Base core

"Wait Sheyken. There was another thing in your story that we need to address."

Vitula had just remembered something he said in his story. There were just so many things in his story that you could not blame him if he forgot most of it as each event Sheyken had described that happened to him over the last two years would shock anyone from Uros.

"I know there are so many things in your story that we cannot comprehend, but you told us that you got a core from a tree-like beast. Can we see it? That would at least tell us that something you told us is true. Not that we do not believe you, but it is hard to come to terms with what you told us. We can help you with it if we know what kind of beast it belonged to too."

Vitula said, glancing at Ningal. He was asking this mostly for her sake as she was the one finding it difficult to believe Sheyken's story. Sheyken did not hesitate. Seeing Vitula glance at Ningal while he was talking confirmed what he was trying to do. He took the Beast core from Ruby and held it with his hand. He had no time to appreciate its beauty when he had taken it out of the tree and he had not dared to take it out ever since then, fearing it to be snatched away.

The core was almost as big as a tennis ball, smooth and perfectly round. Inside was black like smoke that seemed to be constantly trying to hide a bright white light from unveiling itself as the smoke was twirling around but you would see the bright white light now and then.

Ningal and Vitula were in awe.

"Sheyken, we have never in all our life seen a core as beautiful and unnatural as that."

"Unnatural?"

Sheyken asked.

"Yes, the Beast cores I have seen are smaller than that, rigid with no particular shape, and consist of a distinctive color or colors. If the beast used one element the core would have the color of that element and if it could use multiple elements, it would have those colors representing the elements it could use with the one it is dominant in using being the one prominent."

"I see."

"You can put it back now."

Sheyken quickly put it back.

"I do not know what kind of Beast that tree was, but I think you would need to research it before you are sure that you want to use it as your base core."

"My base core?"

Sheyken asked in confusion.

"Aw, I almost forget. You said that the only time you spent In Uros so far was with a Lich and Undead who did not want to tell you anything about this world for two years."

Sheyken nodded his head. Ningal was now coming out of being traumatized by his story but that was now replaced with her feeling sorry for him.

"Ningal had told me you want to become a Beast warrior and I do agree that that would be the best path for you to reaching the top. When you have reached nine years old, your body would have had the time to develop and at that point survive the process of forming a core. You will also come to learn that 9 is a very significant number. Many have done experiments trying to make children develop a core before they reach the age of 9 but they would die a horrible death. It was then concluded that it was a law that Uros put on our species to protect us. So, when you reach nine years, if you have the required material, you can develop your core or be an Initiate but if you do not have them, you will stay a normal human until you can attain those materials."

"I see. So, what would be the materials I would need in order to become a Beast warrior?"

Sheyken asked with curiosity visible in his eyes.

"I see you really are intrigued with Beast warriors. First, you need a Beast core. That is the most important part. They are very expensive for an ordinary human to afford which is why many die trying to get one. The core you use as the bases to develop your core is very important to a Beast warrior."

"Why is that?"

Vitula was liking that Sheyken was engaged to his explanation. Comparing him to his son now and then.

"That is because the tier or circle the Beast core you use usually means it is where you will hit your ceiling. That is where most Beast warriors end, not able to advance. They say it is twice as hard to break through once you hit that ceiling, which is why even if some would have been a talented Beast warrior, they would choose to become a mage instead because they could not get a suitable Beast core or let alone a high ranked one."

"A suitable Beast core.?"

"Yes. For example; If you have a Blessing of fire, you would not want your base core to be one of ice or water or if you have an aptitude for the fire element it would be the same, you would not want an ice or water base core. Well, there are instances where a Beast warrior can develop a unique technique because of that. Like being able to produce steam without having to mix the elements needed to produce it which could also lead to that person being able to control mist. What do you think?"

Vitula asked Sheyken, eager to hear his thoughts.

"I think it is amazing but I would see why there wouldn't be that many Beast warriors out there. After fighting beast with no core, I know how hard it would have been if I did not have Plot Armor or my Blessing. Fighting evolved beasts would be suicide for an ordinary human and I see why they would cost so much."

"Plot Armor?"

Vitula was still lost when he heard that word. Sheyken just took him out of Ruby and showed him. Just like Ningal, Vitula was quickly getting used to Sheyken's surprises. He took a quick look of admiration and gave him back, not wanting to veer off their conversation.

"Cough, cough, let me continue. That beast core is unique, but as I said, I have never seen anything like it ever before. Just like your story, I think you must not tell anyone about it until you have researched about it or enroll in a school or guild. I have heard that if you haven't developed your core, the head of the school or chancellor has to help you if you have the needed materials. They are governed by law to do so and they are very competitive with the other schools, so they would fight over students and if you are talented, well...."

"I see, so reviling it to a chancellor would be the safest way?"

"I would never say safe. Rules can be bent and others would say' rules were made to be broken.' Just make sure the school you enroll in has a trustworthy chancellor. If I was you, I would meet them beforehand. Let me repeat myself again, I believe that is a unique Beast core, even though I do not know how unique it is, I am sure you will not come across any better one anytime soon."

"Yes sir, is that all I would need?"

Sheyken asked.

"You will need a Dessoletum, or what others call a Reactant and it is as expensive as the cores which also depend on what level the core you want to use is. Since yours is a unique core, I think it is safe to say you will need a special or at least a 4th-grade Dessoletum. It turns the Beast core to liquid so you can drink it. The grade also determines how smooth the development of the core will be for you. You will then need to do a summoning ritual which will summon Uros."

Sheyken was now thinking that being a mage would bring him less of a headache.

"Why do I have to summon Uros. Isn't Uros the world I am in."

Vitula let out a light laugh.

"You will be summoning the Guardian of Uros. We believe it is a form that Uros takes to communicate with us and the mother of every living being. We have come to call her the Guardian as we believe she is the one who controls the laws of the world."

"But you find it hard to believe that my father is the Guardian of chaos."

Sheyken retorted. Vitula could not help but laugh.

"We are sorry Sheyken. Your story was just so out there that it is only now that I am thinking about it. It would make sense. If Uros has a Guardian, then why wouldn't there be others."

Vitula said.

"Sorry."

Ningal said still not knowing what to do with herself after her reaction to his story. Sheyken cared less of what she thought of his story. After hearing that she had sacrificed her finger in order to get read of the curse when he asked after noticing it the day he woke up, he was now deeply indebted to her and he wanted to pay her back for her sacrifice.

"It is ok, like I said, If I was you, I would not believe myself either."

"Thank you, son."

Vitula answered.

"So, why would I need to summon Uros."

"You would be borrowing a power that does not belong to humans but beasts, you need to make an offering to her, and based on her evaluation of you and the offering, she will give you a punishment then approve of your Beast core. You will then be a Beast warrior from there on."

"Punishment? even though I would give her an offering?"

Sheyken asked as he did not like that part. Vitula let out a smile.

"Do not worry. It is nothing that will hurt you. You are a child of Uros now after all."

Sheyken was still not convinced.

'If being a Beast warrior is this hard, I wonder how it is for a mage or witch.'

He thought.

"I think that covers most of that. Now you have to listen carefully as what I am about to tell you about the village will be essential for the plan for you three to escape here. Do remember that every single person in this village is an Initiate Witch now, so fighting your way out of here is not an option. Flosbris is even more dangerous."

Sheyken nodded his head in understanding.

"Good, let me explain then. It all started 10 years ago with Vintas Lapisas..."

Sheyken could not continue listening to him. His intuition was telling him something was wrong. Not long after, the smell of something burning assaulted his nose. Ningal and Vitula followed suit thereafter, lifting their heads as they smelled the smoke.