As the door swung open, the chants swiftly turned to cheers. He walked out into the large gathered crowd; about half the town took turns slapping him on the back in a congratulatory manner.

“Thanks, everyone,” Veil said as loud as he could, attempting for his voice to carry over the crowd’s murmurs.

“Give him room, give him room!” he heard Grok yelling over the crowd. As the crowd began to part, he could see his brother pushing his way through.

“You did well, brother,” Grok asked.

“Yeah, but I had a vision,” Veil said.

“A vision?” Grok replied. “Let’s not speak of that here in front of everyone,” Grok said, looking around. “But, uhm, what did you choose?” Grok asked, looking down at Veil’s wrist.

“Clan tattoos,” Veil said with a smirk.

“Yes, but what did you choose for your other tattoo?” Grok asked.

“Clan tattoos,” Veil replied.

“No, maybe you’re not understanding me, or maybe you’re still woozy. Maybe we should even get some food in you, but I asked what your other tattoo was of,” Grok said.

“Clan tattoos,” Veil said, holding his arms out so Grok could see his matching tattoos.

“Oh, you got both wrists marked with our insignia,” Grok said with a chuckle.

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“Yeah,” Veil replied, laughing along with his brother.

“Veil,” Grok said.

“Yeah, brother?” Veil replied.

“Why did you get it on both wrists?” Grok asked.

“Symmetry,” Veil replied with a chuckle. He slapped Grok on the shoulder and went to walk through the crowd, but a piercing howl sounded from beyond the lake of people.

“Tank,” Veil responded, looking for his soul-bound pet. He saw him galloping towards him, snarling. The town collectively gasped and backed away from Veil. “Tank, what are you doing?” he called out. The wolf didn’t respond but seemed to pick up the pace. He lunged into the air and slammed hard into Veil’s chest, knocking him to the ground. A loud wheeze escaped from Veil’s very core as the wind was knocked from him. He rolled over to try to find where Tank had landed, but he was nowhere to be seen. The town gasped in unison again.

“Tank,” Veil called out, becoming frantic. What had he done to make his best friend react that way? He’d been ignoring his friend, he knew that. He didn’t even notice until today that Tank had been growing. But they were soul-bound, he thought. Why would he attack him? “Tank,” he called out again, spinning around, looking everywhere. “Tank,” he called again.

“I am here, Master,” Tank’s voice came from nowhere. No, not nowhere—it was where it had always been. It was inside his head.

“Tank, where are you?” Veil called out, panic in his voice.

“I am with you, Master,” Tank replied.

“With me?” Veil asked.

“Inside you. You’ve leveled up your soul, Master. I can finally be one with you. You are my summoner. You felled me as if I were a mighty oak, and now your soul is strong enough to house mine as well as yours. You are the Beast Master. You are my guardian, and you are my master now,” Tank said, with an air of reverence in his tone. “Thank you, Veil,” Tank said.

“Thank you, Tank,” Veil said.

Veil didn’t realize he had closed his eyes during this, but he did. When he opened them, the entire town was bowing.

“Grok, what’s going on?” Veil asked.

Grok stood. “You are the Beast Master. The whole town saw what just happened.”

“Yes, but why is everyone bowing?” Veil asked. “Why were you bowing?”

“Because you are our leader. You will lead us to the tree. I knew you were the Beast Master before now, but to see it—that was amazing. It became so much more real,” Grok said. “Look.”

He held up his arms to show Veil he had goosebumps.

“Are you really showing me your goosebumps right now?” Veil asked.

“Yes, brother. That was awe-inspiring,” Grok replied.

“You are weird,” Veil replied.

“And you’re amazing,” Grok responded. “Come, let’s get food,” Grok said, turning from the crowd and leading Veil to Gris’ tavern.