Chapter 11: Preparation for the Future
The morning light filtered through the walls of the capital, illuminating the rubble from the battle the night before. The air was thick with the smell of burnt earth and iron, a grim reminder of the violence that had swept through the city. However, amidst the devastation, Riven found himself in one of the more secluded areas of the barracks, alone with his wolf and the stolen beast.
Several weeks had passed since the first major battle, and while the city had managed to repel the initial wave of creatures, the future grew darker with each passing day. The capital, once known for its pride and unity, was beginning to show signs of internal fractures. The division between the different political factions was more evident than ever, and the corruption within the institutions was becoming more palpable every day. Riven knew that he would not only have to face the beasts but also the dark human interests that were beginning to cast a shadow over the city.
— *I have to prepare for the worst,* —Riven thought, adjusting his boots as he approached the stolen beast. The creature, a formidable beast he had managed to tame during his last mission, watched him with intense eyes. Riven had spent hours every day training with it, seeking a stronger bond than what he had achieved with his wolf. He couldn't afford weakness. The war for control of the beasts, for the future of the capital, and perhaps the world, was underway.
The training grounds were quiet, with the morning sunlight caressing the earth, barely interrupted by the sound of the creatures' hooves and the whisper of the wind. The stolen beast, larger than any other, stood before Riven, observing with an intensity that almost made him uncomfortable. Beside him, the silver-furred wolf was also alert, as if it understood that the time for preparation could no longer be wasted.
Riven positioned himself, taking a deep breath before signaling the start. At that moment, the stolen beast charged toward him with impressive speed. Riven, his mind calm, waited for the exact moment to react. The silver wolf moved immediately, leaping at the beast and facing it with a grace that could only be achieved through a deep bond. Riven moved in sync with his creatures, coordinating every action, every attack, every step.
The battle between the two beasts was unstoppable. The sound of the creatures clashing filled the air, but Riven remained unshaken. As he observed closely, he saw the small flaws in his previous training: the wolf needed to be more aggressive, and the stolen beast had to trust more in his guidance, in his direction. Every second was a lesson, an opportunity to grow.
— *This isn't just training,* —Riven thought, watching his creatures as they moved with determination. — *It's a necessity. I can't afford to fail.*
Sweat began to cover his brow, but his focus remained unbreakable. Each strike of his sword, each maneuver of the creatures, became more precise, more synchronized. He could feel the bond between him and his beasts growing stronger with every passing second. He couldn't rely solely on brute strength. The true challenge was in coordination, strategy, and the speed to adapt.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of fighting and tension, Riven called for a retreat. The beasts, though exhausted, still responded to his commands without hesitation.
— *Well done,* —he said, petting the wolf's head, which responded with a soft growl, as if satisfied with its performance. At his side, the stolen beast watched in silence, its breathing heavy but controlled.
Riven didn't waste time in celebrations. He was preparing for something bigger. He knew that the attacks from the beasts were only the beginning of a larger conflict. Something dark was operating behind it all, and his enemies were not just the creatures. There were human forces beginning to align in the shadows, manipulating the threads of the war for their own purposes.
As the city recovered from the invasion, rumors of internal corruption began to spread. Riven, though focused on his training, could not ignore what was happening in the capital. It was said that politicians had begun making deals with external factions, promising power and riches in exchange for support of their causes. There were also rumors that some of the noble houses' leaders had begun forming alliances with dark forces, seeing the beasts as an opportunity to gain absolute power.
Riven began to listen more carefully to the conversations among the military leaders. His suspicions were confirmed when a high-ranking officer mentioned something about "the need for stricter control over the creatures." The beast tamers, among them, were divided. While some defended the need to control the beasts for the good of the capital, others believed the beasts should be free, that their fate should not be subject to the will of men.
What had started as a fight for survival was quickly becoming a fight for control of the beasts, and by extension, control of the capital. Riven realized that he not only had to worry about the invading beasts, but also the human interests that were beginning to infiltrate everything. Every political decision, every small change in the behavior of the factions, could have a significant impact on the war to come.
One night, as Riven meditated in his room, he was interrupted by a messenger. The young man brought unsettling news. It was rumored that dark forces, known only as "The Shadow Lords," were taking control of the most powerful beasts. No one knew exactly what these Shadow Lords were, but some believed they were dark mages, while others thought they were the remnants of an ancient order of fallen warriors.
Riven listened intently, his mind already formulating strategies.
— *This is the real enemy,* —he thought to himself, a palpable sense of danger growing in his chest. — *The beasts are just part of the problem. This enemy has power, and their intentions are unclear.*
He knew he had to act quickly. The city was not only at risk of being destroyed by the invasion of creatures, but it was also being manipulated by those who sought to use the beasts as tools of power. The Shadow Lords, if not stopped in time, could become an even greater threat than any beast that attacked the city.
Riven spent the following weeks intensifying his training. He knew that the next phase of the conflict would require not only strength but also intelligence and strategy. The war to come would be a battle for control of the beasts, but also a battle for the very soul of the capital. As human interests intertwined with dark magic, Riven found himself at a crossroads.
What had begun as a fight to protect his city and people had now transformed into a far more complex struggle: a battle for the future of the world itself.
With renewed determination, Riven swore that he would not only fight against the beasts, but also against those who sought to strip his city of everything he loved.
End of Chapter 11.