**Chapter 3: The Sovereign's Path**
The battle with the Harbingers had ended, but Erythion's heart still raced. The ground around him was scorched, the remnants of dark magic crackling in the air. His beasts, Stormfang and the Void Serpent, stood at his side, their bodies bruised but unbroken. The air felt different now—charged, almost as if the very fabric of the world had shifted in the wake of their fight.
"You did well," Erythion whispered to his companions, though his voice was tinged with uncertainty. The battle had been far more intense than he could've imagined. For a moment, he wondered if he was truly ready for the path laid out before him. But when his eyes fell on the Harbinger leader, lying broken at his feet, the mark on his hand glowed faintly—a reminder that this was his destiny.
The Harbingers hadn't just been testing him. They had come for something—something larger than a mere test of power. Their eyes, those cold, dark eyes, had lingered on him in a way that unsettled him. They hadn't been just after his life; they had been after something more.
Erythion's thoughts were interrupted by a low growl from Stormfang. He turned to see the wolf, its fur still crackling with residual energy, its eyes narrowed as it stared into the distance.
"There's more…" Erythion murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
From the shadows, figures began to emerge. Unlike the Harbingers, these were not cloaked in darkness. They were human, though their eyes glinted with something otherworldly—a sharp, focused intelligence that spoke of ancient knowledge.
The largest of them stepped forward, his silver armor glinting in the moonlight. His long white hair flowed behind him like a river of light, and his eyes burned with a purpose that made Erythion's gut twist.
"You've proven yourself, Sovereign," the man said, his voice smooth and commanding. "But the trials have only just begun."
Erythion's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, though he hadn't unsheathed it. "Who are you?"
The man smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We are the **Order of the Awakening**. And we have come to ensure that you are ready for what is to come."
"Ready for what?" Erythion's voice was sharp, but doubt crept into his heart. The Harbingers had been only the beginning, hadn't they?
"The true battle," the man said cryptically. "The one that will define whether Eryndral survives—or falls into chaos."
Erythion took a step back. The weight of his responsibilities, the weight of his newfound power, seemed to crush him with every passing second. He wasn't prepared for this. He hadn't been prepared for anything.
The man in silver armor chuckled darkly. "None of us are prepared, Sovereign. But that is why we exist—to guide you, to train you, to push you to the limits of your potential." He paused, his gaze piercing through Erythion. "You may have tamed the Void Serpent, but you are still weak."
"I *tamed* it," Erythion said, his voice steadier than he felt. "That should count for something."
"It counts for *something*," the man said with a chuckle. "But not nearly enough. There are ancient forces stirring, Sovereign. And they will not wait for you to catch up."
Erythion clenched his fists, the mark on his palm pulsing as if in response to the man's words. "What forces?"
The man's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "The Dark Gods. They are awakening once more. And with them come their agents, the Harbingers, the true monsters of this world. You think you've seen power? You've barely scratched the surface."
"Then what do you want from me?" Erythion asked, his tone growing colder. "What are you offering?"
The man's eyes gleamed. "We are offering you the chance to join us, Sovereign. To train. To grow. To become the power that this world needs to survive."
Erythion remained silent, the weight of the man's words sinking in. The **Order of the Awakening** was not an organization he'd heard of in the histories. They were a secret faction, one that operated in the shadows, preparing for a time when the world would be plunged into conflict. But this was no longer about political power or territory. This was about survival. The stakes were higher than he had ever imagined.
But he wasn't sure he could trust these people. They seemed too eager, too confident in their control over the situation.
"And if I refuse?" Erythion asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
The man shrugged. "Then the Dark Gods will come for you, as they will for everyone else. But I would advise against it. You are far more valuable alive than dead."
Erythion's mind raced. He knew he had little choice but to listen, to learn more about these *ancient forces* the man spoke of. But trust would take time. Trust was something he hadn't given to anyone easily, and he wasn't about to start now.
"Fine," Erythion said, his voice hard. "I'll hear you out. But no promises."
The man smiled again, his eyes gleaming. "No promises are needed. You'll come to understand in time. And when you do, you'll realize that we are your best option."
---
The following days passed in a blur. Erythion was taken to a hidden sanctuary, far from the prying eyes of the Sovereign Council and the military. The Order of the Awakening was a clandestine group, one that worked in the shadows, preparing the next generation of Beast Sovereigns for the coming conflict. Their headquarters was an ancient temple, one that had been lost to history, buried deep within the **Aegis Mountains**.
The temple was unlike anything Erythion had ever seen. It was a place of incredible power, its walls lined with runes and ancient sigils that thrummed with energy. Inside, he met with other members of the Order—most were older, more experienced Beast Sovereigns, each of them possessing beasts of incredible power. Some of them were like the man in silver armor, confident and cold. Others were more approachable, though none of them seemed particularly interested in becoming friends.
The training was grueling. Erythion spent every day in combat training, learning to push his bond with Stormfang to its limits. The Void Serpent remained dormant for the most part, as its full power had yet to be unlocked.
But it wasn't just combat that he had to learn. He was being taught the ancient lore of the world—the secrets of the **First Awakening**, the rise of the Dark Gods, and the role the Beast Sovereigns had played in the battle that had nearly torn the world apart five centuries ago. He learned that the first generation of Beast Tamers had fought back the darkness, but that victory had been temporary. Now, the Dark Gods were awakening once more, and with them, a host of new enemies.
The truth was far darker than Erythion had imagined. The world was not just under threat from beasts and monsters. It was under threat from forces older than time itself. And Erythion was at the center of it all.
His training continued, relentless and unforgiving, as the shadow of the coming storm loomed ever larger. But Erythion was beginning to understand one thing—the road ahead would not be easy, and only those with the strength to endure would survive.
The path of the **Sovereign of Infinite Beasts** was one of pain, sacrifice, and unimaginable power. And Erythion was about to learn what it truly meant to bear that burden.
---
*End of Chapter 3.*