Chapter 1: The Last Gift of a Grandfather
The village of Windhollow was small, but its natural beauty made it stand out in a secluded corner of Arden. Surrounded by dense forests and hills forming a protective wall, the village seemed isolated from the outside world. But that isolation came with a cost, as the beasts—wild, powerful creatures—constantly stalked the nearby forests. Each season, the village faced threats, and they didn't always have the strength to defend themselves.
At the entrance of the small wooden house, Riven stood still, gazing at the horizon. The gray sky of the evening reflected a heavy sense in his chest. The cold breeze brushed against his face, but his gaze remained fixed on the path leading into the forest. His thoughts mingled with memories of his grandfather, the man who was considered one of the greatest beast tamers in the region. His grandfather's legacy was his burden, and also his greatest source of hope.
—*You will become a great beast tamer, Riven.*— He recalled the words his grandfather had said in his final days, words that were etched in his mind like a silent vow. *Don't stop until you get it.*
His grandfather had passed away only a few weeks ago, but his shadow still hung over the village. With his death, the villagers had lost their leader, the protector, the man who could connect with the fiercest beasts and tame them. In the days following his death, Riven was seen as his natural successor, but what no one knew was that he didn't possess the same ability. Despite his efforts, his attempts to tame the stronger beasts had always failed. And although he had made some progress with Nyx, the small black cat his grandfather had left him, he had never been able to tame a greater beast.
The sun was already setting, and night was beginning to fall over Windhollow. The shadows of the trees grew longer, and the cold air became more intense. However, what worried Riven the most was not the cold of the night, but the distant roar he had heard a few moments earlier. A roar that sent a chill down his spine. A roar that came from the nearby forest, from where the fiercest beasts always arrived. His heart raced as his eyes searched for the source of the sound. The beasts were close.
The village was not prepared to face an invasion of such powerful creatures. The village's beast tamers, although brave, were few, and not all of them had the ability to fight the larger beasts. Riven had grown up under his grandfather's tutelage, but he still didn't have the power or skill to help in these types of situations.
—*What can I do?*— He thought, as desperation began to take hold of him. He looked around and saw the village walls, the wooden doors slowly closing against the threat, and the villagers running in every direction, seeking shelter. There was no time for fear.
But as he looked at the small figure beside him, a flicker of hope arose in his chest. Nyx, the small black cat his grandfather had given him, was watching him from the doorstep. Its eyes gleamed with intensity, as if it understood that something important was about to happen. Despite being a cat, something in its gaze reflected the same determination Riven had seen in his grandfather years ago. However, Nyx was not a powerful beast; it was not a creature that could face the horde approaching the village. In fact, it was more a symbol of the connection Riven still had to his grandfather, a reminder of what he could become.
Riven took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, and thought of the lessons his grandfather had left him. *The bond between a tamer and their beast is not something that's forced, it's something that's built, with patience and effort.* Those words echoed in his mind like a mantra. But the beasts that were threatening the village couldn't wait. They couldn't be tamed with patience. He needed something more, something quick, something that could change the village's fate.
Suddenly, the decision struck him like a bolt of lightning. *I have to do it.* The idea was dangerous, probably reckless, but there was no other option. Riven knew he had to risk everything to save his home. He turned to Nyx, who was still watching with its large yellow eyes.
—*Stay here, Nyx.*— Riven said firmly, though his heart was filled with doubt. He knew that what he was about to do would change everything forever.
Riven ran to the shed where his grandfather had kept the tamer's tools: ropes, spears, bows, and other items. He knew he wouldn't need any of that for what he was about to do. The only thing he needed was the beast reserve, a place his grandfather had mentioned several times as dangerous, but full of creatures that could be tamed if one had the courage. The beast reserve lay beyond the forest, in an area where tamers trained the strongest creatures. There was one beast in particular his grandfather had tried to tame in the past, a legendary beast that had been his greatest challenge, but one he had managed to control for a time.
Riven didn't know if he could even get close to it, but he had no other choice. As he reached the edge of the forest, he looked back once more. The sound of the beasts growing nearer was becoming louder, and the roar of a large creature echoed in his chest, as though calling him, challenging him. Fear gripped him for a moment, but then he remembered his grandfather's words.
—*If you want to be a great beast tamer, you have to be willing to risk it all.*
With a determined step, Riven entered the forest. The wind whispered through the leaves, and the shadows seemed to stretch, enveloping him. Every step brought him closer to the unknown, to a place he had never ventured alone. He knew there was no turning back. He had reached the point of no return.
In his mind, the image of his grandfather faded for a moment, replaced by the image of the beast he had chosen. A massive creature, with a muscular body and eyes that glowed with an intense red. His grandfather had been the only one in the history of Windhollow to control it, but only for a short time. Now, that beast would be the key to saving the village, and Riven knew that only he could face it.
Fear swept over him for a moment, but he forced himself to keep moving. The village needed a hero, and that hero, though still young, had to be him.
Riven ventured deeper into the forest, with Nyx at his back, and the village waiting for his return. Unaware of what awaited him, Riven was determined to change his destiny.