Once upon a time, a cunning fox met a proud lion. The lion, eager for companionship, tried to befriend the fox and invited him to join him on an adventure. The fox, intrigued by the prospect of having a powerful ally, agreed. As they journeyed together, the lion led the fox to a cave. The fox noticed many footprints leading into the cave, but none coming out.
"Those are the tracks of my other friends," the lion explained. "They're all inside. I'd like you to meet them."
But the fox, sensing danger, looked closer and saw that the footprints only led inward, never outward…
....
As Theo touched Ferdinand's core, time seemed to stop. Everette's scowl was frozen, and Prince Grayson was stretched out, trying to grasp Ferdinand's core. Everything was bathed in a dim blue and green hue. Theo felt the core glowing in his hands, emanating a powerful energy.
The core resisted, trying to pull away. "It's not natural for cores to submit to others. Self-preservation makes it want to escape," Prim explained. "But if you follow my instructions, I know a different spell."
Theo recited the verses Prim taught him, and each verse appeared in emerald letters around Ferdinand's core. As the spell completed, Theo felt an odd sensation within himself.
"Theo, this spell is ancient and different from the one highborns and nobles use. It's a sacred bond, a two-way oath. If Ferdinand perishes, your mana core will burst, extinguishing both of you. This spell honors mutual loyalty, unlike the enslaving one used by nobles," Prim explained.
Theo was taken aback but not frightened. He felt a deep sense of happiness. He had felt guilty about taking Ferdinand's core and wanted to assure him that nothing would change, that he would still see Ferdinand as his leader. Now, he was glad this bond meant mutual trust and loyalty.
When the spell finished, time resumed. Theo had half his mana, and Ferdinand needed to recover from taking the oath. They were surrounded by Everette and Grayson, both approaching with different intentions—Everette livid, Grayson disappointed.
Boom! An explosion shook the area, throwing everyone into the air. Theo experienced a dizzying, soundless moment. His vision went white, and a ringing sound slowly grew louder until his hearing returned, muffled. He saw Ferdinand mouthing words he couldn't hear.
"We have to go, come on!!" Ferdinand shouted, trying to lift Theo up.
Regaining his senses, Theo and Ferdinand staggered to their feet. Everett, unscathed, was running toward them, while Grayson, bleeding from a shoulder wound, was trying to organize his aides and centurions before pursuing Theo and Ferdinand.
Explosions erupted everywhere, causing chaos in both camps. Theo and Ferdinand struggled to move until Amber and Flynn found them.
"What happened? Are you two okay?" Amber asked, worriedly glancing at Theo.
"We're fine, just caught in a close explosion," Ferdinand explained. Flynn and Amber helped them escape the highborn camp.
"Let's go along the beach. We'll be able to get further and still see what's happening," Ferdinand instructed. They ran to the beach, witnessing nightmarish scenes. Large monsters attacked recruits, incapacitating them and dragging them into the water. The monsters left the dead where they fell.
The prince, realizing the disorganization and not wanting to risk himself, fled with his guards—the only forces that could have turned the tide.
Theo and the others had no intention of fighting. They ran as fast as they could, distancing themselves from the chaos. When they stopped to rest, they saw both camps in flames, the beach washed with red water, and a silhouette approaching.
It was Everette. He had chased them, waiting for the right moment to strike. Now, he could do what he intended—kill them all.
As Everette neared, his eyes glowed, dark clouds formed, and a sharp crackling sound filled the air. Lightning strikes began landing around the beach. "I will not let a commoner and a washed-up banished piece of shit ruin my plans. Your blood will stain this beach before I leave!" Everette screamed.
As soon as Everette was close enough his eyes began glowing, dark clouds began to form high in the air and little by little began a sharp crackling sound, small lightning strikes began to land around the beach, "I will not a no good comoner and a stupid washed up banished piece of shit ruin my plans, before I leave this beach your blood will run trhough it!" Screamed Everette.
Theo and Ferdinand got in a fighting stance, and Flynn and Amber followed their lead, Amber then gave Ferdinand something familiar, it was his lance, "He wasnt the only one trying to help you" said Amber
Then a large lightning strike came down from the dark sky, it was as big as a trees trunk, white with blueish hue, it struck right by where Flynn and Theo were, Flynn flying backwards knocked out, Theo could feel a tingling feeling all around his body along with and incredible amount of pain, then another came down at Ferdinand and Amber, seeing it a second time they reacted faster, Amber created an ice dome above them but it was instantly destroyed and then they also flew away, they were no match for Everettes power, especially in their condition.
Everett began walking up to them, but instead of going to where Ferdinand was, he went to Theo, "It was you, ever since the dungeon, you killed the queen, you defied my authority, you ruined my plans with Ferdinand, you even turned my own aid against me, and you thought you were just going to leave, oh no, this is where I show you where a trash like commoner like you gets in this life, if you try and force your way you are to get swatted like a bug!" every word spoken by Everette was spat out, then he began forming a white spear in his hand crackling and shining, Everette wanted to decimate Theo and leave nothing behind but his dust, making him forget he was ever a part of this world.
As Theo tried to look up, he felt sad, sad that he would not be able to se his parents again, his brothers or his baby sister, take Amber back with him, become stronger or live beyond his 14 years, he looked up at Everette and faced his death head on, as he looked over at the friends he had made and pondered on the decisions he had taken with a smile on his face as Everette took his arm back setting in motion the last thing Theo would ever see.
As Everette swung his arm forward in a swift motion using all of his strength, he wanted to obliterate Theo, and was not going to take any chances, Theo saw white in that moment, and was glad it was quick, "Im sorry Prim, I failed you" He said, "You are not as dead as you believe to be Theodore" Prim said non chalntly,
Everette was the first to see, it was a large green lizard with wings standing in front of him, it had protected Theo and was now standing before him, Everette couldnt believe it, no matter what he did it was as if Theo was being watched over, the large monster standing in front of him, he knew he had no chance, he had just used his strongest attack and it withstood it with not so much as a single scratch.
Everette started running but befor he could get far the monsters tail grabbed him and coiled him in, then the monster presented Theo with Everette, 'Would you like him to die now?' Theo heard a voice inside his head, "N-No, please" said Theo without thinking, the monster squinted at Theo in a doubting manner and then in just a split second Everette was no more, the monsters tail constricted Everettes body until it exploded killing him instantly and bathing Theo in his blood.
Theo gasped and he was then picked up by the monster with its tail along with Ferdinand and Amber, then the monster began flying while holding onto them. it was flying them back towards the madness that had befallen the camp, there was almost no movement anymore, it was filled with bodies as the monster laid them down, then the other monster began approaching them.
Theo was shaking and so were the others even Ferdinand was scared, as the monsters approached what was clearly their leader, the leader then screamed, making them drop in pain and flew away.
The monsters who were holding to any humans left for the ocean and the others approached Theo and the others, they were beaten, hurt, exhausted, but still they all took a fighting stance ready to fight back.
One of the monsters snarled happily and crouched ready to pounce on them but a bigger black panther lookalike dettered him, it aproached them slowly and relaxed, the in just a second he grabbed them with his mouth incapacitating them and jogging towards the sea.
As they were taken to the ocean they thought they were about to be drowned, Amber grabbed Theos hand as they were being held by the panthers teeth, as they felt the water they inhaled a large breath of air, trying to prevent the inevitable, they were underwater for what seemed an eternity, their lungs screaming for air, Theos eyes began closing slowly.
The panthers jumped from the ocean and landed on a boat, it was a sleek beautiful boat, all wood, as the all gasped for breath the surprises didnt cease, as the panther suddenly turned into a human, the boat was filled with them, dark caramel color skin, they were clad in gold plated armor that covered just the necessities for both men and women.
They were tied up and brought inside the ship to the hull, there were a lot of other trainees all tied there being shaclked one by one and sat down in rows of benches, after they were all shakled including Theo, Ferdinand and Amber, Pars were given to each bench, as they would now row to wherever these monsters had come from.
..................…
Realizing the lion's true intentions, the fox decided to trust his instincts and flee before it was too late. Learn from others mistakes
monsters change into humans, dark skinned plated in gold armor soldiers both men and women, they are tied up and carried to the ocean, and brought into a ship, the most beautiful woman Theo had ever seen is in the boat, he then sees a whole fleet, how were they hiding, they along with all the other captured are now traveling in 3 boats east, not knowing where they would be taken.
Realizing the lion's true intentions, the fox decided to trust his instincts and flee before it was too late.