his face. Two massive swords were strapped to his back.

Kai watched intently as the two behemoths traded blows, their fight carrying them up into the bridge's metal framework. She sighed, realizing she needed a closer look. With practiced stealth, she slid down the side of the canal, careful to stay out of the combatants' line of sight.

The armored troll let out a cry of agony as his opponent thrust him into a shaft of sunlight. Kai's eyes narrowed as she took in the extent of the damage. Half of the troll's face was badly burned, stone skin cracking and smoking from the sun's touch.

"Kanjigar the Courageous," the dark troll sneered, his voice carrying down to where Kai hid. "Daylight is upon us. Where is your precious amulet going to be without you?"

Kai's breath caught in her throat. The amulet of Merlin. So this was the current Trollhunter. She craned her neck, trying to get a better view of the legendary artifact.

Kanjigar struggled to his feet, using the bridge's support for balance. "I would rather die than let you possess it, Bular."

With those words, Kanjigar allowed himself to fall backward into the sunlight. Bular lunged forward, desperately reaching for the amulet, but his fingers closed on empty air. Kai watched as Kanjigar's body calcified, shattering into rubble as it hit the ground below.

As Bular roared in frustration, pummeling the bridge's stone pillars, Kai seized her chance. She darted forward, crouching beside the pile of stones that had once been Kanjigar. Her nimble fingers sifted through the debris, searching for any sign of the amulet.

A low growl pulled her attention back to the bridge. Bular was watching her, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Kai froze, assessing the situation. She knew she was powerful, but taking on the son of Gunmar in broad daylight was not a fight she was eager to start.

Instead, Kai stood slowly, a mischievous smile playing across her lips. She raised a hand in a cheerful wave, locking eyes with the confused troll. Before Bular could react, Kai's form dissolved into a cloud of crimson smoke. The mist slithered across the ground, disappearing into a nearby storm drain.

As she made her escape, Kai couldn't help but laugh at the bewildered expression on Bular's face. Her sudden appearance in Arcadia Oaks had already stirred up trouble, and she had a feeling things were only going to get more interesting from here.