The imperial palace buzzed with a new fervor, awaiting a long-hoped-for arrival—a final hope to preserve their lineage and maintain power over the world. In contrast to the excitement outside, anxiety and foreboding filled the palace halls.
The youngest of the Black Tortoise clan, now heavily pregnant, lay in her true form, unleashing curses and enchantments in all directions as her family looked on from behind the bars of a golden cage.
"It's killing me, m*therf*ckers," she snarled, glaring at her grandfathers, uncles, and aunts, who observed her with unnerving calm. Her father—or perhaps her brother—watched her intently; if she hadn't conceived with her uncle, he would have stepped in.
Her fierce, sea-blue eyes gleamed as she struggled, her limbs thrashing. Cursing came as naturally as breathing to her; such was the norm for a pregnant elemental beast. The Black Tortoise clan, renowned for their wisdom, ruled above all other lineages of elemental beasts. Yet, rival clans keenly watched for any sign of weakness, hoping for the downfall of these self-entitled rulers.
A curse seemed to hang over them—no new female tortoises were born, and the existing ones were too old to conceive. Though immortal, without new descendants, they risked losing their influence in the coming wars.
This young one was a handful, but they had to be careful; she was the only female left capable of giving birth, and this was her first pregnancy. With a flick of her forelimb, she enchanted the golden pillars around her to crash down.
Daiki, her father, hadn't anticipated this and gestured for guards to lift the pillars. She couldn't have injured herself… could she? He thought, as the elders gasped in shock. The guards pulled her from the wreckage, finding her conscious, a smug grin across her face.
"Pregnancy wearing you down, babygirl?" Daiki taunted, smirking at his daughter, Nao. She tilted her head and shifted back to human form, her face radiating defiant rage instead of the plea for mercy he'd expected.
Daiki gestured for the midwives to approach, ready to deliver the child. Throughout, Nao's eyes remained locked on him, unwavering in fury, her forehead taut with veins.
"I am what I am because of you. Don't you see how our bond is all that keeps us alive?" she snarls.
Daiki turns away; upon hearing the sudden whimpers of the midwives' he called out, "Is it a boy?" But the midwives' hesitant reply stopped him cold, and a small smirk formed on his lips.
"It's a girl," they answered, voices heavy with sorrow.
He turned back, only to see the newborn—the black tortoise was blue, as was Nao beside her. Low, sorrowful murmurs filled the chamber. Furious of the turn of events, Daiki raised his palm, conjuring up the heaven's gate energy, slaughtering Nao and her child, their remains staining the walls.
"We are nobles, gifted with heaven's wisdom! Entitled to rule no matter what!" he roared to the silent clan. While some, particularly the women, grieved for Nao and her daughter, all ultimately agreed.
According to tradition, the Black Tortoises ruled with their wisdom and mastery over land. The Azure Dragons, with their control over wind, were numerous and cunning; the Blood Phoenixes, wielding fire, were quiet and intelligent; and the White Tigers, masters of space, were fierce and ruthless. Although the tigers were the strongest, they were not the wisest. Daiki's primary concern lay with the Azure Dragons, who actively sought their clan's ruin. The news of their final heir's death, along with the last fertile female, could not reach them at any cost.
"Master, what are we to do now?" an elderly female wheezed, her face shadowed by doubt.
Daiki's mind raced, seeking a solution that might avert disaster. "It's either war or…"
The family hung on his words, apprehensive about a full-scale battle.
"…we be tamed."
Beasts young and ancient alike gaped at him, shocked and offended. Daiki's uncle approached. "What are you implying?"
"We need to find him," Daiki said, almost to himself.
"Who?"
"The Elemental Beasts Tamer, of course."
"You're serious?" His uncle grunted as murmurs erupted around them. They were too proud to be tamed, having ruled unchallenged for centuries. How could they submit to this?
"We can't win a war," Daiki's voice echoed through the hall. "We're too old to fight the other elemental beasts."
Scowls and frowns met his words, but he pressed on. "With a Tamer, we can evolve—become our best selves. And once we do, we rid ourselves of him."
Gasps filled the room. "But that's against the scriptures! We're forbidden from killing the Tamer!"
Daiki's gaze turned steely. "It's also against the scriptures to rule."
Silence fell. This might be their only way out, their last hope of avoiding extinction. But it would not unfold as they anticipated—it would be, ultimately, whatever they willed it to be.
The world be damned; they would go to any length to protect their glory. Death did not rattle them easily. Nao's demise struck deeper than the mere loss of the last fertile female—it was a blow to something far more significant, something hidden beneath their facade. Perhaps they were not what they appeared to be, though the other elemental beasts would never know that truth. At least, not until a certain someone arrived.
The Black Tortoises were wise to choose a Tamer over war, but how wise could this decision truly be? They knew all too well that their dominance over the other elemental beasts relied on keeping a Tamer out of the picture. Should the Azure Dragons catch wind of their plan, they would easily seize the upper hand, for they were beasts who would choose war over submission—no matter how unwise. In his desperation, Daiki had made a soup out of nonexistent tomatoes, failing to realize how exhausting it would be to find the elusive Tamer of the elemental beasts.
In the back of his mind, he couldn't ignore how Nao had glared at him before her death, nor how she had brought destruction upon herself. He racked his brain, unable to find any explanation beyond the "pregnancy craze" common among elemental beasts, yet he sensed there was something more to her change of demeanor.
Amidst it all, the palace's gloomy air seemed to whisper secrets to the winds outside.