"Hmm… Just got here, that aside, what about the little lass?" The robust man said while giving a profound glance to the forest in front of him.
"It's been three days since she left, normally half a day should be fine for a normal candidate, two days is fine too but it's now three days, such a case is rare…" The white robbed man stretched his words by the end of the sentence as he observed the expression of the robust man.
In Lionheart Clan, once a youngster reaches Tier 2, they are allowed to enter the normally forbidden beast territory under the control of the clan, it is to allow them to find a compatible beast who could leave a lifetime impression on their partner, that lifetime impression seems normal to many but to the people at a higher level it has more importance, they know that it could influence their entire life as Beast Tamers, if someday, even when the companion beast dies, that impression won't disappear.
No one knows, how many or what type of beasts actually live in 10,000 Beast Legion Forest, but some rumours say that even Ancient-Grade beast lives in there and the forest used to be the home of an Immemorial-Grade beast.
The grades of beasts are like that, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Ancient, Immemorial.
The grade of a beast doesn't define its life level but potential.
The grade of a beast defines its innate potential to grow, although the grades can be upgraded, but they aren't easy to influence, the higher the grades the harder it is to influence them.
When choosing their companion, the higher the grade of the beast, the harder it will to form the bond, the bond can not be forced on the beast, according to the rules of the Lionheart Clan, not only the tamer has to choose a companion, the beast too had its right to choose its master.
If someone tries to use tricks, or even used magic, the wild beasts in the territory will show hostility and rip them to shreds.
The white robbed man was sure that the girl sent in wasn't foolish enough to use such a trick, so the only reason might be that she wasn't able to find a companion beast.
The reason he said those words was because he was hinting that maybe the other beasts haven't chosen her.
Contrary to the white robbed man's expectations, the robust man was calm and his expression remained unchanged, he opened his mount and spoke in an arrogant tone "It's my daughter, the other beasts probably know that not just anyone is qualified to choose her,"
The white robbed man was taken back by his words, he wanted to speak but was interrupted.
"Do you also think that I send her out to study because I don't acknowledge her talent? You think I removed her from the competition just because she lacks pure clan bloodline and hence our innate blessing? Humph, did all the greatest Beast Tamers in history had blessings and were from our clan? They don't, so weren't they successful?
Things like, blessings can only give a head start that disappears with time without enough efforts, moreover, that little girl has innate charisma that attracts beasts, it isn't any less than any blessing," The robust man said.
The white robbed man was slightly surprised "Brother forgive my rudeness, but then why did you choose to send her? Isn't it better for her to fight for a higher position in the clan, the leader did say that we need to slowly establish contact outside but there was no need to send her out, if you had refused who could force you?"
"Sigh… You don't understand that girl, if she had to choose between sitting in the clan, fighting for a position and venture outside, she would choose the latter without hesitation, and after my travels, I realized that the world outside is truly vast and beautiful. Instead of fighting for the higher position here, it's better to go out and gain experience, if you have enough strength then without even a position, your words will carry a higher value," The robust man said.
The white robbed man took a deep breath but didn't say anything, he didn't quite agree with the statement, inside the clan, as long as they have right positions, they could get free resources, and train without any problem to gain strength but once outside, they have to face problems and fight for resources to grow.
The robust man noticed his expression and gently smiled "If you think I am wrong, tell me, which one of the Supremes grew up in a clan to become the Supreme?"
The white robbed man heard the statement and couldn't help but laugh.
Supremes? Were they people that can be judged by common sense?
What clan and what force could handle them? They were all one-man army. They were someone who could put Dragon and Phoenix to shame in terms of growth and potential, they weren't someone who could be put on a measuring scale.
Their status was just below, if not equal to the true Gods in people's eyes.
'The meaningless political battle does not suit that girl, her mother too only wants her to live freely, how could I push her into that bloody mess. Furthermore, she is too naive for that, taming beasts is fine but in terms of humans, she lacks experience,' The robust man inwardly sighed.
Just at this time, both of them sensed something and looked up, soon they saw the figure of a teenage girl covered in dust and wounds running towards them. The girl was holding a beast similar to a furless black cat in her hands near her blossom.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, a crack appeared then a gigantic worm shot out of it and chased the girl.
If Kale was here, he would have surely recognized the girl, it was none other than Layla.
The giant worm behind her opened its sacrificial mouth, rows of sharp teeth were visible inside it, the worm then rushed towards her trying to swallow her whole in one go.
The robust man narrowed his eyes. The beast standing beside him reacted, the lion-like beast took its stance, its crimson fur fluttered as a red flame danced on them, it opened its mouth and gave out a fierce roar.
…Roaaaarrrr…
The deafening roar made the worm halt its moments, it looked at the lion then at the two men beside it, after giving a last look to the girl it reluctantly turned around and went back into the crack.
Layla saw the man standing ahead of her and leapt into his arm "Father!"
The man lovingly received her then patted her head "Seems like you got reckless again during the time I wasn't here," He said while gently caressing her hair then flickered his fingers, a potion appeared in his hand, he then handed it to her.
Layla accepted it and opened the cork, she was about to drink it whole but then thought of something and pushed a little into the mouth of the black cat staring intently at her.
The effects of the potion were instantaneous, the wounds on her body healed at the speed visible to the naked eyes.
While she was at it, both the men put their attention on the cat in her hands.
The black cat was strange compared to a normal cat, not just in appearance but in behaviour too, earlier Layla was running with the cat in her hands but it clearly didn't show any fear or other kind of emotions, it just kept staring at her face.
The cat was normal in size, the hair on it was very small, its skin was black, the pair of ears on its head was longer like a bunny, with a gold ring at half their length, its two big round eyes were filled with curiosity, from the energy fluctuation around it, the cat was just a Tier 1 Beast but a normal Common-Grade Tier 1 Beast would have been trembling in the presence of existence like that of the giant worm from earlier.
"Little Niece, did you… Choose that as a companion?" The white robbed man asked, he looked somewhat hesitant as he didn't recognize the cat, although a little extraordinary, the cat didn't seem that special.
"Huh? Second Uncle this…" Layla looked at the cat and came to a realization "It's not that, after an incident I found it staring at me, that worm attacked at that time, so I just hid and fled all this time and wasn't able to find the right one…"
By the end of a sentence, Layla's voice was dim, she knew that once coming out of the forest there was no second chance, earlier she didn't have a choice but had to come out or she would have been in danger.
The white robbed man also sighed. It would be better if Layla had brought a strong and domineering beast, but this one was also fine, it was just that the resources and time needed to raise it would be higher.
Layla rubbed the cat's head as she thought 'You silly kitten, I wanted a strong battle beast like father's battle beasts, but now that you came with me, you won't be able to live a pleasurable life like before inside the forest, you have to work hard with me you know, you silly don't even understand anything,'
Unlike the two of them, the robust man was switching glances between the cat and his own battle beast.
The lion-like battle beast was intently staring at the cat, while the cat didn't even glance at it, the lion's eyes showed mixed emotions, there was confusion, pride, curiosity, uneasiness and even slight threat, the threat towards oneself.
The robust man shared a link with his beast and could faintly feel those emotions, the feeling threw him in confusion 'Crimson Flame Lion are prideful creatures, especially when they have reached Legendary-Grade in the bloodline, they don't even put the weaker creature in their eyes, then why is he behaving like that? Unless that cat is Legendary?'
Several questions appeared in his head but he wasn't sure, in fact, no one was sure of the total number of flora living in the forest, or their actual strength.
At this time, all three of them and the two beasts felt a strong suppression on them and looked up, a grey feathered bird with a long tail fluttering behind it flapped its wings as it flew to them.
The grey bird was big as an elephant, its big wings were casting an enormous shadow on the ground. Strangely, the bird was flying in a manner that can only be defined as elegant, it's every move had a certain charm to it, the bird's eyes carried deep wisdom and pride as it looked down on the creatures below it.
The two men were unfazed but Layla felt a strong pressure just by looking at the bird, it was because of her father's presence protecting her that she remained standing, the grey bird glanced at her then at the black cat which was now staring back at it, but this time, the cat was narrowing its eyes at it.
The bird was dissatisfied, it was about to take action but the robust man waved his hand and stopped it "Nero, what brings you here?"
The bird looked at him then opened its beak, speaking in a humane boyish voice "Master felt an unusual presence and sent me to check it," The bird hinted towards the cat with its eyes while speaking, then continued "I already sent him the details just now, he is deci- er he replied, he said your girl can directly use ‹Man & Beast Contract› once her relationship with her beast reaches the minimum requirements,"
Nero sounded hesitant as he said the latter part.
The two men were likewise stunned, the reason why the beast companion found in the forest has big significance over their master is because of the exclusive ‹Man & Beast Contract› in the clan's possession, but it wasn't something anyone could use and whenever they want, they have to work hard for years, increasing their contribution to the clan before the leader allows them to use it but now, Layla got the permission just after obtaining her companion beast, the words from the leader almost sounded like he was worried of the beast changing its mind and leaving.
'As expected, it is at least Legendary, or maybe… Mythical Beast,' The robust man thought, the happiness came too suddenly for him.
Layla looked at the black cat in her hands then at the elegant grey bird in the sky.
"Tch, when would I get someone like Senior Nero," She lightly snorted.
The grey bird heard it and a pleasing look appeared in his eyes, he was about to speak when he sensed the hostility and dissatisfaction in the cat's eyes.
The cat broke free from Layla's hand and climbed unto her shoulder, it then directly stared at Nero, suddenly a change occurred, except the first pair of eyes, a new vertical eye slit appeared on its forehead, the eye slowly opened showing a round ruby-like pupil inside, a wide red curtain of life fell on Nero.
Nero didn't resist, he was confident in his strength and just let the cat do what it wants, another reason was the order he received from his master.
After a few seconds, the vertical eye on its forehead closed and disappeared like nothing, but then several visible changes started to occur in the cat's body, its body expended and then the shape changed, the colour of its body similarly changed. In the shocked eyes of everyone, the black cat changed into a grey bird similar to Nero in appearance albeit a smaller one.
The small grey bird first looked at Layla after making sure she was shocked, it unfolded its wings and elegantly flapped them, aiming for the first flight, alas it lost the balance on its first try and crashed into the tree nearest to them. The bird reverted to its normal cat form, rubbed its head with its paw in displeasure, then walked back to Layla and started rubbed its head on her feet without looking up.
Layla burst into laughter "You really are silly," She said as she picked it up and held it into her arms.
Compared to her reaction, the other two men together with the bird were stunned, they only had one word in their head.
Shapeshifter!