Chapter 12: The First Step Towards Glory
The capital slowly awakened with the light of dawn, but it was not an ordinary awakening. The city, once filled with pride and strength, now stood at the edge of a precipice. The shadows of war loomed over its walls, and the echo of the first steps of a greater conflict resonated in every corner. Riven knew that survival in this war would not only involve beasts but also those who operated in the shadows, seeking power and control. Every moment was fraught with uncertainty.
Amid this chaos, Riven stood in a secluded part of the camp, accompanied by his wolf Nyx and the stolen beast—a wild, fierce creature far more imposing than he had originally imagined. A month had passed since the initial invasion, and while the city began to recover from the rubble of battle, Riven knew he could not let the calm become an obstacle. What was coming was much worse, and he had to prepare to face the unknown.
In the quiet of his small tent, while Nyx rested beside him and the stolen beast remained vigilant nearby, Riven reflected on his future. The capital had been only the first battleground, but what truly terrified him was what lay ahead. There were moments, increasingly frequent, when he felt on the edge of despair. Though his training had improved significantly, the feeling that he was losing control of the situation never left him.
— *What should I do now?* —he asked himself silently, his mind turning over the same question.
He had trained, he had fought, but war was not just about physical ability. War was strategic, political, and the beasts were not just in the battlefields; some of them lurked in the shadows, under the orders of those who played with dark forces. Riven had to make a decision. If he wanted to move forward, if he truly sought glory, he had to take control not only of the creatures but of his own destiny.
With the roar of creatures and the sense of chaos spreading throughout the city, Riven came to a conclusion.
— The path of the beast tamer is the one I must follow. If I want to fight, I must learn to control not only the creatures but myself as well.
Riven's resolution was clear. He could not just be a military leader, nor just a man who tamed beasts. He needed to be someone who knew his own potential, someone who could shape the future through the strength of his will and his alliances. The path to glory was not just about winning battles, but about the ability to transform chaos into order.
The news of the "Shadow Lords" had spread like wildfire through the ranks of the resistance. No one knew for certain who they were or what they wanted, but everyone agreed that it was only a matter of time before their power fully emerged. The creatures, under their influence, were becoming increasingly aggressive, attacking villages and small towns on the outskirts of the capital. But what most troubled Riven was the fact that many of the attacks seemed perfectly coordinated, as if someone were maneuvering the beasts like pieces on a chessboard.
Riven had heard rumors among the military commanders. The need for "stricter control over the creatures" had become a central topic of discussion. Those who had once seen the beasts as potential allies in the fight for the capital now viewed them as a threat that had to be broken, their wills crushed forever. As the rumors spread, so did paranoia, and amidst this chaos, Riven saw an opportunity.
He had to form his own group, a coalition of people willing to fight for something greater than mere survival. He needed allies who shared his vision, who understood that the battle was not just for the capital, but for something much larger. As the city sank deeper into confusion, Riven decided that he must take the first step on his path to glory.
Training with Nyx and the stolen beast had advanced significantly. Although the stolen beast remained a wild and unpredictable creature, Riven had developed a deeper bond with it. His relationship with Nyx, the silver-furred wolf, had also grown stronger. Nyx's loyalty was unwavering, and through days of training and joint battles, both animals had become his strongest companions.
One day, as Riven practiced with his two creatures, a sense of unity overtook him. The stolen beast, though still untamed, responded better to his commands, and Nyx moved with the fluidity and grace of a trained warrior. It was clear to Riven that he had found a force that could not only challenge the invading beasts but also the enemies operating in the shadows.
— *If I'm going to fight, I can't do it alone. I need everyone by my side to understand the true purpose of this war,* —he thought as he watched his two creatures.
The vision of the coming battle was no longer just about winning, but about forging a new kind of leadership. It would not be about subjugating others, but about building a coalition based on mutual respect, unity in the face of a common threat.
The following weeks were crucial. Riven began gathering those who had remained on the sidelines of the conflict—men and women who had not been absorbed by the politics of power. His goal was not just to summon warriors, but to gather those who could offer more than mere strength. There were brilliant minds among the crowd, people who saw beyond the immediate fight. This would be the first step toward glory: not just leading a war, but creating real change, a future where beasts and humans could coexist.
But as Riven moved forward in forming his coalition, the shadows of the "Shadow Lords" continued to close in. Attacks from creatures became more frequent, and one night, a dark figure appeared in the camp. It was a shadowy messenger, bringing unsettling news about the movements of enemy forces. However, the message he carried was even more disturbing: the "Shadow Lords" had begun infiltrating the ranks of the beast tamers, seeking control over the most powerful creatures.
This discovery reinforced Riven's decision to take control. The battle for glory, for freedom and control over the beasts, was no longer just a matter of survival. It was a fight for the future, for the will of humankind, and for the determination of those who rose against the dark power looming over the world.
Riven's coalition began to take shape, but he knew that this was just the first step. No matter how many joined his cause, the greatest challenges were still ahead. The war that loomed would not just be a fight against the beasts, but a war for the future, for the will of men, and the resolve of those who stood against the dark power that hung over the world.
With the stolen beast and Nyx by his side, Riven took his first step toward true glory. He had left doubt and uncertainty behind. His path to greatness had just begun, but the future remained uncertain.
End of Chapter 12.