Fog parted as three siblings wearily stepped through the thick clouds. As morning progressed, the fog disappeared. Slowly but surely making its exit.
Regardless of what they believed was going to happen that day, Divinity felt encouraged to deliver a show for all to remember. For when they fall, the Light Legion lingers on the memory of a decorated legacy.
Off in the distance, the arena came to view. Giant arches connected pillars to each other. Which became the structure of the battlefield.
Flags hung from pillars. Waving at the visitors coming from all edges of the Legion. Parents, Sherpas, even siblings and friends. All gathered to watch the ceremony.
As Divinity got closer, they observed how much Age of Recruitment meant to so many Variants. Even beasts were getting involved with the celebration.
Feral beast masters roared a chorus, which was echoed in the howls of Stram. They pumped their chests out and heads pointed upwards, so everyone could hear their triumph.
Thawed beast masters marched alongside giant bipeds. Golden ribbons and armor plates reflected their stampeding. Twin tusks pointed out to separate directions, divided by a massive trunk.
Grey fur coated the bipeds. Tangling ice crystals inside that broke free from their prisons as the beasts stepped. They walked on short but powerful legs, supported by long and powerful arms.
Divinity stopped in front of a Thawed handler and her creature. She smiled while lowering herself. Jakery curiously watched as she pointed her head to the sky while lifting herself back up.
Just as she slowly rose from her stance, the beast stood on its hind legs and roared. It was the sound of utter power. Unmatched, uncaged, and unleashed as an instrument of entertainment.
"W - what... is that..?" Jakery lowly asked.
The Thawed bowed. "Little one, this is a Yinmar. Have you read about them?"
Jakery shifted his eyes down, then back to her. "Aren't they myths?"
She laughed. "When a Thawed has faith in higher powers, they deliver. Clasp your hands tight, bow your little head, and pray to grander forces."
After their little interaction, she waved her beast to follow. They went off to continue parading. Leaving Divinity alone once again.
"I have to admit," Demon abruptly said. "She caught my attention more than that Yinmar. Real good looking Thawed."
Ether chuckled. "Are you trying to make another hybrid? You might have been trained to mate with other Variants, but that doesn't make it the real thing. Those training sessions you spent with a partner just tells your body there is a need for reproduction."
Demon shrugged. "It shouldn't be that difficult to handle a Thawed partner, right?"
No response came from the group. Instead, Demon realized his siblings stopped walking. He turned around to see them coldly staring at something ahead of them.
When he turned to see what it was, he understood. Not too far away from them was Dire. Two wild yellow eyes examined their bodies.
"Shushito, nanarita equmbi, (Calm down, he isn't aware,)" Ether said in Icitru.
Dire chuckled as he got closer. Giant muscles tensed and loosened as he walked, secretly showing off his true power and raw aggression.
"Such a wonderful morning. Hmm, Divinity?" Dire said with a smile.
Ether stepped forward, hands balled into fists. "Beautiful, indeed. I am honored to be part of the Light Legion's armies."
Hearing his response pleased Dire. "Yes, yes. Order is of importance to Light. I can tell your generation is the edge of the blade that opposing threats bite."
Dire crept closer to Ether, the trade mark Feral smile plastered on his face. "Eighty-one years. Do you know where I was eighty-one years ago? Inside a pack of nomads, being fed breastmilk by my Neddy."
"Eighty-one years later, and I'm here. In the next Age of Recruitment. And I believe you are similar?" Dire asked with an even wider smile.
Ether nodded. "I am turning eighty-one soon. Jakery is sixty-three and Demon seventy-seven. This generation of Coros is almost reaching full maturation."
"Yes, yes. Order will be carried further by your hands, I can imagine. Far beyond Imbushko, far beyond all neighboring regions. But for now, it starts inside," Dire gestured towards the arena. "Good luck."
Divinity lowered their gazes as they hurried past the alpha. Their footsteps in almost perfect sync. Deafening the world around them as they felt the harmony rise.
When they stepped through the gates. They were surprised to see just how different the arena looked. Banners hung from the central walls that divided the audience from the action.
Symbols such as a shield with wings, a Yinmar's tusks, a roaring Stram. Each one telling a different story. Ones that were embedded into Light Legion's culture.
Inside the arena, Kas and Alise stood. They walked in circles around each other, presumably speaking to each other. But their words were inaudible because of all the overlapping voices.
While Ether's eyes widened in surprise, Jakery felt smaller than normal. He hugged himself to trick his mind into thinking he wasn't alone. But it didn't help.
Causing Jakery to let out several stressed moans under his breath. His eyes shut tight, trying to wake up from the nightmare he was in.
Accidentally catching his brother's attention. Ether wrapped Jakery in a loving hug. Assuring him, he was not alone against the odds. Which made Jakery feel better.
Ether gently kissed the back of his head, just to make sure Jakery felt the emotional support he needed. Which brought him back to the days of being a young hybrid.
With Ether and his mother looming over him. Each gently giving him a peck before sleep. Where Jakery would have drifted away.
Demon noticed their interaction. He gently grabbed Jakery's cheeks and rubbed his thumbs on them, while humming. A soothing gesture meant to show his never-ending care.
"Hey, you two. Send your kid down there. They are waiting for a few teams to start the event," an elite shouted over the crowd.
Ether glanced up to look at them. Revealing his seemingly innocent and pure face, causing Demon to look as well. Which surprised the elite to see that wasn't a family. Those were former students.
"Oh! My bad, thought you three were a family. Anyway, the event isn't starting without you three," the elite corrected herself.
Demon stepped forward, guiding his brothers. "Sorry. But there is some pressure building up with my youngest sibling that I wanted to check on."
The elite softly laughed. "You treat your brother like your daughter! How sweet. Which team are you?"
"Divinity. Next in line for the Coros lineage," Demon truthfully answered.
"Aw! No way! You three?!? All of you look like a bunch of Yonies I could cuddle with all day. Adorable little bunch," she seemingly mocked them. "Good luck in there. I don't want your adorable little faces bruised."
Ether nodded. "Thank you, thank you very much. Have a good day and enjoy the event."
While Divinity continued marching through the arena. They noticed Kas caught them in his sight. He smiled, showing his gratitude of seeing first hand what the next in line could do.
***
Inside the staging rooms beneath the arena, Divinity made their way through several other teams. A mixture of Thawed, Zegi, and Ferals cluttered up in a big room. With them being the only ones resembling Threshers.
"Stomach is turning, heart is pumping, and blood is flowing. I can feel it. Get ready," Ether ushered to his siblings.