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Crystals Of Tame

Chapter 8

A gathering of kings

11 years ago

He ran through the raging inferno as it consumed everything around him. The heat felt like it would melt him at any second, and as he tried to find an escape from the fire that was devouring his world.

He saw it, within the fire.

Two dark eyes looked back at him, taking control of him and releasing a fear in his body that screamed at him to run away. To escape whatever had taken control of him.

He backed away slowly from whatever was inside the fire, not wanting to have anything to do with it, when he heard a voice.

"S-Some-one h-help…”

It was faint at first but with every second it got louder and louder until it was nothing more than a screeching scream.

“ME! ME! ME! ME! "

The prince hesitated for a second, but he had to save whoever was calling out for help. He clenched his fist, and with all the courage he had left, he ran toward the flames without a second thought. The flames were too intense and the heat too much to bear yet he still ran toward the voice, trying to help whoever it was that was calling out to him.

As he got closer and closer to the cries of help deep within the flames, he saw it, a person being consumed by purple flames, he tried to reach out to help, but the flames took him too.

The prince of Traineria woke up drenched in sweat. His hands hung in the air and a beating drum rang inside his chest. The same dream had plagued his mind since that day, and taken a hold of his nights.

He looked around his room, the wide area was adored in the finest furniture in all of Monsterra, but on this night, like every other night since the red night, there was also a darkness that was interrupting the light of the full moon.

"Those eyes," he said, having a feeling inside of him that he couldn't explain.

He thought about the incident that had fallen on the kingdom of Traineria, the Red Night.

Those memories were still vibrant in his mind, yet this dream felt just as real as the crimson night to him.

As if somehow something in him was warning him.

"That's silly," he thought.

"What’s wrong honey?" the young princess that lay next to him said, half asleep and half awake,

"Nothing dear, nothing," he said, caressing her hair.

The dream stayed with him all night as it did every night since that day, unable to sleep, he waited for morning, waiting for the most important day in all of Monsterra to come. He had waited for this day since that night inside the forest. He had worked hard to make this meeting happen, and now the day had come for him to protect all of Monsterra.

***

The prince greeted the morning with tired eyes but he had a duty to do.

He put on his white coat that had two shoulder plates on each side and walked out of his bedroom, ready to greet the most important people in Monsterra besides his father and himself.

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"Good morning Your Highness."

The prince was greeted by Light, the tamer knight commander,

"Good morning, Light," he said,

'Did you sleep well?" Light asked, noticing the prince's eyes, for they were heavy with more than the duty of the royal family of Traineria. He had noticed them for a while now, wondering what was on the prince's mind. He wanted to ask but figured it was rude, after all, he was just a tamer commander from a humble family. He had no right to intrude on the royal's family thoughts.

"I'm afraid not," the prince said, letting out a faint laugh,

"Have the three Saint Guild leaders arrived?"

"Yes, Your Highness, they are waiting in the king's chamber."

“What about my father?” the prince asked, knowing the answer to his question.

“He’s unable to make it but he has sent his advisor, Villa.”

“Of course,” the prince said, not trusting his father’s adviser, but he couldn’t deny the king of Traineria’s orders either.

"Let us greet them."

The prince and light walked toward the king's chamber.

"Good morning Your Highness," a voice greeted them as they arrived at the entrance of the king's chamber large golden door.

Villa, his father's right-hand man stood by the door, he had a purple attire this morning that was as elegant as all the lotions and scents he wore.

"Good morning, Villa, I assume Father asked for you to be present."

"Of course, my dear young prince," Villa said, grinning.

"But we have no time to waste."

"Of that you are right," the prince said, as the three of them walked into the King's chamber.

As both men entered the chamber, they were greeted by three familiar faces and so the most important meeting in Traineria's history began on this sunny morning.

***

The morning was greeted by the afternoon and the prince sat in silence, letting out a sight here and there, for the meeting had been rougher than what he had anticipated, and all because of them, the individuals sitting in front of him.

“You expect me to not only work with these hot heads but give up the southern freedom,” Roth, the guild leader of the Rock Shield guild said, standing from his chair. He was a giant of a man, standing at a towering six feet nine inches in height and looking down on everyone else in the chamber. He was shirtless as he always was, with long black hair and a goatee around his jaw, and brown leather pants with a green fabric that adorned his waist like a belt.

“Better a hothead than a hard head,” Ignis, the guild leader of the Blazing Wing guild said, brushing his fiery red dreaded hair, his red-copper skin shining as sweat dripped from his forehead. It was said that the people of Inferno Mountain always had a glistening look to them due to all of the heat from the great fiery volcano, Fernis, that eclipsed the fiery lands of the western lands of Monsterra.

“Now now, Ignis, and Roth” Light, the tamer commander from Traineria said, trying to diffuse the situation. As a Trainerian Knight, he had a duty to bring order to the King's chamber.

“Men, so hotheaded all the time,” the guild leader of the Torrent Scale Guild, Zephyr said, letting out a faint sigh.

He had flowing light blue hair and a pale complexion that made him seem like a doll made from ice, a beauty among beauties.

“You’re a man as well,” Ignis said, raising an eyebrow.

‘Ah! My fiery handsome guild member, I’m a being past genders,” Zephyr said, winking at him.

“Esteem Guild leaders please, ” The prince of Traineria finally said.

He shook his head, this was proving to be more of a headache than what he had anticipated. He knew that the guild leaders were hard-headed, he just didn’t expect them to be this difficult to deal with. Especially Roth, which he understood why, after all, he was a Southern man, and the people of the South had a hard time working with anyone, especially not from the South, perhaps it came from the certain disdain for the kingdom of Traineria that went back to the first tamer war between the first king of Traineria and the southern lands.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

But despite the South and Traineria’s animosities, he was thankful to the Southern tamers, for they were the first to come to the aid of Traineria that night. Living so close to the kingdom of Traineria made them bound to them, like brothers. Which on that night, they were.

“This is a waste of my time, “ Roth said, sitting back down on his chair, like a child that didn't get his way.

“Let's say that all three major guilds come together and form this Monster Tamer Association of yours, then what, will we be under the supervision of you, the royal family of Traineria, like some guard dog breathing down our necks, our freedom taken because of some wild monster of whom we have no idea where it came from or if a tamer was even responsible for it. There are still many monster partners in the continent of Monsterra that we haven't discovered yet. Who's to say it wasn't just a random monster that ate the wrong fruit or something.”

There was a silence in the king’s chamber, the two other guild leaders all knew Roth spoke the truth. They knew that this was nothing more than to keep tabs on all the tamers in Monsterra by the king of the ruined city, which the city of Traineria was now being called in whispers.

"Or do you perhaps suspect a tamer?"

That question brought a certain feeling of dread to the chamber, all three guild leaders looked at each other, wondering what the prince was hiding from them.

The prince shook his head,

“If only they knew,” he thought, remembering that night that brought nothing but nightmares to him now, and deciding to keep it a secret, swearing an oath to the only three individuals present that night that witness such an unspeakable thing.

Yet, nightmares haunted him every night and woke him in nothing but cold sweats as he tried to escape that hellish fire of the crimson beast, trying to escape that inferno that seemed to consume everything around him, both in his dreams and in life now, and trying to save those he held dear as that hellish fire devoured everything in sight. Why couldn’t they understand that?

"Perhaps the kingdom of the west might know something about that crimson beast, after all, they're the ones that specialize in the fire element," Roth said, looking at Ignis.

"What are you trying to insinuate? " Ignis said looking at Roth, his stare showing not a hint of appreciation for Roth’s comment.

"Now, now," Zephyr said,

"Let's not fight amongst one another, besides, fire element monster partners are trained by most tamer in Monsterra. You should know that Roth. "

‘Perhaps,” Roth said,

“I was only asking for the expertise of my dear friend, Ignis.”

Villa had been watching the conversation as it unfolded all morning, he knew that if this plan the prince had in mind was to work, all three major guild leaders needed to be on board. And if they didn't want to take part in this, he could always use the King's authority as his trusted council to make it happen by force if needed, they were bound to the Stone of Tame that was in the Kingdom's power.

This plan of the prince was perfect for his vision, and he was going to make it happen no matter what.

‘Perhaps our great and wise guild leaders don’t fully grasp how important this association is, or perhaps is the fault of our

prince not doing a good job in explaining it, “ Villa finally said, almost in a mocking tone, which the prince ignored,

“But fear not guild leaders, I don’t believe any tamer could even be capable of such destruction, wouldn't you agree my great and distinguished guild leaders of Monsterra? But this Association is not just for tamers, is for the future of Monsterra.”

“The future of Monsterra?” the guild leaders said, almost in unison.

The Prince of Traineria swallowed his pride, he was not amused by Villa, his father's council's rudeness, but he was right, this was for the future of Monster Taming going forward. An art that had been in this world since the continent's birth, when Tameria the father, and Crystalia the mother conquered the great abysmal beast, Therion.

It’s defeat spitting the many monster partners that roam Monsterra, according to the legend of Traineria.

“This,” the prince said, speaking in his prince's voice as much as he could,

“Is for the safety of the citizens of Monsterra, both tamers and not tamers alike. Talk and rumors are flowing in the streets, accompanied by leering eyes against tamers and monster partners,”

The prince of Traineria could feel all of the weight of his people, no, the weight of all citizens of the South on his shoulders as well. He needed to be successful for them. If the truth of that night got out, would another war engulf Traineria and the south?

“Ah! Yes, the leering tongues in the streets,” Villa said,

“They say that the Red Night was brought on because of tamers' greed for power.”

“What should we care about baseless rumors when everyone knows it was because of some wild monster that probably came from the valley of the mist, ” Ignis said, he didn’t get to see the crimson monster himself, went he and Zephyr arrived at the forest where the crimson beast had been driven too, all that remain was pitch dark ashes. The only people who saw the crimson monsters were the prince, Villa, and Uriel. But he saw its destruction, the city of Traineria lay in ruin, half of it destroyed by the crimson beast.

“I agree with Ignis, if anything we should be trying to study the valley of mist more,” Zephyr said.

He knew that there was no way any tamer was responsible for that destruction. It was a monster with destructive powers he had never seen before. No tamer would dare tame such a fearsome beast, not even the most power-hungry ones, even if they wanted to. The only explanation for the beast of the red night was in the valley of mist. An area enclosed by a thick mist of mystery since Zephyr could remember and before his time and his father's time as well.

“Even if we wanted to, everyone knows nobody makes it out of the valley of mist,” Villa said.

He couldn't deny that the Valley of Mist intrigued him as well. It was an area cloaked in mystery since the birth of modern times.

“Speaking about that monster, is too bad we weren’t able to recover its body,” Roth said,

“I sure would have liked to take a look at it. To stare into the one responsible for so much loss that night. Would have liked to give him a piece of these fists.”

“It was a sight to behold,” Villa interjected.

“A dark and menacing sight.”

“It’s too bad I didn’t arrive in time before it was dealt with by the tamer king. I had to attend to my people’s losses that night, ” Roth said, there was a hint of sadness that everyone in the king’s chamber picked up on. That night would no doubt go down in the history books of Monsterra as a night drenched in blood.

“Speaking of the tamer king, where is he?” Ignis said, curious to meet the savior of the night. Seeing the power of that emperor-level monster was truly something to behold. Its power a testament to the only Emperor level monster in all of Monsterra.

‘Who knows what goes inside that head of his,” Roth said, scuffing.

“Too important to be here in this meeting the second king of Monsterra.”

Roth had met the Tamer king, and he disliked him. Despite him being a tamer from the south like him, there was no fighting spirit in him. He was like some bored kid, and if there was anything Roth hated more than some snot-nosed kid, it was a genius one with no fighting spirit. But he did respect his strength. He was truly someone who deserved the title of tamer king, even if it was just a name with no wealth or riches to accompany it.

“I’m sure he’s around, you know how he is,” the prince said, recalling that night, the expression the tamer king had shown to the news of that death tamer girl was something the prince had never seen come out of Uriel, the stoic king of tamers.

“A man of a few words, my kind of man,” Zephyr said, brushing his glowing light blue hair to the side. His grey eyes shone as the light shined through one of the windows that was in the king’s chambers.

“He’s not from any guild,” the prince of Traineria said, remembering that night, and what was at stake. He would have loved If Uriel would have joined them in this meeting, for even the prince of Traineria had to acknowledge that there was a certain respect only the king of tamers, Uriel, wielded. He and his dragon with armor made of stone, the only emperor-level monster in all of Monsterra.

Both of them wielded a respect no other tamer would ever have. He and his monster whose ancestry of dragons had dwindled in recent times, with only a handful of monsters of dragon ancestry existing. A monster only the strongest of tamers could tame, some even called it the king of monsters, the great stone dragon, Terradion.

“Esteem guild leaders,” Villa said, in a joking manner that everyone picked on. And if Villa could read minds, he would have found no friends of his in the king's chamber, yet he knew that he had a certain power with him, the power of a king.

“Let’s not get off topic, the tamer king is I’m sure busy, either way, I approve of the guilds coming together for the future of Monsterra, and Tamers. “

“Yeah, I’m sure you do, “ Roth said, looking at Villa, he never trusted the king's council. Maybe it was his beady purple color eyes that seemed to shine when there was something for him to gain. Or maybe it was how he engaged in monster partner battles, using status effects instead of battling like men and going all out in a glory of blows. Whatever it was, he did not like him at all.

“Let’s vote on it,” Villa said,

“A democratic rule is something I’m sure no one would object to, and the majority rule will decide if this association is to be formed.”

Villa was confident his idea would work, and if it didn’t, he could always use the power bestowed by him by the king of Traineria.

The prince of Traineria looked at Villa, somehow he had taken control of this meeting. He had wiggled his way into a role of leadership.

He looked outside the window, wishing his father was here, he would have known how to approach this meeting with the sensibility and power of a king raised in the experience of his years. But it didn’t matter what he wanted, the only thing that mattered now was the protection of the kingdom and everyone in Monsterra, even if it meant playing second to Villa, his father's council.

“Very well,” Roth said,

“I vote no.”

“How about we vote anonymously” Villa said,

“That way there aren’t any hard feelings amongst each other.”

‘Fine by me,” Zephyr said,

“Me too,” Ignis said.

“Then it's decided. A vote will be cast,” Villa said, as he stood from his seat that overlooked the others sitting before him, a sight that he had gotten used to in recent times with the king being bedridden and him taking control of the king's duty as royal council.

‘Let’s hope that they vote the right way, for the sake of everyone in Monsterra.

The prince of Traineria thought as he looked at the three Saint Guild leaders of the great three-tamer guilds of Monsterra. A title that was given to the three most important guilds in all of Monsterra. And now, the future of every single citizen and monster partner was in their hands.

***

Overlooking the kingdom of Traineria, a figure stood in silence, awaiting the results of the meeting that had stretched to evening.

"It appears that the meeting is coming to an end, Uriel, maybe you should have gone as well."

Uriel looked at the evening sky, as he overlooked the kingdom.

"You know I don't like meetings, my dear partner," he said, looking at his emperor-level monster partner, Terradion.

Terradion sat next to his human partner, he could feel the deep sadness inside of him.

"Did you get to see him?"

"No, but perhaps that is for the best," Uriel said,

"Excuse my rudeness, but I disagree, now that Anita is gone he will need a parent more than ever."

Uriel looked at his monster partner, he had been with him since childhood, sharing more than just time but a bond as well. Being able to feel one another's feelings.

"He would have a loving family of that I am sure," he said, getting up from the ground he was sitting on.

“You’re his family too,” Terradion said,

“Let’s drop the subject for now, partner,” Uriel said,

“We have other duties to attend to, for I fear that that beast was just the beginning of what is to come."

"I'm afraid you are right, partner," Terradion said, as both he and Uriel took flight toward Turtle Mountain, the tallest mountain in all of the south, and where a certain person lived.