Riven stood before the massive white-marble edifice, its grandeur far surpassing that of the hunter's guild building. The structure loomed, its scale dwarfing the cityscape around it. Six grand entrances marked its circular design, each guarded by two imposing figures clad in gleaming white armor, with beasts crouched silently by their sides. The guards, unmoving, seemed more like statues than men. Riven paid them no mind, striding confidently into the building.
The interior was a sight to behold—far more opulent than the austere elegance of the exterior. Intricate patterns wove across the floors and walls, their artistry mesmerizing. Bright green, rectangular bushes lined the edges, adding a vivid contrast to the marble's pristine white. Inside, the space was arranged like a self-contained city, complete with wedge-shaped buildings scattered around the circular layout. At the heart of it all stood a towering fountain, its cascading waters sparkling under the ambient light. Benches surrounded the fountain, where tamers and their beasts gathered, moving in and out of the various buildings with purpose.
Distinct areas were marked by colored marble floors—white with wavy lines of blue, purple, red, orange, or gold. Each color denoted a rank: blue for newly minted tamers, purple for intermediates, and so on, with gold reserved for the elite. The simple white marble floors indicated public access. Riven recalled his instructor's warning: straying into restricted zones without authorization could lead to steep fines.
Spotting the registration desk, Riven began making his way toward it. Before he could take a single step, a blur of motion stopped him cold. Zephyr appeared directly in front of him, his long silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight. Riven's eyes widened as he stumbled backward, his footing lost. Just before he could fall—or collide with someone—his descent slowed, as though the air had turned viscous.
"Well, hello there, young Stormbrand," Zephyr greeted, his tone light and carefree.
Riven righted himself, the strange sensation dissipating. "Mr. Zephyr! What are you doing here?" he asked, glancing around nervously.
The bustling hall had gone eerily silent. All eyes were on Zephyr, one of the empire's most powerful tamers.
"Tsk, tsk," Zephyr said, feigning disappointment. With a snap of his fingers, shards of light formed around them, refracting into a kaleidoscope of color. In the blink of an eye, the shards shattered, revealing an entirely new setting.
Riven now stood in a spacious room with plush rugs, a comfortable sofa, and two doors leading to other areas. Behind him, a kitchen space featured a rectangular counter laden with vibrant fruits and an assortment of alcoholic beverages.
"I see you've contracted a beast," Zephyr said, his tone both surprised and delighted.
The remark pulled Riven from his awe as he held Luna out on his palms. The small creature peered curiously at Zephyr, who placed a hand on her head. A colorful aura enveloped Luna, pulsing rhythmically for a full minute before fading away.
"Spatially attuned, a lesser beast with all other stats at zero. Fascinating," Zephyr murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A rare find. I imagine she wouldn't have survived in the wild without your intervention?"
Riven nodded, carefully placing Luna back on his shoulder.
A grin spread across Zephyr's face before his form vanished. Riven's eyes darted to the edge of his vision, catching a flicker of movement. Spinning around, he saw Zephyr descending with an axe kick aimed directly at him.
"What the—!" Riven stammered, barely blinking behind Zephyr in time to evade the strike.
Zephyr recovered effortlessly, using the momentum to spin on his heel and face Riven again. "That's quite the skill," he remarked, his eyes fixed on Luna with newfound admiration.
Riven's irritation flared. "You could have just asked, and I'd have shown you," he said, his tone edged with annoyance.
"Where's the fun in that?" Zephyr replied with a dismissive wave, his grin unwavering.
Riven exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "With all due respect, why are you here? I'm no one special—certainly not powerful enough to warrant your attention."
Zephyr doubled over with laughter, clutching his stomach. "Oh, you crack me up, boy!"
Riven frowned, uncomfortable with the term "boy" coming from someone who looked no older than his brother, despite being old enough to have seen his grandfather's youth. He wisely kept the observation to himself, though the thought lingered.
Zephyr collected himself, his expression shifting into a thoughtful one as he spoke. "You have two unique abilities, neither of which are documented nor their effects similar to others." His tone grew quieter as he added, almost to himself, "Besides, with what's coming, I don't mind spending a little time and effort preparing countermeasures."
Riven's eyes widened. Future threats? The chaotic lands expanding? Father's sudden mission? Are they all connected?
Zephyr must have noticed the thoughts swirling on Riven's face because he interrupted, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. "Stop looking so far ahead, boy. You're too weak to matter right now."
The words stung, but Riven couldn't argue. It was the truth. Despite his mana purity, he lacked proper training in advanced techniques and had no bonded beast of significant strength. Even most hunters outpaced him in skill and resources.
"Now, now, don't look so glum," Zephyr said, sliding onto a stool by the counter and reaching for a purple fruit. Taking a large bite, he continued casually, "I can arrange for you to have a proper teacher. With your mana purity, few would protest too loudly."
Riven's heart lifted for a moment, but Zephyr's tone darkened, his words laced with an eerie, almost inhuman malevolence. "The real question is, do you have the will, the drive to grow strong enough to matter?"
Riven gulped, his resolve flickering. Yet, he remembered his motivation—his family's safety and his dream to stand as tall as the legendary tamer, Van Helsing. Clenching his fists, he gave a firm nod.
Still, a nagging doubt clawed at him. "Why me?" he asked hesitantly. "My progress will be slow. Surely others could benefit more from your attention."
For the first time, Zephyr's confident demeanor cracked. His face twisted with a grimace of distaste. "We need warriors, not pampered, self-centered nobles," he said, spitting the words like venom. "I've made it my mission to scout talent before it's smothered by the noble families' politics. That's all there is to it." He finished the fruit in one loud crunch, swallowing it whole.
"You, boy, were easy to recruit. Most have already dismissed you for failing to bond with a greater or higher-bloodline beast," Zephyr added, his smile turning somber.
They know? Riven froze, his thoughts racing. Everyone knows what happened that day.
Zephyr, as if plucking the thoughts directly from his mind, continued. "Yes, it's as you fear. You'll rarely be allowed to delve into dimensional rifts or gain access to powerful artifacts. No one sees you as worth the investment anymore."
Hearing it laid out so bluntly struck a deep chord of sorrow in Riven. He had always suspected this truth, but having it confirmed left him hollow. Luna, sensing his distress, nuzzled his cheek, her soft fur and warmth a small comfort against the heavy weight pressing on him.
Zephyr's gaze softened for a brief moment as he observed the interaction. "Your beast may only reach Rank 2, but you are not limited by her potential. So, what will it be? Will you work under me?"
Riven hesitated, but the bleakness of his alternatives left him little choice. With a heavy nod, he accepted.
Zephyr's grin returned, sharp and mischievous. "Good, good. Your first task is to reach Rank 2 and then head to the tallest hill in the Verdant Pass."
Riven blinked, baffled. "Wait, I thought you were going to teach me!"
Zephyr's chuckle was rich and mocking. "Boy, I wish I could."
For a moment, his gaze drifted past Riven, distant and unfocused. Cracks began to spiderweb across Zephyr's form, golden light bleeding through the fissures. He stood, his voice losing its usual levity. "I've already registered you with the association. Collect your badge on your way out."
Before Riven could respond, a kaleidoscopic sphere of light enveloped them. In the blink of an eye, they reappeared outside the association building.
What is going on? Riven's eyes darted to Zephyr, whose body was now fracturing like glass. Shards of yellow light flaked off him, fading as they touched the ground.
"Grow strong enough," Zephyr said, his voice echoing with an unnatural resonance, "and we may meet in person."
With those final words, Zephyr shattered into countless brilliant fragments, leaving Riven standing alone, awestruck and overwhelmed by a single thought: He was never physically here in the first place, yet he commanded such power.