The Heavens Shall Fall

It had taken a few days to help the little creature to fully recover, in which time, the long-eared stoat barely moved a muscle, only waking up to eat and look around, spending its time with Kalev, who slept beside it within the Spirit Wardens' tower. Of course, even with healing its leg up, some of the fresh Wardens assumed it would die... While Rinmei said nothing, hoping she would be wrong, Mikael said it outright when they returned to the tower.

"It won't survive for long; it's a waste of your CC."

The stoat may have heard him say that, because after it could finally stand and walk on its leg again, it began eating without Kalev having to coax it. Even its eyes sharpened, and it stopped trembling whenever someone approached it to pet its head. Not that he really liked it and only allowed it when Kalev was near, which really only meant when he was in the same room as the stoat, or it would start searching for him frantically. By the end of the week, its dusk-colored fur had regained its natural shine, while the long ears on the top of his head flicked alertly whenever Arya entered the room, looking at her, moving his nose, clearly telling her something. Yet, whenever Siu asked her or Marly what they were talking about, the answer was simply that they were explaining where they really were and what the stoat's choices could be for his future.

Turns out, Arya and Marly had told him something weird, because later, the wriggly little stoat didn't even dare leave Kalev's side, not for a moment, clinging to him or running after him like he was his shadow. It was evident by then that they only needed to make the contract between the two, but when Siu tried helping out, he didn't have the strength. As he attempted to follow Elder Delia's instructions, he felt he was doing it right; he remembered all the steps, all that needed to be done, but his blood was simply not ready. It wasn't soaked in essence enough, and more than that, what was cruising through him was not under his absolute control yet.

With Elder Thane still away, it was also a bit harder to reach Elder Delia, but after finally one of the public teaching elders listened to him, his request was transferred, and, of course, Elder Delia agreed to meet him.

"Don't worry," Siu chuckled, seeing Kalev being nervous as he followed Siu up the stairs that neither of them could perceive without being shown to them by someone who did. "She is a really kind Elder."

"I'm just not used to... being this... lucky," he muttered, while his stoat was hopping forward, flanked by Marly and Arya, having a discussion with them, going over the same worries as his future master. "I am not... a social person."

"Which isn't inherently bad," Siu answered, and then a question came to him, "That's why you signed up?"

"Yeah..." Kalev nodded, "I knew I had to do something about that, so... Joining a fresh group sounded just right, because nobody would know the others. I'm... trying my best."

"That's good," He patted his shoulder, "Don't rush or force it, because we will be there when you want to talk."

When Elder Delia saw them arrive, noticing the stoat first, but then glancing at Kalev, she let out a long, relaxing breath. Apparently, she was ready to lecture Siu for wanting to bond to a third beast, but when she saw him lead someone else to her and how it was clearly his stoat, her smile changed, and she helped them form a mutual contract without asking about the whats or whys. After it was done, and while the boy was getting used to hearing a new voice in his head, having a conversation with his newest friend, Elder Delia waved Siu over to her side, wanting to speak to him in private.

"Take this," she whispered, handing him a tiny token. "You can find me with this any time."

"Elder?"

"You have a gift." She smiled, taking a deep breath, "It is not a coincidence... I am sure of it now. Talents come in myriad forms, Siu. There are skills that this world may not have even seen before. I don't believe in coincidences, so whenever you help another to gain a friend, bring them to me. The Hollow Song was built on the back of such connections, that's why we have such a dense and strong forest around us... Maybe you were born to be part of us, with your gift... For sure, it feels like it."

"I don't know, Elder Delia," He smiled, shaking his head, "I was born pretty far away... quite a misstep if you ask me."

"Yet here you are... Are you not?" She answered with a question she didn't expect an answer for, wearing a half-smile, patting him on the back, "Now go. I have a lesson to give to some of the Inner Disciples. Also... I expect you to be amongst them soon enough."

"It will happen when it happens," Siu answered, cupping his hands and bowing to her, before leaving with Kalev.

Of course, after they returned from her home, people saw how a beast was riding Kalev's shoulders, the stoat actually mimicking Arya and Marly, realizing that this way it was even better than running after him all the time.

"Wait... That is not Siu..."

That was the surprised, many times repeated sentence spoken by the first people to notice Kalev and 'Dusky.' By the following day, almost everyone was talking about it, saying the same thing, whenever they saw them walk around the sect.

"Did you hear?"

"The rumors? Are they really true?! They say one of the new Wardens with a contracted beast..."

"It's true! I saw it," Someone else said, "Tsk! They just formed, and I heard that they barely had any members..."

"That's not rare. Any new group starts out like that, only a small group of friends, nobody wanting to join."

"Pft, I am surprised they have any members at all!" A new voice joined in, missing the first half of the conversation, "I signed up, then left the moment they had me sit down in a sham of a meeting. They asked for way too much! Not only to tell about yourself, share your damn secrets, but also to pay monthly! They are nuts!"

"You are the nutter!" The very first voice snorted at him, "They went to the forest, and came back with one of the newcomers having a companion beast! I'm signing up... like, now! Hell, if I have to pay a year in advance, that will be worth it! For a beast? Of my own?!"

"What...?" the complaining voice asked, stunned, but he was not the only one. Many of those who had refused to join at first were now trying for a second time. Sadly, their requests were rejected instantly, with the added response that they should not even try for the next half a year, turning their faces white as the snow.

Which meant nothing to the other disciples, only that they had a better chance joining now, with some of the rest being barred from taking a spot. It was no wonder that it didn't take long for everyone to speak about how, apparently, the Spirit Wardens were the newest, most unique group ever, as they would help you get your own beast. That alone spread like wildfire, and by the third day of it, dozens of disciples loitered near the Wardens' tower with flimsy excuses, wanting to just... see if they could sign up for a beast straight out of the gate, without having to join.

"Do I look like a wandering beast tamer?" Siu asked one day, looking at the others, and because he didn't get a straight answer, not even from Neya, he couldn't help but groan, putting out multiple announcements that he can't and won't guarantee that it ever happens to anyone, not even if they join them... But if the opportunity ever does present itself, he can help do it and even help establish the contract.

Turns out, that was enough for most, as by the fourth day, thirty-three formal applications had been submitted, with details that Neya had handed over to Lorean to check their backgrounds. And while she did that, Siu was sitting down with Tian, who had also come to visit.

"You look like shit."

"I feel like one," Siu answered, watching the grinning boy opposite him as they sat on the fourth floor, drinking tea. "I can't even go and train in peace, because someone will interrupt me to ask if there is a way to hire me, or to head into the forest. They think I am some kind of... creature-whisperer or whatever."

"You are." Tian nodded, making Siu throw a dark look at him. "Heh! Even some of my friends in the Circle are like that, asking me to ask you to come with us on a hunt," he chortled, clearly enjoying the frustration appearing on Siu's face.

"I will only go hunting when I need something from the forest; otherwise, count me out."

"Yeah, I know," Tian nodded, shrugging and raising his cup, "You are becoming a weird kind of pacifist. I grew up inside the army... those guys never lived long enough, so... be careful."

"Are you... warning me?" Siu asked, shrugging and rolling his eyes, "Thanks, I guess, but no, I'm no pacifist. I just decided I won't kill cultivators without a clear reason. I'm not going to turn into an actual beast that needs to be put down."

"Cultivators?" Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Aren't they?" He shot back, leaning back in his chair, "Arya is one, so is Marly. Not to mention Dusky, Kalev's stoat. Hearing their thoughts gives you a different perspective... And in my eyes, they aren't different from us at all."

"Huh... I... guess?" Tian muttered, shrugging again, "Well, I won't know, because I'm more of a hunter than a tamer. Anyway! I'm not here to spit on and shine your pride until I can see myself in it, or to tell you how great you are."

"I guessed as much. So?" He hummed, taking a sip, "Why are you here?"

"Relations." He said bluntly, "Cal'Fia wants to make sure we are amicable and, maybe, even form an alliance in the future."

"I guessed as much." He repeated the same sentence once again, "And I am not against it, but what does she actually mean by an alliance?"

"Beats me!" Tian said, shaking his head, "She told me nothing about that; I'm just telling you what she is hoping for from what I can gather. Look, if I have to guess, she will ask me to come to you and offer joint operations in the forest. Mostly for safety's sake."

"Safety..." Siu muttered, "Are you expecting Stone Ward to do something?"

"Quick, aren't you?" He sneered at mentioning their name, "They already did. We had three hunting groups, whose chases were interrupted by 'accidents.' All of these accidents... well, surprise, surprise, happened with someone who had ties to Stone Ward, one way or another."

"You are simply trying to drag us in, so if there is open conflict, then there is a big one."

"I'm not," Tian argued, "Cal'Fia is."

"But you agree, because here you are."

"She is right in one thing," Tian answered, mumbling after a momentary pause, "It is the same thing my old step-father said... he was a commander. He told me that a smart leader, when facing a larger enemy, will try to split it up. No matter how, with what tactics, you must always face chunks of the enemy, and do it one by one. Or not at all. Stone Ward is doing exactly that; they will go after either the Circle or your Wardens, one at a time. And if we are gone...? You will be gone."

"Aren't your group bigger?" Siu asked, going along with his logic, "Shouldn't it try and dismantle yours then, by your logic? Then turn to us?"

"He is already doing it," He nodded, turning serious, "We already have voices inside that are showing signs, trying to stir up shit within the ranks. You are not the only group Cal'Fia wants to join up with; only, you have me as a direct contact."

"I'll tell you what," Siu leaned forward again, "Tell Cal'Fia, that if you organize hunts, and want to invite us or need more people, or leave the dissidents within your own group out of it, post your dates and requirements with us."

"Hm?" Tian hummed, raising a brow, already seeing the reason behind it, but he let Siu continue.

"If she wants an alliance, I am open to it, but I am not going to be a passive wall to break the waves Stone Ward is making. Just as you would post a request to the Mission Hall, post one within our tower. Milli and Nilli will handle it, getting it to the right members, and then they will decide to go or not... I think that's fair enough."

"..." Tian just looked at him for a moment, shrugging, "Your group isn't like the others, eh?"

"No, not really." He nodded, smiling, "Also, if it works out, I have more to offer."

"Like?"

"From the newest members who signed up, there are a few who Neya recognized as people she works with." Siu explained, looking into his eyes, "We are checking if they are clean or not, and if they are, we will have enough associates to handle our people's resources. If Cal'Fia wants to work together, I can establish some relations, you bring the carcasses to my men, and we will handle it, fair and square."

"That..." Tian muttered, falling silent, "I guess your rates will be much better than what we are getting nowadays... With fewer sudden, well, mistakes, that somewhow always ruin half of the goods."

"For sure." Siu nodded, emptying his cup, "Stone Ward's main power is having his hands in the flow of money within the outer disciples. If we can redirect that river..."

"I see what you are doing," Tian nodded, slowly standing up, fixing his robes, "I will relay it. Heh... You are blooming, aren't you?"

"Excuse me?" Siu asked, actually shocked by his words.

"You were more closed off at first," He said, measuring him sitting there, "But, you are finally showing your true self... Which is much... Much better. It feels more real, and it annoys me less, because it doesn't feel fake."

"Fuck you..." Siu groaned, stifling a laugh.

"See? Those beasts of yours had a good effect on you. Speaking of them... Next time you go into the forest, I'm coming, too."

"Sure!" He stood up, waving a hand, leading Tian out of the tower, "I wouldn't hear the end of it if not... I guess!"