Chapter 2: The Stolen Beast
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in a deep orange that made the shadows of the trees stretch even longer, casting the forest paths in an ominous twilight. Riven walked with firm steps, the weight of his decision settling heavily in his chest. He had crossed the village boundary and was venturing deeper into the woods, each step taking him further from home, from his people. He had left Nyx behind, knowing that what he was about to do could endanger his own life, but his grandfather's words echoed in his mind.
*If you want to be a great beast tamer, you must be brave and dare to go beyond what others think is possible.*
The forest was completely silent, an oppressive stillness broken only by the crunch of dry leaves under his boots. Though his heart pounded heavily, his thoughts were focused on the mission. The beast reserve was not far, and although he knew he was committing a serious offense, fear did not stop him. Deep inside, a fierce impulse pushed him forward, as if it were the only way to save his village.
The reserve, a walled-off area, was a place where the most powerful tamers of the region trained the mightiest creatures. His grandfather had often spoken to him about the beasts kept there, and although Riven had never had access to them, the stories had left a lasting mark on him. There was one beast in particular that stood out: a mythical creature known as *Vorgar*, a dragon with scales as black as the night and eyes red as burning embers. For years, it was said that his grandfather had tried to tame it, but had never succeeded. However, he always spoke of its power with admiration, as if the dragon were the ultimate challenge for a tamer of his caliber. And now, this creature could be the key to saving his home.
With his heart racing, Riven arrived at the reserve's walls. The iron gates were closed, but he knew he couldn't waste time looking for a legitimate entrance. In his bag, he carried a small key, a relic that had belonged to his grandfather, which he had given him in his final days, along with a warning.
—*Never use this unless it's absolutely necessary, Riven. It's your last resort if you ever find yourself in a no-win situation. Use the key wisely.*— His grandfather's voice resonated in his mind like a distant echo.
Without thinking twice, he inserted the key into the lock. The door's mechanism gave way with a metallic sound that reverberated in the air. With the gate open, Riven quickly entered the reserve. Through the dark, shadowy path, he moved deeper into the facility, toward the area where the most powerful beasts were kept.
The air grew more humid as he progressed, and the sense of danger was palpable. The creatures kept in steel cages, some of them lurking in the shadows, made eerie noises that sent chills down his spine. However, Riven didn't stop, his eyes fixed on his goal. He knew what he had to do, but fear began to take hold of him as he neared Vorgar's cage.
As he approached, Riven felt a presence, a dark and dangerous energy that enveloped him. The air itself seemed charged with electricity. There, in a reinforced steel cage, lay the beast. Vorgar. The dragon was not asleep, as Riven had expected. It was awake, its massive black-scaled body faintly glowing in the torchlight, its red eyes fixed on Riven. Instantly, the creature leapt to its feet, its claws scraping the ground with a deafening sound.
Riven took a step back, his heart racing, but he couldn't afford to doubt himself. *This is what I must do*, he thought firmly. He knew that only he could face this beast and control the situation.
With a swift movement, Riven activated a mechanism on the cage that he had prepared earlier. However, when the cage opened, what happened next was far more disastrous than he had imagined. The dragon showed no signs of submission. Instead, it let out a furious roar that echoed throughout the place, making Riven stagger from the force of the sound.
—Damn it!— Riven thought, stepping back as the beast charged toward him, its wings beating so fiercely that they shook the ground. The cage that had once contained the creature was now nothing more than an insignificant obstacle.
At that moment, the dragon shot a jet of fire directly at Riven. Despite the fear coursing through him, his training in the last few years had prepared him for something like this. He quickly ducked, narrowly avoiding the flames that passed by his face, the heat singeing his skin. Riven knew he didn't have much time. If he didn't manage to control the beast within minutes, he would not only lose the chance to save his village, but he would also lose his life.
The dragon roared, advancing quickly. Riven had no time to think, he was only reacting instinctively. With a swift motion, he extended his hands toward the beast, trying to channel the power his grandfather had taught him. However, something was wrong. His connection with Vorgar was not as natural as he had expected. Instead of feeling the strength and control he had always imagined, all he felt was a surge of fury and destruction. The dragon was not like any other creature he had tamed.
But Riven did not give up. He knew he had to connect with the beast on an instinctive level, to trust what his grandfather had taught him. The dragon began to attack again, launching an aerial strike, its claws ridiculously sharp shooting toward Riven. It was then that, in a flash of clarity, he understood what he had to do.
With a fierce cry, Riven concentrated all his energy into a single movement. He stretched out his hands and allowed the connection to form. The moment his hands touched the beast, a wave of dark energy flooded his body. But instead of succumbing to it, Riven channeled it, turning it into something else. He felt the power of the beast burning within him, but he also felt something more: his own determination, his will to save his home.
Vorgar roared and fought against him, but this time, Riven did not yield. The struggle was fierce, but, in the end, Riven managed to subdue the dragon, not with brute force, but with the sheer will of a tamer who understood what it took to win.
The dragon collapsed onto the ground, panting and defeated. Riven fell to his knees, exhausted from the intensity of the battle. He had won, but at a cost. The dragon, though tamed, was still a dangerous beast.
Riven looked at the creature at his feet, his chest still heaving from the battle. He had done the impossible, but now he understood that this was just the beginning. The beast had been tamed, yes, but his true challenge was just beginning.
However, at least for now, Riven had accomplished what he had set out to do. He had stolen the beast, but more importantly, he had begun his journey toward true mastery.