A few days had passed since the Awakening Ceremony, and the anticipation hanging in the air was palpable. One of the massive gates of the wall encircling Blue Orchid Garrison had been transformed into a bustling departure station. Rows of armored buses stood ready, their metallic surfaces gleaming under the morning sun. Each vehicle was heavily reinforced, with runic patterns glowing faintly along its sides—a testament to the technology blending human ingenuity with the power of spirit energy.
Surrounding the convoy was a contingent of seasoned beast tamers mounted on their formidable beasts. These guardians were a striking sight, their mounts ranging from sleek, feline-like creatures to hulking lizards and towering birds with wings that shimmered in the light. Their role was clear: to protect the caravan from the dangers of the wild as they traveled to their destination.
Families gathered in clusters, offering words of encouragement or holding back tears. This marked a pivotal moment for the newly awakened tamers, the first step on their journey toward becoming full-fledged beast tamers.
Amber and her children stood among the crowd, a small but close-knit group. Courage and his younger siblings—Besmouth, Opal, Ruby, and Sapphire—were dressed in sturdy travel outfits, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness. Amber stood slightly apart, her hands clasped tightly as she tried to steady herself. Beside her, Dorsen rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Amber’s gaze lingered on her children as she exhaled slowly. “This is it,” she said, her voice a blend of pride and sorrow. “The day I’ve been preparing all of you for. I’ve done my best to make you ready, but now… now it’s your turn to take the next step.”
Her voice faltered slightly as she added, “It feels like just yesterday I was chasing you all around the house, trying to keep up with your antics. And now… now all of you are leaving to start your own lives.” A bittersweet smile played on her lips, though her eyes shone with unshed tears.
Ruby stepped forward first, his usual cheeky grin replaced by a rare seriousness. “We’ll be okay, Mom. You’ve taught us everything we need to know.” His voice wavered, betraying his attempt at confidence.
Opal and Sapphire, standing side by side, reached out to hold Amber’s hands. “We’ll make you proud, Mama,” Sapphire said, her voice earnest and full of emotion.
Amber knelt down to meet their gaze, her composure finally cracking as she pulled them into a tight embrace. “You already do,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Courage stood slightly apart, watching the exchange with a bittersweet expression. He had always been closer to Amber than anyone else, and the thought of leaving her weighed heavily on him. Yet, he knew this was a journey he had to take.
Besmouth, the eldest after Courage, placed a comforting hand on Amber's shoulder. “We’ll write as often as we can,” he said, his usually calm demeanor betraying a hint of emotion.
Amber rose to her feet, pulling all of them into a tight embrace. Even Courage joined, feeling the warmth of his family surrounding him. For a moment, the noise of the station faded, leaving only the sound of Amber’s steady breathing and the rhythmic beating of their hearts.
“You all promise to stay in touch, no matter what happens?” Amber asked softly.
“We promise,” they replied in unison, their voices filled with conviction.
Dorsen, standing just behind Amber, smiled warmly. “Take care of each other out there. No matter how strong or capable you all are, remember that family comes first.”
The siblings nodded, each one fighting back tears as the moment of departure loomed closer. Finally, a loud horn blared, signaling that it was time to board. The tamers on their mounts began circling the convoy, ensuring everything was in place.
Amber stepped back, wiping her eyes as she straightened. “Go on, now. Don’t keep everyone waiting.”
One by one, the siblings climbed aboard one of the armored buses, their gazes lingering on Amber and Dorsen as the engine roared to life. Courage, sitting near the edge of the vehicle, leaned out slightly to wave. Amber waved back, her smile bright despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.
As the bus rolled forward, Courage caught sight of the mounted tamers surrounding the convoy. Their beasts moved with a fluid grace, their sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. The sight was both reassuring and a stark reminder of the wild and untamed world that awaited them.
Courage felt a lump in his throat as the garrison walls began to fade in the distance. He tightened his grip on the armrest, silently vowing to honor his mother’s sacrifices and make her proud.
The caravan moved steadily along the path, leaving the safety of Blue Orchid Garrison behind. For Courage and his siblings, this was the start of a new chapter in their lives, one filled with challenges, dangers, and the promise of greatness.
In this world, traveling between human settlements—whether garrisons or the grand core cities—was no simple task. Any territory not actively occupied and controlled by humanity was the domain of wild spirit beasts. These creatures, with their supernatural strength and unique abilities, posed constant threats to travelers. But spirit beasts weren’t the only dangers. Strange supernatural phenomena—such as spatial rifts, elemental storms, and zones of inexplicable decay—lurked beyond the safety of the garrison walls, remnants of the ancient event that had reshaped the world.
Because of these perils, caravans had become humanity’s primary means of travel and trade. These massive convoys were heavily fortified and always accompanied by beast tamers, their duty to protect the journeying passengers and goods. This particular caravan was headed for Star River Core City, one of the most prominent cities in the region. Its purpose was to safely transport the newly awakened tamers to the core city, where their abilities would be evaluated, and they would be distributed to various academies based on their aptitude and potential. The academies, located within Star River Core City and other surrounding garrisons, would provide the training necessary to prepare them for the challenges of beast taming.
Additionally, every young tamer would be granted their first spirit beast at the core city, marking the official start of their journey as beast tamers. The caravan’s role was not to perform these tasks but to ensure the safe arrival of its passengers amidst the dangers of the wild.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Inside one of the armored buses, Courage sat near the back, slumped against the window. His cheek rested on his palm as he stared out at the wilderness beyond the reinforced glass. Dense forests stretched endlessly, punctuated by jagged cliffs and rolling hills. Every now and then, the distant roar of a beast or the flicker of a shadow hinted at the dangers lurking just beyond the convoy’s reach.
The ride, while long and dull, had been uneventful so far. Courage sighed, stretching and letting out a small yawn. Several hours on the road now, and not even a hint of excitement, he thought. He shifted in his seat, his gaze wandering to the front of the bus where his siblings were seated.
There, Besmouth, Opal, Ruby, and Sapphire were chatting animatedly with one another and a few of their peers. Laughter and the occasional burst of excitement carried over the low hum of the bus. Courage couldn’t help but admire how easily they fit in. Their charisma and natural charm seemed to draw others to them effortlessly.
If only I had even half their social skills, Courage thought bitterly. Maybe then I wouldn’t be stuck back here dying of boredom all by myself. He let out a frustrated groan and leaned forward, resting his head against the seat in front of him.
As he sat there, he couldn’t help but overhear the conversation of a group of boys sitting just ahead of him.
“Man, I’m so excited,” one of them said with barely contained enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to get my first beast. What do you guys hope to tame first?”
“A dragon,” another answered immediately.
His friends burst out laughing. “Yeah, right,” one of them jeered. “Even if dragons were easy to find, you really think one would take you as a master?”
The boy scowled but said nothing, letting another in the group speak up. This one sounded a bit more serious. “You should stop dreaming so unrealistically,” he advised. “Remember, it’s better to choose something that suits your totem. That way, you’ll have a better chance of success.”
The conversation continued, but Courage tuned it out, his mind wandering. The boy’s comment about matching beasts to totems stuck with him. It was a fundamental rule in beast taming: the shape of one’s totem wasn’t random. It directly represented the type of creatures a tamer had the most affinity with.
For example, someone with a wolf-shaped totem would naturally excel at taming canine-type creatures. These tamers would find it easier to bond with, train, and command such beasts. Their totems seemed to align with a deep-seated connection or fascination they held for those creatures. Often, a person’s affinity could be guessed before their awakening, based on the animals they were drawn to as children.
Courage’s own totem, a glowing rhinoceros beetle, had puzzled him at first. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. For as long as he could remember, he had been fascinated by beetles. As a child, he would spend hours observing them, marveling at their strength and intricate designs.
His siblings were no different. Each of them had shown a clear interest in specific types of creatures, and their totems reflected that. Ruby, with his boundless energy, had always been drawn to rodents. His childhood was filled with pet hamsters and mice, which he cared for meticulously. Sapphire, graceful and sweet, had a deep love for birds, especially songbirds. Her room had always been alive with the chirping of canaries and the vibrant colors of birds of paradise.
Opal, quiet and thoughtful, had an affinity for aquatic creatures. Her room housed a large tank filled with decorative and exotic fish, and she would often spend hours watching them swim. Finally, there was Besmouth, the eldest after Courage. He had always been fascinated by birds of prey, and his free time was spent practicing falconry, hunting with eagles and hawks.
Courage smiled faintly at the memories but quickly felt a pang of envy. While his siblings had always seemed so sure of themselves and their interests, he had often felt like the odd one out. He shook his head, trying to dispel the negativity creeping in.
Leaning back in his seat, Courage stared out the window again. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing, he told himself. I’ll figure things out in my own way.
The bus rumbled on, the convoy’s guardians keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. For now, the journey remained quiet and uneventful, but Courage couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
The conversation among the boys ahead of Courage shifted, piquing his interest once again.
“What academy do you guys hope to get into?” one boy asked, his voice tinged with excitement but underpinned by nervousness.
Another boy shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “Any decent one will do. Honestly, I’m just worried about not being accepted at all.”
“Same,” a third chimed in, his tone more anxious. “I’ve heard of people who didn’t get into any academy. They’re left to figure out how to be beast tamers on their own, and that’s never a good start for anyone.”
The others murmured in agreement, their fears palpable. The idea of being rejected from an academy sent shivers down Courage’s spine as well. He leaned back, staring out of the window as doubt began creeping into his mind. With his aptitude being so low, his chances of being accepted into a good academy—or any academy at all—felt like a distant dream. What if I don’t make it? he thought, his heart sinking at the prospect.
Before his thoughts could spiral further, one of the boys spoke up, his tone confident. “You guys might not need to worry about that.”
That comment immediately drew the attention of his friends, and Courage couldn’t help but perk up as well, his curiosity piqued.
“What do you mean by that?” one of the boys asked, leaning in closer.
The first boy smirked and gestured for them to come closer, lowering his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. Courage, still seated behind them, leaned forward slightly, straining to catch every word.
“Well,” the boy began, “I’ve got a relative who hears a lot of rumors and news from all sorts of places. It’s part of his job, so he’s pretty reliable. Anyway, he told me something interesting: in the past couple of years, beast activity has been on the rise. Almost everywhere.”
“Okay... and?” one of his friends interrupted, his tone impatient. “How’s that supposed to help us?”
“Don’t you get it?” the boy shot back, a smug look on his face. “More beast activity means more strain on the beast tamers. There’s already not enough of them to handle everything, especially out in the wild. Even the core cities can’t ignore it anymore. It’s gotten so bad that—”
“Bad how?” another boy cut in, his curiosity overtaking his annoyance.
The boy leaned even closer, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. Courage tilted his head, trying not to miss a single word.
“My relative says there’s a rumor that the Imperial Court itself issued an order. They want all the core cities to ramp up their efforts to nurture new beast tamers. And the core cities, in turn, have ordered all the garrisons under their authority to increase recruitment.”
The boys exchanged glances, a mix of disbelief and hope flashing across their faces. “Recruitment?” one asked. “You mean, they’re just letting anyone in now?”
“Not exactly,” the boy clarified. “But they’ve been told to stop holding back. Save no expense, promise rewards, whatever it takes to bring in more recruits. They need beast tamers—badly. And that means we have a better shot at getting into a decent academy than ever before.”
The group fell silent, mulling over what they’d just heard. Courage, too, sat back in his seat, his mind racing. If the rumors were true, it meant he might have a chance after all. But even with the increased demand for tamers, he knew his low aptitude could still hold him back. He clenched his fists, resolve building in his chest.
The bus rumbled on, the conversation ahead of him dying down as the boys fell into their own thoughts. Courage turned his gaze back to the window, watching the endless wilderness pass by, his mind now preoccupied with a cautious hope. Whatever it takes, I’ll make it.
The caravan continued its slow, deliberate march through the stillness of the night. The armored buses hummed quietly, their engines muffled by the thick, reinforced frames. Outside, the faint sounds of beasts and the occasional rustling of foliage in the wilderness were overshadowed by the steady hoofbeats and footfalls of the beast tamers guarding the convoy, their silhouettes barely visible in the moonlight.
Inside the buses, nearly all the passengers were asleep, lulled by the monotony of the journey and the promise of reaching their destination by morning. Courage, too, was among them, his head leaning back against the seat as he drifted into slumber. His breathing was even, his body relaxed, and his mind wandered into fragmented, nonsensical dreams.
But amidst the haze of his dreams, a faint voice began to pierce through.
"Kid," it said softly, almost as though carried by the wind.
Courage stirred faintly but remained asleep.
"Hey, kid," the voice called again, this time a little louder.
He frowned in his sleep but dismissed it, thinking it was just another figment of his dreaming mind.
The voice didn’t relent. "Hey, kid. Kid. Kid, wake up!"
Finally, it shouted, sharp and commanding, "Get the hell up!"
Courage’s eyes flew open as he gasped quietly, startled awake. His heart pounded in his chest as he blinked several times, trying to adjust to the darkness of the bus. He quickly looked around, confused and disoriented. Everyone else was still asleep, their heads lolled against seats or windows, undisturbed by his sudden awakening.
Why was I woken up? he wondered, a nervous chill running through him. He didn’t remember anyone touching him or shaking him awake, and he was certain no one had spoken loud enough for him to hear. His thoughts spun as he strained to make sense of what had just happened.
"Good, you're finally up," the voice said again, clear and calm this time.
Courage froze in place, his eyes wide as he quickly glanced around. Where was that voice coming from? He couldn’t see anyone nearby who could have spoken, and everyone else was either sleeping or too far away to have addressed him.
“Who’s there?” he whispered under his breath, his voice trembling slightly.
The voice came again, its tone steady but firm. “Stop moving around so much. You’ll wake someone up. Just stay still and pretend you’re asleep, and we can talk.”
Courage swallowed hard, his heart racing. He sank back into his seat, his muscles stiff and his breathing shallow. He did as the voice said, closing his eyes halfway and relaxing his posture to avoid drawing attention.
As he focused on the voice, something about it felt eerily familiar. Recognition hit him like a lightning bolt, and his body tensed involuntarily.
“Dad?” he whispered shakily, the word barely audible yet heavy with disbelief.