Outside, Shiny was perched on a roof, his fluffy tail swaying back and forth as he stared into the forest. He laid down, his body wide with his limbs spread out in relaxation, each hair attempting to soak up the rays of the morning sun.
Trying to decide what he wanted to do today, he lazily stretched his short furry limbs and plopped on his butt. Staring into the forest, he made up his mind; he was going to do a bit of exploring.
Now decided, Shiny leaped from the roof into a nearby tree, scampering into the forest. Leaping from branch to branch, he shot toward a particular location, specifically the last location where he saw his squirrel friend.
Landing on the exact branch he had met her, he glanced around at the green pines, looking for the slender, sharp-eared, white-tipped-tailed, shiny squirrel.
Detecting nothing, Shiny reluctantly turned to leave; maybe he could find some gems instead?
Just as he was about to leap away, a familiar sound—a chirp — echoed through the trees. Perking his ears up, he dashed forward, his large black eyes radiating energy.
Dashing from branch to branch, he caught sight of a lustrous white-tipped tail. Hopping from his branch, he landed nearby. The squirrel he had been so enamored with was perched merely a few feet away.
She turned, gazing into Shiny's eyes, an amused look on her furry face. Shiny pranced towards her, a hop and a skip in each step.
Touching noses, he rubbed his body against her own, their tails quickly intertwining. Lost in thought, he jumped in fright when he heard a familiar sound echo through the foliage.
CAWW CAWW
The female squirrel turned her head towards the forest. Frightened, she darted away, disappearing into the forest.
Sitting nearby, a Raven perched, its subsequent CAWs sounding more like laughs than anything else.
Shiny glared at the pitch-black bird, his eyes radiating undisguised frustration. At this point, Shiny couldn't help but think the bird was doing this on purpose!
Shiny stared down the surprisingly shiny black bird, his eyes scanning for motive. Why would it scare away his date two times now? However, determining a motive from a bird that did nothing but CAW was an already lost battle.
Decided he had enough of the annoying bird, Shiny pounced.
CAW
The Raven fluttered to another nearby branch, dodging Shiny's attempted smack.
Shiny continued to glare at the bird, his gaze piercing holes into its dark plumage. Shiny huffed, releasing a short breath of air.
CAW
SQUEAK!
CAW CAW!
SQUEAK.
Harrumphing, Shiny turned his back on the Raven. Swishing his tail back and forth, he swaggered away. He didn't need to argue with the fowl; he just would have to wait a bit longer before he grew strong enough to stop its insidious mocking.
Strutting away, Shiny leaped into the forest.
As he fell, he felt a pebble hit his back. Turning after he landed on a branch, he stared down the Raven; in its mouth sat another pebble. An errant glint in the Raven's green eyes.
Shiny paused briefly, his mind zooming through all the possibilities. Tired of thinking, Shiny just gave up and lunged.
SQUEEAK!
CAW
The Raven mocked, swiftly flying away, dodging Shiny's attack. Shiny, reluctant to let the bird go, continued his chase.
Even under pressure, the Raven continued mocking CAWing at each chance it had. Tossing pebbles at Shiny after dodging each of his attacks.
Having awakened with an affinity, Shiny was no joke. But it seemed the Raven wasn't either. As the chase continued, the Raven eventually landed on the ground, taunting Shiny to come closer.
Shiny leaped from his tree, landing on the ground. Pausing, he glanced to his side. A Bareth lay, its giant form shifting.
The Raven mocked, flying away again.
Rising from its slumber, the Bareth stared down at the rodent that dared to interrupt its sleep. Its bear-like form, covered in bone plates of its enemies, towered over Shiny, who now realized he was lured into a trap.
Frustrated, Shiny didn't give the Bareth even a single glance before he flicked his tail, forging a thick stone prison around the Bareth. Shiny smirked, thinking back to last night. He learned that one from his hairless friend Rue.
Now going all out, Shiny charged the Raven, commanding the earth beneath the bird to rise and grapple its taloned feet.
CAW!
In response, the Raven glowed a pale gray energy. The earth that was crawling up its feet crumbled to pieces, dirt and pebbles falling to the forest floor.
Free of its shackles, the Raven soared into the air, dodging past branches and trees, commanding the winds to carry it higher.
Shiny, unwilling to let it escape, shot up the tree. His 4 little paws grappled the pine's bark, launching Shiny up toward the rising Raven.
Glimping down at the trailing squirrel, the Raven released another CAW as it escaped the forest canopy and soared into the sky.
Shiny quickly approached the top of the pine and paused, glaring at the Raven circling above that was mocking his lack of wings.
SQUEAK!!
CAWWW
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Shiny's face scrunched. Looking down, he spotted the Bareth, who had just escaped his stone box.
Thinking up a plan, Shiny leaped from the tip of the pine , soaring down towards the bewildered Bareth.
Detecting the incoming squirrel missile, the Bareth growled at Shiny.
The Bareth lowered its paws, preparing to wack the rodent from mid-air.
Just as Shiny was going to collide with the Bareth's bone-covered paw, Shiny raised a stone platform between himself and the Bareth.
Swinging its paws up, the Bareth collided with the stone platform that now had a furry rider perched on top. Preparing to go airborn, Shiny's eyes focused on the Raven.
Like a volleyball player hitting a ball, but with the power of several bears, the stone platform was sent flying into the air. Shiny grabbed on tight and looked up, his little snout piercing through the air as the stone volleyball soared past the canopy into the sky.
The Raven, who assumed the squirrel had given up on their fun game of chase, casually flew away.
Feeling a wicked turbulent wind from behind, the Raven glanced backward. Turning, it came face to face with Shiny, who had just leaped from his ride and was soaring at the Raven.
Now over a hundred feet in the air, Shiny grappled onto the Raven, his claws digging into the bird's pitch-black feathers.
CAWWWWWWW
SQUEAKKKKK
They both screamed as they tumbled from the air, crashing into the forest canopy. Hitting branch after branch, the dueling duo slammed to the ground. Shiny, dazed, lifted his head but was quick to loose his footing, stumbling face-first back into the ground.
The Raven barely stood on its shaking claws. Its feathers bent and pulled from their previous glorious form. Twigs and pine needles decorating its body.
Cautiously hopping away from the devious squirrel, the Raven CAWWed, this time the tone lacking its usual provocation but more or less hope for a ceasefire.
Shiny, reluctant but battered and bruised, squeaked in agreement. His vision was still dizzy from the aerial battle and the impact thereafter.
Perching on a nearby rock, the Raven stared at Shiny. Taking a moment to think, it got Shiny's attention.
CAWWW
Squeak?
CAW CAW!
Shiny shuffled forward, following the Raven.
Now, with Shiny in tow, the Raven hopped into the forest. Their injured bodies, traumatized from the fight, lumbered along the forest floor, their destination unknown.
----------------------------
Rue rose from his bed, a look of disappointment on his face. He had wanted to sleep all day today, just rest and ignore the world, but his body had recovered too quickly. He was now full of energy and struggling to be lazy.
Sighing, he left his bed and stepped outside.
Eliza turned and looked at her youngest. Almost a year old but looking closer to a 3, she had long been questioning if there was something truly unique or special about her baby boy. Noticing Rue wanted something, she initiated the conversation.
"What is it Rue? Do you want some more food?"
Rue shook his head, his black hair covering his eyes briefly. "No, can I visit granny?"
Eliza furrowed her brows, her eyes laced with reluctance. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, sweety. Kiera is probably tired, " she said, trying to reason with him.
Rue shook his head. He had a few more questions for Kiera and wanted them answered, preferably as soon as possible.
"What if we walk together?" Rue compromised, his face trying to look as adorable as possible.
Breaking eye contact, Eliza looked towards the center of the Hamlet. "Fine, but we must verify she is okay with it first."
Satisfied, Rue and Eliza set off, walking into town. Arriving at Kiera's door, Rue only had to knock a single time before the old lady answered, her wrinkles giving way to a smile as she let them in. "Come on in."
Eliza apologetically looked at Kiera, "I'm sorry, he really wanted to visit."
Kiera waved her saggy arm, "It's fine, dear; leave this scoundrel to me."
Smiling in relief, Eliza thanked Kiera and left.
Now alone, Kiera's smile turned from casual to worry. "I heard what trouble you had gotten yourself in. Are you okay?"
Rue nodded, "Physically, I'm fine; mentally, I might be a little shaken." Closing his eyes, he continued, "But that's beside the point. I have a few questions for you."
Kiera nodded, sitting down on a rocking chair. Rue followed suit, sitting nearby.
"When I faced down that Beast, it... attempted to 'Tame' me. What is that all about? I thought we could only tame creatures."
Kiera laughed out loud, her voice somewhat grating, "Boy, what would make humans so unique that they would exclusively have the right to 'Tame' creatures?"
"Humans and Beasts and any other race for that matter all have Soul Oceans." Kiera's demeanor turned grave as she talked, "If something has a Soul Ocean, it can both Tame and be Tamed."
"Does that mean people... can Tame people?"
Kiera grunted, closing her eyes. "The world is not as perfect as it seems. Nor is Taming as benign as you originally believed. Some use Taming to battle as you have begun to do. Still, others may use it as a form of slavery, and some for other unsavory activities. Humans are merely limited by their imaginations."
"But how could that spider forcefully bring me under its control?"
Kiera gave Rue a long look, rubbing her eyelids, "I was reluctant to teach you, but there are many forms a bond can take."
Looking at her old, wrinkled hands, she resumed, "You have created a bond with that little squirrel. You are both equals. But that is not always the case; some use their power to subjugate others, forcing many more restrictions on Tamed. Others who are vastly more powerful can turn others into puppets, ignoring the need for Affinity."
Rue scowled. He never thought there would be such a dark side to magic, but honestly, he should have expected it. People are not perfect. Using others to fulfill their own ambitions was quite normal in his past life; why would it be any different here?
Glancing down at his hands, he found them shaking. Gripping tightly, he looked at Kiera. She was currently deep in thought, her eyelids fluttering.
Sighing, Rue asked another question, "I had always taken for granted my luck when it came to awakening, but how does one normally awaken?"
"Often, one needs assistance from a mage who had awakened an affinity of Soul to feel and unlock other's Soul Ocean's, but there are rare occurrences where children naturally can unlock their Soul Ocean." Glancing at Rue, she questioned, "I doubt your awakening was natural; most natural awakenings happen around the age of 6 to 16. The younger they are, the more talented."
Rue shook his head, "During the awakening ceremony, when the first participant broke through, I felt a pull. I followed it, and I was plunged into my Soul Ocean."
She nodded, "That Harold was a genius. When he awoke, he had such a strong affinity for the Soul that the residual of his awakening must have pushed you over the edge." Kiera concluded.
"Speaking of Harold, my father mentioned him when my family returned from the ceremony. What happened to him?"
Kiera huffed, a disappointed look on her face, "The Count had recruited him."
"Just recruit?"
Kiera nodded, "Count Oasis is a prudent and caring ruler. He knows it only takes one person to rise up in power to remove him, so he seeks to treat all his subjects with a semblance of kindness and fairness."
Rue contemplated, "He sounds like a wise ruler."
Kiera chuckled, "Some would say that, others would say he is immature and weak. Neither are wrong."
Absently nodding, Rue asked a final question, "Why is the awakening ceremony limited to those between the ages of 14 and 22?"
"Children's Soul Oceans stop naturally growing around 14. They can awaken if it has grown strong enough or if the child is talented enough to detect it. At 22, the soul ocean becomes too rigid for those who have not awakened, closing off their opportunity to wield Aether."
"Interesting." Pausing, Rue questioned, "How can we make my situation believable?" Rue asked, his eyebrows scrunched in thought.
Kiera threw her head back and laughed. "Brat, that's the thing. It's impossible to make an excuse for you. Nobody in the history of the world had awakened before their first birthday." Turning serious, she gazed into Rue's childlike eyes. "That is why you cannot be found out. Not only will you be taken, but this Hamlet and the peaceful life I have come to love will be destroyed in an instant."
Puzzled, Rue couldn't help but ask another question, "Then why bother with me if I am so much trouble?"
Kiera stared strangely at Rue. "When it comes down to it, I had two options. I could have either killed you and never understood how such an anomaly like yourself had come to pass, or I could spare you and watched you grow, and maybe, just maybe, you or myself could figure out your mystery." Pausing, she added, "And you remind me of myself."
Taking a moment, Rue accepted the answer.
Just as he was going to ask another, Kiera looked up, her gaze piercing through the roof. Her brows squinted, and her lips creased into a frown. Cutting Rue off, "No more questions. Something powerful is coming."
Standing, she waved her hand. The floorboards at the center of the room opened up, a cellar appearing underneath. Motioning Rue inside, she closed the entrance and stepped steadily towards the door, her eyes fixed in a glare.