Chapter 2

Belia

Valleyfall is a city inside a valley that runs several miles long and wide, surrounded by a starlight fill forest. In the middle a castle reside, black like iron with steel chains that connect to all the watchtowers around it. Encircling it were thirty meters high stone, ash colored walls. A town occupy the outside of the walls with barns and farmhouses spread out with their own field. All of them were well lit with their oil lanterns in front of their steps as torches strap on tall poles light up the streets. The valley’s outer perimeter, closer to the cliff wall was the training ground for the warriors of Valleyfall.

Belia walk through the wet grass that glimmer with the moonlight as Master Luwis spot her walking around the field alone, he swiftly made his way towards her and said in his deep, harsh voice. "Lady Belia are you looking for your brothers Stan and Lanier?” He asks as he looks through the field with his stone cold eyes. Belia waved her hand. “No Master Luwis am not looking for my brothers I am just passing through.” She answered with a slight smile. Master Luwis with his stone like face nodded to her and turned around. As he was about to take his leave Belia thought of something and ask, “Master Luwis have you seen my lord father?” Master Luwis turned to her again, his scar visible with the moonlight shine on his face. He thought for a second and nodded, “Yes lady Belia I just saw him in the stable trying to tame that wild beast we found on the northern icy plains.” Belia gave her thanks and left to the stable where the animals were kept.

With the stable been in another field right next to the training ground. Belia walk pass the whole training ground to reach the other end of the wide field. Passing beside the young warriors, one in particular stop his Breathing Exercises and made his way towards her. He was tall with broad shoulders and sturdy like the men of the North. He smiles and bow to Belia and said, “Lady Belia I didn't know you were going to come here. Do you need anything that I could help you with.” His short beard spread across his face showing a row of white teeth behind. Belia glance at him and stare at his ragged clothes, claw marks his leather armor and bruise cover his big arms. Belia eyebrows were raised and she said, “Oh, you came back from the black woods. Tharlos did you had some breakthrough or did you find anything of worth in the woods? I thought you were supposed to camp outside but seeing you here it seems that adventure finish fast.” Belia ask inquiring about Tharlos journey into the black woods.

He scratch his beard and couldn't help but curse, “For the old gods Lady Belia! I and the hammer twins were training deep in the forest, we found a small pack of Rabies Hounds and thought we could take them on.” He stomp the ground with anger and continue, “After all they are only a Grade-Three Evolutionary dogs and are a Class One Variant Beast. It was still under our control until that pack of Wild Hogs came running us through.” Touching his left arm that had a deep scratch with dried blood in it, a helpless smile spread across his face. “Those Wild Hogs where Grade-Five Evolutionary Beasts and with our strength the twin hammer brothers and I could only take one at the time. We were not strong enough to fight a pack like that, but.” He paused and started to think of the events prior, “Lady Belia I could have sworn that those Hogs were running away terrified, they all seems to be afraid of something. I could feel it, they weren't after us, they simply ran while taking anything in their way down and I only manage to kill two and the brothers kill one each. I was about to go and find lord Stan and lord Lanier but I heard they were training together in the back Tower Ground.” Belia listen to him and furrows her brows. Cyrus was in the forest but she didn't know if he was the cause or something else. Shaking her head Belia said to Tharlos, “Go and rest, tomorrow is the ceremony and soon the graduation will start after that. This year there will be a lot more than the previous ones. You and the twin hammer brothers ought to be in your peaks, Ok.” He nodded and left Belia.

Finish talking with Tharlos she reach the stable. Walking through the entrance a big expand of muddy ground and dried grass welcome her. Belia saw a couple of young men bare chested holding a big chain, four of them in total. In the end of the chain was a wild beast jumping and kicking. The beast was black as the high night sky, with sharp scale on its body. Two large wings spread on its back with a long tail that measures nine meters in length, full of scaly spikes. Pack with four limbs thick like a trunk it stamp the ground as splatter mud fill the youths holding the steel chains. Belia walk up and see her father in front of the beast, three meters apart to be exact. The beast back face Belia and she admires the beauty of its scale, the spine full of bone spikes that could pierce through flesh and bone, gazing at the ten meters long scale wings that cause the air to flush angrily by every beat. She circle the beast and stare at her father. Lord Brethan a man in his late-thirties with dark brown hair and with a shadow of his facial hair resting there.

Tall, sturdy with broad shoulders and muscles bigger than any man on the field, with his aggressive aura the beast kept its gaze on him. Belia stand at the back of her lord father as she stared at the beast front. It is tall, almost reaching four meters in height and with a chest covered in dark red scale that the light of the starry night bounce off from. It's beauty was there to marvel at. Two saber like tooth protrude from its upper jaw, it's face filled with anger and viciousness with two long bloody horns that travel backwards to its long scaly neck. Belia saw intelligence in those deep dark green eyes as its stare at everyone in the field. The low growl show defiance and hatred. The stomping on the ground cause small vibrations to travel underneath them, the strength behind those stomp was enough to crush a human body to a bloody pulp. Lord Brethan gaze the beast with eyes showing concentration, thinking of ways to tame the beast without hurting it.

Belia at the back look high at the night sky seeing a bunch of birds and other avians fly off from the dark forest. They all took flight at the same time as if running away from something. All of them traveling fast, passing the sky of Valleyfall like a Horde and landing on the opposite side of the forest from where they came from. Furrowing her brows she started to think about this weird night. Thinking of Cyrus, she remembers the time when she meets him. It was a weird night like this one. The only difference was that at the time her lord father was teaching the Art of Taming to the boys. . .

“Tsk tsk… not like that Stan. See your big brother over there, you need to beat it at its game. Beast are brutes! They can only understand with violence. If you want to beat them and tame it. Play it like them, with no Martial Force, use the strength of your physique.” A Beast is incredibly perceptible to energies like Martial Force and Magic. They smell it and taste it in the air like blood. It irritates them and turn them hostile. They perceive these types of energies as two things, food or enemy.

A big man with a beard kneel down to a youth with an expressionless face, it made the man eyes twitch. He picked up the boy and threw him in front of a big cow. The moment he look up from the muddy ground the boy's eyes flashed suddenly and he dash towards the left, the bull pass with incredible speed through his prior place. The expression of the boy took a change, and the big man let a hearty laugh at the side. “Finally ha-ha! That should teach you not to underestimate your enemies because of their low intelligent. Now, go on, weren't you confident in your speed? How bout it, can you beat this Four Horned Bull without using Martial Force?” With a smile he look at the boy as it dance around the two an half meter high bull. The boy by now was sweating and could only use his feet to move his body around the raging creature that was thrashing around, he reminded him, “Be careful, its talent laid in speed and it's hide is harder than stone if you just get bruised by it, it will not end well, for you at least, it will be a tough opponent.” The man outside the fences laugh as he walks away .

Belia was sitting on top of the wooden plank fence that surrounded the field with a loaf of bread in her hands. Chewing with a smile, she laughs at her brother who was rolling on the muddy ground. Following her father she see him close in to another youth, he was bigger and more robust looking. This was Lanier Ashcold, with a leather cloak draped over his shoulder he square off to his opponents. Even with the cold winds, he was still covered in his own perspiration, when faced against the Grizzly Fat Bear in front of him. Lanier tackle the bear to the ground, showing dominance on top of the creature. He punches his snout, he grabbed his mouth and force him to laid on its big back.

The Bear was a huge creature, it twist and turn. It try to throw off Lanier off its chest but it couldn’t. Having lost its patient it *Roar!* The bear let out an angry cry, and claw towards Lanier left shoulder. He jump off and distance himself from the beast. He stares at the bear and put himself in a stance. Shoulders down, arms apart, legs wide open and his center of gravity closer to the ground. The bearded man said behind him, “Like that Lanier, now close in the gap. Remember you are not to cause him injury, you need to beat it with brute strength.” Looking over to the other side, the man watch Stan jumping, rolling and dodging the bull. He smile and turn to Belia.

Belia watch from the distance and got down from the wooden planks, giving the last piece of bread to a silver-white dire wolf in a cage, she later walks towards the man. In a cheerful voice she calls, “Lord father what do you want me to do.” She knew that today was her First Learning, so she decided to make full effort in this training night by her father. Lord Brethan laugh and grabs her by the shoulder as he kneels down. Releasing a deep sigh. His smiling face was no more, Belia realize something was not right and was about to ask her father what was wrong but he beat her to it.

"Child I know you want to grow up and be a knight, you want to train like your brothers out there right.” Letting out a long sigh again Lord Brethan grabbed her by the arm and started walking towards the outside of the stable. Belia at the time was confused as to where her father was bringing her, but later she realizes that their traveling path was leading to the outside of the valley and into the dark woods.

Walking through the slope that lead upward towards the forest she couldn't help but ask, “father where are we going? Are you going to find a beast to fight me.” Her doubts could be seen in the tone of her voice. Belia really couldn't understand her father, her brothers were never brought out to the dark woods to train because of the hidden dangers that lied within. Her father looks deep into the forest, his gaze, complicated. Looking down at her he smile and said, “Child are you scared.” Lord Brethan voice had a hint of amusement, Belia hearing that turn angry and act tough, “hmp, me scared, never father, I am the daughter of Brethan The Smasher, the first general that lead the war for his majesty the king. I was also born as one of the Brave Warriors of the north, how can I be afraid of some dark woods.” Belia spoke all in one breath, but her face flushed red with nervousness, gasping for air as she calms down. Actually she was slightly afraid. After all the stories of the beasts that live inside the dark woods were always fresh in her mind. Pouting and showing her two dimples she said, “father, you know that I don't like been teased like that.” Lord Brethan laugh and said, “Did head maid Marilee told you tales again from the war.” Belia looks up and said, “Yes father I ask of her.”

Walking out of the entrance of the gate on top of the slope, Belia saw the dark forest far in the distance. So dark that the twins light didn't shine within. Entering the forest with her father, Belia became marvelous. Inside of the forest was a new world, walking hand in hand with her father she couldn't help but said to him, “father why is this place so pretty! I thought it would be dark, humid and cold.” Belia was in wonder. The inside of the forest was outside of her imagination. Bright lights illuminated the forest, small little dots move from branches to branches. The dots were in beautiful colors; some white and blue, others red with golden yellow swirling inside and some normal, single color ones.

Lord Brethan saw his daughter in wonder and said, “They are fairy, creatures of unknown origin. They don't attack humans and don't appear to have any connection with anything except nature. For what we know they don't make contact with just anyone nor anything but what we do know is that there seems to be an intimate relationship between them and nature. They appear small and child like but from the days of the first men to now, there has been no records that says the fairy are actually good or bad creatures.” Wonder continue in Belia eyes, small creatures that look like children were still in the unknown through numerous years. One small like fairy land in her shoulder, it's color was a special white and blue one, like the big moon above. The small fairy make hands sign making Belia giggles along the way…

After walking deeper, Belia notice the darkness in the surroundings, looking upward the darkness swallow the trees, “father where are the fairy? They are gone.” Belia says confused and lost as to where the magical creatures disappeared. They gave life, wonder and mysteriousness to the now bleak, humid and cold forest. The forest grew dark with every step they took deep into the woods. Belia could feel a faint tremor on the ground. Looking down to the dried muddy ground she crouch down to see the pebbles trembling. At that time she realize the muffle sound down in the distance, in her ear it sounded like a giant hammer hitting hard stone. The fairy in her shoulder dive into her clothes, chillness cover her body. The little blue fairy tremble inside, looking up to her father to find answer she sees a complicated gaze once again as he stare at the far end of the path. Continuing to walk down the gravel path she grip her father big hand, the sound becoming more noticeable. As the hammer sounds became louder and more menacing.

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Walking into the end of the road they appear on top of a cliff, below a big round boulder presented itself, big enough to shadow the depressing walls of Castlely Ash. As she looks down, she found a boy younger than her surrounded by blood. His tiny body full of thick viscous blood and a pile of bodies in his surroundings. Belia gasp at the sight of so many beasts bodies, she has never seen so much blood as of now. Gulping down a mouthful of cold winter air, she could feel a sweet scent watch over her throat. “That's Cyrus my little lady.” Her father tease her by messing her hair and blocking her view. She knows why he did it, the ‘mess’ in front of her was not something a normal kid could watch. Taking a deep breath and gripping her father rough hand she look at the bloodbath in front of her eyes. White skin as the pale snow, Hair long and starless black.

The boy stood there, with four tail swimming in the air with darkness surrounding him. The tails black as his hair, with a net of complicated scarlet pulsing veins that ran all around the tail. The blood red light that the veins release cause the boy to be menacing and dark. Her father took a deep breath, his eyes couldn't help but show a resolution that wasn’t there before as he said, “Belia my dear, he is Cyrus a boy the Masters found wandering in the Wilderness of the Southern Lands. His origin are clear as this dark forest.” Belia stare at the beastly boy and found him blindfolded, “is he blind?” She ask. Her father shook his head in denial, and said, “No one knows, when Master Luis found him he was already with that blindfold, Master Orshcord try to remove it but fail in his attempt.” Belia gave an understanding nod and stare at the boy. “Here give him your blood, so that he can calm down.” He gave her a small copper dagger and stood back. “My blood!” Belia growls, fear birth into her heart. She thought that if he could rip those beast apart, what it would do to her? “Relax child he would do you no harm. Trust your father.” Lord Brethan says in a serious tone. Looking back she sees her father close to a tree watching her from afar. Blood? Father but why! That boy is a Beast, no he's a monster, She couldn’t help but think. But this may be a test from her father. Her thoughts continue thinking of all the possibilities that would cause her father to do this. Gritting her lips she cut her wrist.

*DRIP*

A drop of blood fell off from her arm. Waiting for something to happen she stare directly down at the boy. He looks upwards and two diabolical red light pierce her eyes. Cyrus jump over fifty meters high and arrive in front of her like a ghost. His head tilt to the side and stare at her wrist. Looking at her again he walks slowly towards her cover in blood, she could have sworn that the thing in front of her was the enemy of the old gods and the new. ‘The Devil’.

Terrified she froze, leaving her bleeding hand half way up. Grasping her fingers Cyrus smell her blood, then took a small lick with his innocent face. Her eyes never miss him as she stare at every move he made. After he stuck his small pink lips in her open wound, he suck her blood with unrelenting force. She slowly felt his grip becoming harder and harder until his fingers left bruises on her soft skin. When his grip soften, she thought it was over. Then, pain overwhelm her body and she couldn't help but arch her body downward, “fa…th…er…” She cry, her voice trembling in pain as she calls for her father but the words wouldn't come out right. The pain that came was horrendous, it felt like burning fire passing through her veins. Popping sound came from her joints, sounds that frightened her, it was like earthquakes traveling through her body. After, she heard a voice so nice that she thought the old gods were whispering to her ears.

Thy shall please thy lord, and

Sacrifice thy blood and soul.

When a big arm grabs her and shook her shoulder she came back from her daze, and stare at the big shadow that block the moonlight in front of her. It was Lord Brethan as he smile and ask her, “girl what are you thinking? Being daze and all in the middle of the field. Also your mother has been looking all over for you.” Belia smile and bow to her father as she said. “Lord father I was asking about you, and Master Luwis told me your whereabouts.” He nod and said, “For what reason do you come to find me.” Belia didn't answer but stare at the growling beast at the back.

Brethan smile and said, “We found it in the icy plains and brought it back. The Beast is strong, fast and agile for its size. It is a tough fighter that's for sure! Even though I didn't use my full strength it still took my hits as if they were nothing. It is aggressive and doesn't let anyone get three meters close to it. It also shows intelligence that's why I’m trying to make a connection with it but it just too stubborn the damn beast!” Shaking his head he turns to a youth close to him and said. “Give it a bucket full of Sweet Dreams.” The young man nodded and turn, as he ran out to the Wooden storage houses inside the stable. The young man came back with a bucket full of a white creamy liquid. Lord Brethan check the quantity of the bucket and said, “throw it on top its head and make sure to hit its snout so that it can take the full blow effect.” The young man nodded and walk up to the beast, he could feel the pressure and the stare of the beast. The young man gulp down a mournful of saliva as he walk slowly towards it.

Belia watch it , as sounds of chain came over from outside the field. She turn her head and look at the old man with a grey robe made of woven and animal hair walk into the stable. The Maester, Wearing a long chain collar with different sizes of rings. The chain about his neck, each link was forged from different metals, each symbolizing his mastery of another branch of learning; the Maester's Collar was the mark of his order. Entering he stare at the wild beast in awed, but later shook his head and hurry up to where Belia and her father were. He bowed to Belia and Brethan and said, “My lords a crow came delivering a message from his majesty.” With a shaking hand the old man pass the yellow paper with the wax stamp sigil of two lion facing the sun. Opening the parcel Brethan read its contents nodding to himself, he putted it away in his beasts skin leather coat.

Belia couldn't help her curiosity and ask her father, “ What did it say?” Turning to her he said. “Nothing new, that his majestic will make his appearance with the royal family and that he will arrive by tomorrow mid day, now girl go…” *Pang* the sound of the bucket falling was heard behind them. The Maester, Belia and Lord Brethan turned to look and found the white milky stuff all over the ground and the young man that had it in his hand pierced by a metallic scaly tail through his chest. “Damn,” Lord Brethan curse and was about to make his move when the tail penetrating the young man chest open out, spiking up it's scale spurs as with a shake it turn the young man chest into a meat paste. Blood spatter on the ground and the stomach-curly scream of the man resonate with the lively night. As the screaming of the young man die down, the beast brutally mash the body with its long nine meters tail down to the ground *Splash*. Intestines and organs spread out in all directions and the other youths let go of their grip of the chains in fear. *Roar* the beast let out a happy roar as it fluttered its wings.

Belia instantly jump back and grab the old man. The Maester didn't have any Martial Force in his body and could not use the Force energy. Belia ran back with the other four young men, staring up at the beast. The roaring of the beast alerted the town folks and also the Masters in the training field. All ran, Brethan wave his big open hand and cut the chaotic winds apart. The beast calm down and wave its massive long tail as four claws came out of its four limbs. Brethan jump back and widen the gap between the two. Now all the stable were filled with young boys and girls to young adults male and female.

The Masters made a defensive line to keep the young ones from harm. Belia on the other hand wasn’t nervous, she was confident in her Lord father strength so she laid back and watch this with calm eyes. Lord Brethan stand in the middle between them and the beast. From behind all of them your could see the air been disturb by Brethan Force. It twist and churn turning his surrounding blurry by the naked eye.

A deadly silence enter the stable, the rough breath of the beast was the only thing heard. Brethan stare as he slowly activates his Martial Force, an invisible outburst of waves came out from his body. Pushing out all the dust and grass that the Beast sprout out from the ground. With Force Activation the ground quaked from the Force power, just like a small earthquake. “Look! Lord Ashcold will make his move!” Exiting shouts came from the youths behind the Masters, one middle age man with a sword on his waist hush the children behind him, “damn brats shut up, do you not see that the lord is concentrating!” The youths smile wary and scratch the back of its head. Brethan was concentrated when a voice was heard, "What are you all doing!” The cheerful voice was heard behind the crowd. Everyone turned and saw a young boy the age of fifteen entering the stable. Blind was the boy with long black hair, hair so black that it swallows the light around it. That boy was Cyrus, with his hand full of red flowers he walks towards Belia.

Belia see him and smile asking, “where you flower hunting all this time.” He smile showing his two sharp canines. The Masters had dark faces by the time Cyrus came to Belia side. The other youths stare in confusion at the boy that they have never seen before. And what's more surprising than that was that he is blind and wore a piece of cloth covering half of his face, people gossip, everyone should have known about his existence since long ago but they have never noticed him before in Valleyfall. By how unique he was they wouldn't forget about him if they ever saw him. But clearly, no one from the youths have ever seen him. Causing confusion and question flying all around. The Masters shut them down once more and now they came to realize that the Masters were in the know about his identity, making the youths more curious as to who Cyrus is.

Cyrus didn't answer Belia and gift her the flowers, he said while walking towards Brethan and the beast. “I found them, and I know you love them a lot so I took some for you.” Belia let a smile spread out over her face as she sees him walking out. The old man beside Belia stare at her with wide eyes and later at Cyrus and Couldn't help but said, “boy what are you doing, come here, is dangerous over there! Miss tell him something." Another, one of the four men that release the beast also yell at him with anger in his tone, “ kid come here you are going to distract Lord Ashcold.”

The blind boy ignore them and continue to walk towards the two. Belia saw her father eyes twitch, she knows that he was annoy by Cyrus action but a helpless smile crept across his face. Belia was about to call Cyrus back but sees her father raise a hand towards her. With his helpless smile he said to Cyrus, “from where did you come out from. I was looking for you prior to coming here. Let see if you have any luck with this beast.” Lord Brethan jump back and appear beside Belia letting Cyrus alone in front of the beast. The young man that yell at Cyrus before, Marcus, had an incredulous look and couldn't help but say. “My Lord is not appropriate to let that child close to the beast.” Letting a long sigh he smile at Marcus and said, “Child, beast? There is no such thing in front of my eyes, because he is not that different from those monster of the Gate.” Marcus stare in confusion at Lord Brethan, not only him but also The Maester. They couldn't understand what their lord say. Belia chuckles at them and pointed at the field as not only them but everyone turn their attention to it.

Belia gaze at that pure black hair that sway with every step he take. She caught a glimpse of fear in those dark green beast eyes. The beast wave its massive wings as the chaotic air hit against Cyrus face. His long hair dance like a snake in a river by the forceful winds. Cyrus smile and extend his arm at the beast, when everyone thought the beast would launch at him, nothing happens. An eerie silence cover the stable with a strong stench of blood in the air. Belia sees the beast froze in front of Cyrus as she sees him walk around the beast and slowly petting it.

He turn around giving his back to the beast and said to Brethan, “Brethan it's seems she likes me so am going to keep her ok.” Everyone gasp at what Cyrus says. The thought of him claiming the beast was surprising enough but to actually call the lord of Valleyfall by his first name was unthinkable. Belia close the distance and gaze high at those dark green eyes. She looks at Cyrus while he was stroking the beast scale and ask, “Do you really want to keep it? And how do you know is a female” she ask. Cyrus look back at her and release his smile, “of course I want to keep her and how I know her gender he he! That's our secret.” He says that while looking up at the beast.

Belia nodded giving him a meaningful gaze, is a first, for Cyrus has never thought of keeping her in secret of something, she knows everything about him, but she shook her head and ask again, “ What name are you going to give it.” He thought for a moment and raise his hand to touch the wings. “Why not call her Nightshade. Yeah! That's her name.” Cyrus said and jump to the beast back, while been gaze by everyone. Lord Brethan shake his head while giving him a complicated smile and said, “brat take good care of it, beast are living creatures, not toys to break and throw away.” Belia seems to notice something from her father but stood back as she also reminds, “Cyrus this is a big responsibility, you need to feed it and take good care of it, remember that.” Cyrus wave his hand at Belia and said. “Yeah I know, now I would want to bound with my new friend, bye.” The beast wave her wings and took to the night sky with Cyrus on top screaming his lungs out. Everybody on the field was left dumbstruck on one way or another.

Lord Brethan turn to everyone and said, “Now the show is over, everyone go back and do what you were doing.” After that he signal at Marcus and the others, “Clean this mess and go to Ms. Jerald and tell her the news about her son's death. Also, Marcus go on and keep training, the graduation is coming soon and you need to be at your peak ok.” Marcus and the other nodded and bow to lord Brethan. After everyone left only the Maester and Belia were left. With the bloody stench of the ground. Lord Brethan look at Belia and said, “Now go and prepare for tomorrow.” Letting out a sigh he looks at the high night sky. “A wedding might happen soon.” Belia was about to turn and walk away but stop in shock, she look at her father remembering the strange gaze he threw at Cyrus, she looked up and gripped her blue diamond necklace. Her fear may just come true.