1 Joke Mission

4 days before my 18th birthday.

A large man with eyes like hell burned into me. He was sitting on a stone throne the Clan Leader, Chief Slaughter, sat proud. Few knew his real name, but I was one of the ones who did. He sat stone still in his chair a picture of elegance-an intimidating man in and intimidating position of power. "Incomplete," His voice was filled with disgust as he called my clan given name. The Incomplete, the Failure of the clan, the Laughing Stock. "I give you this task. You will pose as a soldier for the kingdom of Antherium and see if you can make a deal with them in order to get our clan more land. As you know our clan is growing fast and we can't keep in such a small area. You will make the negotiation with the help of the Heir. Our support in the war for Kingdom Antherium for land. Now go. If you must kingdom Alleon we will support if kingdom Antherium refuses." That was all a brief mission overview.

My expression grew even darker than when I entered. My father and myself had been under bad terms since years ago when I was young and soft. The Heir and him were close the perfect daughter and father pair the hope of the future for the clan. The heir-my sister- got everything she wanted with a word. It infuriated me beyond belief. I turned and walked to the door with echoing steps. Normally my steps were light and silent, but anger had overtaken me at that moment.

Of course, the chief caught that his ears as sharp as his eyes and temper, "You have been slacking. Punishment 3 weeks training under Elder Yan when you get back." I paused then continued my head up and the anger on my face looked like a storm that could tear apart anyone that came near.

Maybe the whole world.

With such a punishment of three weeks training under Elder Yan was like the deepest pit of hell. Elder Yan wouldn't care if I hand't yet awaken my bonded animal or not -his training would not slow for my pace.

While I was strong and skilled with any weapon that was placed in my hand I was falling behind for one simple reason. I hadn't yet awoken my other half. My soul animal. And because of it people thought that I might have been one of the defects.

Even though I was more likely to be a defect than awaken my soul animal at age 18 still in my heart I held the slight bit of hope. I knew it was what people would call grasping at straws, but how could I possibly care when the other option was to be at the bottom of the chain?

After so many years of putting my full strength and when my entire life was training to be the perfect killing machine how could I stop just because of a blip in the road. No matter if it was large or small I would find a way to overcome it, that I had decided already deep in my heart.

Angered as I was about the training under Elder Yan I would not anger him more and get punished by training under him for a longer time. My steps quieted till nothing could be heard, until the guards standing on either side of the tall heavy dark Metal Wood doors with patterns made in silver decorated it reached out to open it. The guards were stone-faced and emotionless as they were trained to be. No doubt about it with the calm deadly air that they gave out it was obvious that they had no care in the world if they had to kill. Many in this strong dominated and the weak fell didn't have and decent morals just kept on going bullying those weak than they and cowering in front of those that were stronger. The only noise was when they opened the doors and they gave a whoosh sound in the air.

The warrior clan had remained impassive in the two kingdom's war even though most of the other clans had chosen which one of the two to support.

Most of the clan leaders would try to gain the advantage for themselves to please their greed. But unlike them Chief Slaughter didn't. It was the only thing that I would admire him for- his true genuine actions to raise our clan.

Walking out I vented my anger and changed my direction to go to the non-magical training fields of the Warrior Clan people. The sounds of metal on metal and heavy thumps of fists and feet connecting reached the ears of anyone who passed by. The field was hidden in between hills that echoed sounds but kept them from sight. When I got to the top of the hill and looked down many fierce fights and flashing blades that jumped out as if trying to catch my attention.

The swishing of bright colored hair and sharp eyes every color in the rainbow could be considered an amazing sight if I didn't hate everyone there and had seen it so often as was only normal in this continent.

That sight of the people was not the most interesting sight, but was actually the many different animals -in size, shape, and colors- fighting one another in one-on-one fights. They were savage tearing at each others with claws and teeth trying anything to get the upper hand over their opponent.

They were the bonded soul animals of the clansmen and women and they were all fierce in one way or another making a fearsome competitor. One that you wouldn't want to meet as an enemy on the battlefield.

Many of the fights slowed and finally stopped as I stepped on to the grass field that was kept in only the best condition due to the Earth Elemental's that could use Earth magic to grow it all back and keep it all healthy.