Standing outside in the garden of the estate, Elgin, the servant, and the shadow stood side by side, facing us four kids.
It was freezing. No one told me we would be outside.
Glancing at the other three, I watched to see if they were suffering just as much as me.
Lined up single file, the four of us stared at Elgin. The son and Substitute were in the centre, while Lavinia was on the far left, with me on the far right.
Leo was the only one wearing winter gear, a thin long-sleeved shirt, enhanced by a rudimentary warming artifact, built for simple cold environments. It was clear he wasn't aware we would be outside either, but the cold didn't seem to bother him.
Lavinia and the other guy were in simple linen shirts and pants. Their Wills doing all the effort to keep them warm.
Damn! Can we start moving so I can get warm?
Elgin was holding onto a small cage with a black sheet over it. Shaking vigorously, something inside was desperately fighting to get out.
Left dangling by his side, he ignored the wild hammering, like it wasn't even a nuisance.
"Leo, Lavinia, and Rin, as the three of you have never had practical experience with a Sentinel before, this exercise will be a… test, of sorts." Elgin explained. Directly eyeing Leo, his voice turned demanding. "This task should be simple. Merely a warmup to more taxing exercises. I expect nothing short of perfection."
Grabbing the black sheet with his free hand, he pulled it off the cage. The Beast inside froze for a second, taking in its surroundings, before wildly banging on the cage harder. Thinking it's closer to escaping.
Hah! The bretch is never getting out. What's its savageness for?
I didn't recognize the Beast, but it looked like a fox, with orange fur. Its body and head were normal sized, but its ears were comically large. In fact, every proportion looked off. Its eyes were massive, including pupils; and its limbs were long and muscular, with razor-sharp retracting claws.
Unleashing my essence to subdue it, it snapped its head at me. Pupils dilating to the size of a needle.
My essence failed to enter its mind.
It stopped beating against the cage, instead, all its attention on me, growling with repressed anger.
Its orange fur blew softly in the wind. Slowing down its graceful dance until ceasing.
All around us, the gentle breeze of air halted. Momentarily washing everything a pitch quieter. Lasting long enough to feel like my ears began to ring.
The ringing lasted the length of a quick exhale in a puff. Barely enough time to surface fully. In truth, I might have imagined it.
Tossed out of my trance when the strongest gust of wind engulfed the world. Blasting me with a violent storm of snow kicked up from the ground.
As the air settled, and all the snow fell back to where it should be, I patted down my clothes. Wiping the built-up snow and readjusting my fluttered collar.
"By the Monarchs! That Beast is a pest!"
Looking up after a job well done only to find everyone staring at me.
Whe-where they not… hit with the snow?
Already fed up with my antics, Elgin spoke, ignoring what just happened. "Sir Chiron."
"My Lord." He obeyed, stepping forward and directing his hand at the Beast.
Its pupils widened at the servant's hand. Extending its mouth forward in an attempt to bite his fingers.
"This is a Volnnic," He continued, "A Decent-Wind Beast, a Pursuer. This species mostly keeps to itself. Low on the food chain, they have adapted to survive by other means. They are fast, agile, and tend to avoid threats. Evolving to possess impeccable hearing, and sight. Their mind is sharp"–Chiron looked at me—"Blitzing it won't work. And, to top it all off, they can sense essence like no other Beast of its calibre." His face and tone shifted from an informative elegance to serious. "Despite its prey nature, it will fight back if cornered! With its small agile size, sharp claws, and teeth, getting attacked will leave more than just a mark. It is still a Pursuer after all." He finished sternly.
Stepping back, he bowed slightly to Elgin, letting him finish the rest.
"Think fast. On your feet. Your goal is to work together. Use your speed and surroundings to your advantage. Your only hope is to trap the Beast, you won't catch it just by being quick. And when you do corner it, prepare for a fight."
He eyed each of us intensely.
"Respect the District. Don't draw attention to yourselves and don't destroy any property. The kingdom is your training ground, not your playing field." He finished. "Any questions?"
I slowly raised my hand in the air. Not fully confident to ask.
"Good." He said simply. Ignoring me.
Tossing the cage onto the ground, he kicked it firmly, sending the hatch flying open. Without hesitation, the Beast leaped from its cage.
Stunned by the lack of warning from Elgin, the four of us stood there.
My mouth agape.
Leo stunned for only a second, dashed after the Beast with haste.
"What are you all waiting for?! Kuno, make the link! Everyone, open your minds to him! Let's go!" He yelled back at us.
My angel, Lavinia, snapped out of it, chasing after her brother next.
The Substitute blasted after them in a brush of frost, kicking up snow from the ground.
Turning towards the sprinting trio, I released my Will, creating an array. Linking our four minds together.
'Sentinel, check.' I projected my thoughts.
'Leo, check.' The son answered.
'Lavinia, check.' The angel entered my mind.
Ohhh, today's a beautiful day!
'Yeah, I hear you.' The Substitute relayed last.
'Remember, there's no point in all of us chasing it straight on. Let's lead it into a trap and corner it.' I said, trying to get ahead of the planning.
Maybe Lavinia will notice me more if we catch it because of me?
'Relax dude. We got this.' The son said.
The Volnnic sprinted towards the brick fence of the estate, gaining speed the longer it ran.
It seemed to use its Wind Attribute to accelerate near endlessly.
However, the son was unwilling to let it go. Using sound vibrations to gain speed, catching up to the Beast.
As for catching up, the Substitute was slowly falling behind. Uncapable to keep up with Leo's enhanced speed and Lavinia's natural pace. Even I was gaining ground despite my delayed start. By the time the Beast reached the wall, we were running side-by-side.
Seriously, where did they find this guy? Even I, as a Sentinel, am faster than him.
The Beast bared its claws, digging them into the bricks of the fence. Lightening its weight with an updraft, it practically flew up the four-meter wall in one powerful leap.
Soaring above the fence, it landed on top. Looking back at me, it twitched its ear repeatedly.
Is it… taunting me!?
"Bretch!" I called out.
The son was hot on its tail, reaching the fence only a moment after the Beast. Kicking off the ground with a power jump, he landed on the fence, reaching for the taunting Beast.
Failing to catch the Volnnic, it jumped off the fence, last second, out of reach, leaving my line of sight.
The son prepared to chase after it, but stopped when I relayed everyone. 'Don't jump down, Leo. Not until we catch up.'
'What, why?' he looked back at me quickly, but kept track of the Volnnic.
Resuming hesitantly, 'I… I uh… my range with the array is… limited'
Everyone's thoughts went quiet.
'About one city block.' I finished.
Lavinia reached the wall. Shocked to the point of looking back.
The Substitute and I reached the wall a moment after.
"You're joking, right?" She said.
With a nervous chuckle, I responded, "I'm afraid not."
"Is that why Lord Oberfell sent you away?! You're broken?!" The son yelled down from the top of the fence.
"I'm not broken! I'm just… a bit stagnant in my progress. But that won't slow me down. Just stay close!"
"Damn!" Leo gritted his teeth, watching the Volnnic running away. "Whatever, let's just hurry. Everyone, up the fence. Now!"
Empowering my legs, my essence vibrating erratically with the chaos of my mind, I leaped up the fence.
Catching my foot on the corner of the stone. Tilting back, I swung my arms wildly to keep my balance. Just when gravity was about to drag me falling back down the fence, Lavinia clutched my back, pushing me forward until I was stable.
She-she-she… I can't believe she touched me!
Turning towards her with gleaming eyes, I was about to give her my most gracious thanks when all three of them jumped down without hesitation.
'The Monarchs are you waiting for? Let's go.' The Substitute said through the array.
Clinking my tongue, I followed them down the fence, slipping on the snow as I landed.