Fog lingered in the shadows hiding from the rising sun as Kael paced through the maze of wooden shacks. His room was located on the far south end of the circular area. Away from the other buildings. It was as even fate tried to separate him from the other kids. He sighed and picked up his pace. The library was located on the north end and the fastest way to get there was to head straight.

Soon, the sound of rhythmic grunting and screaming flowed into his ears. Curious, he followed the sounds into an open area—the training ground.

Kids ran and bellowed out commands to their beasts. Kael was amazed that they were out this early in the morning. He wanted to rush forward and join them. He longed to be part of the group. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the opportunity to do so. Not until he took care of his problem.

Sighing, he forced himself to walk to the library. The faster I get this done, he thought, the faster I get to be out there. His gaze landed on the crowd of sweaty and dirty kids. Suddenly, a chilling laugh resounded through the area causing a shiver to run down Kael’s spine. He knew that laugh too well. It was Elder Sal’s.

Taking a quick glance, Kael noticed Brin standing amid the center, his wolf at his side. Unlike yesterday, he wore grey robes—that accentuated his skeletal face and made his hair seem like a shining sun—making him seem evil. Shocked, Kael continued to look for Sal, but he was nowhere. Then Brin laughed.

It was the same eerie dark laugh he heard before. Surprise filled Kael’s face then quickly faded. Brin looked and sounded more like his father. The change was too drastic. In only one day he changed his demeanor completely. It wasn’t normal.

Then Kael noticed Brin’s beast. It looked at least one time larger than yesterday, more vicious too. Its snout snarled and foamed as it stayed in an attacking posture. Unconsciously, Kael tensed his body. His mind merged the image of the wolf that attacked him the day before. How did he get it so big? Kael thought, still stunned.

“Mutt get back here now.” Brin commanded his wolf.

Amazingly, as soon as the wolf heard his voice it shook slightly and immediately took a docile and submissive posture. With its head lowered it went back to his side. What did he do to have him so under control? Kael wondered, but at the same time he felt something was off with the wolf. It changed too much for just one day.

“Hey if you want to stare, why don’t you take a closer look.” A voice said from behind him and grasped his arm. A familiar strong grasp. Levy. “Brin, look what I caught.”

Why now. Kael told himself as he tried to rip free, but it was useless. Soon, Brin stood in front of him and Kael only resigned to whatever was to come.

“Why so dirty, Kael?” Brin asked. “I thought you would at least have the decency to shower.”

Kael felt his cheeks flush and grew embarrassed as he glanced down. He still wore his muddied robes from yesterday. He had been so focused on binding the beast he had forgotten to change.

“I was training.” He lied, gazing to the side.

“Oh really? I don’t see your beast anywhere.”

“I trained near my room.”

“He’s probably ashamed of his mediocre rabbit.” Levy said, laughing.

“Be quiet, Levy.” Brin said firmly as he looked at Kael. “How about a sparring match Kael? I’m sure it would be fun. Or is what Levy said true?”

“No. My beast is better than yours.” I can’t even bind it yet. “But I need to take care of somethings at the moment.” Kael said.

“Don’t cower away. I’ll even give you a chance to attack my beast for three full minutes without fighting back.” Brin said mockingly.

That attracted the crowd of kids to surround them. All stared with eager eyes. Damn. He told himself. Don’t let yourself get dragged into the fight Kael.

“Sorry, but I really do have something important to take care of.” Kael said.

“Brin, he is probably a scared again. It’s not surprising he is just like his father. A coward.”

My father a coward? He thought. It was the first time he openly heard someone insult his father. Anger raged inside him.

“My father was no coward. He was a genius and strong.”

“But he’s dead and his son is a weakling.” Levy said.

Tightening his fist, Kael threw a punch at Levy. The force threw Levy back and even a tooth fell out of his mouth.

“You will not insult my father.”

Brin clapped. “That was beautiful Kael. I was about to punch him myself.” He said, glancing at Levy. “He was stepping out of his place.”

It’s all your fault. He thought staring at Brin. You’re the one always trying to mock me. Not anymore. He’d had it with all this stupid bickering. He was going to end it once and for all.

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“I will fight you, but it will be later tonight, but no beasts. I just need to punch you just like I did to your rat.” He said, pointing at Levy then turned towards the crowd of shocked kids. “Also, I invite everyone here to come watch as I beat his face.”

Rage steamed out of Brin’s eyes. He probably didn’t expect this. Hell, even I didn’t expect this from me. Kael thought, smiling. But this is good. Now, hopefully he’ll leave me alone.

“Alright Kael. A fight with no beasts.” he said with a hoarse voice. “But you’ll be the one on the ground not me.”

“We’ll see about that.” Kael said and walked off.

Kael’s fist was burning with pain. He massaged it hoping that nothing was broken. Thinking back at what he did and how he set up a fight shocked him. He also regretted it. He was no fighter. In fact, today was the first time he actually punched someone. And it had been a surprise one. In a real fight, he doubted he would even last through one punch.

He sighed. Well, I’ll just go and try my best. He told himself. It was the only thing left to do. For now, I’ll just distract myself.

In the distance, a familiar welcoming sight appeared and he picked up the pace. The library's door was locked.  Kael was confused. It was the first time he saw the door lock. He knocked. Shortly, Dean, off all people, opened the door. Today he wore a bright yellow robe decorated with formation circles. The sleeves were short revealing his toned arms, sometimes Kael forgot that Dean trained every morning. He had even suggested to train him multiple times—something that would have helped him in his current situation—but Kael had refused every time.

"Why are you still wearing that, Kael?" Dean asked, giving him an odd look.

"Some things came up so I didn't have the time to change.” Kael said, sighing. “Can I go inside?"

"I'm inspecting the formation circle on the library," he said. “I’m afraid no one other than me is allowed inside at the moment."

What stupid luck. Kael thought.

First, he was mocked and inadvertently ended up setting a match with Brin; one that would end up with him hurting all over—if he even chose to attend. And now, of all days, the library had to be closed for inspection. The formation monitored the library and prevented any book from being taken out. If someone tried to, a blinding light would push the book back and knock the person out. An alarm would also notify the Elder in charge. It would be lucky if one escaped punishment.

"Is there any way I can still go in, Dean?" he asked, a worried look on his face. "It's really important that I do."

Dean looked at him for a moment then sighed. "What's wrong?"

Kael debated internally for a moment. Should he tell him? It was embarrassing. He couldn't complete his contract. Should he lie? No, that wouldn't be right. Just last night he had agreed to trust in him.

"I couldn't contract my beast..." he whispered.

"Really?" he asked shocked.

"I think I memorized the circle wrong. So, I came to check."

Dean stayed silent, hand rubbing his beard. "I can let you in," he continued. "On the condition that you sit in one place and let me bring you the book."

"Thanks Dean." Kael said, smiling.

Shortly after he was sitting in the front of the library with book in front of him. Dean went back to work immediately, but not before warning him.

"Remember, you are not to move from here. I have already inspected this part. Any other place will trigger the alarm and warn the elders. If that happens both you and I will be in trouble." He said, looking at Kael. "I trust you, Kael. Please don't make me regret this."

He shook his head. "Thank you so much. I'll let you know when I am done."

With that Dean nodded and went back to work as did Kael. He flipped through the book stopping on the rabbit species contract circle. He then took out his own journal—to the drawing he had copied—and searched for any flaws.

It was a perfect replica. He searched again, but there was nothing wrong.

That's not possible. Was it the materials that were wrong? He thought. Or is it really a mutation?

He read through the materials, but nothing seemed off. It only required the basic materials. Worry sunk in. Would he be able to find out why? He crazily flipped the book looking for anything on rabbits. Surely there had to be something that explained his failures.

You're just not good at this Kael. A voice ran in his head. You are not a tamer. You can't even contract a beast. You won't live up to you father.

"No!" he screamed, slamming the book on the table. "That's not possible!"

It couldn't be true. Was he really not meant to be a tamer?

You have Leggy. He thought, but the voice retorted. She is not yours. You didn't bind her.

"Shut up!"

"What's wrong Kael?" Dean asked, rushing to him.

Tears streamed down Kael's face and he hugged Dean. "I can't bind it. I did everything right I just can't bind it."

"It's ok tell me what happened." He said, smiling and patting his head.

The smile soothed Kael and he told him what happened last night and all the times he tried forming the contract.

Dean's face was shocked. "Are you sure that is what you felt?"

"Yes, every time I tried to bind it I felt the connection form, but suddenly it would break." Kael said. " Is it a mutation, Dean? Or I am useless. Will I never be able to tame?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Kael." He said. "Let's do this. We will take this book and I will go with you and oversee your binding. If you make any mistakes I'll be able to tell you what you did wrong. And if you did everything right I might be able to spot if it really is a mutation."

"Really? Is it ok for you to leave while working?"

"I was done an hour ago." He said, a small laugh escaping him. "I was just hanging around here. Taking a nap."

Kael laughed falling to the floor, clutching his stomach. That was the Dean he knew. The Dean that cheered him up. Just like he did when his father died.

"I'm glad you are in a better mood. Now grab the book so we can leave."

Kael approached the table and was about to grab the book, but then it hit him.

"Wait," he said. "I thought books couldn't be taken out of the library?"

"You can't," he said, grinning. "But I have a few tricks to get around that."

Kael was dumbfounded. Dean breaking a rule? That was like the heavens shattering. Impossible.

Those eyes, Kael thought. He isn't lying. He would go this far for me. Now that I think about it the nap thing was probably just him trying to cheer me up.

Kael smiled. Then he got a wicked idea.

"Dean could I also bring out another book?"

"What? No way."

"But we are already taking one book,” He insisted. “One more wouldn't hurt."

Dean sighed. "All right, as long as it's not an important book."

Kael jumped and skipped through the library, his mind searching what book to take.

Shortly after, he returned with one—the cover was blue littered with black figures of different beasts, cites and a mountain. Anthology of Legends and Myths. The book his father used to read from all the time. The one he used to tell him stories. Kael clutched the book closer as if he was holding a precious treasure.

"Is this one okay?"

Dean said nothing, but Kael swore he saw a smile and his eyes water as he turned and walked out the library.