The Rebirth Of The Beast Tamer

The hall’s heavy doors was opened and it revealed Headmaster Torin with his stormhawk, Veyra that perched on his shoulder, its crackling feathers casted sparks that fizzled in the air. The Council followed, their beasts were, a crystal boar, a shadow wyrm, and others that filled the hall with an aura of power. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of incense and the hum of soulstream energy.

Torin’s piercing eyes was locked onto the Tide’s Crest, his voice was resonant with authority. "Your success in the Wastes has bought us time," he said, "but the Veil grows bolder.

Our scouts report was a new disturbance in the Abyssal Hollow, a sunken valley of two days east. It is not a full rift, but a fracture that is unstable, leaking dark energy that is corrupting the land. Beasts are turning rogue, and villages are reporting disappearances."

Kelvin’s pulse was quickened and his grip was tightened on his staff. The Abyssal Hollow was a place of legend, a sunken scar in the earth that is said to be the site of a failed rift sealing centuries ago. "What is causing it?" he asked.

Torin gestured to a rune-projected image that flickered into the air which was a jagged fracture in the ground that pulsed with violet light that is surrounded by twisted, skeletal trees and rogue beasts with glowing eyes.

"A shard of a dark crystal which is likely a remnant from an ancient rift," he said. "It is destabilizing the soulstream that is drawing the Veil’s attention. You will investigate, neutralize the shard and report.

The monitoring device that will track you, but the Hollow is treacherous—caves, fog, and unstable terrain. Trust your beasts and each other."

Lyra’s eyes narrowed, her voice probing. "If it’s a crystal shard, is there an anchor like in the Crags and Wastes?"