Chapter 21: I made up my mind.

Dez woke up early in the morning.

When he looked at his watch it showed it was only 5:50 am. It was quite early in the morning. The sun was not even out yet.

Des stood up from his bed, walked to the doors of his balcony, and went out.

Standing there it was still dark and he could barely see what was out there.

In this manor, Dez's living room had a great view of the garden, the stables, and the kennels.

They called it a kennel but it was an artificial lion's den.

It was built to keep his sister's pets.

It was a pride of royal winged lions.

Normally beasts like these won't be this close to the manor but his sister had the ability to communicate with the royal winged lions. She has total command over them, it was pretty safe.

Those royal winged Lions are one of the high-grade beasts.

Humans have developed a grading system to better understand the power of the beasts of this world.

For example, you have bronze, silver, and gold levels.

Those levels are divided into low, medium, and high. A newly born dragon baby starts sometimes at a high bronze level, some with great potential are born in the silver ranking.

Those who will later be overlords are born in low-level gold beats which are at the top of the species.

Beasts like those would only need to sleep and eat and they would grow into higher level beasts without any training or effort. Solely relying on their racial prowess. Those are all categorized as high-grade beasts.

Those royal winged lions are playful but also brave and bold and sometimes they misbehave. But nothing bad has happened so far. Looking at the royal family Dez would be the only one who would actually be in danger if something went wrong.

Even most of the servants had the ability to flee or defend themselves.

Dez stood there peering into the darkness.

He remembered how crazy yesterday was.

And to his surprise when he came home it got even crazier.

-Yesterday inside the dining hall.-

Dez was sitting together with his mother, father, and little sister at the dining table.

Everyone had already finished eating.

"Dez have you made up your mind already?"

Ask Alicia Dez's mother.

"About what mom?" Dez was not sure what she was pointing at but he had a suspicion.

"Well about your first soul integration."Dez still had about 3 years before his awakening but his mother was always worried about his soul integration.

Soul integration is different from soul contracts, one can only have a soul integration every 4 stages.

Soul awakened --- first soul integration.

Soul fighter — first soul contract

Soul expert — second soul contract

Soul leader — third soul contract

Soul master --- second soul integration.

Soul prince — forth soul contract

Soul lord — fifth soul contract

Soul king — sixth soul contract

Soul emperor. ---- 3th soul integration.

A soul-contracted beast can die in battle, but a soul-integrated beast can't die unless his master dies first.

Also, a soul contract can be released or exchanged with others. But a soul-integrated beast can't be changed once it's integrated.

That is why soul integration needs to be carefully decided because once chosen it will be permanent for life. It also is extremely important because there is where the abilities you will get will come from.

"I'm sure during your visit to the Dreamforest you interacted with quite a few of your father's best beasts and creations. Didn't you think of making them your first integration? Your first companion." Asked Dez's mother again.

"No mother I didn't, I wasn't even thinking about it at that time mom. We didn't go that deep in either. The only wild beast I saw was a leaf wolf." Dez felt it could not be bothered with a leaf wolf even if it did evolve into a storm leaf wolf.

"Dez maybe you want to see my other collection inside the beast sanctuary? Maybe the nature type is not to your liking? Those other beasts are a little more fierce. Maybe you would like some." His father suggested.

"Actually I have a list here…"

"No father, I don't think there is a need for that. I have come to a decision but I'm not sure it's the right one." Said Dez, remembering his experience with Dream just a few hours ago.

"Tell me, what is your decision?" Alicia was smiling.

Dez's mother was eager to know what his son would finely integrate with.

"I would like to accept the ancestral soul bead. I wish to nurture it into my own companion and bring out its powers."

Everyone at the table was surprised.

Dez has refused the ancestral soul bead on more than one occasion.

"That is a great decision son." For Emperor Kaihen even if his son wanted to integrate a dirt worm he would help him be the best dirt worm to have ever lived.

"I'm happy you chose to follow your mother's wish."

"Dad, is it true that if the soul bead was created with the soul companions inside their abilities are likely to reappear?"

"Yes, son, not only that. Soul beads are the condensation of pure power. Not only is there a chance that your companion would get the power of your ancestors' beast but also the power of his awakening too."

"Do you know what is special about these beads, son?"

"It's that they can become anything.

Not only was your ancestor a strong emperor but also he was a chosen one."

"Chosen's have something that others don't have. It's called a source of power. An ability unique only to them."

"This world will keep you on your toes. Even if life becomes better and things seem easier you can never sit or lay down Dez, or disaster will take you by surprise."

"Throughout history, the world has seen very smart people who won impossible battles."

"But in the end, they still lost the war."

"If you don't have enough power You can only outsmart yourself out of a disadvantageous situation so many times."

"Those who won the wars, in the end, all had one thing in common."

"Power.

Power in numbers...

Power in weapons...

Power in resources...

Power in individuals…"

"They always had superior power in one aspect or the other."

"This bead is quite special. You need to make sure Dez that your first integration is as powerful as possible. It will help you later in life.

Remember that. Your first integration. As powerful as possible."

"Yes, dad I understand." Dez listens attentively to his father's words. And kept them deep in his heart.

"What made you change your mind?" Dez's mother was wishing for this moment for about a year. Now that finally, her son decided to follow her wish she was not sure how to feel. She was happy because she believed that was the best choice for her son.

But why now after refusing her for nearly a year.

"It was all thanks to Dream, but I wish to enter the heritage hall and confirm something too."

Dez's father and mother looked at each other in surprise, then they nodded.

"Sure, but what do you want to confirm?"

Dez's mother was still curious. It seems there is something special going on.

"During my dream, the ancestor spoke to me and told me to take the bead that is a power left behind for me."

Alicia looks at Kaihen with a questioning look.

Kaihen raised both his eyebrows in surprise and shook his head, indicating he had nothing to do with that.