The Kindread, a god-like beast. The Whisperer of the same name has seen the beast and lived to tell the tale. He is the only reason we know of its description.
"Majestic as it is terrifying, a living graveyard within a flower sanctuary."
Excerpt from Kreatures of Keceo, A Brilliant Bestiary.
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"What are you doing here?"
Griffith scowled, holding his books close to his side.
Gwyn and Rodrick were on their way back to the Kosmarian estate now that class was over.
"I could ask you the same thing," Rodrick said. "Why weren't you in the second half of class?"
He tossed his golden hair.
"Because geniuses like me don't need simple studies like that."
Gwyn pushed past Griffith.
"Well, not to interrupt you two, but I'm going home."
"And where is that? The ugly store?"
Gwyn rolled her eyes.
"Good one, Griffy. That was awesome."
Gwyn said sarcastically. Rodrick held a laugh behind his helmet.
Griffith stomped his feet. He hated it when Gwyn called him that.
"What's your deal? Hanging around a red knight? Did the King force someone to protect you?"
"I'm not hanging around him; he's hanging around me."
Gwyn retorted. Rodrick nodded to the young boy.
"Why?"
"I'm sent to protect her."
"But why! Why help her? She's worthless and stupid."
He stomped his feet and yelled. People began to stare at them.
"Your brother ordered me to protect her for the foreseeable future."
Wait,brother?
"What are you talking about, Rodrick?"
"Oh." He let out a hardy chuckle, slapping his breastplate. "You don't know? Griffith is Young Master's little brother."
Griffith and Gwyn looked at each other in a new light. The horror of the situation began to dawn on them both.
"And, because I'm assuming you don't know, Gwyn is living at the estate now."
He pointed to Griffith, who looked as though he was about to explode.
"There is no way my father would approve of this!"
Griffith stammered, lip quivering.
"Griffith, I'm sorry, but I'm not—"
"Don't talk to me, you smelly, stupid, incompetent Chosen One. No one likes you, and I hope you die."
His words were spoken hurriedly. He pushed a kid who was trying to teleport out of a ruby coffin.
"Griffith!" Rodrick shouted, but the tendrils that had risen from the platform grasped him tightly; then he was gone. "Could have gotten himself or that child killed."
"Should we follow him?"
"We have to at some point."
A group of students had helped the child, Griffith, push over and checked if they were okay.
"Sorry about that."
Gwyn approached the child, but he gave her a worried look and stepped back on the coffin without a word.
"Let's go, Gwyn."
They stepped on the ruby coffin. Then the tendrils grabbed them, a lurch, and they arrived.
Griffith was arguing with a man in front of the manor when they appeared. When the red flashed reached his face, he closed his eyes and sighed. He slowly turned to them and frowned; his worst fear had been realized.
"Daaaaaaaaaaad," he pleaded on his knees, tearing at his father's red cloak. "Take her away, I don't want to see her!"
The Lord of House Kosmairian looked at Gwyn with sad eyes, then kneeled to his son.
"This is for a better future, my son. You have to think about the long term."
"You care more about the Chosen One than you care about me!"
He shrieked and ran inside the manor.
The Lord sighed and shuffled over to the two of them, giving a sweet smile.
"Forgive him. He is taking this hard, for some reason." He bowed before her, which surprised Rodrick. "I am Lord Kosmairian, but you can call me Talos."
"Y-you don't have to bow for me, Lord Kosmairian. Um... I mean… Talos. I'm just as worthless as everyone describes."
Gwyn said truthfully, feeling her face flush.
"Nonsense." He grabbed her hands. "You are the key to our future. If the whole world says you are worthless, then I have to say the whole world is wrong."
"T-thanks."
Gwyn didn't know what to say. She definitely didn't expect this. She suddenly found the floor incredibly interesting.
"Now, Gwynevere, is it? Let me apologize for the Meeting of the Chosen. I am powerless to Archimedes, but my son was able to convince him it would be best for you to stay here instead of at the Gilded Towers."
Artero did that?
"Oh, the meeting?"
She waved her hand. Gwyn was hoping no one would bring up her embarrassing display at the meeting for as long as she lived.
"Don't worry about what happened. People have already forgotten. The combat was far more remarkable than their beratement of a Chosen One who, in recent memory, is the most neglected." He paused. "Except for the fish, of course, but these things happen sometimes."
Gwyn had to wonder what he was talking about, then nodded. She went to speak, but before she could, Talos straightened his posture and looked more dignified.
"Onto more important matters. The Great Eight has decided that you need more advancement more quickly if you are going to have any chance at defeating the King of Terror." He then looked as though he remembered something. "Speaking of. Have you yet manifested your special ability? It should look like a marking that wasn't there before, sort of like a tattoo."
Gwyn shook her head.
"No tattoos that I can recall."
He nodded.
"I see. Well. Because of this eagerness, they want to test your ability with lesser magic tomorrow. This was not my idea, of course. Archimedes is impatient as ever."
The mention of Archimedes' name always sent a shiver up Gwyn's spine. She then thought of his smug, gaunt face.
Asshole.
"I see. So, do you have any plans?"
"I do! It is why I am here. I will send a mentor to the training grounds, just past the main manor. Large hedges cover it." He then faced the knight. "Rodrick."
He slammed his fist to his chest.
"Yes, Lord Talos."
"Make sure she finds what I am talking about. Although I can tell she is a smart girl, she would be able to find it without you."
"Whatever you say, sir."
It's nice to have a little support around here.
"Thank you, Lord Talos."
"Just Talos, Chosen One." He bowed again. "Well, I am off. I have important affairs to attend to." His pleasant expression gave way to a stressed one. "Firstly, with my son. What am I going to do with that boy?"
He sauntered off into the manor.
Gwyn and Rodrick followed the brick path until they reached the training grounds. It was half the size of a stadium with tall hedges and vibrant flowers growing from them.
Rodrick let out a mighty yawn. Gwyn hadn't realized, but he had been up for a very long time.
"You must be tired, Rodrick."
"I'm fine, madam. Don't worry about me."
"How are you going to protect anything if you are too tired?"
"I'll be fine, trust me. This isn't the worst assignment I've had. A few hours of being up longer than normal won't kill me."
He patted his armor and sat on a nearby ornately carved stone bench.
"When do you think the mentor will arrive?"
Gwyn looked around; red-flowered borders separated different sections of the field. The breeze carried a lovely aroma.
"I don't know. I don't recall us having a mentor on staff. Maybe it's someone they hired just for you?"
Just for me? These Kosmairians are really kind.
Gwyn held her chest.
"Do you ever train here?"
He deeply stretched.
"Not as much as I probably should. It's not as though many could sufficiently stand up to me in an earnest fight."
"Have you fought the people in the North?"
Gwyn tried not to pry too deeply into sensitive subjects.
He gave a curt smile.
"At first, yes. But I'm usually protecting Lord Talos these days," Rodrick said with a tone of boredom. "I'd much rather be fighting," He pointed to Gwyn. "But at this point, I feel you're much more likely to be attacked than Lord Talos, so this is a much better assignment."
Gwyn stifled a laugh.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Makes me feel better."
He ruffled his mustache and joined Gwyn in her laughter.
"What's so funny, you two?"
They both turned their head, and Rodrick immediately stood at attention.
Gwyn shot up in surprise, fumbling her words a little.
"A-Artero! What are you doing here? We're waiting for the mentor, so we were just chatting in the meantime."
"Waiting for the mentor, you say?" Artero walked up to Gwyn and walked in a circle around her, looking her up and down. "Rodrick."
He held his fist to his chest.
"Yes, Young Master."
"You are dismissed. Get some rest."
"Yes, Young Master."
His tone carried relief. Without a moment of hesitation, he marched off.
The only thing Gwyn could hear was the warm breeze rustling the leaves of the bushes and the soft shifting of dirt beneath Artero's feet. She occasionally looked at Artero before finally saying.
"So... When's the mentor going to get here?"
"Oh, they're already here." He gave her a bow. "From here on, I am going to teach you magic."