“What if I choose something that I can’t have? Like a Water Element Databeast? Or a wind one?” Brand pondered.

“That I couldn’t tell you,” proclaimed Vince MacGill. “But if I had to guess, it’ll bring you closer to getting a mixed element Databeast.”

Ravena nodded and added “the lines between different Element types and their respective Databeasts can get somewhat blurred. Not just Databeasts that appear to be two types, like the Twizard, but ones that blur the lines between two types, like the Flintimp. And then there are Databeasts like Ruffmutt which are more neutral-coded, as they can appear in people of any Element and they are capable of evolving with any element.”

“Oh yeah, we saw a fire element evolution of Ruffmutt in Excel Arena. The Heatwolf? You’re saying there’s wind and water variations too?” asked Rosie.

“Yeah, and electric and cosmic also. But more neutral variations that someone with any element can get also exist.” explained Ravena, nodding.

“Well I’m sticking with my original choices,” said Rose. “I’d like a Pebblegob or an Authorn, no matter what anyone else says.” She stuck her tongue out at Vince.

“Hmm.” Brand said as he looked over the choices and thought about all the Databeasts he’d seen. The problem was he hadn’t really encountered many fire element Databeasts. Off the top of his head there was the Twizard which was water and fire, the Flintimp and its evolution the Magmangel, which were cool but very earth based. The only pure fire Databeast he’d seen was the Heatwolf and though it seemed cool, he wasn’t sure it was for him. “The Salamandrake’s Juvenile form is the Twizard, right?” He asked the collected group.

“I believe so,” said Vince.

“That’s probably its most common Juvenile form,” confirmed Ravena, “still a rare one though. And I assume your Element Stone hasn’t collected much in the way of Water Element. I’d say it’s unlikely you’d get it, so it wouldn’t be the worst experiment.But there aren’t many fire Databeasts around here anyway…”

“I’ll take a Twizard totem then,” said Brand. “I don’t mind taking a backline Databeast. If it can do big damage while I take the frontline that’s fine by me.”

“One with such strong Techs would make your own progress with using Techs even better too,” nodded Tommen approvingly.

That was common knowledge. Some Databeasts had strong Techs, some had strong bodies. Generally the ones with strong Techs would enhance its Tamer’s ability to wield that element, and it would be able to Load the Techs sooner, so that the Tamer could use them sooner. For this reason strong Tech Databeasts were often sought after by certain adventurers.

“So Authorn or Pebblegob for Rosie, Twizard for Brand, what do you want Tommen?” asked Ravena.

“Hmm… You know I want a wyvern of some kind. I really can’t think of any Wyvern Juveniles around here to be honest with you.” said Tommen.

“I haven’t seen any that I can think of… but sometimes regular Databeasts can have odd evolutions,” said Ravena.

“I know of one,” said Vince, “but it’s quite rare. Appears around here with consistency though.”

“Oh yeah?” said Tommen.

“A Darkdron. Lizardlike and stealthy. Fairly well hidden - if they are around then you might not spot one. I have a Darkdron totem carved out of blackthorn from the forests. That would certainly have some sort of wyvern evolution,” said Vince.

“I’ll take that one then,” said Tommen.

“It’s settled then!” said Ravena with a big smile on her face. “I’m excited now. Love running experiments. Thanks you guys for agreeing to try this.”

“Happy to help,” said Brand.

“I’ll need time to carve the Authorn and Pebblegob out of silverstars. The Twizard I’ll make out of flint found near the rivers. The Darkdron I can give you right now,” said Vince. He then searched for a little while on his stand and pulled out a carving of blackened wood. There was no doubt in Brand’s mind that this Databeast could become a wyvern. It was a skulking elongated lizard with long limbs and clawed hands. Its head was long and pointed and its scales were carved beautifully. Tommen took it and slid it on his string with his other wyvern totem.

Brand thought the Databeast looked very cool. He wasn’t quite sure that it suited Tommen though. The blond boy was long and gangly like the creature, but it had a certain patient, sophisticated elegance to it, the same kind you might find from a cat.

Brand thought the world of Tommen, but his strengths weren’t what one would call catlike. He was intelligent and driven, and ready for brutality when the situation called for it. Perhaps more of a dog guy. Or a bear? It was hard to crystallise the thoughts, but ultimately Brand just had a gut feeling that the totem wasn’t really right for Tommen.

He didn’t say anything though. This was an experiment after all, and though it felt weird to turn a momentous experience for them into a codified, tested experiment, Brand didn’t feel like it took the fun out of it. It just added an extra level of interest to the whole situation. He definitely wouldn’t mind getting a Twizard. Indeed, he was salivating at the thought of having a Databeast with that level of firepower - and possibly even using it for himself.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

It still hadn’t really hit him that he could use his element offensively until he thought about how dangerous Twizards were generally regarded as. If he could wield that same power from behind a sword and shield then he’d barely need to summon a Databeast to take on most of the things around Quartz Creek. Unless he came up against a Vanquisher or a strong Emergent level Databeast, he fancied his chances soloing things around here.

With that being said, he was very unlikely to get a Twizard, so it was a somewhat moot point. He was definitely going to get a fire element Databeast though, so he would be able to do something. Even if he got a Flintimp then that would have a variety of very useful skills for him. As would a Heatwolf.

In the end it all brought him back to his original answer. That he’d be pretty happy - and excited - to have a Databeast of any kind. He was having fun just thinking about all the ways different Databeasts would compliment him and his skills. And how he could train those skills to compliment his Databeast. It was all so much!

Brand broke from his train of thought before he fell into any more weird trance-like states. He was getting a little paranoid about thinking too much, that he could be caught off guard around here. The spectre of Harlow and Rizzo wandered around his memory. He didn’t think he’d see them again, but just being in Quartz Creek raised his hackles.

“Alright! Time to get a move on!” said Brand. “We’ve got ruins to explore.”

“Gotta meet my mum first.” Rosie told them. That much was true, they had promised to head there as soon as they were back.

The party made their way down to the main road of the village. Brand once again took a second to enjoy the beautiful river that lent the small town its name. The glistening quartz was blinding him playfully as he tried to watch the shimmering stream of water trickle down.

He was glad to be back! Shingle City had been great fun and he’d like to spend more time there, but there was something that felt right about being in Quartz Creek. This was where he’d had some of the most momentous and dangerous moments of his life, just recently. Using this place as their base of operations whilst power levelling was what he was accustomed to. He knew what he was doing here. This was a place of growth.

They were going to get Databeasts here. He could feel it.

He lingered a little in the feeling before they continued onwards. The others had been waiting for him.

“I’m back!” called Rosie as she walked into the inn. Some of the regulars cheered. Her mother, Lily, wrapped her up in a big hug.

“Now don’t leave again!” called Mr. Oddberg from his plate of pub grub. Rosie laughed.

Brand saw that construction was beginning between Silverstar Inn and the Item Emporium. The two were being merged into one identity, both for travelers ease of use and so that Marius could help out at the inn whilst watching his shop.

“How was it away from home? You can come back anytime” asked Lily.

“It was great. Missed you though.” said Rosie.

“Fine, fine. I knew you’d say that.” sighed Lily. “Guess what you really missed is the food, huh? Sit down and I’ll make you all a plate.”

Rosie smiled sheepishly. They all sat down. Marius came over and joined their table. They briefed him on what they’d been doing since he left, and explained that they’d come back mostly to follow up on Ravena’s research on Renscamp and then they’d gain levels there before heading to QBEA. Brand explained that he’d made a deal with Thaddeus, and who he was. Marius didn’t seem to be too impressed.

“You seem to be playing risky. You might make yourself another enemy you can’t beat there.” Marius told him.

“I’m not going to betray him. I couldn’t if I wanted to. I need to find Ember and Kelvin,” said Brand.

“Just don’t drag Rosie into a big firestorm, alright? If it was just you I’d laugh along and tell you to have fun, be young. Make enemies and try not to die. But if you get Rosie hurt because you were acting a fool, you won’t have the guards or Thaddeus to worry about.” said Marius.

Rosie was talking away with Mr. Oddberg, who was regaling her with his own stories of Shingle City. She stopped and turned to Marius. “I trust Brand. If he doesn’t act like a fool we’re going to have some boring adventures.”

Brand laughed and shrugged at Marius. “I’ll be smart. We’ll get stronger. We’re catching up levels on Thaddeus daily.”

“And his goons?” asked Marius.

“Those too” said Brand. Marius didn’t press the issue, but Brand didn’t get the impression he was pleased. Maybe the man regretted encouraging Rosie to leave? Brand didn’t know. But Rosie’s defence of him warmed his heart. He knew Rosie was partly defending herself, as she wanted to have proper adventures and would hate to see Brand’s adventuring spirit crushed down, but he also knew she was telling the truth about trusting him.

After dinner Ravena pulled out some ordnance maps of the area they were going to go to tomorrow.

“Alright, Renscamp starts here,” she said, pointing out a slightly elevated area. “And it’s mostly dense forest around it. There seems to be a path that continues up here…” Ravena traced a slender finger along the page that was showing mostly wood. “But it’s completely covered now. We’ll know it was there by the rock piles by the side of the road.”

“What’s the point of those? Something to mark the path?” asked Tommen.

“As far as we know it’s a remnant of culture from the old world. We don’t know why. And Databeasts tend to leave them alone, uninterested.” Ravena explained.

“Huh…” said Brand. There was so much they didn’t know about the old world. They mostly just knew when they arrived in this one. He thought it was really cool that they kept that continuity. Perhaps he should start putting rocks in piles?

“And then what are we doing?” asked Tommen.

“Right now we’re just looking for ruins. Finding any sort of structure would be very useful for us to record, so we can decode it later. Any kind of inscription, even better. Some sort of technology would be absolutely amazing, so keep your eyes peeled.” Ravena explained. “And of course any strong Databeasts to defeat would be great.”

The other three nodded. They sat around talking for a while before retiring upstairs to their rooms. Brand thought a lot about where they were going as he lay in bed. The other adventures he’d had were fun, but there was something special about going on one for research purposes.

He wondered if he’d meet Rizzo and Harlow out there. He was glad he hadn’t seen them today in Quartz Creek. He’d known that he wouldn’t, but his instincts had still been yelling at him to look around every corner.

He knew that thinking about such things would only stress him out, so he put them to one side and fell into the world of sleep.

Brand dreamt of an endless black, populated solely by gigantic Databeast carvings. He wandered about them in wonder, touching them and feeling them connect with him. It was nice. He was trying to find one in particular though… The problem was that there were too many; just endless totems for as far as the eye could see, as far as the heart could feel. He wandered onwards.