Elias darted through the trees, his breath ragged, each step a desperate attempt to escape the curse that had transformed him. His heart pounded in sync with the ancient, ominous hammer that haunted his thoughts. The echoes of its destructive power reverberated, each thud a reminder of his bonded fate.
Elias halted, his goat's eyes scanning the sacred ground. The hammer's presence was more tangible here, as if the stones were a conduit for its chaotic force. "What have I become?" he murmured, his voice a guttural blend of man and beast, laden with anguish.
Lyra, a mysterious figure cloaked in dark robes, emerged from the forest's embrace. Her eyes were sharp and knowing, reflecting the flickering light of the runes. "You seek answers, Elias," she spoke, her voice smooth and laced with an enigmatic allure.
"Can you lift this curse? Tell me why this happened," he demanded, the desperation in his voice a raw, tangible force. "The hammer chose you, a vessel for its power," Lyra replied, her gaze unyielding. "Only by embracing the beast within can you unlock the truth."
Elias felt a surge of energy, the hammer's echo blending with his heartbeat. He closed his eyes, surrendering to the beast's instincts. "I will find the balance," he vowed, his voice resolute. The transformation was not an end, but a beginning.
Elias, his form shifting between man and beast, stood with newfound purpose. The hammer's rhythm was no longer a burden but a guide. Lyra nodded approvingly, her presence a reminder of the journey yet to come. "This is just the start, Elias. Embrace your path," she whispered, before vanishing into the forest's depths.