//This was just a test chapter so apologies if it's mediocre or even outright terrible. I'm trying to toy with the characters personalities and ironing out a few things.
The next few chapters will be MUCH better as I get into a proper flow. Please bare with me.
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The legend of Rhaegal, the Dragon Of Creation.
It was a story as old as time itself, a tale that had been passed down through the years, reaching countless ears as the generations passed.
Long ago, the True Dragons created the universes along with everything that existed within them. Every world, every beast, every race. Upon their completion, the Dragons hid themselves away from what they had materialized, choosing to watch over their creations rather than live amongst them. That is, all except one of the Dragons. The Dragon that called himself Rhaegal.
No one knew why he decided to descend to the lower worlds, his motives and desires completely unbeknownst to everyone except a select few. The only thing thing that was known was that Rhaegal held a vast curiosity and was constantly on the hunt for entertainment. Ageless, the Dragon roamed through the mortal worlds in disguise, travelling through the rise and fall of Kingdoms, Empires, and every major event that happened throughout history. Always in search for the next source of amusement.
The way the Legend went, those that happened to pick Rhaegal out and find him whilst in disguise would receive one wish. A wish that he would have to grant regardless of what it was. Riches, fame, strength, status, restoring the dead. There wasn't anything that the Dragon couldn't accomplish.
The Legend Of Rhaegal spurred many individuals to pursue the Dragon in hopes of obtaining that singular wish. Wars were fought over information pertaining to the creature, gadgets were created to attempt tracking, and various other abilities and magic were cultivated for the very purpose of finding Rhaegal's whereabouts. Some methods worked, but never more than once. Once every hundred years or so, a singular individual or even a select few would track down the beast and obtain the legendary wish.
Then, Rhaegal would return to hiding once more, watching and waiting for the next individuals who would catch his eye.
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No cargo delivery was ever quite complete without an assorted amount of immediate problems, and this was something Okamin Mire was just beginning to learn.
Though on this particular trip it wasn't a stretch to say that it was happening far more than he himself thought reasonable. Having hitched a ride on a carriage designed to carry precious equipment, one that just happened to be traveling in the very direction him and his compatriots had needed to go, Okamin didn't really have much room to complain. This was especially true since the ragtag group of teens didn't really have any sort of money to reimburse the driver with, having merely been lucky enough to snag a travel method that went towards their intended destination. Naturally, the least they could do was to sort out any of the happenings that transpired along their route so as to pay the way forward for the kindness shown.
Tree fallen in the path? Ursilo moved it.
Monsters attacked? Zorra and Okamin scared them off.
Burglars showed up? Koraki beat them.
It seemed like an easy setup. Okamin just hadn't expected for so many of these particular situations to arise.
At most, he figured there would be one or two mishaps, allowing him to nap the rest of the way.
But no.
For the entirety of the week long trip from where he had been picked up, to the large scale city known as Froana, the incidents had stacked up one after another. A mob of Umbryn Hyenas yapped at the wheels, a freakish storm knocked over a multitude of trees, and an endless supply of thugs had approached the vehicle only to be chased off or beaten down. It got to the point where the driver himself was offering to pay the youths for doing such a good job, even shoving some coins into Koraki's hands after his repeated refusal to accept it. Everything was just so confusing to the younglings that, in the end, they just accepted their fate and thanked the man for his gesture.
As they got closer to their destination, Okamin had expected the number of incidents to go down.
But again, he was wrong.
Bang! Bang!
Okamin Mire ripped open his eyes, light blue hues gracing the world as he quickly shot upwards, maneuvering into a crouching position. Pupils flicking back and forth, the young man's hand reflexively reached to his back hip where two medium sickles were strapped in place, ready to be unhooked at a moments notice.
"Easy there Oka," A voice from ahead said calmly. "There's nothing wrong this time. I just thought you might wanna see this."
Okamin immediately relaxed, taking in the present situation within moments of hearing Koraki's voice. Slowly, the white-haired youth removed his hand from his sickles hilt and plopped back onto the floor of the wooden transport cart. Having been woken up numerous times for the last few days whenever a immediate problem arose, it was only natural that he reacted the way he did. Still, despite it being warranted, it was still embarrassing and disorienting to say the least.
"Sorry about that." Okamin let out a slow breath, getting his head on straight as he did so. "I guess I'm just on edge."
"Dont even worry about it," Koraki said, waving aside his friends battle ready reaction. "We've all been on edge since those Hyenas attacked. You needed the rest so its not a problem at all."
"You were definitely passed out though," Ursilo commented from the back of the carriage. "Dead to the world."
From the top of the carriage, a bubbly female voice echoed into the room. "Sleepin like a baby. Probably drooling as well."
"Now now guys. No need to tease him." Koraki laughed a little, sounding thoroughly amused. "We all need some form of rest e every now and then. All that aside, the real reason I woke Okamin up-"
"Woahhhh!! Haha. That's a LOT of vehicles!!" Zorra exclaimed from her position on the top cargo carriage, a mixture of excitement and curiosity evident in every part of her voice. A head full of bright red hair swiveled in every direction as the young girl took in the surrounding sights. "Just how many of them do you think there are?"
"Yeah, that's the reason." The black haired Koraki laughed. "We're right in Froana's backyard."
Prior to where they had ended up, the cargo carriage had seldomly ran across other passerbys, be it on foot or by way of transport. It had been a long, isolated, drive through the countrysides. According to the driver, it was mainly because of how out of the way their route had been, the driver having had to make a few deliveries and pickups in small recluse villages scattered around the entire continent. It was because of this lengthy route that the delivery driver had been able to pick up Okamin and company, saving the group from trekking thousands of kilometers to Froana.
That had all changed when they exited the dirt road and onto a neatly lined brick path.
Carriages of every shape and size, pulled by everything from Giant Salamanders to Erlian Dragons could be seen moving in two separate directions. The chatter of adults and children alike, the clattering of wheels, hooves and claws, and the shaking of cargo filled the immediate air, adding so much life and energy to the previously deadened atmosphere. So much so that Okamin didn't even know where to focus his attention. So many new things happening all around them prevented the youth from zeroing in on any one event, an almost overwhelming amount of ongoings that was vastly different from anything the white haired youth had experienced before. Far off into the immediate distance, behind an enormous concrete wall that seemed to scrape the very clouds, colorful explosions dotted sky, cheers of joy following each and every one.
"What are those blasts of light?" Zorra questioned, her gaze locking onto the occasional outbursts of red, orange, and yellow.
"You mean the fireworks?" Yuuka, the delivery driver, questioned, glancing back slightly. "You've never seen fireworks before young lady?"
"Fire.....works," Koraki muttered back. "I think I read about those somewhere."
"Aren't those the ones used for celebrations?" Okamin moved over to the nearest window and poked his head out, allowing himself a better view of the ongoings around the cart. "Like when Amdain won against the Ice Lord Crailin and freed the Lamia Kingdom? Aren't they typically used for big events and the like? Must be the Beast Parade."
"You mean the Tiger Shogun? Not many people know about him. And you even know about the Beast Parade." Yuuka raised an eyebrow as he maneuvered the cart along the moving lanes. "You must be well versed in history young man. But yes. These Fireworks are being used to celebrate the beginning of the Beast Parade."
"Beast Parade?" Ursilo sat up from his position on the cart floor, listening to the drivers voice.
"Isn't that what happens when a Contracted Beast and Tamer fuse their souls?" Zorra crossed her arms under her chest and tilted her head slightly. "They named a festival after it?"
"Eheh. Yeah. It is a bit confusing." Yuuka nodded in understanding as he slowed his cart to a stop, unable to go forward due to the halted traffic. "The Beast Parade. It's essentially a week long celebration used to welcome a new line of students attending Arewenol Academy. Since there are so many applicants trying to get into the school, the Beast Parade acts as a filter and prevents those unqualified from getting in. They do this with the sorting."
Okamin slowly tuned out what Yuuka was saying as he observed the surrounding sights, analyzing and dissecting as much as he could. The layout of traffic, the faces of people, the nearby structures. All of it committed to memory. As someone who had already read up on the topic of Arewenol Academy, he pretty much understood most of what was being explained. Including the topic known as the Sorting.
In essence, the Sorting was an exam that was divided into three major tests.
The tests consisted of magical capacity, soul resonance, and combat ability. Each test had its own requirements needed to pass and, in order to gain access to Arewenol Academy and enroll as a student, one needed to pass two out of the three tests. To add onto the already difficult exam, five judges were present during each and every test, for every test taker. These judges were either current top of the line Beast Tamers, or former elite Beast Tamers that had ultimately retired at some point or another. At any point, these judges possessed the rights and the qualifications to either fail or pass you regardless of how well or poor you did during the tests.
To put it simply, not just anyone could hope to enter Arewenol's illustrious ranks. The exams were rigorous and demanding.
Of course, despite all of that, and despite the groups lack of knowledge about Arewenol (with the exception of Okamin) and it's traditions, enrolling was their goal. It was a relatively new goal that they had discussed amongst themselves, but a goal nonetheless.