"Tutududutu."
A lively hum filled the small kitchen. Wu Chen sang as he skipped over to his mother, proudly holding a golden hairpin. "Mama, look what I found!"
A lady in her mid-thirties, stood by the kitchen counter as she carefully added soy sauce to a bowl. Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled at her son's excitement. "Xiao Chen, what treasure did you discover?"
Wu Chen, hiding the hairpin behind his back, grinned mischievously. "Guess, Mama! What do you think I have?"
Acting surprised, Wu Ning tapped her chin, playing along. "Hmm…what could Xiao Chen be hiding?" She took a step closer, eyes twinkling, and reached out slowly. "I think I know!" She suddenly tickled him, and the hairpin slipped from his hand as he erupted in laughter.
Wu Chen's father, Wu Tian, entered just as they were laughing. "Well, well, our little devil has found Mama's long-lost hairpin?" he teased, joining the playful scene.
"Papa! Papa!" Wu Chen ran towards his father and hugged him tightly. "Mama, cheated again!" He humphed.
"Xiao Chen, I won't get involved with you and your mother. It's a losing battle." Wu Tian chuckled, ruffling his son's hair.
"Come on, wash your hands and feet both of you. Let's eat our lunch before it gets cold," Wu Ning said as she arranged the dishes on the table.
The trio sat down for their lunch. As Wu Ning served, Wu Chen held onto his plate. "More meat, Mama." He pouted cutely.
"Aya, Xiao Chen, will you eat the whole chicken?" Wu Tian patted his head.
"Yeah, that's right. I will eat all the chickens, lambs, and everything else. Afterall I am a beast tamer." He danced happily while filling his mouth with a big chunk of meat.
His parents' faces turned dull as they exchanged a knowing glance. Wu Ning gave her husband a look of assurance and smiled calmly
"Yes! Yes! My son will be the greatest beast tamer ever. Here, eat more." She added another tender piece of meat to his plate.
Wu Tian forced a smile. "Yes, Our strong Xiao Chen will tame Valezar one day."
"Papa! Can you take me to meet Valezar? I want to play with him," Wu Chen said without looking up from his bowl.
"Yo! You want to meet Valezar? Haha, it's not that easy, boy." His father picked up spinach leaves from the plate. "Why do you want to meet Valezar? What will you play?"
"No one here plays with me. They all play with their own beast, I don't have one. So, they don't let me join." Wu Chen responded without a trace of sadness.
"Xiao Chen, you need to grow up soon. If not, Valezar will eat you just like you are eating the chicken right now." Wu Ning chuckled.
"Mmm mmm", he nodded.
Finishing their lunch, Wu Chen went into the fields to play on his own, while his father helped his mother clean the dishes. Once done, they both sat together.
"Honey, you look concerned. What's the matter?" Wu Ning asked, worry laced her voice.
Wu Tian's cheerful facade faded. He sighed heavily. "The village elders called today. It's been three years and Wu Chen still hasn't awakened his abilities. They're demanding Valezar's seal and the key, claiming we no longer have an heir worthy to carry the legacy."
Wu Ning's face turned pale. "They can't do that. Wu Chen is still a child—he'll awaken in time."
Wu Tian clenched his fists. "They say that with no sign of his powers, the seal must be handed to another family…to keep Valezar's bloodline secure."
Wu Ning's eyes welled with tears. "If the seal falls into greedy hands, it'll only lead to disaster. We can't let that happen."
"I will travel to the city tomorrow as they are holding a yearly auction. If we get lucky, we can find something to help Xiao Chen awaken." A ray of hope crossed his face.
Heavy sound of footsteps grabbed their attention. "Sir, Madam, some high-ranking tamers are at the village entrance. They are very powerful and fully equipped, demanding to hunt Valezars' soul in our village." Wu Ming, their loyal servant held his chest as he panted, delivering the news he'd brought with him.
Wu Tian's face darkened. "Get Xiao Chen. Lock the doors and windows. Don't come out, no matter what you hear," he ordered his wife before rushing out.
His mother ran out to find Wu Chen, spotting him in the nearby field. She grabbed his hand and got him home. On their way, they heard people scream, but since Wu Tian ordered them to stay put, she went inside and locked the door.
"Mama, what happened?" Wu Chen asked, panicked.
"Nothing dear, just a small test. They are testing their abilities." She hugged him tightly already assuming what might be happening outside. Her husband and she were Level- 3 Ranking tamers, while the intruders seemed powerful.
No one in Seaspirit was more than Level-3 Ranking. It was a small village. Not a lot of high-ranking beasts were found nearby to help them level- up. Moreover, the villagers never got involved with the High powers or any officials. They all lived in harmony except a few who looked down on them as their son, being in a family of Valezar's gatekeepers, failed to awaken even at the age of ten.
Soon, they heard a scary bang on their door. "Ning, open the door." Wu Tian shouted. A sudden, forceful knock pounded on their door. Wu Tian's voice called out urgently, "Ning! Open up!"
She opened the door, only to see her husband injured and bleeding. He grabbed Wu Chen, looking at her with desperation. "We have to go—now! Head toward the mountains. I'll catch up later. I am taking Wu Chen with me."
Wu Ning shook her head, fear flashing in her eyes. "No, we're staying together. I won't leave without you and Xiao Chen."
"Ning try to understand.They all are ruthless tamers. They've already started looting and killing people. I still have something very important to do. And I need Wu Chen for that matter. Once done, I'll bring Xiao Chen to you. Both of you escape to the other side of the mountain while I hold them back." He grabbed Wu Chen and rushed towards the inner cave of the village.