As we walked into the mansion, I followed just behind Queen Daz as instructed in my training, royalty is a higher class and I have no right to walk beside her.

The main hall was minimal, long with a large runner heading in the direction of the stairs, many double doors leading into different rooms, and the place was eerie silent, it made my fur stand on end, didn’t like this at all.

“This way your highness.” A knight opened the third door on the right, leading into a long corridor, decorated with art from all over the world, from underwater cities to cities in the sky.

“Do you know who owns this place?” I whispered curious as we followed that corridor filled even more doors.

“It is a shared location,” answered Queen Daz. “Everyone sends their loyalist and most gifted to guard this place, only those residing within live here, legend says a treasure will one day be kept here.”

“One day?” That didn’t make any sense.

“Sometimes the legends of old, also show you glimpses of the future,” she responded as we approached the end of the corridor. Two knights were waiting, one dress in the knight uniform of Cathopia. “Even our knights reside here.” He bowed respectfully and opened the doors.

There had been chatter in a large room with an oval table but as the doors opened silence filled it now.

I obediently stood behind Queen Daz as she stood proudly, not flitching for a second at their gaze.

I glanced around the room, catching a glimpse of all those present. Each were renown leaders of cities and tribes, to see them all gathered here was a most strange feeling indeed.

Empress of Atlantis, Milliana, a place said to be the main home to fish related Animalia. I wasn’t sure which Animalia she was as she closely resembled a form more like Larana and Mila with pink skin, but she had defining fins on her arms and legs. She wore a beautiful gown of coral pinks and purples, finely decorated with shells and the same went with her headdress, all made from shells fanning out to perfectly fit her head.

King of the Aviam Empire, Skyrus. A proud Pandion, closely related to the osprey, large powerful wings rested upon his back, his beak sharp, eyes instantly scanning us. He wore a brown tunic, decorated with golds and silvers, a crown of pure gold with blue and green crystals shaped like a pair of wings.

Lily, another Aves Animalia, covered in black and white feathers, definitely a Spheniscidae, also home of the penguins. She wore a dress comprised of different blues coming in stripes, reminded me a little of a pinwheel as it twisted around her dress. Her crystal-clear crown formed like icicles. She gazed curiously at us.

Brocko an Ursus, much broader than Brendan, current leader of the Ursus clans, wearing less royal attire then the others, a bare chest with a sash and plain shorts, obviously not too worried about appearance.

Stocker, Bubo Scandiaces, a third Aves Animalia covered in white feathers, related to the all-powerful snowy owl. Guardian of the mountains, wearing a white tunic with brown detailing on his belt and sash.

I was surprised to see Charlotte of the Performing Butterflies here. Was she important in some way?

No surprise to see Madi was here, head of the Rattus Warriors. I was certain she’d done work for all of them. She gave me a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Reko, Lupus, somehow dubbed Guardian of the wilds, always accompanied by his wolf pack, sat relaxed behind him, he was the only one not accompanied by another Animalia. His clothes were scruffy, an animal pelt from a deer around his waist and a thick sash across his chest, if I was to see a wilds one day, it would most probably look something like him.

Lastly Salvestra, a type of Serpentes, a naja; not even Queen Daz knew much about her as she had recently taken her seat amongst them a few years ago. She wore a simple long purple robe with gold trims.

“I thought you weren’t coming,” commented King Skyrus, his eyes narrowed.

“My apologies.” Queen Daz calmly walked over to the table, even with all their eyes upon her, she seemed unfazed.

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“I have a new escort this year.” She sat down. I kept a straight face as I stood behind her chair, Raziel sat next to me. I kept my eyes forward even though I could sense something.

“No excuse, you know we start at a specific time.” King Skyrus raised his voice.

“Let it go.” Empress Lily shot him down. “I remember the year you were late and missed the whole thing because they wouldn’t let you in.” On her words there was a laugh around the room.

“I’m surprised they let you in,” commented Madi.

“Of course, they would, she did have one of her knights at the door,” said Salvestra.

“Enough of my lateness, we are here for a reason.” Queen Daz moved the subject on.

“Yes, the darkness,” smiled Milliana, her eyes on me.

“It has been spreading as you said it would Daz,” said Brocko. “I have lost many of my people due to it.”

“Yes, the caravan attacks,” responded Queen Daz. “But have they not stopped.”

“They have but for how long,” snapped Brocko. He made me think of Brendan and Athena. “Tell me, who else here has suffered.”

“My husband has not been the same,” said Queen Daz. “Luckily he has locked away most of what he knows deep within his mind, so not even they can find it.”

“We were surprised when you first came here,” admitted Charlotte.

“It has scared most of the fish away from my ocean,” mentioned Empress Lily. “If we didn’t have our trade agreement my kin would starve.”

“There has been an increase in the disturbances in the mountain, avalanches have wiped out many lives,” informed Stocker.

“Most animals sense this danger which seems to be spreading,” said Reko. “But none of us seem to be able to figure out how to stop it.”

“By extinguishing those that spread it, it spreads it further, faster,” said Queen Daz. “But not just any Animalia can do it as it is almost impossible to distinguish those who spread it.”

“You’re not going to go back to that Fang business again,” said Salvestra. “The tales of Cathopia are just bedtime stories.” Most agreed by nodding.

“You all seem to have missed something.” Empress Milliana shook her head, pointing up to the ceiling, which depicted an image of Fang, his talisman spirits of Larana, Mila, Raziel and Arata, all fighting together against the eternal dragon.

I stared at it, glimpsing a massive battlefield and I heard a voice. “Don’t give up now, you’ve fought this hard to reach her. I promised you didn’t I, that I would save her and return you both home.” I shook my head chasing it away. Everyone was looking up at it.

“Yes, yes, it’s the supposed battle that took place here,” snorted King Skyrus.

“Queen Daz care to introduce the fine knight accompanying you,” smiled Milliana. Suddenly all their eyes were on me, they hadn’t even taken note of me when I first arrived.

“This is the son of Yamato,” began Queen Daz. “His name is Fang.”

“Fang,” hissed Salvestra. “I thought we agreed not to discuss that dripple.”

“Dripple,” snarled Raziel.

“Easy.” I touched his mane, I thought I would find it hard to contain myself, not Raziel of all my talismans. “I’m Fang,” I said, holding my hand out to summon Arata then Mila appeared on his back and Larana on my shoulder. “I wield the talismans of old.”

“You all do insult to our first master’s memory,” huffed Mila.

“You’re lucky to be able to sit there,” snorted Larana.

“Guys,” I warned. They all went dead quiet which made me extremely nervous.

“Yamato was rare in his number of talisman spirits, surely it is impossible to wield more than that,” said Express Lily.

“Oh, I can connect with so many more.” I stared at her crown, sensing that it was actually a talisman. “Embedded within is an ice spirit.” I held my hand out in front of me, closing my eyes for a second. I reached out my power, asking for the talisman spirit to connect with mine.

I opened my eyes as she connected back, a small bird talisman by the name Hali. I summoned a hand of ice, shaping it into her form, as it faded away, I severed the connection as I was still mastering it, thanks to Brendan and Diluc.

“Impossible.” King Skyrus was shocked.

“I saw when he first obtained the lions,” mentioned Madi. “He is something to behold.”

“Mind boggling, all these years I’ve always thought such things were just a legend,” said Stocker, first to accept it.

“Another attempt of the darkness trying to rid the memory of Fang and his clan,” said Queen Daz. “The only ones capable of dispersing the darkness.”

“Then why hasn’t he?” hissed Salvestra.

“Because I am not strong enough,” I answered.

“Most recently I came across a Draco, he breathed with the essence of darkness and the same for those who rule under him.”

“I thought you said no one could tell,” said Brocko.

“I am the Feles who investigated those attacks on your caravans. I found one survivor Brendan, current wielder of your clan’s ancestral weapon and Athena is safe too.” He stared at me.

“Fang’s clan are capable of seeing this darkness, that is why I have brought him with me, I believe one amongst you is unknowingly working with him.” They gasped at her accusation, some were even angry, but I knew why she had chosen me.