A pair of hazel eyes looked up in awe at the marching procession that moved past, shaking the ground with their might. The surrounding citizens of the Starsk Kingdom watched as each soldier went past all possessing a stoic visage.

As strong as the soldiers looked, their strength was eclipsed by the strength of the beings by their side. Wolves and four legged magical animals tended to be a common occurrence within the ranks of the army, however, the higher up the chain of command one went, the more exotic and stronger it they got.

“Look, the Thousand-man commander, Loren and his famous sixth stage White Griffin” a bystander in the crowd shouted, and nearly everyone’s eyes turned to that direction and sighed.

The young boy with the hazel eyes turned as well and saw another strong figure. A White Griffin, so strong. I heard from father, that it could defeat a thousand regular companion wolves with no sweat.

Cain had waited in the alley-way connecting to the Starsk Central Square for an hour before any-one else had even arrived. As people began to arrive one by one, each brought a companion. Most had smaller non-threatening companions such as variant birds, smaller magic dogs and the like. However, a lucky few, had companions with a more grand appearance; golden eagles and even a rare flying Wyvern. The noble who the Wyvern was a companion of, clearly hailed from a noble family, his rich clothes sparkled in the sun.

Regardless, each companion gifted their master with a special ability, whether it be healing, attack or one of their many countless quirks.

As the crowd began to build up waiting for the practice of ‘Annual Yearly March’ of the Starsk Kingdoms army to the Kings Castle, the hubbub and rabble of their companions filled the square. The reason why young Cain stood covered by the shadows that the alley cast, was precisely because of companions, or lack thereof. He was a cull, and despised. Even now, two bullies had spotted him and stealthily approached.

Cain sighed and thought. Those two think I can’t see them, I may be weak, but I can see them approaching too easily.

“One day I’ll be strong as a Starskian soldier” he muttered while begrudgingly backing away and hurrying away.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Mistiming a jump over a wooden crate full of fruits, Cain scraped his shin and tumbled into the dirt. Picking himself up of the ground he quickly glanced over his shoulder for his pursuers, not seeing anyone he continued to run franticly.

Cain ran with a limp through the winding streets of the Starsk. Making sharp turns and doubling back, his movements were beginning to slow. If one took a closer look at his route, the young boys’ keen intelligence could easily be seen. The blood began to drip from the shallow wound on his shin, and his breathing became ragged. He had doubled back many times and even hid to get them of his trail.

He leaned against the wall of the alley and muttered “I should have lost them.” Before he could even catch his breath he heard the familiar raucous grating behind him coupled with a bestial growl. A shadow blotted the sun out as it leaped over him and landed blocking his path, it was infant magical Golden Panther with black stripes. A small child like him could not overcome the might of a companion, even one as young as the Golden Panther in front of him. After all, companions are stronger than humans.

Cain turned slowly in despair, realising he had been caught and readied himself for the beating that was sure to come.

“We got ‘im. Jasper, run faster or the cull will get away,” yelled the one of the despicable kids that chased him.

The term he heard for the majority of his short 10 years of life, ‘cull’. Meaning companionless, soulless or bondless, a term well suited for one such as himself. Cain’s two tormenters barrelled around the alleys wall, skidding to a stop right in front of him and caught their breath.

He heard the growls behind him and stared defiantly at the two figures that stood in front of him.

“Today, the mighty Jax and my Golden Panther will conquer the cull of Starsk.” The second of the two tormentors shouted out. The first boy with his companion already trapping the young boy, jostled him and replied.

“Don’t forget me, Jasper will make him bow beneath the glory of my Crane.”

As they finished their arrogant declarations the blows of both the boys and their companions came raining down upon him. Cain whimpered at each shock and his vision faded.

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Cain woke up to the sky dyed orange and groaned. He was bruised and battered, feeling a sharp pain in his side he gritted his teeth and used the alleys wall to drag himself up. Years of bullying and being pushed about gave him thick skin. Not literally, he still felt every punch and bruise, but steeling himself to pain was something he was use too.

“At least I can get home in time for dinner, whatever that may be”, Cain muttered to himself as he slowly walked back through the now-dark winding streets of Starsk.

It was the only major kingdom that could boast a hundred thousand strong army, the greatest in the entire Airlenn continent. Over a hundred squads of soldiers each having a companion of at least the first stage. To put it in perspective, even if the companion was naturally strong like the flying Wyvern of a citizen that watched the practice parade, it still wasn’t on the same level as a ranked companion.

That was just the beginning, at the very top of the army resided the elite squad known as the Guardians.

“A legendary squad which has fighters with fifth stage and sixth stage companions,” Cain continued to mutter to himself, a trait which brought him even more unnecessary hate. It was rumoured that a soul mate led them, an existence which the common folk of Starsk couldn’t understand much less a lowly cull.

Although the aristocrats loved to parade around, boasting the might of the army in carnivals and tournaments, the army wasn’t only a show piece. Starsk was surrounded on the east by the ‘Dark Expanse’ a dense forest so thick that light didn’t even reach the floor of it. Just thinking about it caused shivers to run up Cain’s spine.

Despite its terrifying appearance, even more dangers littered the dark expanses’ territory; caves, ancient tombs, and even wild companions known as beasts. Controlled by no-one and completely vicious to anyone but their family, the beasts roamed. The only way that the Starsk Kingdom was not already annihilated from the beasts and other existences of the dark expanse was because of two factors.

The first was the army, but the second was the trade route which started from Starsk and expanded all over the Airlenn continent. The trade route brought goods from all over, but these goods were more importantly accompanied by subjugation forces and guards which ‘culled’ the population of wild beasts every month.

“Such a despicable name,” Cain reflected. The culling was associated of getting rid of unwanted and dangerous beasts from the world. It was eventually shortened and applied to those without companions. An anomaly considering one of the origins of companions is the soul.

An intense hate began to spread for 'culls’ in Starskian society and pretty much anywhere else. Being a cull meant a life of pain at best and death at worst. Cain just hated that it dragged down his father as well.

It’s bad enough that I’m in pain, but to become a burden to my father as well.

All he could do was shake his head, although his father didn’t show it and treated him with true paternal affection, he knew his father had it tough.

:)