The path of a Trainer is treacherous beyond what most people imagine. Every young child who aspires to one day have their own Thaeon and tackle the region’s rankings have stars in their eyes and clouds in their heads. What could be more romantic than venturing across the wild expanse of Specter with your own partner in tow, fighting and surviving off the land? They’re all too eager to start, too full of zeal to see the rocky path that lies in front of them. Those young Trainers had such vibrant light in their eyes when they left town and headed south towards the next location, Pol City.
Seeing that light slowly die was Raven’s favorite part of the job.
He wasn’t sadistic by any means–he wanted every single one to succeed–rather he hoped they would come to grips with the harsh reality of life and adapt to it to become good. No good Trainer ever stuck to such fantasies if they wanted to grow into higher evolutions, both personal and in union with their Thaeons. His own life had been rife with trial and tribulation before taking the head professor gig here in Fan Town. After all, not every Trainer ends up going after the League. Some become escorts through the Wilds; others join the military or TEA; some take their skills and assist locals with small problems that occasionally crop up with wild Thaeons.
He and Dagger had set out with the same fervor as these six who were waving back to him with their backpacks full of supplies, and heads full of lofty aspirations. Not from this town, of course, not set out nonetheless towards lands unknown. Fan Town may be the beginner’s cradle, but it wasn’t the only town where new Trainers lived.
“There are eight major leaders who stand in the way of you and the League. Beat each once and you will receive a token of victory,” he had told them before leaving town. “With eight in hand, you will be allowed into the new League tourney. Until then…good luck!”
Raven himself had risen through six of the eight leaders, but hit a wall. That was another harsh reality these young kids would soon see: not everyone was cut out to be the best. It’s simple genetics and those cannot be changed. It was a rare combo, a small percentage, that succeeded in doing so. Still, he had given it his best shot, achieving an Evo3 in the process which was equally rare. But high evolution wasn’t the only marker of skill. The bond between Thaeon and human is, of yet, still a mystery. It isn’t something that research has been able to fully quantify. Trainers have a sense of it, sure, but science is not built from sense and feeling; there needed to be a better way to understand it beyond subjective experience. As the six became dots along the horizon, he hoped they would come to find that their individual bonds went a lot further into making them powerful than just evolving. Evo1 was a ways ahead in terms of raw power. And Evo2? Whenever they fought their first Evo2, they would begin to see.
His phone began ringing. He kept his eyes on the horizon as he idly raised his phone and hit the button.
“Raven here.”
“Raven it’s…Rom.”
Finally, some news.
“Talk to me, Rom, where’s Marv?” Raven turned and walked briskly back to his lab. “Rom, is everything okay?”
He heard some talking in the background, some shuffling then, “Marv! Sorry I missed you earlier. What did you need to tell me?”
As Marv talked there was a faint distortion of static on the line.
“We have an interesting development with one of the new Trainers. I have compiled a file of notes for you to review when you’re able. Rom tells me you’ve been busy.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
Raven entered his lab, passed the double doors and into his lab. Off in the large room to the side Dagger floated and napped.
“One of our new starter Thaeons has a [Void] aspect. During the battle test he even phased out and reappeared above the opponent’s head.”
“[Void], you say?” Marv’s voice perked up. He mumbled something to Rom then turned his attention back to Raven. “And you are absolutely certain about this?”
“Yes sir. There is no doubt. I used the Aspect-O-Meter and the results were clear.”
“We really need a new name for that device… Where is this boy now?”
“Outside of town by now, braving the Wilds.”
“I see. We haven’t seen [Void] in–well we’ve never seen it. The last [Void] Thaeon was before our time and that Trainer is long gone. Disappeared one day without a trace.”
There was a moment of silence with that faint background of static. Raven would have to get the network inspected soon. He couldn’t quite make out what Marv was saying to Rom in the distance. Something about a technique file and more crystals.
“Say, Marv. What kind of research do you have going on over there?”
“We’re currently doing genetic research on humans”–a pause. Marv wasn’t a liar but he also wasn’t stupid–”studying how our evolution plays into the bigger picture of Thaeon bonds.”
“Ah. Well, I’m looking forward to that. I will let you go then. When you see my report, comment back and give me your thoughts.”
“Will do. Later.”
Beep.
Raven pursed his lips and stared at the phone. He pressed the button and listened but the static wasn’t there.
“Must be on their end.”
Marvin was a brilliant researcher in his own right, having furthered their Fan Town program more than any other. Raven glanced back over to Dagger who sensed unease and flew over to the large window to meet Raven’s eyes. A nod. An understanding.
They would need to go pay Marvin and Rom a visit.
* * *
The Wilds were not a single area, but a collection of areas filling in the gaps between each town where wild Thaeons naturally propagate and Trainers could hone their skills against others or Thaeons. As if that fact wasn’t obvious. What may not be as obvious is that each Wilds section was not regulated except for any potential criminal activity by the authorities as Raven mentioned. Around each town and city there were clear lines of demarcation between where regulation ends and begins; where travelers, who were not skilled Trainers, would need escorts through the rolling hills and tall grass. This was the exact speech Raven had given them before letting them loose, along with pulling Nil to the side to remind him naming a Thaeon helped with bonds. It wasn’t just a cool convention that Trainers did for fun.
“Warning,” Nil read a sign aloud, “do not continue without a Thaeon or an escort.” He looked back at the dark figure on his shoulder, remembering how it “phased out,” as Raven called it and slapped around Dave’s Thaeon with ease. A good start. This must be the power of [Void]. He could understand why it was so rare.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Phantom. That’s your name.”
A feeling of joy. Acceptance. It was settled.
And so, the six walked past the signs into the wild expanse of the Wilds that, though they had seen it since they were kids, entered now with a different mindset and goal. That morning, before saying goodbye for the last time, Raven had gathered them together in the lab to divvy out their final gifts for becoming Trainers.
“As you are all aware, your adventuring also doubles as research for Demiurge. You will all receive a specialized device that will record data along the way and assist everyone with keeping track of their own progress. It also includes a map and phone.”
From inside a box he withdrew six watches with large screens that he handed out.
“This will also allow for quick money transfer in the event of a loss and all of your personal information for entering any Demiurge location. Questions?”
Nil powered on the watch. The screen welcomed him by name and showed his Thaeon–its shape, height and weight–along with the aspect [Void] underneath. There was another info tab that, when he clicked it, gave a brief description of its capabilities.
“These capabilities… Are they preset?” Nil asked.
“No, it is a compendium of your battling style, abilities, techniques. All that. That is for research purposes. Demiurge is mainly involved in evolution and battle tactics. That information is logged and stored away for future use. You will see what I mean once you arrive at Pol City and check in with Demiurge there. All of your watches are connected directly with the Demiurge network and it allows us to keep tabs on your progress.”
Nil looked off towards the jagged peaks scraping the horizon and the open fields of the Wilds that were teeming with potential. He looked down at his watch and keyed in the name Phantom. Raven would be happy about that once he saw it.
“What now?” Poc said. “Do we travel together or…?”
Dave scoffed and shook his head. “So you can all see my new strategies and techniques? Pass.” With that, he left.
“I agree with him.” Max looked down at Brute and walked off.
“Eh, sure,” Rose said. “The Wilds around Fan Town are massive and there’s no time frame on arriving to the next. Peace.”
The twins shrugged and left, too, leaving Nil standing there relieved. He didn’t want to travel with others, let alone the same group that had taunted him through this entire process.
From now on, he and Phantom were on their own.
He opened up the map and scrolled around for any relevant information. The distance between here and Pol City shouldn’t take more than a week to walk. He knew, and had also thought, that running to the next city as fast as possible wasn’t the best strategy. The Wilds were a crucible to forge new strengths. The only big obstacle was a cave that wound through the mountains. Fan Town was rather secluded from the rest of the region. With the others having disappeared, he started off south in the general direction of the cave.
During the hour of wandering around, he began to consider future battle techniques he and Phantom could form together. Phasing in and out like against Sky would have to be practiced a lot more. That quick bout had completely wiped Nil out. Now, though, would come his first lesson in traveling in the Wilds: always be on alert.
From the tall grass beside where he walked, a shadow leapt with a loud grunt that bowled Nil to the side where he lost balance and hit the ground with a loud thud. Phantom had flipped from his shoulder and stood, tense, with the wild Thaeon bristling in front of him. It looked like a boar but with two brown horns instead of ears and one more jutting out from its forehead, its entire body varying shades of brown. It let out a loud screech before dipping its forehead horn into the dirt then bringing it up with a wave of spiked rocks fanning outward. Nil barely bounced back up in time to jump over the tiny wall.
Thaeons attacking Trainers? Raven never mentioned this. Suddenly the prospect of having peaceful, controlled battles in the Wilds dimmed his earlier excitement. Not only could he get injured, there’s a solid possibility he could be killed. The boar Thaeon roared, lifted up on its hind legs, then stomped the ground making it shake and knocking Phantom off balance before charging with its horns.
Think, Nil, think. His bond tightened with determination. There was no room for fear or doubt in these situations. With a thought, he told Phantom to leap up over the Thaeon’s charge and land on its back–which he did. Phantom latched onto the horns with his opponent bucking around, sending out more waves of spiked rocks into concentric circles that Nil had to actively avoid while also trying to guide Phantom in his next movements. More roaring, more stomping, all while Phantom punched the back of the Thaeon’s head.
All right, jump off and let it charge again.
When Phantom did jump off something else happened instead: the boar Thaeon, enraged now, charged Nil. Raven had warned of the perils that Trainers would face. The ups and downs and the journey into being powerful and all that. This is far from what he had in mind. He would only have a split second to dodge. Before he could, he felt a huge drain and Phantom had appeared in front of him with a powerful kick that swept the boar’s legs out from under him. The opponent slammed into the ground. Spinning around, Phantom shot up and landed another powerful kick to its jaw.
It stopped moving.
Nil wanted to celebrate his first real victory, but, oddly, stars were rushing at him from all directions until his vision turned black.
He awoke to the crackling of a fire and the red glow of sunset filtering through a mesh of twisted branches and leaves. With a jolt, he sat up and looked around. No one was there except for Phantom who sat in front of him. A calmness wrapped their bond, telling him to not worry. How could he not? He stood up and scanned the area. A figure appeared in the shadow of trees carrying a bundle of wood.
“You’re awake. Good. I thought you would sleep until morning.” It was a girl. She stood at his height with a blond ponytail and bangs covering her left eye. Her ragged outfit consisted of ripped shorts and a shirt that showed her belly. She dropped the load of wood and knelt beside her backpack from which she brought a bar of some kind. Nil flinched back and scrambled to sit against a tree, his face telling more than he’d like.
“It’s food.” She rolled her only visible eye. “Really? Yeah, I brought you here after finding you collapsed on the ground only to poison you or worse. Demiurge, right?”
He grabbed the bar out of the air–it was granola–and said, “How’d you know?”
“Because you’re all stupid…and the watch.” She nodded to his wrist. “All Demiurge Trainers have them.”
“Thanks for dragging me here.”
She hummed and looked off into the distance, through the trees. “I met some others, too, you know. Fan Town, right? Some big guy with a gray Thaeon and a girl with red hair. They”–she grinned in the flickering campfire–”coughed up some coin.”
“You’re a Trainer then?” Nil sat back down and put his back against the tree. His entire body ached and his optimism had slowly dwindled. First day and already some random girl had to save his hide.
“Stupid, like I said. Who the hell else wanders around the Wilds but Trainers?” She shook her head and Nil could feel heat rising up the back of his neck. He had half the mind to leave but curiosity urged him to stay. She stared at him and wiped her mouth from loose granola: “Interesting Thaeon you have there. I’ve never seen one like it. And the way you fight… I have to say, for a Demiurge newbie you sure did well against that ugly beast back there. [Mountain] aspects are notoriously tough to beat if they can surprise you.”
He reached into his pack and grabbed a waterskin. Phantom was calm despite the previous insults. It knew something Nil didn’t. There’s no reason for this girl to stay with me here. She wants something.
“What do you want exactly?” He stared back at her until she looked away back into the fire.
“I can’t help a new Trainer without wanting something?”
“You beat the others and didn’t stick around with them. You had no reason to be here when I woke up.”
With a sigh she shifted and gnawed on her bottom lip.
“Fine. I’ve been looking for a partner to tackle the cave together. I enjoy helping newbie Trainers. When I saw the way you battled I thought, maybe, you’d like to team up and work together. I know that cave well, but the Thaeons in there are brutal. You think that boar was bad?” She shook her head. “You probably won't last two minutes in there.”
Likely story. Nil wasn’t stupid–careless, maybe, but not stupid. She already got some money from the others. She was probably waiting to rob him. Phantom disagreed. He felt a genuine sense of trust through his bond.
“Let’s say I do go with you. I don’t even know your name. And where’s your Thaeon?”
“She’s scouting around. Any signs of danger and she lets me know. As for my name…you first.”
“Nil.”
“Nil, huh? Weird name like your Thaeon there. I’m Lyn. Nice to meet you.”
They sat in silence after that as the sun descended below the horizon. A rustling in the grass brought Nil to alert: he wasn’t going to be caught off guard again.
“Chill. It’s just my Thaeon.”
From out of the shadows emerged a deer Thaeon of pure gold, walking daintily upon four legs that ended in sharp points, its head a similar point with no eyes or features to speak of. Nil, shocked, raised his watch that still displayed the boar Thaeon from earlier as en Evo1 with [Mountain] aspect with Tremor and Earth Spike techniques. He didn’t know what any of that meant and, frankly, didn’t care. He pressed the scan button on Lyn’s partner and his eyebrows raised at what he saw.
Evo1, [Ether] aspect.
Raven had briefly mentioned [Ether] before as being the opposing aspect to [Void]. This meant hers was equally rare, too.
“This is Haven,” she said. “Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow we will start training. Going into the cave without Evo1 is idiotic.” She paused then smiled before turning out. “Something you Demiurge Trainers might actually try.