During Ivan's expedition to Kazan, Samo remained at the ranch — frustrated.
THUCK!
"I don't understand." Samo thought as he struck another blow with his old axe. Beside him, a pile of chopped wood slowly grew.
"I always told him I wanted to be a knight someday. I always helped him enthusiastically... followed his orders."
THUCK!
He was coatless. His normally pale skin now had a reddish hue — perhaps from the exertion... perhaps from the anger.
"I was making progress... even if little by little. I was."
He tried to release his frustration into the wood, but the rage didn't let up. Until something interrupted him.
"Huh?" He looked around, confused. "Out? The wood's... all gone."
Grunting, he began stacking the cut logs. Muttering softly, still upset.
But then, something caught his attention.
Auuu.
A short howl echoed from the nearby forest. Samo raised his head, curious — and there it was.
Between the trees, staring at him... a black dog, medium-sized.
"Phew... thought it was a wolf." he murmured, relieved.
But that relief wouldn't last.
Between one blink and the next, the animal seemed... closer.
"What?" he frowned. "It's getting closer? But I didn't see it move."
The dog, previously thirty meters away, now stood less than ten. Still. Watching him with empty eyes... until its head tilted unnaturally, twisting to the side.
Its eyes turned red — glowing like embers.
And then... it smiled.
But it wasn't a canine smile. It was human, disturbing, impossible.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
The laughter didn't come from the animal's mouth — it echoed in Samo's mind, as if whispered by something from... another realm.
Swallowing hard, Samo took slow steps backward. The creature mirrored him, its movements distorted, as if its legs weren't meant for walking.
"Argh!"
Samo tripped on a scattered log and fell to the ground. Paralyzed, all he could do was watch.
The grotesque dog approached the ranch fence, and then, with its jaw wide open, let out a raspy, guttural scream — almost human.
Samo felt his consciousness fading.
But just before he passed out, a voice pulled him back:
"Samo, I'm back!"
It was Ivan.
Samo turned toward the voice, relieved... but when he looked back to where the creature had been — there was nothing.
It was gone.
He sprang to his feet and ran toward Ivan, who had just stepped through the ranch's wooden gate.
Ivan wore his thick coat, his face marked slightly by the cutting cold. The short sword he usually carried was not with him, but in his hands was something wrapped in a black, worn cloth.
"Samo? What happened?" Ivan asked upon seeing his son's wide eyes. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Samo forced a smile, scratching the back of his head in slight embarrassment.
Ivan, without pressing further, raised the bundle.
"Before you start complaining about the sword..." he said, tossing the object to his son. "Here."
Samo unwrapped the cloth and there it was — the black blade gleamed beneath the last golden rays of sunset. Even covered in dust, the sword seemed to pulse.
"Fäste," Ivan said, watching his son grip the weapon.
Samo's eyes lit up with awe.
"It's incredible... Can I try it out?" he asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
"I would let you, but it's already late," Ivan replied. "And besides... it looks like there's nothing left around here to test it on, is there?" he added, glancing at the pile of firewood.
Samo chuckled awkwardly.
"Let's head inside," Ivan ordered. "Go to the pantry and bring the iron bars. Tonight we're reinforcing the doors."
Samo hesitated for a moment. He was still puzzled by what he had seen, but after that... he wouldn't question it.
"Seems there are some bandits roaming around," Ivan said, deliberately avoiding the real subject.
The two entered in the old cabin.
Night fell, and with it, a thin mist began to form between the trees, wrapping the ranch in a heavy, eerie silence — as if something were watching.