Morning. The time in which the world wakes up and began to function again. The birds sing, the fish swims, and the tiger hunts. This morning something or someone else woke up. It was our protagonist, Kali Roseli.
The sun's beautiful golden rays shined upon Kali's face and she looked like an angel who fell from heaven. Kali opened her beautiful green eyes and yawned.
"Goodmorning Aima." Kali said to her scythe. Aima means blood in Kali's native language and her scythe is the same color as blood.
"Time to continue my journey out of this God-forsaken forest!" Kali yelled as she picked up Aima and walked in a random direction again.
Kali observed the forest and made sure not to step on anything that looked suspicious.
"I guess the forest is calmer in the morning?" Kali questioned but would soon regret her words.
CAW!
A large yellow bird that sparked with electricity swooped down on Kali and picked her up.
"HEY! LET ME DOWN!!" Kali punched the bird's legs to no avail.
"Fine then, I don't mind having chicken for breakfast!"
Kali used Aima to injure one of the bird's legs causing it to screech in pain. The bird slightly loosened its grip on Kali and she used this opportunity to climb on top of the bird.
"Woaahh!" Kali could see the entire forest from up there. Kali was quickly shaken out of her awe by the bird's frantic shaking.
"Woah!" Kali almost fell off and held on by the bird's feathers.
"Such an annoying bird!" Kali climbed back up and ran towards the bird's head. The bird made eye contact with Kali and felt as if was being watched by a predator. Kali unconsciously was releasing her innate Killing Intent due to her frustration.
"Now I really don't want to hurt you. You probably scooped me up because you thought I was easy prey," Kali explained in a soft tone, "I understand. Surviving isn't easy, so let's make a deal!"
Caw?
The look of confusion on the bird's face put a smile on Kali's face.
"I want you to survive with me! I don't know why I'm getting this feeling but I think we are compatible!" Kali exclaimed and the bird somehow felt the same way. The feeling they were both experiencing is Soul Compatibility and it only works with Soul Beasts.
Caw!
The bird agreed and Kali touched her head with the bird's. The world seemed to stop and Kali appeared in a dark space with a small black ball behind her and a medium-sized yellow ball in front of her.
"What is this place?" Kali questioned and an answer soon came.
"I believe this is our Soulscape." A young woman's voice said with an echo.
"Who's there?!" Kali turned around and saw a giant yellow bird looming over her. Kali was shocked at first but then calmed down.
"Are you the bird that scooped me up?" Kali asked and the bird nodded.
"I have a name you know. My name is Astrapi."
"Uh, well nice to meet you Astrapi. My name is Kali!" Kali smiled and put her hand out for a handshake before remembering that she is speaking to a bird.
"You said something about a Soulscape. What is that?" Kali questioned and Astrapi seemed to have a look of thought.
"In layman's terms, it's basically the place that harnesses your soul. I don't have much information and most of what I know is from inherited memories from my mother." Astrapi explained causing Kali to think.
"You said our Soulscape, does that mean we are connected somehow?"
"Yes I believe so but my inherited memories never explained what it is. Only that it happens rarely and has good benefits." Astrapi said.
"Besides that, what type of bird are you?" Kali asked and Astrapi's chest puffed up with pride.
"I'm a bird of noble lineage! My species is known as the Lightning King bird and we are very skilled in using lightning." Kali's eyes had stars and she looked like a child that just saw their favorite superhero.
"That's so cool! I would rather be a Lightning bird than a human!" Kali yelled and Astrapi laughed.
"You a human? That's a funny joke!" Astrapi laughed heartily but Kali was confused.
"Wait? What do you mean by that?" Astrapi stopped laughing and looked at Kali with semi-seriousness.
"You seriously don't know that you aren't human?" Astrapi asked and Kali nodded.
"I guess I can understand why. You look like a human and act like one too but you aren't," Kali's entire world was falling apart and Astrapi could tell," Now being nonhuman isn't a bad thing! I mean who knows, you could be the descendant of a very powerful race who could be prophecied to beat some powerful monster or something!"
Astrapi's frantic attempts at cheering up Kali made Kali laugh a bit. Kali slapped herself in the face and smiled again.
"I won't let me being nonhuman bring me down!" Kali's determination made Astrapi respect her more.
"Now do you know what I am?" Kali asked but sadly Astrapi shook her head.
"Sorry, I don't. I only know that you aren't human because you don't smell like one." Astrapi apologized but Kali wasn't fazed.
"No need to apologize. I wouldn't have known that I'm not human if it wasn't for you." Kali said and hugged Astrapi. Astrapi laughed and returned the hug.
"Now how about we leave this place and continue surviving together." Astrapi said and Kali agreed. The two willed to leave their Soulscape and they were soon returned to the physical world.
'Oi! Kali, can you hear me?' Astrapi mentally asked and Kali nodded.
'Yeah!'
'Alright! Now, where are we going from here on out?' Astrapi questioned.
'Well I was on my way to leaving the forest before someone rudely interrupted' Astrapi coughed and Kali giggled.
'So out of the forest? Hold on tight!' Kali didn't question Astrapi and held onto her feathers.
'Let's go!' Astrapi zoomed forward at lighting speeds and Kali saw the world below turn into a blur.
"WOOHOO!" Kali yelled in excitement and soon they were out of the forest and over a large plain of grass.
'Do you see anything Astrapi?' Kali asked as Astrapi focused her eyesight. In the distance, Astrapi saw a small village.
'Yeah! I can see a small village around 50km from here!' Kali smiled and told Astrapi to zoom again. Two minutes later they were above the village.
As Astrapi landed, Kali could hear the voices of shock coming from the villagers.
"Is that a Soul Beast? And a girl is riding it!
"Do you think she's a Soul Harbinger?"
"Mommy look at the cool birdy!"
Kali hopped off Astrapi and was met by an old man with a wooden stick.
"Ah hello. My name is Kali and I'm just here for supplies and a map." Kali bowed slightly in greeting.
"Well hello, Kali. My name is Dorthor and I'm the chief of this small village." The old man bowed in return. Kali inwardly smiled as she didn't have any violent confrontation.
"I hope me and my friend, Astrapi, won't be a problem to you and the villagers."
"No no, this village is often visited by people from all across the land. You are no different." Dorthor said and Kali smiled.
"As I said earlier, I'm just stopping by for supplies and a map." Kali said and Dorthor nodded.
"Very well. I will have that arranged for you." Dorthor said and Kali smiled again.
'Kali! We have trouble coming. I can feel the vibrations in the ground, I think it's a band of goblins!' Astrapi warned and Kali frowned.
"Is there a problem Ms.Kali?" Dorthor worriedly asked and Kali nodded.
"My friend has told me there is a band of goblins headed towards this village." Dorthor and the villagers in earshot of their conversation were shocked and fearful.
"Are you sure? If it is truly a goblin band then this village is finished!" Dorthor fearfully exclaimed. Kali hated seeing the people who showed her the small act of kindness by not attacking her in fear.
'Astrapi, can you help me kill the goblins?' Kali asked and Astrapi smiled as best as a bird could.
'Of course! We are linked together by our souls! We are basically married to each other.' Kali's face went red at Astrapi's words but smiled at her acceptance.
'Alright!' Kali happily exclaimed.
"Mr.Dorthor, don't worry. My friend and I will deal with the goblin band." Kali said as she took Aima off of her back and hopped on Astrapi. Dorthor and the villagers thanked Kali deeply and she flew off with Astrapi.
Moments later, they were above the goblin band.
"There's so many! I estimate around 60-75 goblins!" Kali exclaimed with a smile.
"Time to exterminate some pests!" Kali jumped off of Astrapi and landed on top of a goblin. Her green eyes were now red and Aima was glowing happily.
"Prepare for carnage!"