Spirit Taming

While leaving in the dark ws unnerving, the group was not afraid. This level of wilderness was little to no threat to them compared to the violent jungle. In the jungle, they had been on edge completely. Every single thing made them think twice.

The changes in their actions were clear to anyone that had known them before they had gone to the violent jungle. The group was moving with more alertness. Their entire attitudes showed that they were noticing smaller changes around them.

As the breeze would pick up, everyone would move to be prepared to handle a threat from the direction the breeze blew in. That was the place where a beast would pick up their scent. When they were hearing sounds, they would wait for a moment to see if anything else changed. The same with the distant sound of beast cries.

But where things really improved, was the speed of movement. While Grace was currently the slowest due to her condition, she had been adjusting to it very well. Especially after the butterfly paradise dungeon and afterwards when she had been growing alongside her frost finch.

They moved much faster and more efficiently. Their time in the wilderness and multiple dungeons and gotten rid of the usual wasted movements that many people had while moving.

Oftentimes, people would adjust the ways that they walked to avoid minor inconveniences. Small holes or roots would be simple examples of this. But with the way that the group moved, they noticed these things even in the dim lighting of the moon. The way they walked adapted in the strides they took. They could walk through these minor inconveniences avoiding them without altering their path greatly as most people did with side steps or small hops over them.

As they approached familiar trails, Isa became more comfortable. She was the best when it came to the merchant trails around here. But she also felt that some of them clearly had not been touched for some time. Jerold even supported this when Isa called out her blaze elemental to light the area a little.

The normal patted down earth from the carts that would travel were not there. Instead, it appeared dried up and dusty. But if people were still traveling that a lot, it would never had dried up and been flat dusty ground like that.

A single sign that explained to all of them that they were not walking in to the usual Nova City that they were familiar with.

"What do we look for? Are we directly meeting Clara?" Maria’s curiosity was what was drawing her in. They all knew that Clark had arranged to meet with the Mane family when he returned. They would have already gathered the allies needed to handle Nova City corruption in one battle.

The plan may take a month once started, or longer, but they would be beginning it right away when the group arrived. This wasn’t because they couldn’t do it in one day, but because it would be hard to handle every single problem all at once. There simply were not enough people and energy. It was why one family did not control all of Nova City.

’Starlight sparrow- uncommon

The starlight sparrow is a nocturnal sparrow related to the black flame...

This beast is able to see in the dark as long as the stars are somewhat shining. It uses a unique form of light energy making it an odd enigma of light and darkness affinity. It is primarily used as a guide bird by those who work and travel in the nocturnal hours. It is also known to live in many dungeons with night time settings.

The tamer will often use it to guide those that come in the night time. Some cities even hire those born with these beasts as spirit beasts because they naturally can learn and memorize areas better. They make excellent scouts and tour guides...’

Clark didn’t have much to say about what he read when he spotted the black and white speckled starlight sparrow. He was sure that this beast was out of place though. He had never seen one growing up. But it was an uncommon beast, so it wasn’t all that rare.

Before he could do anything or speak about what he saw, the starlight sparrow flew and landed in front of them. That was when he noticed the little roll of paper on its ankle.

"Ok then, now we are getting secret messages from starlight sparrows?" Isa had not expected this, nor the others. But Clark managed to catch on as he took the little rolled up message.

"Important matters needed me. Return to the academy and await the next chance to meet. We have begun." Reading this out loud, Clark felt that this was a good thing and a bad thing.

"Whatever is so important that no one could meet us is bad. But at the same time, I think that they already had to start the plan ahead of time. I just feel that things might be a little on edge in the city." Clark felt that entering the normal front gate would be a bad idea.

"We are going to head in through the merchant entrance then. There should be enough connections for us to enter safely." Isa had the same feeling as Clark. But as they moved closer, they saw the walls of the city and how much security there was.

"I knew that there would be an advanced watch due to the blood moon cult issues. They destroyed two cities. However, there are easily fifty more guards that we can count roaming the walls with torches. That would mean that most forces within the city are on watch. It is a significant change." with Ella’s quick theory, it only meant one thing if it was true.

"That blood moon cult tried something here too while we were away?" Ralph’s knuckles cracked as he flexed his fists. He was ready to beat down cultists and the corruption here. Two enemies that were separate, but both evil in their own ways.

"I would be willing to bet on that. We will have to do a little more fighting if that is the important matters in that note." Reese’s desire was to handle and prevent what they had seen. Two cities falling within one night. Especially one that they never even had a chance to see in their lives was too many. Was too much. He did not wish anyone else to lose everything because of some cult.

Having two enemies within their hearts made them all feel there was more weight on them. But that was just life right now. They had to be able to handle these dangers as they grew stronger. The blood moon cult was more mysterious. More powerful. Corrupted figures and families were hard to handle, but a cult that had survived all those powerful families? They might be worse.

"Keep going then. We shouldn’t stop. But Jerold should hold back and hide a little. Even with his chameleon being a little slow right now." Brad’s idea was simple, have Jerold prepared to sneak attack anyone that was foolish enough to attack them at the merchant entrance of the city. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Changing their movements, the group found themselves nearby the merchant entrance. It was heavily guarded with a few merchants nearby. But they appeared to be failing to enter at all. The guards were stopping them and checking through every single good they brought here. Simply reinforcing what the group believed about the blood moon cult.

"Some of those guards are wearing family insignias. They are all trying to find the best items that they can coming in to the city. But that also means that not one family has taken over." Isa calmly spoke up before moving forward.

It took a moment for a few guards to move their way. She began talking to them and brought up names of allies and how the group ahd just returned to their home city after a year of travel. How they were the first year academy champions of the tournaments between cities.

This buttered up the guards and soon the guards were interested in what goods that the group had. Isa used beast plans as ammunition. These made the guards focus. They would be able to communicate the beast plans to their employers, the people that corrupted them, and make themselves look better.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group was being ushered in by the guards. They had not been searched. They had been seen, and only the guards under the thumb of the Mourne family had looked angered or annoyed. They were not happy at all that this group had returned. Especially with Maria holding her head high. It was against what they were told should be the case.

Regardless, Isa’s smooth words had made their journey inside quicker. But that also meant that the group saw the posted signs of a curfew on the streets sooner.