"So you've finally accepted my challenge." An 8 year old boy walks out of the shadows of the slide before Chen Ling. He wore a baseball cap tipped so low the shadow covered his eyes. He also had fingerless gloves and a vest with a lot of pockets.
He had two companions. One had sunglasses and slicked back hair with a permanent sneer and wore a suit, and the other had a bowl cut, glasses, and wore a school uniform from who knows where, because Chen Ling knee they all went to the same school.
"Your cat may be cute, but it is strength that truly rules this world." He lifted his face to show a cynical and arrogant smirk. "I'll show you the true path of the victor. Are you prepared?"
Chen Ling silently watched the boy of similar age monologue before her with his lackeys in a pose. The lead was facing the side with his arms crossed, and looked at her with a side glance. The boy in the suit stood to his right, had his hands in his pockets with a candy cigarette in his mouth and held a mafia pose. Lastly, the one with glasses stood to his left, had a notebook with nothing written in it in one hand, and in the other was propping up his glasses in a way that the sun reflected off of them, making his eyes non visible. It seemed to her that they watched too many cartoons.
"Ling'er, what are they doing?" Xiaohei was unfamiliar with the modern media, and was this ignorant, as per usual.
"I think it's a form to boost their confidence." Responded Chen Ling.
"What strange battlecries." Muttered Xiaohei.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" As they were conversing, the boys who were standing in the same pose while waiting for her response were slowly getting antsy from being in the same position too long.
"Why do they all dress so uniquely? Aren't they a group? Shouldn't they coordinate?" He questioned their fashion choices.
"They think it makes them look cool."
"Cool?"
"It's a certain way of life that boosts confidence."
"I see."
"You're a weirdo for talking with your cat! Hurry up and fight us!" The one with the hat was angry, and broke character for a moment, then quickly returned, "Are you underestimating us? Let me show you the difference between you and me!" He then snapped his fingers, and turned around.
"I am Baihu, the White Tiger!" Said the boy with a suit in a sneer, flashing an embroidery on the inside of his suit of a small, cute white tiger.
"I am Xuanwu, the Black Tortoise." The one in glasses said, closing his book, revealing a black turtle mark drawn on the cover, before raising his head, showing sharp brown eyes.
"And I am Qinglong! The Blue Dragon!" Said the boy in the hat, sweeping his arm in front of before placing his hand on the hood of his cap, and tilting it down, revealing embroidery of a blue, Chinese dragon.
"""Together we are... the four Kings!""" They struck their pose again, this time making sure their symbols are seen.
"Did you say four? Why are there only 3?" She then have Xiaohei a look, as this seemed a little familiar.
"Don't look at me! I didn't do anything!" Xiaohei waved his paw on denial, he could tell what she was thinking.
"Err... The Red Phoenix had to stay at home today because he's sick... But the three of us are more than enough to take care of you! And why do you keep talking to your cat! Isn't that weird?"
"Why? If you have a contract, you can hear their thoughts, so isn't it normal to talk with them?" She tilted her head, puzzled.
"Oh really? What did he say about us?" They were actually inexperienced about knowledge on contract beasts, as they were expensive and considered a big responsibility, so kids typically didn't get one til they're older.
"He said you guys act weird." She said horribly bluntly.
"Ehh?! Isn't it cool though?!" The boys looked at their shirts in worry.
"Ah! It's okay! He's a cat so he doesn't understand! I think it's cool though, so don't be sad!" She didn't mean to hurt their feelings, and hurriedly comforted them.
"Uuh! We don't need your sympathy!" But they still looked better though. "Hmph! Xuanwu, you're her first opponent!" At that, the boy in glasses stepped up.
"Don't take me lightly just because I wear glasses." He said, propping his glasses to reflect the sunlight again. Then he reached into a case clipped on his belt, and pulled out something that was concealed in his hand.
"I hope you're ready." He said, opening his book, he flipped through the pages, until a page with words written on it appeared. He then started to chant something.
Chen Ling sighed, and decided to play along with them. Nodding to Xiaohei, she threw off her jacket and held out her arm, and Xiaohei jumped onto her hand and walked to her shoulder, and the (false)furry tail extended mysteriously, wrapping around her neck.
"Ready when you are." She said arrogantly, this was a scripted line by Xiaohei.
"Hmph! Come forth...!" He finished his chant and, for the first time, he raised his voice, and threw out what he was holding into the air, then his book glowed, no, it was a flashlight under the cover.
A rumbling sounded from the earth, which abruptly sank, forming a depression in the earth. The next moment, a spout of water shot out forming a pool in the depression. Once it was formed, what was thrown landed in the water, it appeared to be some kind of pellets.
Suddenly, a massive turtle emerged from he water and and slurped up the pellets before chewing it up and swallowing it. Turns out it was turtle food.
The turtle was at least a meter tall and a meter long. It had an obsidian black shell and dark green skin. It's eyes looked like they held wisdom of many years, and its head raised proudly and appeared to have jaws like a steel clamp.
"...Xuanwu!"