The Infernal Beast of Hell was a name anyone from the Verdantwilde Plains to the frigid Silverveil Tundra to the Emberfall Marshes. The Beast was encased in stories of leaving Ash and Fire in its wake; at least, that's what Arin was told by his father.
That same Beast in the stories sat in front of the broken tombstone and lowered its head in silence. "In the age of Fire, I was born… An 'Infernal Beast not of this world' appears and turns the world into a place of flame and ash. Lava, magma and fire were the only things this place knew at one point. Strength above all. It was all I knew and I fought every Beast, every monster and every kind of mankind.
"Everyone heard about the infernal Beast of Hell and decided they wanted to kill me to claim their title as the one who killed me… Time is curse and many, many, many years went by when I met him. He was like the rest. He had come to see me for himself because he had heard stories about me, but he didn't want to fight.
"Old Master was stupid for coming to me. I am a Beast who roamed the once fiery lands and he wanted to see me because of the stories?" The Wolf chuckled at the memory before continuing. "No matter how many times I put Old Master towards Death, he still came back. I thought he would continue to come a couple more times until he got the idea that I didn't want to be his friend. I was a Beast and he was Man.
"Years went by and the Old Master grew before my very eyes. Every day we sparred against each other and before I knew it, I had given into him. Life is fleeting when you involve yourself with Man. He and I created a pact and he didn't fulfill my request at all."
Wolf turned and looked at Arin. "I will not accept you as my new Master. I will never accept you. I only accept one and it is him." The Beast motioned with his head at the broken tombstone. He stood up and started to walk away.
"What about what happened the other day? Fire came out of my hands. It has to be you!" Arin shouted.
"I told you. You cannot use my powers because I have not willed it. I don't know where you heard that from, but you were obviously lied to." Wolf responded out of some sort of kindness for the boy. He didn't understand it at the time, but this moment would come to bite him.
- - -
The entire situation twisted Arin's mind as he leaned against the tree wall in Nocturnis's Sanctuary. 'How could it not be from that Infernal Beast?' He shook the same thought that has plagued him for hours.
Day had quickly advanced to the cusp of evening. Colorful arrays of day and night danced together, painting the skies as clouds hung at the forefront.
"No point in worrying about this." Arin stood up. He left the confines of the tree house where a rough, horribly-made bed was made for him. After spending days in Nocturnis' magical sanctuary, he decided to upgrade the wooden ground of the tree to some sort of fluff with the use of the trees and foliage around him.
He walked across the bridge towards the other side of the sanctuary with the intent of leaving the 'confines of the space.' He passed the shadows, familiar to their strange pull as he appeared on the other side.
'I need another spear.' Arin sighed. He had gone through three spears in the span of a week. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. While not the best work, they handled hunting well but Arin was doing more than hunting for food. He was fighting monsters and apparently trying to capture an Infernal Beast of Hell.
Arin followed the beaten path onto the main path. He turned right towards the direction of his home and wondered if he should return just for something else.
'No,' Arin shook his head, turning left. 'Father would only cage me for leaving three times in a row. He'll certainly chain me and keep me in his peripheral at all times.'
Arin followed the main path; it was a dirt path that had been used frequently by the hunters, travelers, adventurers and all sorts of people. Thornwood was big enough to trade with others passing by, supplying them with wood from the Eldertree Forest.
The wood from the Eldertrees were of at least iron durability and strength. It took a specific kind of metal from the mountain to cut the trees down. Thornwood supplied itself with gold and trade.
"And that same wood isn't used in any of the weapons I use." Arin frowned. He hadn't even completed his 'first hunt' which would've gave himself access to an Eldertree Spear. A runic spear embedded with magical ore - the same that cuts through the trees with ease - and wood from the tall trees around him.
'What will I do about that Beast?' Arin thought. Nocturnis was against going after the Beast, but that Infernal Beast had unlocked the need to adventure and do death-defying things like capturing a second Beast.
A scream broke Arin out of his thoughts. He focused on in front of him as the scream pleaded for someone to help.
Arin rushed off the main path towards the right. The path would curve that way, eventually, and it would be quicker.
"Give us all of your things and we might let you live!" A bandit shouted. He pointed his sword at the merchant with the large wagon. Sounds of people cowering within the wagon were heard and the bandits quickly moved with glee. They had certainly heat a great haul today.
"Please, I don't have anything of value! I'm just transporting people!" The driver pleaded.
"He has weapons and women in here!" Another bandit shouted. "And a pretty woman with— Argh!" The bandit went flying, hitting the ground as a single arrow pierced his chest. Before the other bandits could react, a leather boot flew out and socked the next bandit in the face, sending him backwards.
"A-A fighter!" A third bandit shouted. The first bandit growled and stuck his sword closer to the merchant.
"Tell her to stand down!" The bandit ordered.
"I-I didn't even know she was a fighter. Sh-she said she was just carrying—"
"I don't care! Tell her to stop it now!"
The young woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, tied up with a few loose strands flowing through the wind flew out, socking the next bandit and dropping him to the ground as she stood on top of him. Her deep amber eyes quickly focused on the bandit she kicked earlier, pulling an arrow and shooting it at him, killing him instantly.
She jumped of, pulling the cloak off her and throwing onto the ground, revealing a quiver strapped onto her back. She wore light armor and fingerless gloves and set her eyes on the leader of the dumb-witted bandits.
"Let him go." The woman ordered, arrow notched and pointed at the bandit. The bandit quickly grabbed the merchant, who released a scream, and used him as a shield. He kept his blade close to the merchant's neck, eyes bewildered.
"Lower your weapon if you don't want his blood on your hands!" The bandit leader shouted. The woman narrowed her eyes. She wasn't sure how the merchant would react and didn't want to accidentally shoot him.
Before she could even lower her weapon, the bandit she stood on had risen and smacked the bow to the side, letting her release the arrow in panic. The bandit grabbed her and cackled as he reached pressed her close to him.
"This one will fetch a great price!" The bandit cackled with lust. "Maybe we should go a few rounds with her before we sell her!"
"Let me go you ugly bastard!" The woman shouted, trying to shake the bandit off her.
Arin peered from the side of a tree, watching the woman struggle. 'Noct.'
'Yes, Master?' Nocturnis spoke as if he was there. One of the many things Arin had figured out was his connection with Nocturnis through Soulbind allowed them to speak telepathically with each other.
'Get over here now. Bandits.' Arin ordered.
'Yes, Master!'
'What to do?' Arin wondered. He didn't have a spear to fight with. 'If only I was permitted to carry a sword…' He pushed the thought away and allowed the shadows to grow around him. He needed to act now before people were killed.
The woman elbowed the bandit, temporarily releasing herself and stumbling forward and whipping a punch at the bandit. The bandit roared with fury, diving the woman and pinning her to the ground in an instant.
He salivated with fury and lust as he looked down on the woman. "How dare a bitch like you do that to me?!? I'll kill you!"
Arin cursed. He had no choice but to act. He rushed at the bandit leader, shadows clinging onto him and muffling his movements as he Shadow Stepped forward, knocking the man off his feet.
The merchant and bandit howled in surprise as they collapsed. Arin quickly reached for the bandit's hand, landing a cracking blow and releasing the weapon in an instant. He grabbed the man's hand and lifted his arm up at an angle no arm should've been able to bend and snapped it.
"Run!" Arin shouted.