He expected an ancient, vampiric vine monster that had taken control of the woods. Instead, the reality proved far more difficult to believe than his wildest conception. So far as he knew, [Elementals] were fed by the chaotic energies found in nature, vessels that channeled the fury of their patron element on a whim. The traditional depictions never once claimed 'Hair' as one amongst their manifold shapes.

Quintin spoke with a healthy amount of skepticism, "Come on, you're pulling my chain right? Nice touch with the name, how long did it take to think up?"

[Si. You're the one who told me to stop playing around. Now you won't accept the truth and I could say the same.] Vissitri let out an audible grumble and leapt from his shoulder to one of the tendrils in question.

"So let's say I believe you - which I'm not saying I do - how does a Beard Elemental become... well, a Beard Elemental?" Quintin loosened up a bit after realizing the rigidity in his thinking.

The tiny hellion enjoyed poking at things, the barrel-sized tendril beneath him was no exception. [Si-Si. Now that's a tale that predates a time when Niagelus even had the name. This story is quite long, so sit well and listen to the story of my ancestor, Hystophernel the colossal Sky Dragon.]

Quintin leaned his back against an eldritch tree and let his mind wander into Vissitri's ancestral tale.

In an age long past, where colossal beings yet roamed the land, Hystophernel the Sky Swallower viewed the changes on Whorrl from his perch on high. His mighty palace was built there, in the unattainable heights that even his siblings dared not climb. Much like himself, the castle was an ever-shifting cloud form with fluffy rounded corners; in place of the sharp, angular dimensions his brothers and sisters enjoyed.

The one irregularity within his domain was a billowy, ditch-digging beard. An unnamed one that fell from his chin and touched the fields and flowers below.

Day in and day out, he phased from cloud cover to cloud cover while laughing at the petty squabbles of those on the ground. He slept with blissful dreams for decades at a time and lazed around in perpetual contentment much of the rest. Such was the life of Hystophernel.

Until one day the great Dragon decided to pause for a nap above a tree of unsurpassed height. The massive trunk was as wide as a population center around and boasted vertical dominion over every other tree both near and far. Each bough was a massive super-highway with branches that bore large, ripened fruits.

The fact that Hystophernel slept right above, meant his beard hung low enough to dangle amongst the branches and mystical leaves. As the beard snaked its way through the complex ecosystem, some of the fruits were squashed. The juices were absorbed into those hairs like a paintbrush dabbed on fresh ink. Thus a feeble consciousness sprouted.

At first, the beard's intelligence grew slowly. But steadily, after five years of dormancy, he awakened to produce his first words, "I am... alive?"

The words rumbled through his lanky body like deep thunder, into the cloudy follicles of Hystophernel. The Dragon stirred awake, lowering his eyes onto the World Tree in confusion. "Who mocks this One? Show your meddlesome self and be judged for your bravery or foolishness."

A sizeable lull crept over the Sky Swallower's words. Just when his vigilance was about to lower, a booming voice tickled on his chin, "I am you. Not... you. I am me."

Hystophernel was furious and roared. The sonic discharge pushed the clouds out, into a perfect circle around the World Tree as a ball of lightning began to pulsate. "How dare you rankle this One's beard once again. Show yourself tree dweller, or forever hold your peace in ashes."

New-born intelligence or no, he sensed the urgency in his father's statement and spoke with haste, "I am of you. Please liss-hear, hear my voice. I have b-been with you all a-long. Do you not recc-know me?"

Unfortunately, the sky terror held no desire to hear his heartfelt pleas. All the clouds in the local area gathered together. The forest turned to night under the oppressive shadow of Hystophernel, with only the immediate area around the World Tree retaining any light. The Conqueror of the Skies let out another infuriated roar as he sent the monumental ball of lightning down on the Cosmic Wonder.

Realizing his limited options, the juvenile consciousness flew out from the boughs and branches. He unfurled like a sail unleashed from its mast to catch the orb of destruction in mid-flight. The ball fell into the catcher's mitt with electric furor. The crackling bomb broke through his pale attempt to stop it, severing him from the main body in the process. For all his intentions, they were sincere, but he lacked the strength to stop the destruction of Hystophernel's [Electric Oblivion].

The Beard Elemental fell away from the clouds he'd called home as a mere fraction of his whole. He had failed and The Tree of Wisdom had become a charred crater. Hystophernel, pleased with the damage, but less than pleased with his singed beard, flew away in agitation.

A shiver coursed through his rigid hairs, more electrifying than even the orb of destruction. The World Tree had given him a name in its dying moments. He tasted the name as he drifted into the cinder grave.

"Niagelus-"

Vissitri waggled two paws above his tiny head. Up there, above them, was a miniature recreation of [Electric Oblivion] using his barriers. He then brought his forelegs forward and down as the mini barrier ball fell into the grass. It exploded in a mess of dirt and grass chunks to accentuate the presentation.

[Si-Si-Si. And now you know the story of Niagelus, Hystophernel, and The World Tree. Pretty crazy, right? If I told that story to a merchant, they'd turn mad and rush into the forest with greed in their eyes - which I've never done. Nope, not once.]

After hearing the tragic story of Niagelus, Quintin wore a frown as the sadness hit him. For all intents, Niagelus only had a small child's intellect at that time. Yet, he was forced to make such a demanding sacrifice so early on in his development. It made him wonder if he could have made the same sacrifice, in the same situation.

His thoughts were cut short as the telltale 'Ding' of the [System] rang clear.

[General Skills]:

[Elite Ferocity] Lv. 1

You've heard the terrifying roar of Hystophernel and lived.

Even as a fragment of the original its ferocity remains unmatched.

Gain the ability to exert your ferocity.

*Exert your presence, stunning those who feel or hear your Ferocity.

—oThe higher the targets level, the less effective.

—oWithout an [Aura], the Ferocity needs a vocal component to invoke.