Chapter 11: Structure of Rifts
Jethro expected this. No matter how he disliked it, ridicule came naturally when your Mechbeast was a Red Lizard. Especially from fellow new tamers. He’d learned to accept it. But still, why was it always the first thing they noticed?
What about his cool beam gloves? How come they didn’t notice that? His father had spent the whole week secretly making it for him from scraps they’d gathered. It was his goodbye gift— alongside a long hug and a promise that when Jethro returned, he’d be the father he deserved. They wouldn’t have to live under the bridge anymore.
Jethro didn’t know whether to be pleased or worried by that. Hopefully, his father wouldn’t go do anything crazy out of desperation. He meant it when he said he was fine with the simple life.
Not everyone was destined to be a Riftwalker. However, his squadmates sure seemed to be. They were all geared up, fancy, functional, prepared.
He eyed their mechbeasts: a Frostbitten Cobra, a Geargrinder Rhino, a Venomclaw Lynx and a Lotus Direwolf. Compared to them, his Red Lizard was merely a piece of Vincintine skin worthy of the name, ’scrap’.
"Just our luck!" Moffrey wailed, throwing both hands over his face. "Yeah, I heard of this guy. He’s the one who came to the Hatching Ceremony with a Gray Egg. Even worse? It hatched the weakest amongst all the possible Gray Rank Beasts. You’ve got some bad luck, kid and there’s no way you’re bringing that with us into this mission."
Jethro looked at the spiky-haired jerk like he’d grown a second head. ’A mission? Does he think he’s already a certified Riftwalker or something?’
"That will be enough of that," the escort snapped. "Jethro may have the lowest-ranked beast, but his role accommodates that, including the rank of this Rift. Also, look around you; you’re surrounded by squadmates with two Platinum Rank Beasts and three Gold Rank Beasts. Apart from Jethro, you’re the one with the lowest-ranked Beast in the squad."
Moffrey gagged, his mouth twitching for a rebuttal that never came as he moved his gaze between the stern escort and Jethro.
"The assignment of squadmates was done with keen deliberation. With two Platinum Ranks and no Bronze Ranks, your squad is already one of the strongest amongst the lots. It’s only fair to balance that out with a Gray Rank."
Songred sighed. "We’re wasting time. The escort is right. This is just a training Rift anyway and the courier position wouldn’t be that much important for it since we’re unlikely to need backup. Just be smart, Lizard boy, and try not to get in the way."