The figure appearing before them was no stranger to Puluna...
A young wolf with ash-grey fur and piercing golden-yellow eyes stepped into the Guild's domain. No one dared to meet his gaze. An overwhelming aura of absolute authority radiated from him, rendering the surrounding crowd instantly mute. He walked straight toward Puluna's group with an elegant, composed stride before offering a greeting.
"A pleasure to meet you... both to the new face and the ones I've crossed paths with before. I am Chiron Lycoris, and I am here to unravel the mysteries you harbor."
As those polite words left his lips, the tavern fell deathly quiet, as if all sound had been swallowed whole. The young wolf cast his golden eyes upon Puluna, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Chiron Lycoris... The Royal Mage of Vlato?" Betax interjected, his voice carrying its usual provocative tone. "Didn't know someone of your stature actually cared about common folks."
The owner of the golden eyes snapped his gaze to the spotted cat. For a split second, those eyes flared with a chilling, furious glare. A low, menacing growl rumbled faintly in his throat—just enough to warn Betax that he had just awakened someone he absolutely shouldn't mess with. Yet, ever the gentleman, Chiron instantly masked his fury with a gentle smile, though his words cut like shattered glass.
"A mere commoner... and one who falls quite short of even the average commoner's standard. It would serve you well to remain silent, you insect."
The refined, aristocratic insults were delivered in a smooth, viciously calm voice that stung like ice. It infuriated the cheetah so much that he nearly hurled his daggers at the young mage. Fortunately, Lima grabbed his brother's wrist just in time. The ironclad rule of the Grilled Lizard Guild was an absolute ban on violence; if Betax struck first, the consequences would ruin them.
Ignoring the cheetah's defiance entirely, the wolf mage turned to Lima, the elder mountain lion, with a courteous smile.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lima, on completing my request... Though I wonder if it is mere coincidence that you've brought along 'the very thing I desired' as well." Finishing his sentence, Chiron glanced at Puluna with a low chuckle, as if capturing this boy was an unexpected jackpot. Lima immediately stepped in front of his younger brother, shielding him from the predatory gaze.
"And what did you mean by 'unraveling the mystery'?" Lima asked sternly.
Chiron's smile vanished. His handsome face hardened into an expression of cold gravity.
"In that case... I must request a private audience with you all. This place is hardly suitable. Mr. Bartender, here is the signed document confirming the completion of the quest." The young mage flicked his wrist, tossing the paper bearing his official seal to the dwarf shopkeeper. "As for your reward, I shall grant it shortly. Please, follow me."
Snap!
With a crisp snap of the wolf's fingers, a blinding white magic circle erupted beneath their feet. A sudden gale swirled around them, trapping their bodies and pulling them downward as if the earth itself had opened up to swallow them whole.
"Hey! Where the hell are you taking us?! It's too damn windy!" Betax yelled in panic, while Lima wrapped his arms tightly around Puluna, vowing to protect his brother from whatever danger lay ahead.
Flash!
The brilliant light and roaring wind vanished in an instant. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a vast chamber crammed with countless books. Every stone wall was etched with intricate patterns that glowed with a faint, magical hum. Strange, foreign arcane symbols adorned the bookshelves.
"Welcome... to my Magic Consultation Office."
Chiron sank gracefully into the chair behind a grand desk cluttered with vintage writing instruments—quill pens, ink bottles, and stacks of parchment. But to Puluna... this place was absolute paradise! The boy stepped forward, his eyes wide with awe as he scanned the room. Though most titles were in languages he couldn't decipher, a few caught his eye: 'Fundamentals of Magic,' 'A Guide to Mystical Landmarks,' and the one that made him stop dead in his tracks—' The World Tree.'
"There are so many books, Mr. Chiron! I absolutely love reading! Would it be alright if I borrowed one?" Puluna asked, brimming with excitement, while Lima and Betax stood dazed, still adjusting to the sudden teleportation.
Chiron arched an eyebrow at the boy's enthusiasm, a genuinely amused smile gracing his features.
"Haha! I'm glad you appreciate my work. I'll let you borrow one later... Mr. Poon."
Hearing his real name made Puluna flinch in surprise, but the wolf cut him off knowingly. "Though it seems we must put the books aside for now. Let us discuss what you came here to learn." Chiron waved his hand casually, and a soft, light-brown sofa materialized from the ground, offering the three felines a place to sit. The moment they settled, Betax immediately shot his hand up, burning with curiosity.
"How did you cast that spell without chanting a single word?"
It was the exact question Lima and Puluna wanted answered. All three stared intently at the mage. Chiron gave a slow nod, as if acknowledging the ignorance of the commoners before him.
"So, despite being commoners, you possess a thirst for knowledge? Very well, I shall overlook your lack of manners for now, as I harbor a fondness for the curious. Tell me, how do you ordinarily cast your spells?" The young mage slipped in another aristocrat jab, making the cheetah's brow twitch, but Betax forced his temper down. Seeing the tension, Lima cleared his throat and answered.
"Normally, our casting begins by focusing our mind to visualize the spell's form, followed by chanting the incantation, and ending with 'By my name,' followed by our name."
Chiron nodded in understanding. He gestured casually, and a 'mage hand' crafted from pure mana glided forward, pushing a blackboard into view. With a sharp clack-clack, his long fingers drew a formula with chalk.
Description + Caster's Identity + Spell Name
"That is the method utilized by the common folk..." Chiron turned back to face them. "But for the nobility, what we learn is a step above the layman's tier. It is called 'Silent Casting'."
Snap!
He snapped his fingers again, and a massive gust of wind rushed past the three felines. It was a spell executed without a single spoken syllable.
"In the grand design of this world's magic, incantations and gestures are merely catalysts. The true core... is the 'Caster.' The phrase 'By my name' directly dictates the efficiency and destructive power of the spell. The deeper your affinity, your knowledge, your memories, your traits, and your comprehension of that specific spell, the greater its manifestation. To illustrate this... all three of you, try casting a concealment spell for me."
The three cats exchanged glances, nodded, and began chanting in unison.
"Grant me shroud and secrecy. By my name, Betax... Neviditeľnosť!"
"Grant me shroud and secrecy. By my name, Lima... Neviditeľnosť!"
"Grant me shroud and secrecy. By my name, Puluna... Nevi... di... tel... nosť?"
As the chants concluded, the results varied wildly. Lima's form merely turned translucent and faint, still quite visible. Absolutely nothing happened to Puluna, his words amounting to nothing more than a soft mumble. But Betax... vanished completely into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
"As you can see, the deeper the bond and comprehension, the more potent the spell. Betax specializes in stealth as a rogue, hence his flawless execution. Puluna, on the other hand, possesses zero understanding of the art of hiding. Therefore, even with the same spell, the outcome is never uniform." Chiron concluded his lesson, snapping his fingers a couple of times to dispel the magic.
Pop! Betax's form reappeared, but the thief cheetah was already in the middle of pocketing small trinkets from the office shelves! Before he could take a step, Chiron's massive mana-hand snatched him by the collar, dragging the feline thief right back onto the sofa.
"Then... I have a primary question," Puluna said, gripping his staff tightly as he locked eyes with the golden-yellow gaze of the wolf mage. "Mr. Chiron... are you the same Chiron from my original world?"
The question caused Chiron to pause for a beat before bursting into roaring laughter that made all three felines jump.
"Hahaha! Technically speaking, if I say 'yes,' it wouldn't be wrong..." Chiron wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "But to be precise... I and the 'me' of other dimensions are distinct individuals. The experiences and paths of each world shape us differently. Just like your brother and guardian here, even if their core identities are identical, the versions in this world are entirely separate from your original home. We share the same Identity, but our Egos are entirely detached. Our memories, skills, and mannerisms differ accordingly."
Puluna frowned. Though he didn't quite grasp complex terms like Identity or Ego, he understood the gist of it: same origin and face, but entirely different personalities molded by their respective worlds.
"However... what sets me apart from you all is that I can share Memories across dimensions. We possess a shared Hive Mind. My network of knowledge spans across universes... Ah, never mind. It seems your brains are already short-circuiting. Any deeper explanation might make your heads explode," Chiron sighed, noting the thoroughly confused expressions on the three felines.
"In short, though we reside in different dimensions, our purpose remains singular: to hunt down and capture the demons that have escaped across reality." Chiron held up a thick, leather-bound tome. At its center, a crimson eye flew open, staring out with an eerie, unsettling glare. "This is the 'Tome of Demon Seals.' It houses countless vile entities. But for reasons unknown... someone has broken their shackles. I must traverse dimensions to hunt them down and reseal them before they tear this world's fabric apart."
Puluna's intuition told him the wolf wasn't lying. However, the sheer scale of this ordeal was far too massive and treacherous for an ordinary boy to bear. Betax voiced his complaints immediately.
"Hey, that sounds grand and all, but what are we supposed to do? Those demons don't sound like a walk in the park. This is way out of our league!"
Chiron arched an eyebrow, looking at the cheetah as if staring at a fool.
"And when did I say the three of you would do this alone?" The young mage smirked. "What is the duty of the World Tree's Guardian? It is to 'forge bonds that unite the people of the world as one.' Therefore, your duty, Puluna, is to gather elite allies from across the lands to subdue the Demon King. As for those two... their only job is to keep you alive."
Chiron's explanation allowed Lima to piece the puzzle together. The mountain lion pondered for a moment before offering a strategy.
"I see. This means our current objective is to unite the three kingdoms to launch an assault on the Demon King in the city of Chern Zamaroz... First, we must convince the nation of Rosso and the White Kingdom to join hands with us."
A satisfied smile spread across Chiron's face. "An astute deduction... Guardian's Protector. But whether you succeed depends entirely on your capabilities. As for me... consider this your reward for the previous task."
With a swift wave of his hand, a grey stone bracelet etched with mysterious patterns materialized and clasped itself firmly around Puluna's wrist.
"This is the 'Sorcerer's Bangle.' It will grant you the ability of Silent Casting. I utterly despise allowing a commoner to wield an artifact of this caliber, but as the Guardian of the World Tree, you will need a means to defend yourself. This will undoubtedly serve you well in the days to come."
Puluna stared at the bangle in sheer awe. The long, tedious incantations he always struggled to memorize were no longer necessary. Now, he simply needed to picture the magic in his mind, and his thoughts would instantly manifest into reality!
"From here, your next destination should be the nation of Rosso. It lies not far from Vlato. A few weeks' journey on foot should suffice," Chiron advised.
"Understood... But why Rosso?" Puluna asked curiously.
Lima answered in his stead. "You might not know this yet, Puluna, but in Rosso, absolutely everything is decided through 'combat trials.' And the latest dispute brought to the arena... concerns the fate of the World Tree. The victor of this grand trial will hold the absolute right to decide its future."
Betax sighed, leaning back against the sofa cushions. "And if the winner happens to be someone who hates the World Tree, they'll likely side with the White Kingdom and march an army to chop it down. Since those two nations are already bitter enemies, things are bound to get messy. And to think our entire fate rests on a single fighter... Ugh, this is gonna be brutal."
"By the way... who is representing our side in the trial?" Puluna inquired, a tinge of anxiety in his voice.
Lima and Betax exchanged an uneasy look before the elder mountain lion spoke the name. "Lán dà... He is a masterful warrior, unparalleled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. He is our dear friend. I have absolute faith in his skills, but this tournament draws the fiercest champions from every corner of the continent." Lima exhaled softly; despite knowing his friend's prowess, the scale of this battle was terrifying.
"But you still believe in him, right, Brother Lima?" Puluna offered a bright, radiant smile, his eyes shining with unyielding spirit. "If we believe in him, we should journey to his side and cheer him on! Win or lose, having friends by your side gives you unimaginable strength!"
Puluna's earnest, pure-hearted words brought a gentle smile to Lima's face, though his eyes remained shadowed with worry. The mountain lion reached out, squeezing his younger brother's hand tightly. "But this is the turning point for the entire world, and for you, Puluna... If he fails, our chances of saving the World Tree vanish. And you... might never be able to go home."
Puluna smiled softly, placing his other hand gently against Lima's cheek to comfort him. "Right now... nothing matters more than the bonds I share with you, Betax, and your friend. If you believe he will win, our hearts will give him the strength he needs!"
The boy's voice, innocent yet profoundly powerful, echoed through the room. Watching them, Chiron let out a faint chuckle.
"I shall refrain from wishing you luck, for luck holds no value in this world... But do your best. My free time has concluded; I must return to my duties. I shall escort you to the exit." The wolf stood up, leading the three felines toward the door.
The moment they stepped outside the office, they found the sky had already deepened into twilight. Suddenly, the sharp instincts of the beast-kin flared with alarming intensity. A brilliant crimson flash erupted in the distance, hurtling toward them at terrifying speed!
"Everyone, take cover!!!" Lima roared.
The three felines threw themselves in separate directions by sheer instinct. A colossal fireball grazed past them, crashing into the cobblestone ground with a deafening explosion. Luckily, no one was harmed. Chiron alone stood unmoved, casually raising his hand to erect an arcane barrier that effortlessly dispelled the shockwave without him shifting an inch.
"Who goes there?!" Chiron demanded, his voice turning deadly sharp. Lima and Betax drew their respective weapons, gripping them tightly, while Puluna raised his staff in a defensive stance. Yet, the grey wolf simply offered a bored yawn.
"Oh my... Look who we have at the grand mage's office? Three pathetic cats? Haha, what a hilarious twist of fate."
Hovering above the ground was a young demon-kin with purple skin, a roaring flame dancing within his palm. "I am Fiedovile, elite vanguard of the Demon King Phinox! I am here to claim the head of the World Tree's Guardian... and as a bonus, I think I'll take the fragrant corpse of Vlato's Royal Mage as well!"
The purple demon pointed accusingly at Chiron, but the latter simply ignored him, reopening his book to read as if nothing had happened. Fiedovile's veins bulged with rage. Snarling, the demon snapped his fingers, summoning two more demon-kin brutes—one wielding a massive, menacing club, and the other drawing a taut bow, ready to paint the streets in blood.
"I'd love to see just how tough the Guardian of the Tree truly is!"
At his command, the demon archer released his arrow, aiming straight for Chiron's head! However, the speed of an arrow was nothing compared to a cheetah. Betax blurred into motion, crossing his daggers with a sharp Clang! to deflect the projectile effortlessly. "You're a mage, so get the hell back and hide!" Betax barked at Chiron, but the wolf remained entirely unfazed.
"Must I offer my gratitude? Do not fret... Isn't managing the rear line your duty anyway?" Chiron countered with a mocking arch of his brow.
"Tch! You arrogant mutt! Fine!" Betax cursed in frustration before lunging toward the demon archer. "Grant me shroud and secrecy. By my name, Betax... Neviditeľnosť!" His form melted into the shadows instantly.
On the other side, Lima charged forward to clash with the club-wielding demon. The brute force of the impact clearly put the mountain lion at a disadvantage; this demon possessed monstrous physical strength. Lima had no choice but to rely on his agility, dodging and weaving around the heavy swings.
"Is dodging all you can do, you cowardly cat?!" The enemy's taunts ignited a fierce fire in Lima's eyes. He pushed his speed to its absolute limit. "Wind... grant me your swiftness. By my name, Lima... Meč Spík!"
Winds swirled around his legs, propelling Lima forward so fast he left afterimages in his wake. The giant demon swung his club blindly, unable to keep up. Capitalizing on the opening, Lima spun and drove his sword deep into the demon's back!
"Argh! You...!" The brute bellowed in agony, swinging his club backward in a wild attempt to crush his assailant. But the wind carried Lima safely out of reach. The lion smiled grimly, gesturing for the demon to come at him.
"Come on, demon. Weren't you just boasting? A couple of shallow cuts shouldn't bring you down, right?"
"You!!! Die!" Blinded by rage, the demon charged. As the massive club smashed downward, Lima evaded with fluid grace. His right sword slashed horizontally, carving a deep wound across the brute's chest. "Too slow!" Lima smirked, unleashing his dual-blade style. His left sword hacked into the right shoulder, followed instantly by his right sword slashing the left shoulder, carving a crimson 'X' across the demon's torso. The brute stumbled, unbalanced, and Lima delivered the final blow—a sweeping dual-slash across the back of the demon's knees, sending the colossal form crashing heavily to the ground, unconscious.
Meanwhile, the demon archer, unable to track Betax, shifted his gaze and aimed his bow at Puluna, who stood defenseless in the backline.
"Your opponent is me!" a chilling whisper hissed beside his ear, accompanied by the sudden reappearance of Betax. A dagger pierced straight through the archer's shoulder, making him shriek as the bow slipped from his fingers. Without missing a beat, Betax slashed his other dagger across the demon's wrist to disarm him completely. Forcing through the pain, the demon drew a side dagger to retaliate. A frantic flurry of blades ensued, the rapid clashing of steel echoing through the night in a desperate test of reflex.
However, Betax held the upper hand with his dual daggers. Utilizing his superior speed, the cheetah slid beneath a lethal swing, slicing the demon's forearm. He then used the enemy's own body as a stepping stone, flipping gracefully into the air before plunging his daggers deep into the archer's shoulders and delivering a brutal kick to the chest that sent the demon flying, knocking him out cold.
"Phew... using a ranged weapon with skills that pathetic? Guess I'll be borrowing this bow," Betax chuckled, claiming the bow and quiver as his spoils of victory.
Turning over to Puluna, the boy was currently facing off against Fiedovile. Puluna's mind was a complete blank; having arrived in this world only recently, he had never faced an actual battle to the death.
"What's the matter?! Forgotten your incantations?!" Fiedovile laughed maniacally. "If you can't chant... then burn to ashes! Flame, incinerate my foe. By my name, Fiedovile... Vyrobat Oheň!"
A massive fireball hurtled toward him. Puluna gasped, throwing himself into a desperate roll across the ground. His heart hammered against his ribs in sheer terror. The spells his counterpart had taught him tangled into a messy knot in his mind, leaving him unable to grasp a single thread. Suddenly, Chiron's figure stepped forward, standing firmly beside him.
"To be a mage... the most vital trait is composure. Concentration and split-second decisions dictate life and death," Chiron's calm, commanding voice instantly steadied the boy's frantic pulse.
"If you want to play teacher... do it on your own time, Royal Mage!" Fiedovile roared, irritated by the interference. Chiron cast a frigid, disdainful look over his shoulder.
"If my voice bothers you so... then shut your mouth, low-born demon."
The moment Chiron spoke, Fiedovile's body froze completely. His jaw hung open, but no sound escaped his throat. Even the flow of mana required to cast his magic was completely severed! The demon could do nothing but widen his eyes in absolute terror.
"Now... back to our lesson," Chiron turned back to Puluna as if nothing had happened. "The magic you possess is 'Verdant Mysticism,' a branch of natural magic that focuses on manipulating earth, water, wind, and fire. When you cast... visualize the purest form of those elements in your heart, then release it through your bangle."
Puluna nodded, absorbing the instruction. Chiron snapped his fingers to release his binding spell, freeing Fiedovile. The demon immediately unleashed his wrath, firing a barrage of flames at Chiron.
"Flame, incinerate my foe. By my name, Fiedovile, Vyrobat Oheň!"
As the fireball closed in, Chiron tilted his head toward Puluna. Taking a deep breath, Puluna envisioned a massive, impenetrable wall of solid earth rising from the ground. He gripped his staff, channeling his intent through the bangle.
"Stone... rise and protect. By my name, Puluna... Stena Kameň!"
Rumble! A thick, sturdy stone wall erupted from the earth, absorbing the impact of Fiedovile's fireball in a spectacular explosion of sparks. A small smirk tugged at Chiron's lips as he barked an order. "If you face a stronger mage, never assume a single defensive spell will suffice! Counterattack immediately!"
Puluna peeked from behind the stone wall, visualizing the giant thorny vines he had summoned once before.
"Thorned vines... shape into a whip. By my name, Puluna... Tŕňový Bič!"
Vines burst forth from the ground. Puluna lashed his hand forward, mimicking the motion of a whip. The arcane thorny vine struck Fiedovile dead-center, making him scream in agony. However, the demon surged with fiery mana, burning the vines to ash. Seeing this, Puluna's face grew pale.
"Do not falter! Keep casting as long as you have mana!... Flame, incinerate my foe. By my name, Chiron... Vyrobat Oheň!" Chiron cut in, unleashing a counter-spell with terrifying speed. His fireball slammed into Fiedovile's chest, blasting the demon backward.
"Damn you! You pathetic mage! I am a fire-resistant demon!" Fiedovile bellowed.
Chiron's eyebrow twitched, his face darkening with irritation. "Repeat after me... until your casting speed matches mine!" Chiron ordered Puluna with a terrifyingly sweet smile that left the boy no room to argue.
"Flame, incinerate my foe. By my name, Chiron / Puluna... Vyrobat Oheň!"
Two fireballs streaked across the dark sky, relentlessly bombarding Fiedovile until his brags turned to agonized shrieks. Fire-resistant or not, absorbing direct hits of this magnitude was unendurable. "No! Still too slow! If that's all you can manage, I will not allow you to stop! Cast faster!" Chiron channeled his inner demonic professor, forcing Puluna to unleash consecutive volleys of fire magic. The sky lit up with endless explosions until the final blast erupted... marking their thirtieth volley!
"Well done... even if it took thirty tries," Chiron praised impassively, while Puluna stood wheezing, his throat so dry he could barely make a sound.
"Mr. Chiron... your teaching is too brutal... Water... please give me some water..." Puluna mumbled weakly.
Before them, Fiedovile lay battered and charred like a piece of burnt charcoal. He raised a trembling hand toward the sky. "I... yield..." before collapsing face-first into the dirt. Chiron smirked arrogantly, walking over to the fallen foe with a triumphant stride.
"My, my... what happened to being a fire-resistant demon?" The mocking words rubbed salt into the wounds of Fiedovile, who had just endured sixty fireballs with zero chance to retaliate. Chiron snapped his fingers one last time, and grey arcane chains surged forward, binding the three demons securely. The wolf mage stared down at them with cold, merciless eyes.
"Now... speak. Who sent you?" Chiron began the interrogation, the three felines standing guard right behind him.
"Demon King Phinox... sent over twenty elite vanguards to blockade the path of the World Tree's Guardian... I am merely one of them..." the demon rasped. Chiron nodded slowly before snapping his fingers to tighten the chains, knocking the trio unconscious.
He turned back to Puluna's group, his expression grave. "From this point onward, your path will be riddled with encounters like this... Puluna, remember what I taught you well. No one knows what lies ahead... so try not to die too quickly." With those final words, Chiron spun on his heel and walked back into his office, leaving the three outside.
Lima sheathed his dual swords, looking at Puluna and Betax. "Well... the real journey begins now. We will face trials like this all along the way. Stay vigilant, Puluna, Betax."
Puluna gripped his staff tightly, his eyes blazing with newfound resolve. From now on, he would become stronger to protect Lima and Betax! The three young felines turned toward the horizon, ready to forge their own destiny... heading straight for the nation of Rosso!
Meanwhile, in the Nation of Rosso
Inside a silent chamber... a young man of the Doberman beast-kin—boasting deep crimson fur, sharp emerald-green eyes, and scarlet hair—stared at his own reflection in a grand mirror. His eyes held the fierce spirit of a warrior prepared to shoulder the absolute weight of his nation's fate. He pressed a firm hand against the glass, his heart swarming with complex, unreadable emotions.
"How you choose to decide... rests entirely on your shoulders, young Lán dà. Champion of Blatt Himmel."
A deep, commanding voice echoed from the shadows. A white wolf with enigmatic purple eyes, clad in a sleek black top hat and a turquoise suit, stepped into view. A sly, treacherous grin stretched across his face. He placed a sealed envelope onto a lounge chair before turning to exit, his high-pitched, mocking laughter echoing down the hall.
Shatter!!!
Lán dà's powerful fist punched straight through the mirror, reducing it to a thousand jagged shards in a fit of absolute fury.
"That absolute bastard of a wolf... Gamma!" he hissed, grinding his teeth as he cursed the departed figure, before turning away to tend to his bleeding knuckles.
What dark compact had been struck between Lán dà and the mysterious white wolf known as Gamma?... The answer remained locked away in the shadows of tomorrow, waiting for the day the traveling felines would cross paths with Lan Ta once more!