/ A DAMP CAVE SOMEWHERE NEAR THE OUTSKIRTS /

In the dark crevices under a hill, there resides a group of humans with ears resembling dogs. As they merrily chug drums of wine, two large humans with the same features converse as they dine on a steak.

" So you say that someone will pay handsomely for killing a bunch of deserters? That is too good to be true, brother."

" Boss Jacko, they would pay mana stones for this job. They even given us a down payment, it won't even matter if we turn down this. From what i suspect they want a long term contract with us in the near future boss."

Not convinced by this shady employer, Jacko asked the identity of this mysterious man.

" So who is this 'man' offering us this job? Do you even know what tribe they belong to?"

Taking something from his pockets and laying down a piece of leather engraved with a symbol. It is a symbol of humans wielding a spear running with a picture of presumably a lion.

" I don't know their identity but i caught a glimpse of their body markings. No matter how hard they hide their tattoos, my eyes won't be fooled."

Seeing this symbol, Jacko have an inkling who their employers are. A tribe of human allied with lions in the inlands of this plains, he remembers them as the Tribe of Digan.

" Huh, if i remember correctly they waged war against another tribe. I don't want to be involved in a fight with this obnoxious tribes, but if its just killing those who fled we can take this." Jacko nodded, pleased that he now knows what conspiracies this job holds.

The Digan tribe can't afford to have their warriors kill this deserters so they want to give this to the more skilled tribe who knows the outskirts perfectly. They might also offer mana stones and riches for an alliance with them.

There is nothing but advantages for them in this deal." Is there anything else they have to offer?"

" Yes boss, they also want us to look for a great warrior and a shaman who fled their tribe in the inlands. If i remember correctly, Luka of the Tituan tribe with her mate, Maja who is a shaman left their tribe and made way to the outskirts."

Hearing Luka's name, Jacko straighten up his posture and inquire if what he heard is true.

" You say that they want us to find that great warrior? It will be near suicidal facing him specially with a shaman by his side. I don't want trouble with great warriors."

" But boss they only want us to keep an eye for him, we don't need to specifically find him. And besides, information for him is quite valuable, a renegade great warrior is sought by everyone."

Jacko pondered his options and agreed to his aide's proposal. Aside that, a great warrior lurking in the outskirts is not a good thing for their tribe.

" Very well, i don't want to offend this great warrior. But we can kill the deserters and keep an eye for him. Assemble our warband, we will march tomorrow and meet our employer."

" Yes boss i will do it right away "

Alone in his lonesomeness, Jacko revised his plans for the future.

" I need to change my plans, why would the Digan tribe wage war? There must be something they need, or they just want to expand their tribe. Either way, i will do everything to keep this tribe safe and maybe expand if opportunity arises."

Jacko smiles as he imagined his tribe flourishing under his lead.

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/ Great Plains of Faeilan/

" So son, what's your decision?" Luka asked his son Alke on his choice of his future path.

" I don't know father, i'd like to try the muscle strengthening technique but i feel more attracted in the shaman path. Also i'd like to think about this carefully father." Alke answered truthfully, his path can't be decided on a whim.

" Good son, i'm just merely testing you. If you picked a path after only hearing small details, i would lecture you but it looks like it won't be needed." Luka nodded, his son just displayed his thinking prowess by not being fooled and egged on his decision regarding his path.

The path they choose can't be changed unless they risk their body being torn apart by removing their mana cores.

" Now Alke, you have acute sense for mana but it can't be said that your control on mana would be the same. I will test you tonight."

Alke excitedly awaited his mana test, maybe he will put his paw on a gem or his father will examine his body using his senses. Unbeknownst to the cub, this test will feel like his lungs are on fire. Literally.

" I want you to absorb mana in your throat and unleash it out of your mouth." Alke just stared at his father for a few seconds and recovered as he mumbles. ' Huh? That was kind of anti-climatic.'

Abiding by his fathers instructions, he collects mana from the air by breathing in. Feeling the mana swirl in his throat, he tried to release it but his lungs suddenly felt like burning. Having difficulty to breath, Alke rolled on the ground and howled in pain. Fortunately, the mana was released as he squeal in pain.

" So how was it son? How's the feeling of being ravaged by a foreign mana inside your body?"

Alke can't even answer as he breaths heavily. Luka helped the cub stand and carried him to the pond near them. Alke drinks the water like a madman after the pain subsides, he shot an accusing glare to his old man.

" Haha! My son, no need to glare. It is a rite for new mana practitioners to feel the pain that mana can inflict. The very first lesson that i will teach you is the dangers of mana, just a small amount of mana can already inflict that pain, what more can a powerful warrior or mage do?"

Alke was silenced by his father's or rather the fore bearer's wisdom. Before you practice wielding a weapon, you must know the dangers of the said weapon.

" I must say though, your mana control is great. Sadly, there are more gifted in mana control back at Tituan than you. Still, you are powerful with your senses so use that as your main weapon to compensate your other flaws."

" Now it is time to rest, i bet you are already tired from your first lesson. Sleep early and we can train by dawn." Luka suggested as he made way to his mate, he laid beside her and rubbed his head against her.

Following his father, he laid besides his siblings. He slept with enthusiasm knowing he might one day be able to breath fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alke's morning routine consist of him waking up Vinna and taking her to the pond to wash their faces, after washing, he will take care of the two cubs. They are predicted to open their eyes this day or tomorrow so everyone is excited for their new brothers to be named.

As the morning sun rises, Alke would lay beside her mother as he asks her about things and stuff that he doesn't know about yet.

" So seven days is equal to a week, three weeks is equals to a month, and sixteen months is equal to a year."

Alke is relieved to know that a year in this world is close enough to a year back on earth. Just having three weeks in a month is quite peculiar but there is nothing to worry about regarding this world's sense of time. "What about this season you talk about mama?" Alke asked as he compare if the weather of this world have similarities on those of earth.

" Now, there are four seasons throughout the year. The season of life, season of fire, season of nature and season of ice. We inhabitants of plains use this phrases but i'm not quite sure about those mountain dwellers and humans across the mountain ranges."

Season of life pertains to the end of winter where life blossoms, season of fire on the other hand describes the scorching heat of summer in this plains.

Season of nature or autumn is the season where trees bear fruits, wild vegetation is abundant and animals procreate. Last is the harsh winter brought by the season of ice, everything is blanketed with white snow and everyone is forced to stay in their homes.

" But there is a rare phenomenon where mana run amok , we call this mana storms. Mana storms are rare though, the last mana storm was twenty years ago." Hearing this, Alke was reminded of his training last night.

" Speaking of mana. Mama, father taught me last night about mana techniques and it was quite painful. He also said to ask you if i have questions about mages."

" Fufu. I remembered my test when i was nothing but a young cub striving to be a shaman. It was so painful but it taught me the power of mana that i am learning. Regarding your questions, you can always ask your mama about anything."

Getting the affirmative from his mother, Alke asked his one billion dollar question.

" Mama, can i breath fire if i practiced hard enough?"

Hearing this childish question from her son, Maja just giggled and rubbed her head against Alke.

" Definitely son. With enough practice breathing fire is possible, there are also those who breath bolts of lightning from their mouths. Although that is inefficient and quite lame for powerful mages."

Alke is shocked to hear that breathing flame is considered 'lame' by mages. ' How dare they call it lame, it's the dream of every man to breath fire or some shit'.

" Why is it lame mama? For me, it's really cool!"

" Look son, breathing fire from your mouth is flashy but it also risk your mouth being vulnerable. A well timed mana bolt aimed inside the mouth is enough to kill even a great mage. Training with your sweat,blood and tears to become a formidable mage then dying from a measly mana bolt is enough reason for it to be lame."

Alke snapped back to the reality of how dangerous this world is. Even though his animal instinct warns him of the dangers in this plains, he doesn't take it seriously and sometimes disregard it as him being super paranoid.

" Alke, mana is a weapon not a toy. I know that as a cub you want to look cool to impress your siblings or even us your parents. But remember this, mana is your claws and fangs, sharpen it so that it can cut and tear every foe you encounter."

Alke mentally reprimanded his self as he composes his mind. ' Learn and be wary Alke, this is not the earth you used to live anymore but a wild world full of violence.' He might need a year or two to fully engrave the situation he's in but there's nothing he can do but adopt to his new world.

Maja on the other hand saw Alke's sad eyes, she might said too much and dampened her son's dream. Alke is naught but a week old cub, she always forget that he should be running and playing with his sibling rather than thinking about how to kill his future adversaries.

" Come here son, if breathing fire isn't cool enough you can just throw fireballs. I'm sure that it will be cool and other cubs will look up to you, wanting and begging to play with you."

Maja mistook his crestfallen face for sadness when the truth is he's just mad for his naivety. Alke just went along with his mother and accepted his advise about throwing fireballs. Beside, throwing scorching red flames is cool enough for him.