The morning brought along a rather abnormal silence. Whil woke up and his grandfather’s death was not what bothered him any longer. It was something else. It was the unmanned airships. It was his own death. He nearly died the day before. The airship shot the ground and only a couple of feet away from him and his friends. At times, he was more curious than scared. What was that flying airship? Whose was it? He thought and thought. In the end, he was reminded of the Draigs. The new war machine that was supposedly built by the Guardian Republic. Even so, there was no news of the machinery ever successfully built. More baffled he became. Whose was it? He asked himself again.

30th Ningdarr, and the last day of the year 317. The next day would be a new year. Whil got up slowly and quietly. He looked at his arm and saw a small scratch from yesterday. The more he looked, the more he noticed a couple more scratches, bruises and cuts on his arms and legs. He just sat on his bed, looking, with mind boggling thoughts. Death. Death. Death. Airship. Then a knock on the door. It startled him. “Yes,” he answered. “Breakfast,” was heard on the other side. Muffled as the sound travelled through the door. Whil got up, took a shower, changed clothes and went down for breakfast

After eating, Whil just sat there in the kitchen. His grandmother went to the kitchen counter and turned on the radio. ‘That is it for the weather report…’ went the speaker in the radio. ‘Next, we have a news report from International Geldar Journalists Station. Recent news…yesterday marked another dark day. An estimate of twenty cities and towns all over Geldar were attacked by small unmanned airships. Multiple resources claimed that the unmanned airships resembled the description of a Draig that the Guardian Republic had envisioned. Conspiracy theorists everywhere said that this is another step of the Guardian Republic’s plan to rule the whole Geldar…’ the speaker continued. Whil felt hurt by the conspiracy theorists’ claims towards the Republic and left the kitchen.

“I'm going to Alph’s,” said Whil exiting the house.

There he was, out on the streets again. He did not actually went to Alph’s house. He instead went to where the airship crashed. As he arrived, he saw the Law Officer’s red ribbons wrapped around the area, marking the scene as quarantined. He looked to where he saw the broken machinery yesterday. There was nothing there but black soot and scraped pavement. He stood there in silence. So silent he could hear the wind. He could hear footsteps around him. He could hear the grass dancing. He could hear everything.

“Whil,” a growling voice surprised him.

Whil turned around and saw a Grymloft that called him. “Gallant,” said he. “What is it?” he continued.

“Come. Sheila was looking for you.”

“Sheila?”

“Sheila, Alph and Wyo.”

Gallant led the way and Whil followed behind. Whil recognised the road that they were taking. They were heading to the Patton Diner. As they arrived, there Whil saw Wyo, Alph and Sheila sitting at the window seats; waiting. Gallant went inside the diner with Whil.

“Hey, Whil,” Sheila greeted.

“Hey.”

“How’s your grandmother?” asked Alph.

“She’s fine.” Whil answered just briefly. “Where’s Mr. Travern? He’s not here?”

“No. He’s not in today. Just his employees.” Alph answered. “So, what do you think they were?” Alph suddenly asked.

“I don’t know. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not the Guardian Republic’s no matter what everyone said,” Wyo answered. Whil lifted his head and looked at Wyo. He then gave a small smile.

“It probably isn’t. But what if it is?” Sheila, the always doubtful one, asked.

“It couldn’t be. My uncle used to work with the Guardian Republic before he moved to Sallestre. His old friend there gave him a news that said, and I quote, ‘the Republic showed the Draig today. It wasn’t as amazing as we all thought. It blew up the moment it was presented’. I can only presume that the Republic failed at building a Draig. What more to build an unmanned Draig,” Wyo replied.

“If so, who built them? Plus, the news this morning said that an estimate of twenty cities were attacked all around Geldar. Whoever these people are, they’re aiming big,” added Alph.

Whil just sat there quietly. He had nothing to say.

“Remember Ygmod?” Wyo suddenly asked. Everyone turned their attention towards her. “Right. Who am I kidding? Of course you remember. Did any of us saw what or who attacked us? As far as I'm concerned none of us did. It may have been them. No one ever knew who or what they were. Not even the Republic. They came one morning, destroyed a village and disappeared.”

“True. But, we don’t even know if they were Humans or Thre’adils or even Everlons. What if they were beasts that attacked us?” Alph questioned.

“Yeah. Even so, consider this, they may have been…”

“-I know what they were.” Whil suddenly interrupted Wyo.

“What?” Alph asked him as if he did not hear it.

“I know what they were. Back then…in Ygmod. I saw them. But, from afar. They were walking through the fields across my house. My dad’s house. I saw them all. Not their faces. Not in detail. But I know they were not beasts, animals or even orcs.” Whil added.

They were all quiet. They sat there staring at Whil. Wondering.

“They were definitely Humans.” Whil said.

Noon came by quite quickly. They all left the restaurant and went their separate way. Everyone went straight home except Whil. He walked the opposite direction from his home. He did not feel like spending his day, his noon, back at home by himself. He was hoping to get to the Irveen Market and waste his time there. Nevertheless, luck did not favour his side that afternoon. He was nearly there. He was nearly at the market until suddenly his wish was broken by the appearance of three boys of his age that was walking towards Whil. He wanted to turn around and disappear but was a bit too late.

“Hey! Whil! Is that you?” One of the boys yelled.

“Hey! He’s talking to you! Turn around!” Another continued.

Whil reluctantly turned around facing the group of poorly mannered boys. They were Vancory Josy, Ericcon Wedderlock and Higgins Worthing.

“Can we not do this today Vancory?” Whil said to one of them, Vancory, the leader of the group.

“You don’t decide what we do. If I want to do this today, I’ll do this today. Whatever ‘this’ is,” he replied. The other two giggled as the middle one spoke. “Plus, fate must have wanted us to do something if we are meeting today. Hmmm…how about Creature battle? Like the ones we had in school,” he continued.

Whil stood there and just listened. He wanted to walk away but he knew that they would not let him. Therefore, he just stood there hoping that it would end soon.

“Oh, wait, you don’t have a Creature,” Vancory continued. “Even that shedding dog died. Hahaha… I can’t believe that you called it a Creature. Dang.”

Whil still stood there and listened. He knew it is going to get worse. At least, it is just verbal pain. He would rather have that than physically maiming one another, or just himself.

“It’s just so sad. Hey…why are you just quiet?” Vancory asked but Whil did not answer. “No matter. We’re leaving anyway. I don’t want to stay here too long. I myself might die being around you. You have quite a history of dead people with you. Your dog, your grandpa and quite possibly your dad. You reek of death,” he mocked Whil and laughed hysterically.

Whil looked up from the ground towards the three boys. They were laughing out loud together. He could feel his heart pounding harder and harder. He could feel his blood boiling. The next thing he knew, he was charging towards Vancory. He jumped and pushed Vancory down to the ground.

“Don’t you talk about my family ever again!” said he while hitting Vancory.

Vancory held his left hand to Whil’s chest and a burst of glowing blue smoke exploded from the bracelet on Vancory’s wrist. The burst pushed Whil backwards and he fell hard from quite a push on a pile of rubble. The smoke materialised and became a grey wolf right on top of Whil, pinning him down. It was twice larger than a regular wolf. It was Vancory’s Creature. The wolf growled loudly at Whil.

“How dare you touch me?” Vancory said while still on the ground.

Whil was scared. What was he thinking attacking Vancory like that? He should have known better. In haste, he grabbed the largest rock that could fit in the palm of his right hand and swung it hard onto the wolf’s head. The wolf fell over to Whil’s left. Then, Whil quickly got up and ran off as fast as he could.

“Get up! Get him!” yelled Vancory commanding his Creature. The other two boys let out their Creatures from their bracelets and commanded them to chase Whil as well.

Whil ran and ran as three wolves was chasing him. Behind those wolves, their Wielders, their masters. Whil ran through small alleyways and through a crowd of people. He was not thinking of stopping and asking for help at all. He panicked and kept on running. Then, he saw one of the eight gates of the city. He went for it as he thought running outside was any safer. Much to his surprise, they were still chasing. Whil knew that the wolves would catch him. No one can outrun a wolf. A plan crossed Whil’s head, a very crazy plan. Just beyond the west forest of Joycelm, there is a cave. In the cave lived beasts of the dark that feasts upon Human flesh. It was crazy enough that it might work, he thought.

He reached the cave and entered it. However, he did not went in too deep. He knew the dangers of Whispering Death, as what the locals would call the cave. The wolves stopped chasing as they could sense a presence of a greater power inside.

“Orion! Did he went in there?” asked Vancory to his Creature.

“Yes. He’d be dead soon if he stays there for too long,” the wolf answered.

“Let’s leave then. I don’t want to do anything with his death. Jail is not my cup of tea,” said Vancory.

Whil was not sure whether he should exit the cave or stayed there longer. He was not sure if the group left or are still waiting for him at the entrance of the cave. Oddly enough, he had more courage to enter the cave deeper than exiting the cave and get beaten up by three boys. Bravery is stupidity at some point. As he walked deeper, he felt a presence behind him. He did not bother to look back though. Until, a rock was kicked behind him and made quite a sound. Whil stopped his step and slowly turned around.

His heart skipped a beat as he saw a huge beast right behind him. It stood tall and looked like a giant centipede. It opened its mouth and screeched loudly. With that, Whil picked up his pace and ran deeper into the cave. The beast chased him up and down the ceiling and floor of the cave. Whil’s heart pounded harder than it had ever pounded. As he was running, he decided to turn his head to have a peek at the beast. When he turned, his leg tripped upon a huge rock and fell towards a wall. Whil hit the wall hard and the wall fell apart as it was thinner than it looked.

Whil fell to the other side of the wall where there was a crystal pillar that shone dim blue. The beast screeched again and shocked Whil. Whil was on the ground, pushing himself backwards with his hands and legs, hoping that he would fall in some hole that would save him. He pushed and pushed until the pillar stopped him. There he was, in between a glowing crystal pillar and a huge man eating beast. The beast screeched for the last time and jumped for Whil. Whil put up his hands and covered his whole face with his arms. He pulled his legs to his chest and everything in his past flashed before his eyes in a split second.

‘Is this how death feels like?’ Whil thought. ‘It didn’t hurt’. He removed his arms from his face and opened his eyes. The cave was darker than before. There was no longer a dim light shining. He stood up wondering what happened to the beast. He turned around and saw the crystal pillar broken into pieces and only half of the pillar was left standing.

Then, he heard a few rubbles kicked around behind him. He slowly turned thinking the worse of the worst. There it was, a huge man-like figure, white in colour, standing right in front of him. On its head was four horns; two big ones and two small ones. All over its body was filled with soft fur that grew at the tip of its hard scales. Behind it extended a pair of feathered wings and a strong tail with a huge feather at the tip. Whil was in awe. Before him was a Creature known as the Feremear, a type of dragon that have the build of a man and scales with furs and feathers.

“Whilliam Rubbit,” he spoke, “name me.”

Whil felt as if he was dreaming. Everything felt surreal. He opened his mouth and named it, “Doe.”

“What?” the Feremear asked.

“What?”

“Doe? Is that what you’re calling me?”

“I don’t know. Everything felt so sudden. Sorry. I couldn’t think straight.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just that it could have been an epic moment with a proper name given for your new Creature and you named me Doe, a female dear.”

“Owh. So you didn’t like that name?”

“Well, if you like it then it’s fine. You’re the Wielder. You name me.”

“Can I re-do? Is that an option?”

“Yeah sure. If you wish it. Re-do?”

“Yes. Yeah. Re-do.”

Everything went silent for a while. Whil looked at the Feremear. The Feremear looked at Whil.

“Whilliam Rubbit. Name me.” It went once again.

“Darreos…” they stared at each other. “Was that good?”

“Yeah. That was epic.”

A bright glow appeared on his right wrist. He saw it all. A bracelet of the Wielder appeared on his wrist out of thin air with Darreos written on it inside a crystal. Whil smiled wide and looked back towards Darreos the Feremear.

“I hope this is not a dream,” he said.

“Trust me, it isn’t,” replied Darreos.

They both went out of the cave and stood at the entrance. Whil took a deep breath and said, “Tomorrow is going to be a new year. Nothing will be the same as it was ever again. I went beyond Whispering Death and found a Feremear. Nothing IS going to be the same way as it was.”

“That is true. I can feel it,” said Darreos.

“Really?” Whil asked.

“I don’t know. I just felt like going in the moment just now. You sort of ruined it when you asked ‘really’.”

“Oh. Sorry,” Whil ended.

They both stood there as the wind blew. It was the end of a beautiful day for Whil. Vancory was right when he said fate made them meet for a reason. Darreos was its reason.

“Praise the One of All,” prayed Whil.

Whil walked pass the forest and back into the city with Darreos in his bracelet. He did not want anyone to see Darreos yet. Whil went home as usual, took a shower, and had his dinner. Then, before he closed his eyes to sleep, he wished goodnight to Darreos and he answered from the bracelet;

“Goodnight, Whilliam.”

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