The attack lingered in Hiro's mind long after the assassins had fled. Whoever had sent them wasn't finished. They were watching, waiting for another opportunity. But Hiro was prepared. He had lived through betrayal before, and he would not be caught off guard again.
As he and Lina continued their training, Hiro began to dig deeper into the history of the land. There were secrets here, whispers of ancient powers that had once rivaled the gods themselves. And as Hiro's strength grew, so too did the attention of those who feared his return.
One evening, while studying an ancient text in the village library, Hiro came across a passage that caught his eye. It spoke of a lost order, an ancient group of tamers who had once wielded the same power Hiro now possessed. They had been feared and respected, their bonds with beasts so strong that even the gods had taken notice.
But the order had vanished long ago, their secrets buried with them.
Hiro's heart quickened as he read on. The gods had not always ruled without challenge. There had been a time, long before Hiro's first life, when the world had been different, when beasts and humans had stood united against the divine.
It was a time of legends, a time that the gods had tried to erase from history. But Hiro knew the truth now. And he would uncover the rest.
He closed the book, his mind racing. The attack on him hadn't been a coincidence. Someone knew what he was becoming. Someone feared the return of the Beast Sovereign.
Hiro smiled grimly to himself. Let them fear him.
He would become more than they could ever imagine.