Whitehall woke up to a feeling of dread. Every fibre of his body screamed danger. He tried to get up but found an invisible pressure pressing down on him. Whatever it was, they needed to run. He opened his eyes and found Sadi staring back at him, her eyes wide with fear.

  The pressure came and left every other second. One second, they could breathe, and the next, the air was stuck in their lungs. After a while, Whitehall and Sadi gained a read on the rhythm of the pressure, and with great effort, they both managed to shift towards a sitting position.

  It came in flashes, but they saw a red light high up in the middle of the ocean shooting through the air. The next was an earth-shattering roar of a beast. A serpent rose through the water, blasting a blue breath across the sky before promptly stopping. An invisible force then smashed the serpent down back into the ocean.

  Then, the two felt it, too. As if the heavens had sent them an order and their will would be followed. "Down." Then, both of them were pushed back down into their mattress. Whitehall could not breathe, and he soon went unconscious.

  —————————

  Sadi woke up to the sound of music, which confused her. She gripped the knives on her back, and she saw Whitehall, also awake, looking through the entryway of their tent in suspicion.

  They slowly approached the tent's entrance, the soft melody of ringing metals getting louder.

  The music stopped. "Come out, you two; I mean you no harm," a rough voice called out. Whoever he was, his voice sounded more friendly than cruel. "That knife of yours would do you no good," the man said before continuing to play his music.

  Sadi and Whitehall turned to face each other. Sadi shrugged. "He could've easily killed us if he had wanted to," she whispered.

  "I won't," the man called out to them.

  Sadi shrugged and stepped out, followed by Whitehall. They both pressed their fists and greeted the man. "This one is honoured to meet you," they both said.

  The man was large and muscled, with thick hair covering his bare upper body and a large, unkempt, greasy white beard. He sat on a log with a large handpan on his thighs. He eyed them weirdly. "You two look way too clean," he said.

  "We only made it here last night," Whitehall said, bowing.

  "When they said there were interesting people out here, I didn't expect the two of you." The man said, more to himself than to Whitehall or Sadi. Whitehall felt a sharp pain run through his body and winced. Judging by Sadi's expression, he reckoned she felt it, too. "Really didn't expect the two of you."

  "We were honoured to have watched bits of your battle last night," Sadi said, bowing.

  The man turned his attention to his handpan and started tapping the metal surface. "That wasn't me," he said.

  Whitehall and Sadi looked at each other, unsure what to say without causing a hint of disrespect.

  "You two are lucky my friend took an interest in you. You both were almost dead when I found you," the man said.

  "Thank you for saving us, honoured one," Whitehall said.

  "Beast King," the man said. "Everyone calls me the Beast King."

  "This one, thank you, Beast King," Sadi said.

  "This one, too," Whitehall said.

  "Enough of that," The Beast King said. "Why are you both out here?"

  "We descended from the mountain last night and were chased by a beast," Whitehall began.

  The Beast King raised his hand. "I know where you came from." He pointed a thumb backwards towards the forest. "My friends already told me. I want to know why you are out here?"

  'Friends?' Sadi thought. 'Could he be?' She looked to Whitehall, who she knew was also thinking the same thing. She signalled him to say something.

  "Umm," Whitehall began. "Honored Beast King, your friend, another Heavenly Messenger, told us that a dreadgod is coming for us. We were told we must leave our valley and advance so that we may return to save it."

  The Beast King stopped playing his instrument and turned to watch them with one long eyebrow raised. He first looked surprised, confused, thoughtful, then confused again. "And what did this heavenly messenger look like?" he finally asked.

  "She was wearing white armour that moved like water," Whitehall answered, remembering what Lindon had told him.

  The Beast King stretched his neck closer so that his face filled Whitehall's view. "And did this heavenly messenger tell you about this dreadgod?" Considering Whitehall was in an eight-year-old's body, The Beast King's brown nose was almost as big as Whitehall's face.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "No, honoured Beast King," Whitehall answered. "She told one of our disciples."

  "And you believed him?" The Beast King asked, not moving an inch.

  "I confirmed some of what she told him with one of our eldest members. A sacred beast we call Elder Whisper." Whitehall nervously answered.

  The Beast King leaned back and nodded affirmatively. "Yes, a Sacred Beast can always be trusted. What animal is this Elder Whisper of yours?"

  "A white fox," Whitehall said.

  "Good," The Beast King nodded more eagerly. "Haven't met one of them in a while, but their intentions are usually true." Then, The Beast King stopped nodding and frowned. His face grimaced, and smoke started coming from his nose and ear. "STUPID ABIDAN! ALWAYS RUINING EVERYTHING!" The man pointed accusingly at the sky. "IF THIS IS YOUR WAY OF RECRUITING, THEN YOU'LL NEED TO TRY HARDER!" Having finished his rant, he turned to his two guests. They were sprawled on the floor, covering their ears in pain.

  The Beast King righted himself and coughed. "You two can get up now."

  Whitehall and Sadi stood up, trying to hide the ringing pain in their ears.

  "Come with me," the Beast King grumbled.

  Whitehall and Sadi looked nervous. "Where are we going, honoured Beast King!?" Sadi asked.

  The woman was yelling, but the Beast King did not blame her. His rant had damaged her ears.

  The Beast King smiled. "Other Heralds and Sages always have apprentices. It's probably about time I got some." Then he waved his hand. "Eh, I sort of already have one. But he's a bit boring and depressing," He muttered. He clapped his hands, a bit too hard by the grimace of his two new apprentices. "Enough question, been away long enough already. Stupid dragons need to be reminded I'm still alive."

  Whitehall and Sadi bowed. "We are grateful for your help, master," they both said.

  "First rule," The Beast King barked, raising a finger. "None of this overly-respectful stuff."

  The two stood straight up, arms on their side. "Yes, Master!"

  The Beast King sighed in disappointment. He turned towards the forest and whistled. Two giant flying scared beasts birds descended from the sky, landing nearby.

  "Dagon, Rota," the Beast King greeted the sacred beasts. "Meet," he paused and turned around to his new apprentices. "What, are your names again? I forgot to ask."

  —————————

  The Beast King strolled through his forest. It was not officially his, and he never claimed it. But he ruled here anyway. Having settled his two new apprentices, he made his way towards the patch of forest where he rarely visits.

  "I saved your cripples!" He yelled at the trees above.

  "We thank you for your help, Beast King." A Golden Bird descended and bowed.

  "Yeah, yeah," The Beast King said calmly. "I owed you anyway."

  "Friends don't owe each other," The Bird said.

  "No, we don't," The Beast King said, smiling. She had protected him from the dragons, taking him in when he was a crippled boy. This was the least he could do. "They told me interesting things," he continued.

  "Oh?"

  "Yeah. Were you aware the Abidan went down and greeted them personally?"

  "No," the bird said slowly.

  "I thought that was why you asked me to save them."

  "Our divination showed us that they will play an essential role in the future. Some small, some large, but of critical importance."

  "They said the Abidan told them a dreadgod is coming for their valley."

  "Then we'll need them for the fight to come. I don't know why. But I am sure of this," The Bird stated.

  "Their Elder seemed to agree. Their Elder Whisper, a white fox, gave them his blessings."

  "Whisper," The Bird said fondly. "I have not heard that name in centuries."

  "A friend of yours?" The Beast King asked. "They said he still resides in the cursed valley."

  "He would be, wouldn't he," the bird nodded. "Honouring his bonded sacred artist's wishes even centuries after her death."

  The Beast King took a seat on a log. "I feel this is the start of a story."

  "Not today, child." The ancient golden bird said. "It's an old, long tale. One that I wish not to divulge."

  "That's too bad," he replied, lying on the log and placing a grass blade on his mouth. "I took them in, by the way."

  "You'll make the Dawnwing train them?" The bird asked curiously.

  "Nah, not Zeal?" He snorted. "He'll make them depressed just by talking."

  She gave him a curious look.

  "I'm feeling of giving them a bit more personal touch," he mused. "That way, at least, they'll gain something with their depression."

  "Good, good," the golden bird said. "Bring them to me when they're ready." Then, she flew away.

  "Yes, Master," he muttered respectfully.

  —————————

  "So," The Beast King said, holding a round construct. "You two made this to empty your cores and reset your spirit to copper?"

  "Yes, master," Sadi said.

  "And who thought this was a good idea?" The Beast King asked.

  Whitehall gulped. "I did."

  The Beast King nodded in amusement. "Not bad. Not bad. But too easy!" He yelled, but not loud enough to hurt his pair of cripples.

  "I'll reset you both, don't worry," The Beast King continued. "I'll set you right." He pointed at Whitehall. "But first, Whitehall. What's wrong with you?"

  Whitehall gulped. "I tried to find a way to prevent ageing. So that I'll have more time to advance. To reach gold," He said shamefully.

  The Beast King snorted. "Even that snake over there is low gold," he pointed to a purple snake on a tree. "The only reason it's not attacking you is because I'm here. You're a foolish little man." The Beast King shook his head disapprovingly.

  Whitehall squirmed.

  The Beast King sighed. Maybe he was being too hard on them. 'Wasn't he also just a cripple when the sacred beasts took him in?' "Lucky for both of you, I am more Sacred Beasts than human. We don't leave our young to face the wild alone when they're not ready."

  The two apprentices nodded, relieved.

  "But," The Beast King pointed out. "We abandon those sick or have a high chance of not surviving. Which, the case for both of you, are the ones that show no drive."

  The two apprentices nodded more furiously this time.

  "Good," The Beast King said. "Now, show me what you can do." He took a few steps backwards, his arms wide.

  The two apprentices looked at him, confused.

  "Are we meant to attack you, master?" Sadi asked.

  "Obviously," The Beast King snorted. The apprentices looked at him, still unsure. "HURRY UP, OR I'LL START STRIKING!" He yelled, this time loud enough to hurt them.

  A light beam shot at The Beast King, who took it straight onto his chest. It did nothing to him. An arrow of light came immediately after and struck the same place. Again, it did nothing.

  "Enough," The Beast King said. "You both use a light path, yet you use it as if you're on a flame path. Light arrows? Really?" He asked his apprentices disappointedly. "A copper dragon's breath would at least tickle me, but this?" He gestured. "I felt it less than if a fly landed on my hair."

  The two apprentices looked down to the ground. Nervously? Embarrassed? Angry maybe? He really should spend more time with humans. Other than Zeal, of course, that man is more one-dimensional than an ant.

  "Did your previous master never teach you anything?" The Beast King asked.

  "No," Sadi answered. "They would set us on a path and leave us to develop our own way of fighting."

  "They value their techniques a lot," Whitehall added.

  The Beast King looked at his apprentice, baffled. "You've got to be kidding me. You're an Elder, aren't you? Surely you don't think the same way." He pointed at the smaller apprentice.

  "No, master. I mean, yes, I was an Elder, but I didn't share the same mindset as the others. I received some pushback from the other Elders, so I had to do things more subtly. More slowly," Whitehall replied.

  The Beast King sighed, which produced a gust of wind around him. "Might as well start you both on a clean slate. Come on then, let's empty those cores."

  Whitehall shuffled his feet. "Master?"

  "What is it?"

  "Is it possible to change one's madra aspect?" Whitehall asked, which surprised both Sadi and The Beast King.

  "You want to change your path?" The Beast King asked curiously.

  "Yes," Whitehall replied. "Recent events have made me think of things differently."

  "There are ways," The Beast King started. "But it'll cost you your advancement. Few sacred artists would want to restart decades or even centuries of hard work." Then, the Beast King smiled. "But you're restarting anyway. Oh, this would be interesting." He rubbed his palms together in excitement. "I always wanted to witness this."

  That made Whitehall very nervous.

  "What path were you thinking of?" The Beast King asked, still excited.

  "Poison," Whitehall replied.

  "Oh, that's perfect," The Beast King muttered. "What better way to take down a foe stronger than you."

  Whitehall nodded in approval.

  "What about you?" The Beast King asked Sadi. "Still sticking to light?"

  Sadi nodded. "I quite like the light," she said.

  The Beast King rubbed his hands even more furiously, getting increasingly excited as the gears turned in his head. He started cackling. "You two will be a menace of a duo when I'm done with you."