7 Tristan's regret

[TRISTAN LAUREL. Town of Friendship, Southern Vales, Avalon Sanctuary. Orange Day, 13th Week of Winter, Year 5008 of the Avalon Calendar.]

Tristan frowned as he went over the last few moments. He realised that sending Aurora out the way he did, had been rather rude. He had literally kicked her out with nothing, but his night robe wrapped around her.

Tristan began planning how to meet up with Aurora again, to explain his rudeness. However, he didn't want to blame it on his shock at having Fleur raise the issue of Isabelle.

"Isabelle," Tristan sighed.

The girl who had introduced him to love. Then had introduced him to betrayal. Even after all the facts of her betrayal had come to light, there was still a part of Tristan that wanted to cling onto the belief that deep down inside, their love had been real.

Tristan decided to write the details of his encounter in his diary. However, on opening the journal to the last entry, he was shocked to find some hastily scrawled notes that were clearly not his own.

"This is Aurora's," Tristan realised. "It looks similar to the information one would gain from an aura scan. Yet, there's so much more information than an aura scan would provide. What in the world is a Nephilim?"

Tristan's frown deepened as he continued reading. There was so much strange information which Aurora had written.

Knock. Knock.

A tapping at the bedroom door roused Tristan from his intense thoughts.

"Tristan," Fleur entered the room. "I sent that Aurora off as instructed."

"Thank you," replied Tristan.

"What's wrong little brother?" asked Fleur.

"What do you mean?" said Tristan defensively.

"You're frowning," stated Fleur. "I hardly ever see you with sadness on your face."

"So now I can't even frown?" asked Tristan in exasperation. "I'm not just a prince you know. I'm also a human. I have a full range of human emotions. No matter how much everyone tries to convince me otherwise."

"I'm sorry about Aurora," Fleur sighed. "I just didn't want anyone else to take advantage of you."

"Don't you think I can look after myself?" asked Tristan. "I'm not some kind of emotional cripple."

"I know that," Fleur assured him. "However, I also know you look for the best in everyone. That sort of mentality is unsuited for one who will one day rule the Kingdom. I already failed as heir, so I'd hate for you to make similar mistakes. "

Fleur reached out and held her brother close. When they finished their hug, she brought out a small but thick, leather bound book and presented it to Tristan.

"I found this at the elf market," said Fleur. "I know your other journal must be running out of pages by now. So, I bought you a new one."

"Thank you," Tristan smiled.

The journal was a special type of book created via elven alchemy. It was extremely durable. Able to withstand an open fire and completely water resistant. Even ripping, cutting or otherwise damaging the book required an incredible amount of force that most people couldn't exert without the aid of tools.

Perhaps even more miraculous was the fact that a writer could edit what they had written. By simply concentrating on words written in the journal, the author could erase words or even make minor corrections.

"Anytime little brother," Fleur smiled now that her brother's gloomy mood had somewhat lifted. "I've also got another present for you."

"You're spoiling me," Tristan laughed.

"Here's today's itinerary," Fleur presented him with a scroll.

"Oh that," Tristan's mood deflated. "Is it possible for me to reject your second gift?"

"No," replied Fleur.

"Alright then… let's see today's list of tasks," sighed Tristan as he unfurled the scroll and began reading.

After a few moments, Tristan paused to make an inquiry. "Fleur. I see that I'm to attend the meeting for all Kingdom of Laurel summoners. So, we can gain final instructions on the summoning process. Everyone's name is here… except for Lord Amoureux's. Don't tell me he's skipping this Beast Master Championship as well? If he does that, he'll be too old for when the next summoning season comes around."

"That's not the case," Fleur explained in a flustered tone. "Currently this is a national secret only known to a few in the Laurel and Amoureux families. Somehow that leech… I meant… Lord Amoureux managed a spontaneous summoning."

"Wow!" exclaimed Tristan in envy.

Human Beast Masters gained Mystical Beasts in one of three ways.

The preferred method was to summon one's own Mystical Beast during the Summoning Day. An event held once every four years in the Town of Friendship. This process involved undergoing a week of guided training by fey mages, during which participants meditated on their true self. At the end of the week, the Beast Masters would enter the Summoning Chamber and call forth a Mystical Beast to become their partner. The type of Mystical Beast summoned, would somehow be attuned to the summoner's inner self. Thus, forming strong magical bonds.

Although the Summoning day was the preferred option, it was only available to a relatively few individuals. Most Beast Masters simply purchased their companion from the Adventurer's Guild. However, this way of attaining a Mystical Beast was considered inferior. The magical link between Beast Master and Mystical Beast was usually weaker than in other forms of summoning. Simply because these Mystical Beasts were rarely attuned to their summoner's inner self.

The third and final way to attain a Mystical Beast, was also the rarest. Spontaneous summoning was so named because instead of entering the Summoning Chamber to call forth a companion, the Mystical Beast entered the world on their own accord. Spontaneously appearing at the side of their chosen master. The bond formed in such a summons, was the strongest possible. Every Beast Master prayed for a spontaneous summoning, but few ever attained one. In all of recorded history, the number of spontaneous summonings numbered less than a dozen.

"What did he summon?" asked Tristan after a long pause.

"Lord Amoureux's Mystical Beast is an alpha species," stated Fleur.

"That makes sense," said Tristan.

Alpha species were those which had never been summoned before, even by the fey Beast Masters. Therefore, they were designated as alphas for being the first of their kind. All known spontaneous summons had called forth an alpha species.

"Do you know what it looks like?" queries Tristan.

"Um," Fleur blushed. "It resembles a woman. With pale skin, black hair and black eyes. It has a pair of black, feathered wings with smaller feathers or scales trailing from its wings and down its spine. Also, it has a slim, lizard-like tail."

"A human-like summoning," sighed Tristan in awe.

Human-like Mystical Beasts were some of the most powerful kind of summons.

"What Elemental type is it?" Tristan pressed on with more questions.

"An Air-type," answered Fleur.

"So, I'll need a Fire-type if I want to improve my chances of beating him," said Tristan.

Mystical Beasts could be classified into eight Elemental types; Air, Earth, Electric, Fire, Ice, Metal, Water and Wood. Each type was strong against one other type. Air trumped Water, Water trumped Earth, Earth trumped Fire, and Fire trumped Air. Meanwhile, Ice overpowered Electric, Electric overpowered Steel, Steel overpowered Wood, and Wood overpowered Ice.

There were also cooperative associations between the elements. Though these were not important in the upcoming Beast Master Championships, which were one vs one contests.

"No need to worry about him," Fleur stated. "If you end up meeting Lord Amoureux in the Championships, simply ask him to yield. As his future king, it's well within your rights to do so."

"No," said Tristan. "Unless it's an elimination match, I won't ask anyone to yield to me. The Kingdom of Laurel needs to put forth its best. Whether that means me or another Beast Master, doesn't matter. As long as the Kingdom prospers."

"Said like someone without any political savvy," Fleur teased.

"I want to meet up with Lord Amoureux," decided Tristan. "I need to congratulate him on his spontaneous summoning. He must be truly noble to have earned such a gift from the world and could probably give me some advice. Find some way to schedule him into today's itinerary. Perhaps invite him to lunch?"

"I don't think he'd agree to come," said Fleur. "Last I saw him, he was busy leading Aurora off to the kitchens. No doubt afterwards, he will show her around the city. He usually spends at least a day indulging his vices whenever he finds a new and interesting toy to play with."

"Aurora's with him?" asked Tristan with slight panic in his voice. "Does she know that Gabriel is a manipulative liar?"

"What happened to Lord Amoureux being truly noble?" teased Fleur.

Tristan bushed. "A person can be truly noble and a manipulative liar at the same time. Lord Amoureux is proof of that."

"I don't understand how you can be so interested in Aurora after a single night," said Fleur. "Just what strange techniques did she use to seduce you? Was it the Four-Legged Spider?"

"Nothing untoward happened," Tristan declared. "She didn't seduce me. We just talked. I told her about the world and she listened. She didn't treat me like a prince, by trying to win my favour and play political games. She just listened and enjoyed conversing with me. She reminded me of simpler, happier times. Maybe her wide-eyed wonder is simply because of her amnesia. But still, I really want to see what sort of relationship could come from that connection."

"If you care anything about Aurora, then you won't pursue any relationship with her," warned Fleur. "You are in a position of great power. Your only enemies are also in positions of great power. You would merely endanger Aurora if you romance or simply befriend her. Even if she ends up being genuine and not another Isabelle. There is no future for you two."

"My enemies…." mumbled Tristan. "I gave her a token of friendship when I placed that necklace around her neck. I intended for it to protect her. Yet now I regret the decision. I may very well have put her in more danger. I should go find her to explain the situation."

"Stop," ordered Fleur. "I'm not stupid. You're just making an excuse to see her again."

"But that necklace," insisted Tristan. "It puts her in the sight of my enemies. I really do need to take it back from her."

"I'll do it," said Fleur. "You have more important issues."

Tristan looked at his sister and realised that there were no gains to be made from arguing. He nodded his head in resignation and focused his mind on the day ahead.