Refilling the ornate, vine printed teapot before placing it back at the centre of the table, Lilly performed a small bow as she backed away before turning and rejoining a group of silver robed disciples that were securing the last few items of luggage.

Seeing her approach, a slim man with sharp, boney features straightened up and stretched his back, his gaunt appearance giving him a skeletal vibe. "So what's going on?"

Beside him, a blonde girl with her hair tied into a bun, no older than twenty, was trying to cram the last pieces of the white tent into a large, steel chest.

"They seem to be waiting for something," responded Lilly as she twisted her head so she could see the four sitting at the table, noticing that they were still watching the recruits being organised by the light grey robed disciples.

The gentle breeze caused Lilly's hair to ruffle, another fragmented, apparently out of sync, a conversation between Timur and Dimi carrying alone with it causing Lilly to lightly frown as she pursed her lips. "More than likely it's Master's new disciple. I haven't seen her since she left to gather her belongings yesterday."

A loud thud emanated from behind the thin man, drawing Lilly's attention.

"Speaking of the which, where is she?" Leaning against a massive chest, the luggage from one of the more wealthy recruits, another silver robed man was wiping away the sweat that was flowing down the many folds and creases of his skin. "Tom said that although her personality a bit icy, she's a real beauty."

The other man snorted, rolling his eyes as the blonde girl shook her head, lightly tutting but continuing on with her work without pause.

"Oh, she's definitely pretty, James" chuckled Lilly as she took a list from the skinny man, her eyes running down it. "In that eerie sort of perfect way that most beast's human fo-"

"Lilly~."

Though Timur and the others were sitting some distance away, his quiet, yet strict voice reached the group's ears, causing them to flinch as they span towards the origin of the sound.

Lilly cupped her left hand and bowed, the action quickly copied by the other three, before raising her head enough to see that Timur wasn't facing them. "Sorry master."

Timur's white hair gentle shook as he moved his head, casually flicking his wrist outwards before returning to his conversation with Hrafn.

Straightening up, the two men glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes, their slightly tense expressions and wrinkled forehead mirroring the others.

Moving to opposite sides of the big chest, they maintained eye contact, their eyes almost simultaneously widening as their gaze flickered to Lilly before moving to the three elders sitting at the table.

-"So she's a beast..." A faint smile tugged at the corner of James' lips, his face crinkling as his sight moved onto Dimi. -"I wonder if she is going to be as... carefree as the other female beasts."

Spotting his friend's line of sight, the other man pushed the chest a little harder, causing James to stumble, before looking over his shoulder and lowering his voice. "Get your head out of the gutter. Wasn't a broken arm enough?"

Leaning the chest on his knee, using his free hand to rub his chest, James tilted towards his friend with a growing, somewhat creepy grin. "Beast's don't care about trivial stuff like that, it's like... natural to them. The only reason I suffered was that I tried to get a to-"

James' words stopped abruptly, his skin crawling as his head slowly turned towards the table, only to find Dimi staring at him intently, a cruel, lopsided smile on her face.

Watching the two disciples quickly move the luggage away, the smile on Dimi's face faded as her fingers tapped the wooden table in a soft, rhythmic manner.

Turning her attention to the recruits, their friends and family being escorted back to the town a while ago, she released an exasperated sigh and let her body flop onto the table. "Well, this is definitely more boring that I thought it would be."

"Indeed it is." Jorm, who had been staring into the blue sky while lazily slouching in his chair with his palms upturned on the armrest, the sun's rays making his pale skin turn slightly pink, rolled his head to the side so he could see Dimi. "It seems that 'runt' isn't as hot-headed, nor impulsive, as we first believed."

"Isn't it better this way?" Hrafn, after drinking from his freshly filled cup, stifled a yawn. "With the growing power of certain kingdoms and organisations, it's better if we return with this unexpected bounty unnoticed. A quiet life is an easy life."

Dimi snorted, her head rolling back and forth on her arms. "It's just a group of small, mortal kingdoms using religious zealots isolate and control their weaker neighbours, not something a sect like us should be concerned about."

Hrafn and Timur shared a glance before looking away, their foreheads slightly wrinkled.

"I know you have already made up your mind but, if she is... what we suspect her to be, are you sure the benefits outweigh the risks?" Jorm, who had seen their interaction through his partially closed eyelids, lifted himself slightly in his chair as his attention focused on Timur.

Timur's hand paused, his cup halfway to his face, as he met Jorm's gaze, the flecks of silver in his grey eyes almost sparkling in the bright sunlight. "When it comes to matters of my sect and family, I do not make mistakes."

"Oh?" said Hrafn, leant forward so he could turn his head and better see Timur's face. "That's an interesting statement coming from the master of the Iron Hall. Surely you have something to back it up and are not just relying on rumour and limited observation?"

Jorm frowned upon hearing Hrafn's words, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

Timur's back straightened casually as his head moved slightly back. "One doesn't make true allies when food is plentiful, and the sun is shining. They are made in the throws of battle and during the depths of winter, while the wolves are howling at the door."

Hrafn snorted loudly. "Be careful you don't get bitten."

After blinking a few times, a blank look on his face, Timur chuckled mirthlessly. "You have been around human's too much."

"And you, beasts," replied Hrafn without a moment's pause, abruptly ending the conversation.

The two glared into each other's eyes; the stalemate only ended when Hrafn huffed noisily, the muscles in his face taunt, before turning his head to the other two. "It's noon, time to pay up."

"Boo~." Taking a deep breath and releasing it noisily, her taunt muscles relaxing, Dimi reached into her robes and pulled out a gold coin, flicking it to Hrafn with enough force to create a loud slap when he caught it. "I could have sworn she would have picked a fight. At least to set the hierarchy between the initiates and send a warning to the other disciples."

Jorm sighed, placing a similar coin on the table. "All you ever think about is hunting or fighting. Only an idiot like you would cause a scene in unknown territory, especially if they are being hunted."

Dimi rolled her eyes, snorting indifferently. "Whatever, you didn't win either so~."

Watching the coin disappear into Hrafn's pocket, slightly leaning forward and revealing a sliver of teeth, Jorm sighed again before closing his eyes and returning to his lounging posture.

The group fell into silence, watching the silver and light grey robed disciples divide up the recruits into groups of five, trying to average out the type, strength and age of their members.

Nearly one-fourth of the recruits were dressed in light brown, leather armour, short swords at their waist while the rest were wearing dark grey robes.

"Urg." After grasping the teapot and attempting to pour herself a drink, only to find it empty, Dimi heavily placed it down as her eyes locked onto Timur's, lightly grinding her teeth. "You're pretty calm for someone who just had their new disciple disappear. What's the deal?"

"Disappear?" chuckled Timur, his face twitching as the corner of his lips tried to raise upwards. "She's still here."

Coughing into a closed fist, the metal balls in the palm of his other hand noisy clacking together, Timur shook his head and leant back in his chair.

Having scanned the new disciples once again, Hrafn and Dimi's gazes moved to Timur, barely blinking as they narrowed their eyes, causing their foreheads to wrinkle, as they observed him.

It wasn't long before three rough rows of disciples started to form before them, indicating that the preparations were almost complete.

The two male silver robed disciples from earlier were walking down the rows, giving the recruits a small, leather bag full of necessary supplies while taking away the last of their personal effects, making a note and storing them safely.

Once again drumming her fingers on the table, Dimi stretched her neck, generating loud, cracking sounds, as her eyes travelled from Timur's to the badge on his chest.

While Hrafn was watching with the same level of attention, he was also watching the metal balls twirling in Timur's hand, his frown becoming more significant with each passing minute.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Just as Hrafn started to open his mouth, Jorm shook his head. "Don't."

Glaring at his comrade, Hrafn's nostrils flared slightly, only to watch Jorm close his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Hrafn's head snapped towards Timur. "Care to enlighten this poor, ignorant beast, one whose opinion matters so little, oh wise Hall Master?"

Timurs smile caused the skin around his eyes to crease as he maintained eye contact with Hrafn, picking up his cup and taking a sip.

The smile faded slightly as the somewhat warm liquid touched his lips, causing him to swill it around in his mouth a bit before swallowing.

Hrafn watched every action with folded arms as a vein, barely visible, throbbed on his forehead.

Placing the cup down slowly, Timur smile vanished, his lips turning downwards as his eyebrows furrowed somewhat. "I'm afraid that..."

Dimi who had been watching the entire exchange intently leant forward, her reddy-brown hair catching the light breeze.

"My tea has got cold."

"And you two were doing so well," sniggered Jorm as Dimi closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead with one hand.

His chest heaving with each breath, Hrafn glared at Timur, his lips twitching from time to time.

After no more than thirty seconds, he slumped in his chair. "Fine, you have made your point. The little beast is yours, and we won't make things too difficult for her."

"Speak for yourself," chuckled Dimi. "She's interesting."

Timur nodded at Hrafn before taking another sip of his lukewarm tea.

"Can't you at least tell us where she is?" said Dimi with a lowered head, her orangey brown eyes staring into Timur's, a slight pout on her lips.

"Stop trying to act like your sister." Seeing this, Timur chuckled but still shook his head. "Information, just like her wearing the badge, is as much a test for me as it is for her."

"Until the ground rules for our relationship are established, and we know where each other stands, there isn't much I can say."

Hearing this, Hrafn's eyebrows raised as he leant back in his chair.

Dimi let her head collapse on her arms once again as she let out a groan "Why do you always have to be like this?"

Shrugging, Timur's lips twitched upwards as he saw Hrafn casually looking around, before placing the metal balls into his robe pocket and slapping his hands together. "Time waits for neither beast nor man; I guess it's time to get this show on the road."

Standing up abruptly, causing the table to wobble, Timur started to move towards the recruits as the other three, much less enthusiastically, stood and followed.

The moment Timur had stood up, the new disciples, their wide-eyed gazes landing upon his seven and a half foot tall, muscular figure, as well as those instructing them, fell silent.

Noting that they had run out of time, the sect disciples quickly rushed through the last few things they had to get done as the initiates started to whisper amongst themselves, mainly about Timur and the three white-robed elders to his left.

"Lilly?" Ignoring the strange gazes and mutterings, Timur beckoned Lilly, who had finished packing and was leaning against the carriage with the blond woman, forward with his hand.

After waiting for her to approach, Timur tilted his head towards the table and chairs behind him. "Please pack them away; we will be leaving soon."

"Yes, Hall Master Fang." Grasping her first and slightly bowing, Lilly's gaze flickered to the crowd of watching eyes, her movements full of respect and dignity, before waving over a few other disciples and moving towards the furniture.

Facing ahead once more, Timur moved with a steady, methodical pace before finally stopping a few feet in front of the middle column, the recruits directly before him standing a little straighter than the rest as their gazes turned upward.

With his features set in a slight scowl, Timur's eyes scanned the ten groups, noting that there was a single, three-person team towards the back of the rightmost column. -"Fifty-three. No, fifty-four... Not a bad haul for a southern town. It's just a shame we haven't found any mages."

As his gaze swept over them, most were unable to keep eye contact, looking to the floor or sides as they scratched their heads or readjusted their weight.

Next to him Dimi, Hrafn and Jorm copied his actions, their gazes simultaneously landing on a young man, appearing to be around twenty-one years old, causing the unfortunate individual to break out into a cold sweat as his mouth closed, the half-finished whisper dying in his throat.

The once noisy grassland, excluding the sound of insects or the occasional cry of a bird in the distance, became eerily silent as a heavy pressure descended upon the recruits, their faces growing somewhat pale.

Timmur nodded his head once. -"Not bad, while it's the weakest aura I can reveal, none look like they are about to collapse."

Revealing the trace of a smile, Timur clasped his hands behind his back as he welcomed the new disciples before explaining the most essential rules and regulations of the sect.

There was a small amount of disturbance when he informed them that they were only honourary disciples and that they would need to pass the sect's final tests before becoming full-fledged members but other than that, the crowd listened carefully, some even recording the scene with memory stones, no bigger than a thumbnail.

Having finished going over the basics, Timur then introduced Dimi and the others, generating gasps, murmurings and wide-eyed stares.

After waiting for the noise to die down, a few of the more curious recruits moving forward slightly to get a better look at the three beast elders, Timur continued. "Remember, no matter how closely a beast resembles a human, they are not."

"While there is some overlap, even amongst the various species, their standards and morals fluctuate as greatly as the logic they use to guide their actions. If you can't treat them with respect and a healthy amount of caution, don't go near them."

"Spoilsport," grumbled Dimi under her breath, generating a small chuckle from the other two.

His smile becoming somewhat awkward as he restrained it, Timur carefully scanned the crowd as he was met with a wall of silence.

"Good." Timur nodded once before taking a deep breath. "That brings me to the last member of our troop, at least until we visit the next two towns."

The slight smile Timur had carried since he started talking vanished. "My personal disciple, Runt will be travelling with us. She is a beast, a member of my Iron Hall and a sect sanctioned executioner."

While there were some mutterings when Timur mentioned his personal disciple, growing when he said that she was also a beast, the true uproar came, from both current members and the recruits, when he mentioned that she was a sect sanctioned executioner.

Someone that, if given a just cause in the eyes of their superiors, which happened to be the master of the Hall of Iron, the sects most famous, and brutal, militaristic branch, could kill them without trial.

Clearing his throat loudly, the booming sound causing the uproar to die down almost instantly, Timur's grey eyes scanned the crowd, ensuring that he had everyone's attention. "For those without a deathwish, I offer a single piece of advice. Do. Not. Provoke. Her."

After a few moment's silence, whispers rippled out, many asking if this was a joke or test, before being quickly silenced by Timur's glare.

"That is all. Group leaders, make your final checks. Each team is to reach the campsite before sunset. Failure to do so will result in negative contribution points and the expulsion of the unit under your care." Having said what he had to, Timur clapped his hands.

With the sudden sound, the grasslands came to life as disciples in light grey robes started gathering their teams before moving past Timur and the carriages and deeper into the open plains, the grass quickly reaching their chests.

-"Though I didn't want to draw too much attention, at least this way I have given them a decent warning. If they still want to tempt fate, then it's out of my hands."

Watching the teams move into the distance, Timur shook his head as his shoulders sagged slightly, his gaze flickering to the silent figure standing silently on his right. -"The more I see and learn, the more I realise how broken and dangerous this girl is."

"Wasn't that a bit overkill?" said Dimi as she stretched before releasing a loud, open-mouthed yawn.

"Not really." Timur turned his head to the right, in the opposite direction of the three elders. "What do you think?"

"That you care too much for useless trash."

The heads of the three beasts snapped to the right at the sound of the soft, feminine voice, their pupils shrinking slightly as an uneasy feeling bloomed in their stomachs.

As their gazes fell upon the dark grey robes, their owner's figure distinctively female, the uneasy feeling only grew as they cautiously glanced at each other.

Hrafn folded his arms, his narrowed eyes glaring at the small portion of Nyx's face, the lower part of her face, that was visible from under the hood. "Well done. Not even a day has passed, but you have not only identified the method we used to detect you, but have fixed it."

Nyx didn't respond, standing slightly to the right and a step behind Timur with a straight back and her legs slightly apart, her arms similar clasped behind her as if she was imitating him.

A soft breeze blew past, slightly fluttering their robes as the snarl that had appeared on Dimi's features receded.

Exhaling loudly, Dimi abruptly turned and took a few steps towards Nyx, her gaze flickering to Timur before stopping, staring at Nyx as she chewed her bottom lip.

Nyx continued to look ahead, at least judging by the position of her hood, without any emotion reaching her delicate, soft red lips.

However, the more Dimi stared, the more unsettled Nyx felt, her insides starting to squirm as a shiver threatened to run down her spine.

After moving her gaze between Timur and Nyx a few times, Dimi snorted and spun on her heel, stomping her feet as she walked towards a carriage at the centre of the caravan.

Hrafn and Jorm, who had been watching her actions with interest, suddenly blinked, their heads moving back slightly.

Looking at each other, Jorm smirking while Hrafn displayed a thoughtful frown, both heads turned towards Nyx.

Spotting the corners of Nyx's lips upturned slightly the two looked at each other again before, without a word, they started walking towards the last carriage.

Jorm snickered while Hrafn shook his head, his eyes set on the ground in front of him.

"You may regret that later," sighed Timur as he analysed the strange black symbol, the drying ink still glittering in the sunlight, on Dimi's back. -"Luckily the other two kept their mouths shut or with Dimi's hearing and temperament..."

"Are you sure you want to make her an enemy?"

"Enemy?" Nyx's voice was quiet, causing Timur to lean towards her subconsciously. "The fact that she is alive speaks for itself."

Timur shook his head, only to come to an abrupt halt as his right eye narrowed as he glanced at Nyx. "While I admire your confidence somewhat, I guess your real intent is to use her as your sparring partner?"

Nyx's face twitched almost unnoticeably but showed no other expression.

Sighing, Timur motioned for Nyx to follow him as he started to walk towards the head of the caravan. "You do realise that she would have been the one most likely to accept you right?"

Nyx walked behind Timur, her hidden eyes moving across his broad, muscle-bound shoulders before falling to the slight, unnatural protrusions on his wrists and waist.

Reaching the first carriage, Timur held his arm out, indicating that Nyx should climb up onto the driver's bench.

Seeing this action, Nyx shook her head. "I'll walk."

Timur closed his eyes for a moment as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If I wanted to harm you, I would. You might be gifted, but there is just too much difference in our strength."

After a few seconds, Nyx moved towards the carriage before turning and facing Timur.

Without a word, she lightly hopped, quickly clearing the carriage top, and landing softly on its roof.

Whistling softly, his eyes moving from the floor to the top of the carriage that was large enough for him to fit inside comfortably, Timur climbed the steps and sat in the driver's seat.

Seeing Timur mount the carriage and sit, the remaining disciples, mostly silver robed, along with Lilly, quickly moved to embark theirs.

As he leant back, a slight, almost invisible layer of silvery-brown energy covered Timur's back and sides, concentrating around his neck and vitals.

"What's wrong?" said Nyx, her lips curled into a mocking grin.

Turning his head to the side, flinching when he discovered that Nyx was currently sitting nearby, her legs dangling beside him, Timur chuckled and shook his head.

Taking the reins handed to him by a disciple, who quickly entered the same carriage and closed the door, Timur turned his head and checked those behind before flicking the reins.

Nyx watched Timur, frowning when she realised that, even when she was sitting on the roof, she was moderately shorter than his sitting height, while Timur watched her out of the corner of his eyes as the essence they had gathered caused the air to shimmer lightly between them.

After a few minutes of travelling along the dirt road, the carriage bumping along, Nyx looked to the left, the lush, green forest gradually becoming more distance as they moved away and released a drawn-out breath.