Trenebrous light spread over, pearl of the night took domination. Leon was venturing the mysterious woods. Before leaving- he searched through the Imperial Town Library. Hoary to newfound manuscripts, page by page, day and night, was searched heedlessly by the Revenant.
A week ticked away with no results. Leon grew worried about Agasthus's health. Days came when he gawked blood through his mouth and nose. Some day he used to collapse involuntarily.
But one morning he went to Wimblen. Asking him to guide the way to his brother's room. The room was disoriented- barely touched. And amidst the shambles he found the encoded scripts.
Leon never noticed, but the library had some concealed shelves.
Some unknown numbers coded- resembling the cover of a peculiar book. He scrambled it deep, searched throughout it and found the mystery.
Head to the place ceases…
Far from the stars of the Sun, the end where it dawned…
Leon had to head opposite to the end as the sun dawned. A place where the land will end- to the ocean believed to never end.
An unpretentious but gnarled information.
He departed the very next day, greeting his friend Silas and his family. Hearts frozen in worry and minds under maniac depictions. Leaving the loved ones behind he left for a stranded journey.
Leon was now into the forest, restlessly surrounded by lethal creatures…
Very soon… intervening his solitude in the dark sky- an ambush was sensed.
The bush moved with heavy toll- depicting mass movement…
Leon was alert…
Ready for any danger that buries his way…
A man wearing a tribal sweater strode towards Leon. But with slight pressure, Leon hurled him away. Another one sneaked, only to be banged to the ground- held hostage.
That's when he discerned the identity
These were BEASTS MEN…
No manuscripts, no sacred writings, no religious beliefs ever mention their existence in Ascension one.
To clarify Leon asked
"Who are you"
"It's what we should ask" another troop struck the tree.
"I won't ask again" Leon drew a knife- sharp enough to cut through the trachea.
"We are beastmen" the leader spoke "inhabitants of the forest"
"Then my sincere apology for what I did" Leon got up, letting the men go "But you left me with no choice rather to defend"
"What's your identity" beastmen are tribes too concerned about the status
"You can call me - The Revenant" Leon whispered with a strategic probability
It was precise…
They knew about The Revenant
"Oh my lord" the leader whispered "sorry for my intrusion"
He bowed down followed by his comrades
"My name is Shelf- General of the tribe"
"Raise your head" Leon whispered "For now I'm in a hurry. I want to reach the Embodied cave"
"Oh" Shelf was shocked "that cursed place. But unlike its name, it is only perceptible in broad daylight"
"That's new" Leon had inadequate information.
"If you want- for today, you can rest with us"
Shelf thought
"Actually it would be more of a celebration"
Jugs rammed, alcohol sank in and firecrackers exploded the night sky. The beast town hidden in the Tergoray forest was having a blast of celebration. Fox-man, Fox-woman held close to their window, staring at the magnificent display of dance. Bull breeds were elated- actively involved in tribal sites. For otherworldly like Leon- it was an exultant site.
Chameleons were slicing the wood bark, assassinating wild like mysterious creatures. The sight of their extending tongue pickering several bugs was astonishing.
Human-like beasts had their own tale gleamed across the air of beast town.
Shelf took Leon to his abode. It had a beautiful light flickering roof top, with an alpinist bushing the surface. It was on an elevated cliff- revealing tendrous site of the town.
"You have a decent place" Leon looked around
"Glad you loved it" Shelf whispered
"You live alone?" Leon asked
A faltered silence followed by saddened smile,
"I do… but I'm enough" he answered back.
Leon noticed the vacillated heart
"Have a honey cup" Shelf offered a bald coffee with honey tint
Leon sat on the daybed- taking a sip of the sweet beverage.
The two exchanged a few moments of what were the crises in town. They discussed how the war may shape.
Beastmen were obscured in the vengeance forest due to discrimination against them. But what made them stronger was the fact that they descended from Ascension 2. The fatality they went through, swayed them to descend to the first Ascension. But coming into the sight of Tistra would alert other great powers. So the best avenue was to hide in the untouched forest.
The door opened with a wolf man bulging his way
"This is my best man, Utah" he informed Leon "I'm sorry Revenant, but it's time for my hibernation"
Utah laughed hard
"They are quite peculiar about it"
Shelf was a bear man- quite rare in the town. They are believed to be sacred divinity. But the major flaw was their ridiculous belief of long hibernations. Hibernation was far longer than a veritable bear. It was a blind ritual they built.
A belief of death preceding its avoidance…
Leon at first was confused… but soon understood what Shelf meant as he submerged inside pod of helpa.
"That man had got it rough" Utah turned to Leon
"I am confused with what's happening"
"The people believe the bear men should hibernate nearly 9 months of a year" He explained
Leon was shocked
"That's nearly an year"
"Yes" Utah answered "now once he sleeps, he will wake up after nine months"
Leon's sight bolted over a small frame- it was silver coated, with Shelf and a young beautiful woman on it.
"Is she his wife" Leon was amused
"Nope… that's his fallen story tale" Utah smirked
He explained the conjured path:
Shelf wakes up for a month. And that day was celebrated as Scurry eve. Warriors across the beast town convene together for a race. It was meant around the deadly hurdles of the beast town.
The obvious champion of the competition was Shelf. Even though a bear, his tenacious nature to stride past obstacles was predominant. He won several awards and fame in regards to his dominating era. But one day he saw a beautiful serpent volunteer- her name was Eraka. A woman he loved, the women in the frame.
Since that day- he never won, not because he couldn't, but because he didn't want to. The race was the solemn time he could spend with her. So he wanted to run as slow as possible. He wanted the time to cease, so he could cherish the blissful moment.
But soon it wasn't off one side, it became mutual. The two fell in love, lurking around the cliff to see the beautiful sunset. It was astonishing for either of them.
Years went by and she started waiting for the one month Shelf woke up. The tarry was long, but her heart beat for that one moment. They grew closer and the bond was forged.
Just like any other time, Shelf woke up one late morning. He ran out of his house, through the narrow lanes of town. Only to meet the girl he loved. Whistling through the streets, buying fresh flowers on the way, he reached the place they conferred.
But she wasn't there…
She had left him behind in the cascade of life…
She had already moved on…
A few months ago she got married. Not thinking a morsel of what he might go through. But who can condemn her, when it was all on the hellish ritual.
Since that day Shelf left the vigor of a mortal. He was isolated, leading his frontier as a general. He was discrete of an important right a human has- a right to be free.
In the spiral of thoughts Leon unveiled a memory…
A girl he loved…
A flower she offered…
A smile she delivered…
But the next instance her body laid on the eerie trail. Blood conjured around as she took her last breath.
And the vision ends…
Leon remembered nothing but her face. And in this sudden upheaval- he got an urge to settle the crisis for Shelf.