The following day Mark and Miriam packed their bags and got into the car that drove them to the Cordella Mountain Range which was north of the City of Fenrir. Mark couldn’t help but wonder how dangerous is this ability as Mark initially assumed, but well it was too late for him to go back now and decline, he had already gas lighted his sister into taking the Beast Aura alongside him.

“So what really is the Beast Aura about?” Mark asked Malachi as he they stopped by the entrance of the mountain trail that leads into the Cordellas, a cold and mist covered forest filled with dead trees and various rock formations that dotted the landscape, every once in a while they would see packs of Direfangs and Geatails Foxes wandering about but none of them bothered to approach them as though they can sense.

“To know about the Beast Aura is to know about Alyssa,” Malachi said as they proceeded to trek their way through the dark forest with Mark and Miriam following after them, with Mark nervously gripping Arthur while Miriam gripped her pistols as they both sensed that they were being followed by someone but they chose not to mention that to Malachi who was busy reloading his rifle.

“She’s our ancestor right?” Mark asked him, Malachi nodded. Alyssa is descended from a Tribe of Shamans known for their worship of powerful beasts who are able to manipulate an energy source that flows within each living being known as Prana. Alyssa came from clan Asena, named after a powerful Direfang Wolf that had been taking care of them for many years.

“And sometime before the founding of Fenrir the Tribe she belonged was wiped out scattering the Shamans but for the sake of this lesson Alyssa was left on her own for several years all the while being guided by the Asena who through her teachings turned Alyssa into the strongest of her time.” Malachi said as pausing here and there to see who was following them but they were a lot better at hiding so he gritted his teeth in frustration and then continued their way back towards the trail.

“And then she met Fen the Hunter right?” Miriam asked as they entered the a massive clearing that appeared to be a massive shrine.

“That’s right, by that point Alyssa had embraced her title as the Avatar of Asena and so by the time the Dirus Clan is formed he had inadvertently made us potential heirs to Asena’s powers much like her tribesmen.” Malachi said as he walked on the center of the shrine.

So we’re descendants of Shamans? Interesting. Also Prana huh, I wonder if we as a species also has that I must learn more! Mark thought as Malachi explained that by accepting the power of the Beast Aura would make them potential Avatars of Asena, but there can only be one Avatar. Well Mark had no problem in accepting the Title of Avatar of Asena but the problem is that it might deadlock him from other potential things he can get with his current skill set.

Mark was about to ask further about it but they were interrupted by a loud howl that made them cover their ears but Malachi was unfazed by the howl and instead gripped his rifle tensely as a wind swirled around the center of the Shrine just meters before Malachi who continued to be unaffected by the tempest of Prana that was manifesting before him. Eventually with a loud howl a Direfang Wolf three times it’s size appeared before them, Mark and Miriam took a step back but Malachi barely flinched as the Direfang loomed over him as though she was intending to eat him as a whole.

“Well well, have you come to rescind your decision all those years ago?” The Direfang said which had the voice of an older woman, she spoke with a different language but for some reason Mark and Miriam understood it very well.

“I made my choice many years ago, I came here not for that but for your guidance.” Malachi spoke with conviction, and then he set down his rifle and knelt before the Direfang as though he was kneeling before a royalty.

“Speak now, be grateful that you are my the remnants of my Apostles.” The Direfang spoke with a bored tone in her voice, Mark couldn’t help but be amused at the implication that the only reason she hasn’t say killed him was that he was the last of her followers. The Direfang seemed to noticed Mark’s amused expression and then walked past Malachi and loomed over Mark.

“You dare snicker in my presence,” The Direfang said as she started growling before him, Miriam quickly aimed her pistols at her while Malachi stood between them and the Direfang.

“Asena please, he’s just a child—” Malachi said but Mark interrupted them.

“So what if I find your situation amusing,” Mark smiled with a shit eating grin on his face as he realized that he can speak the same wolftongue as they do, as Marchosias he had his share of staring down greater beings and he wasn’t going to back down anytime soon. “The way I see it, you and my Bloodline are linked and I think it would be fair if we treat each other as equals.”

“How impudent to assume we are on the same wavelength!” Asena recoiled as she backed away and snarled at Mark causing Malachi and Miriam to flinch. “I’ll have you—”

“Have me what? Killed? I’m one of two children that have accepted your blessing. You lose me you lose a potential Avatar.” Mark said pulling out Arthur in his hands and ready to face off against the Asena who growled Malachi and Miriam were unsure whether or not they should jump in or not. The two stared off for a moment until finally Mark and Asena started laughing out loud to Malachi and Miriam ending up being confused causing them to look at each other.

“You amuse me young one.” Asena said with chuckle as she sat upright and looked over them with an amused glint in her eyes.

“Malachi Dirus, your grandson amuses me.” Asena said with a grin on her face, the wind around her swirled once more and as soon as it dissipated Alyssa stood in her place. Miriam was confused but Mark knew that Alyssa is just a placeholder for Asena, Malachi noticed this as well as he was unaffected by this revelation.

"What is your request Malachi? Is it for me to mentor these youths?" Asena said crossing her arms.

"That's right I seek your help in training them and so that they are able to control their powers or else they'll—"

"—turn into berserkers I know." Asena said with a grim look on her face, as though she have seen many succumb to the powers. "I have seen many acolytes succumb to my gifts without any proper knowledge, confident that they can overcome without my supervision."

"How long did they last?" Miriam asked it lacked the cockiness that Mark had nor the fear in Malachi, it was genuinely innocent as though she wanted to learn and study it more.

"Weeks at best and days at worse." Asena said with a disappointed tone. "Which is a shame as they all showed potential but they let their pride take over."

"And another thing, we have a rat lurking among us." Asena added looking to the corner with a glare. Mark, Malachi and Miriam readied their weapons as they noticed a hooded figure but then they sprinted off in fear.

If they find out about this then who knows what will happen, Mark thought as he sprinted after then immediately activating his Beast Aura and sprinted through the woods and tackling the unnamed stalker to the ground. To Mark’s surprise it was just a teenager the same age as he was, but he was bruised and ragged implying that he was just some kid someone picked up from the street. What’s interesting about him is the fact that he was wearing a helmet with a mono-eye built on top of it as though it was a specialized helmet for observation.

“Who are you and who sent you?” Mark pressed but the helmet started beeping and exploded sending Mark flying to a nearby tree, as soon as his vision cleared up and his hearing returned he realized that he was covered in blood while the hooded figure was dead, his head had exploded scattering it to the ground.

“Mark are you alright!” Miriam said running towards him and helped him up she tried her best to look at the corpse but she swallowed hard and turned towards Mark.

“What was that?” Mark asked in confusion while Malachi and jogged up towards them but then his worried look was replaced with rage.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Those spying…!” Malachi tried to curse but he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

“Who was that, do you two know him?” Mark asked he stood up to inspect the corpse.

“That was a spy from the Festus Family,” Malachi explained, Mark felt his blood run cold.

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[Rise of the Dark Hound]

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The Festus Family is stationed within the Greater Settlement of Darkwood and they were notorious for being sadistic slavers. They claim that the people working under them are people who owe them money so the rest of Archiman tends to turn a blind eye, the worse is that they would strap these devices known as Eye of Festus, which turns them into walking cameras for the Festus’. They have always wanted to be on the Archiman’s good side but after the Dirus Family got elevated to a high rank, made even worse due to their close ties to the Archimans, the Festus’ developed a deep rooted envy and resentment to the Family.

Which is why they are trying their best to find a reason to knock them down a peg.

And so they were in Ophel after being arrested under the Crime of Magecraft, since there was magic but that was outlawed in the Charter of the Neogean Alliance. Mark had read about that in the past, but the thing about the Charter’s Anti-Magecraft doctrines are written in broad strokes to the point that anything that is considered Magical can be considered Magecraft.

Fortunately only Mark was arrested for Magecraft while Miriam and Malachi are let off as nothing more than witnesses, but regardless Mark was handcuffed and placed in a holding cell waiting to be interrogated by a Shocktrooper Officer who operates as the Security Force of the Country.

Mark let out a sign of annoyance as he remembered the smug looks that the Festus’ had when they were accompanied by the Shocktroopers who arrested them on the spot for crimes of Magecraft. He was thinking of various ways to get out of the situation but due to his lack of training within the Beast Aura and the fact he was on the most heavily defended place within the country. And then there’s his sister and Grandfather who were present, if he tried to break out then there was a high chance that they’ll get killed in the chaos as well.

His pondering was replaced with surprise as the door in his holding cell opened to reveal a beautiful teenager the same age as he was, though it was interesting that he chose to wear sunglasses despite in the middle of a dimly lit room. The youth casually just sat before him and stared at Mark for a few moments as though they were trying to study his features. Eventually the young man finally spoke ending the young man casually placed his feet up on the table and gave him a hard look.

“Name’s Cecil Arcs, I’ll be your handler.” Cecil said with a prideful grin on his face. “So...tell me about yourself? I want to hear your side of the story first.”

“Would you believe me if this was a hereditary magecraft? Cause that is what it is." Mark said explaining the whole thing to Cecil, he decided to put his bets on the idea that the Beast aura is a hereditary thing and he had no right to decline. And that Asena is a spirit that has been watching over them for many generations.

"That can be a good argument, it was only been a few years since Fenrir has been accepted into the Archiman's domain." Cecil said rubbing their chin. "Considering that Fenrir is a small nation that isn't under the Charter's influence."

"That settles it," Cecil said putting their feet down and gave Mark a wide grin. "You're gonna prove your innocence with that argument."

I just hope their testimony goes alongside mine. Mark thought grimly looking around for some recording device wondering if he can say that aloud as Cecil excused himself in the room and left him there. Mark reunited with Miriam at the end of the hall were she too was handcuffed all the while being accompanied by Cecil. Seeing the two talking so close, Mark's older brother instincts kicked in as he got between them.

“You seem awfully chummy with her did I miss something,” Mark said with a somewhat passive aggressive smile on his face. This caused a reaction to two as they both share a smile on their faces and Cecil to wrap her arm around Miriam which further infuriated Mark who crossed his arms.

“Relax Mark we’re all friends here,” Cecil said teasingly at him.

“Yeah we’re just friends Mark don’t worry,” Miriam said letting Cecil wrap an arm around her.

“So what’s going to happen to me Arcs?” Mark asked Cecil who had a concerned look on their face as Mark brought it up.

“I’ll be honest with you, if you are found guilty of violating the Charter then there’s a chance you’ll be imprisoned or exiled depending on the Jury present.” Cecil explained, Mark knew that as well which is why he didn’t want to get exposed but from the way things are going.

“But there’s a good news,” Cecil added wrapping an arm on Mark and Miriam and smiled. “You can always defend your honor via trial by combat.”

“Thank goodness we have such an outdated method for settling disputes.” Mark said jokingly but it was true. Archiman is one of the few countries in Neogea that still practice Trial by Combat, and Mark is fairly confident on his skills that he can easily ace the Trial and even put the Festus’ in their place.

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[Rise of the Dark Hound]

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The trial is held in the courtroom within the Government Building, in front of Mark was the Judge sitting atop an elevated chair and table looking down on Mark with a serious look on his face, it was clearly shown that he fought in the Neogean-Vakarian War so it was possible that he was prejudiced against anything Magecraft related. To his left comprised of various scholars and researchers that were legally allowed to study magecraft within the continent, behind him were both the Festus’ and the Dirus families in two separate sets of chairs as they are anxious on seeing the outcome of the trial.

All the while Mark standing with anti-magic chains wrapped around his arms and legs and is bolted to the floor and beside him were a pair of guards, one was armed with a battle rifle and the other with a flame thrower indicating that should he make break for it he’ll be killed on the spot.

“Mark Dirus, you have been convicted with the crime of Magecraft.” The Judge said with a stern and neutral voice which matched the same look he had on his face. “What do you have to say in your defense?”

“Not Guilty sir,” Mark responded, perhaps due to the aftereffects of the Beast Aura but he can hear a handful of Festus’ snickering and scoffing at his insistence that he was innocent.

“Explain yourself.” The Judge said extending his hand to him as though prompting him to speak up while the Jury to his left started to listen in with notes all of them prepare to document and learn more about it.

“Two reasons, first reason is that this ability of mine is a hereditary one as we have no say on the matter whether or not we want this ability or not—”

“Then how come your family doesn’t show the same symptoms as your ability?” The Judge interrupted narrowing his eyes on Mark, had he been an ordinary fifteen year old he would have shrunk from the pressure and confessed guilty instead but Mark was different, he was determined to get a not guilty verdict from him no matter what.

“That is where the second reason enters, Fenrir has been an independent Settlement until a few years ago when Master Ein Archiman have made contact with Malachi Dirus.” Mark explained to him, the Judge silently continued to nod while the jury next to them started whispering to one another as they were contemplating what their verdict is.

“Then why keep it a secret?” The Judge asked as he crossed fingers and narrowed his eyes onto Mark.

“I wasn’t aware that I have such abilities in the first place.” Mark answered casually.

“Very well,” He slammed his gavel on the Table and glanced at the Jury. “We will have a thirty minute recess, that should be enough time to render a verdict.”

And upon cue everyone started to disperse, the Festus’ were grumbling in impatience while his family were worried, but then Mark realized something. “Wait, can am I supposed to be chained up like this for thirty minutes?” Mark asked in mild disbelief.

“That’s right.” The Judge said in a nodded as they exited the room leaving Mark alone with the two Guards.

“Wonderful.” Mark trailed off the two Guards pulled out a pair of seats while Mark just stood there wondering what to do to spend time.

“Seriously you’re just a kid,” The Guard with a flamethrower said in a low voice.

“Again with that? I told you to stop questioning your job.” The Guard with a Battle Rifle chastised the Guard with a flamethrower.

“I take it you two have been on this for a long time?” Mark asked them.

“Mind you own business kid, we don’t get paid to chit-chat with prisoners regardless of their political standing.” The Guard with the Battle Rifle said, Mark scoffed as concluded that he was probably purposely trying to get distant so the guilt of putting someone down on the spot wouldn’t weigh heavily on him. Eventually the doors behind them opened up to reveal Cecil entering the room with a sandwich in their hands causing the two Guards to salute before them.

“I figured you’d be hungry so I brought you something to eat,” Cecil smirked as the youth walked towards him and handed the sandwich.

“Thanks I could use something to eat.” Mark said taking the sandwich and started eating it. “So...what’s your story? How did you become the Champion of Gray Archiman? Cause I’m pretty sure she’s a skilled fighter on her own.”

“Easy, I saved her from some Silverfang Wolves. Since then she hired me to be her bodyguard.” Cecil smiled while taking a bite from the sandwich that they brought along as well.

“Huh I could have sworn she can handle those on her own,” Mark muttered in a low voice, the two continued their small talk and every once in a while the other guard would chime in and soon afterwards the Thirty minutes have passed causing everyone to enter the courtroom once more.

“Alright settle down!” The Judge struck his gavel on the table and looked at Mark. “After consulting with the Jury I will now give verdict.”

Mark narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath as he was ready to face off the guards even while in chains.

“Upon my verdict I hereby declare that Mark Dirus is Not Guilty, as this Beast Aura as Mark described is considered not as Magecraft but a hereditary ability.” The Judge said causing his family to erupt in cheers while Mark let out a sigh of relief as the two guards pulled out a pair of keys and used to unlock his bindings. The Festus’ watch in utter disappointment as Mark walked off triumphant that he had managed to defend his name.

But this is just the beginning.