"I can't be the only one who's starving," Azazel grumbled, rubbing his stomach. "Do you have any more of those dried fruits?"
Kaela, who had been walking ahead, slowed down and turned to look at him. "Dried fruits? You're asking for dried fruits in a forest like this?" She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "We're surrounded by food, Azazel. You just have to know how to find it."
Azazel sighed dramatically. "I'm not in the mood for berries. I need something that actually fills me up."
Shadow, walking beside him, sniffed the air and wagged his tail. He seemed to be more interested in the sounds of the forest, as if anticipating some prey. Azazel looked down at the wolf and then to Kaela.
"You think Shadow's onto something?" Azazel asked, his eyes narrowing.
Kaela looked at the wolf, who was sniffing the ground and looking around with focus. "Well, he's definitely got a nose for it. Let him lead the way."
Azazel chuckled. "And here I thought you'd cook something up with that fancy magic of yours."
Kaela grinned mischievously. "I could do that too, but where's the fun in that? Let's see what Shadow can catch first."
---
Shadow trotted ahead, leading the way through the underbrush. Azazel and Kaela followed closely behind, Azazel keeping an eye on the wolf as he moved stealthily through the forest. Every so often, Shadow would stop, nose twitching, and Azazel would hold his breath, waiting.
After a few minutes, Shadow paused, his ears perked and his body tense. He had found something.
Azazel crouched down next to Kaela and whispered, "What do you think he's found?"
Kaela's eyes sparkled. "Something big, I bet. He's not usually this focused for something small."
Azazel raised an eyebrow. "Are we going after a wild boar or something? Because I've had enough of running from those things to last me a lifetime."
Kaela laughed softly. "Don't worry, we won't be hunting any wild boars. I think it's something a little... smaller. A rabbit, maybe?"
Shadow gave a low growl as he stalked forward, nose to the ground. Kaela nodded to Azazel and signaled for him to stay quiet.
"We'll let him handle this. He's got the instincts of a hunter," she whispered.
Just then, Shadow pounced forward, and a rabbit squealed as it tried to escape through the bushes. Azazel and Kaela watched as the wolf leaped onto the rabbit, pinning it to the ground with swift precision. Shadow quickly took hold of it, making sure it couldn't escape.
"Good boy, Shadow!" Azazel whispered, giving the wolf an appreciative pat. "I knew I could count on you."
Kaela crouched down beside the wolf, smiling. "Looks like we're eating well tonight."
---
Kaela stood up and brushed the dirt off her hands. "Alright, time to cook this up."
Azazel raised an eyebrow. "With what, exactly? A fire and some magic?"
Kaela smirked. "Exactly."
With a flick of her wrist, Kaela began to chant under her breath. Her staff glowed faintly as she spoke in an ancient language, and in moments, a small fire sprang to life at her feet. The flames danced and crackled, casting a warm glow on their surroundings.
Azazel watched in awe as Kaela effortlessly summoned a small cooking fire. "Show-off," he muttered, though he was impressed.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Kaela said with a wink. She waved her staff over the rabbit, and the flames shifted, glowing brighter, more controlled. The smell of roasting meat soon filled the air.
As the rabbit cooked, Azazel took a seat on a nearby rock, still feeling a little embarrassed by how easily Kaela had handled the situation. He was used to relying on his strength and the powers of the beasts, but Kaela's magic was different. She didn't need a sword or brute force. It was all about control.
"So, Kaela," Azazel started, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I've been meaning to ask... what got you into magic? You're obviously pretty skilled at it."
Kaela looked up from the fire, her eyes thoughtful. "Well, it wasn't something I always wanted to do. I grew up in a village where magic was just... normal, you know? Everyone had their talents—some could heal, some could grow things. But for me, it was the wild magic, the untamed forces of nature, that always called to me."
Azazel nodded, leaning forward. "Sounds... powerful."
Kaela chuckled. "It is. But it's also dangerous. Magic isn't something you can control without paying a price. You make a deal with it, and it doesn't always keep its end of the bargain."
Azazel raised an eyebrow. "Like a curse?"
Kaela hesitated before nodding. "Kind of. I don't talk about it much, but there are things I've had to deal with, things I've seen that changed me. That's why I left my old life behind. To... learn more about this power, and maybe fix some of the mistakes I made."
Azazel could hear the sadness in her voice, but he didn't press further. Instead, he asked a question that had been on his mind since they met. "So, can you become a beast tamer too? Like, Shadow's bond with me... could you form one with a beast?"
Kaela raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. "Me? A beast tamer? I mean, I've always been interested in beasts and their magic... but no, I've never really thought about it."
Azazel leaned forward, grinning. "Why not? You've got the magic. You've got the smarts. I think you'd be good at it. Plus, Shadow could use a little competition for my attention," he added with a wink.
Shadow huffed in protest, as if to say *I'm the only one Azazel needs*, and Azazel laughed.
Kaela smiled softly. "Maybe I could give it a try. But honestly, I don't think I need to be a beast tamer. Not yet, anyway. There's still so much I don't understand about the magic I wield. But... who knows? Maybe one day."
Azazel thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right. But I bet if you ever decide to try, you'd make an amazing beast tamer."
---
As the rabbit finished roasting, Kaela gave it one last look before pulling it off the fire with a satisfied smile. "There we go. A feast fit for a hungry traveler." She handed Azazel a piece, and he took it eagerly, savoring the warm, tender meat.
"Alright, Kaela, let's talk about something a little more serious now," Azazel said, after swallowing a bite. He looked at her, his expression serious. "You mentioned the Nine Beast Lords before. I know about the Sky Serpent and some of the others, but who are the rest of them?"
Kaela leaned back, her eyes narrowing as if she was considering how much to share. "Well, the Nine Beast Lords are scattered across the world, each one holding dominion over a specific element or power. You've already met the Sky Serpent, which controls the storms. But there are others—like Noah, who controls the winds and tempests, and there's Reiko, the Beast of Earth, whose strength is legendary."
Azazel nodded, trying to take it all in. "So, each of these Beast Lords has a unique power?"
"Exactly. Some of them are more... dangerous than others," Kaela said, her eyes glinting. "Noah, for example, is said to be nearly invincible. But there's also Vira, the Lady of Shadows, who controls darkness and illusion. There's a Beast Lord for every element, every force of nature."
Azazel felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of Noah again. The Lord of the Tempest, with his ability to control the wind and storms—what did that mean for their journey?
Kaela finished her meal and wiped her mouth, her expression thoughtful. "There's more, Azazel. The Nine Beast Lords aren't just creatures of power—they're part of something bigger, something ancient. And if we're going to stand a chance against Mizan and his army, we're going to need to find more of them."
Azazel glanced at Shadow, who was now lying on the ground, eyes closed as if he could already sense what was coming. "Looks like we have a long road ahead of us," he said, a little grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Kaela nodded. "No kidding. But we're not alone in this. And that's something to be thankful for."
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the warmth of the fire providing comfort as the sounds of the forest continued around them. Azazel felt something shift inside him—an odd sense of certainty. Whatever lay ahead, he
wasn't going to face it alone. And maybe, just maybe, the Nine Beast Lords would be the key to ending Mizan's reign of terror.
But for now, there was food to eat, shadows to chase, and the road ahead to travel.