EmberWyldes

To contract a Spirit Beast is to shorten your life. 
To have no contract is to be exiled. 

This is the reality Mateus faces when he was reborn into a new world. 

Spirit Beasts are creatures that live off the natural Life Essence that gathers in pockets around the world. Humans contract these beasts using their own lives, in return for the power to fight against the Mutant Beasts. 

All cities are under constant attack from these dangerous, murderous monsters, and any human without a contract is just dead weight to be discarded. 

Can Mateus survive in this ruthless world? And what truths will he find?

Beast Companion

Slowly Mateus trudged through the long grasses in the wild zone. The area was divided into three sections - the Rocky Mountains, the Tall Forest, and the Vivid Lake. The spaces between these environments were left as bands of grassland, relatively easy to travel and containing little cover. 


The Essence Vale had been carefully maintained to create an environment suitable for many species to coexist. Even with Essence, a Spirit Beast without a proper habitat is unlikely to survive to adulthood. Further, these creatures still maintain their natural relationships of predator and prey, making it even harder to protect populations of weaker species. 


Mateus listened carefully every few steps, pausing in place to seek danger and opportunity. Most Spirit Beasts won't attack humans, but a missed ambush could help him make a contract. 


So far, despite distant beast calls and avian trills, Mateus had no luck meeting beasts. Still, it had only been a few hours, and he wasn't far in yet. 


In the distance he can see the first mountain area, which is his goal. Most Angora species favour high altitudes with cooler temperatures. Estimating his current speed, Mateus expected to arrive at the edge just on dusk. 


He could set up camp for the night, have a good meal, and then - 


A ferocious cry came from the sky, and Mateus instantly hit the ground and froze. Perhaps if he stays still, this Avian Hunter will pass him by? 


A sudden pull tugged on his bag, and Mateus was dragged skyward with no further warning. He yelled, and struggled, watching as the plain flew past shockingly fast beneath his feet. 


A new terror assaulted him, as the material of the bag gave way under the sharp talons. The straps broke, the bag tore open, and Mateus fell! 


For a moment he felt weightless, but fear gripped him as he watched the world rising up to catch him. The wind resistance stole his breath, and Mateus' eyes went dark. 


The last thing he felt was a strong grip on his waist, pulling back to the sky as the wind screamed in his ears. After that, he knew no more.


Luck or Loss?