The sun felt warm on Cade's back. He stood very still at the edge of the Darkwood Forest. Today was the day he turned sixteen. Today, he would find his first beast.
All around him, other boys and girls from the village fidgeted nervously. Their eyes were wide with excitement and fear. This was the most important day of their lives. The day they became Tamers.
Cade took a slow breath. He wasn't the biggest or the strongest in the village. He was just Cade. But he had to succeed. He had to make his family proud.
His mother, Sienna, had hugged him tightly before he left. "Trust your heart,Cade," she had whispered. "Your path will be different. I know it."
He didn't know what she meant. But her words gave him a little courage.
A tall man with a loud voice stood on a rock. He was the village elder. "Listen well!"the elder boomed. "You may enter the forest. You have until the sun is highest in the sky to find a beast. Form a bond. Only one beast per Tamer. Choose wisely. Your future begins now!"
The group rushed forward into the trees. Cade followed, his own heart pounding like a drum.
The forest was deep and green. The air smelled of damp earth and old leaves. Sunlight broke through the thick leaves in small, golden patches. The others ran ahead, hoping to find the biggest, strongest beasts they could.
But Cade did not run. He walked slowly. He listened. He looked. He felt a strange pull, a feeling in his gut, telling him to go a different way.
He stepped off the main path. The sounds of the other children faded away. It was quiet here. Only the rustle of leaves and the chirp of distant birds could be heard.
He walked for what felt like a long time. He saw nothing but common birds and small, scurrying creatures with no real power. Doubt began to creep into his mind. What if he found nothing? What if he was the only one to fail?
Then, he heard a sound. A soft, pained squeak.
He turned toward the noise. It came from behind a large, moss-covered rock. Cade moved quietly and peeked over the rock.
There, in a small patch of sunlight, was a lizard. It was small, no longer than his hand. Its scales were a dull, dusty grey. One of its back legs was trapped under a fallen twig. The lizard was struggling, but it was too weak to free itself. It looked small. It looked weak. It looked helpless.
Cade's heart sank. This was a common Rock Lizard. The lowest of the low. Most people would leave it. They would look for a Wolf Cub or a Forest Cat. Something with claws and teeth.
But as Cade looked into the lizard's small, black eyes, he felt that strange pull again. A strong feeling. A need to help.
He knelt down slowly. "Hey there,"he said, his voice soft. "You're stuck."
The lizard stopped struggling. It watched him, its little sides moving in and out quickly. It was scared.
Cade reached out. Gently, he lifted the twig off the lizard's leg. The little creature scrambled back a few inches. It hid its head under its body, too afraid to even run.
"It's okay," Cade said. "I won't hurt you."
He sat there, not moving. He just waited. He didn't know why he was wasting his time. The sun was climbing higher. He needed to find a beast.
But as he stared at the small, frightened creature, something incredible happened.
Words began to form in his mind. They were clear, like words written on glass. They were just… there.
Beast: Rock Lizard
Rank:Copper 1-Star
Potential:Gold
Evolution Path:→ Stone Drake Materials Required for Evolution:???
Cade froze. His breath caught in his throat. What was this? Was he imagining things? Was he so nervous that his mind was playing tricks on him?
He blinked hard and looked again. The words were still there. They floated in his vision, clear and real.
He focused on the lizard. He thought, What do you need?
The words shimmered. They changed.
Materials Required for First Evolution:
· 5x Grey Iron Ore Chunks
· 1x Earth Root
· Sun-bask for one full day
Cade's eyes went wide. His mouth fell open. This couldn't be real. A Gold rank potential? This tiny, common lizard? And it could become a Stone Drake? Drakes were powerful, giant beasts. They were like smaller cousins to the great dragons of legend.
This was impossible. Everyone knew Rock Lizards were weak. Their Potential was Copper, maybe Bronze if you were very lucky. Never Gold. Never.
But the words in his head felt true. They felt real. This was his secret. This was his power.
He looked at the lizard with new eyes. This wasn't a weak beast. This was a treasure. A hidden treasure that only he could see.
The lizard peeked out from under its body. It seemed to sense the change in Cade. It was no longer just afraid. It was curious.
Cade knew what he had to do. This was his beast. His partner.
He slowly reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of dried meat he had saved from breakfast. He placed it on the ground between them.
The lizard stared at the meat. It sniffed the air. Very slowly, it crept forward. It snatched the meat and swallowed it whole.
Cade smiled. He held out his hand, palm open. "My name is Cade,"he said softly. "Do you want to come with me?"
The lizard looked at his hand. It looked at his face. It hesitated for a moment. Then, it took a small step. Then another. It walked onto his open palm. Its small claws tickled his skin. It felt right.
A warm feeling spread through Cade's chest. A connection. A bond was forming.
He heard a shout from far away. The elder's voice. "Time is up!Return now!"
Cade stood up, the lizard sitting calmly in his hand. He turned and began to walk out of the forest. He didn't know what the others would say. He didn't know what his aunts would think.
But he knew one thing for sure. His life had just changed forever.