Max had never imagined the Vyrn Mountains could feel so cold. The higher he ascended, the more the wind howled with an unnatural chill, biting at his exposed skin, as if the very air wanted to push him back. The mountain lion that had followed them for the past few miles had faded into the mist behind them, yet Max couldn't shake the feeling that it was still watching, lurking just beyond sight.
The wild boar trotted along beside him, more at ease now, though its ears flicked with caution every time the wind shifted. Max could feel the tension in the air, the same way he had when taming the lion. It wasn't just the cold or the isolation of the mountains; there was something else, something ancient, in the way the earth seemed to pulse beneath his feet. Max had been trained to feel the wilds, but it was different now, sharper, more instinctual. His bond with creatures, his class, had opened something within him — an ability to understand the world around him in ways that were unfamiliar, yet deeply comforting.
After several more hours of climbing, the path became narrow and treacherous, with sharp rocks jutting from the earth. Max's legs burned with the effort, but the thought of Liora, the Beast Master, pushed him onward. He had to reach her. She was the key to refining his taming skills, the one person who could teach him how to fully control the creatures he bonded with.
The sun had already dipped low when he finally saw it: the silhouette of a stone hut, half-hidden behind a cluster of massive boulders. Smoke curled lazily from a chimney, the scent of something cooking drifting on the cold air. The sight made Max's heart race. He had finally found her.
The Beast Master's Domain
Max approached the hut cautiously, feeling a knot of anticipation tightening in his chest. His mind raced with questions, his desire to learn overwhelming him. He was eager, but he knew that Liora would not entertain him simply because he had come. No, she would demand something from him — she would test his worth, his commitment to the path he had chosen.
As he neared the door, it creaked open, and an older woman stepped out, her tall, lean frame casting a long shadow. Her hair was wild and silver, streaked with the marks of age, but her eyes — sharp, green, and full of life — studied him as though she had been expecting him. There was no surprise in her gaze, only the weight of something deeper, older.
"You must be Maxiel," she said, her voice deep, like a stone rolling down a mountain. "Sethis spoke of you. You're seeking something."
Max nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm here to learn. To improve my taming abilities. I need to understand how to control the creatures I bond with — how to make them listen."
Liora studied him for a long moment, her gaze unwavering. "Control isn't something you just take, child. It's earned. And it's not about the creatures. It's about you." She stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Come. I've been waiting. The wilds don't teach with words, but through action. And you'll need more than just the ability to tame."
Max stepped forward, the wild boar snuffling at his heels as he entered the small, dimly lit hut. The warmth from a fire greeted him, along with the smell of herbs and something earthy, like moss and wood. The walls of the hut were covered in pelts, old hunting trophies, and faded maps of the land. The atmosphere was quiet, almost meditative, yet the energy in the room felt potent — a feeling Max had come to associate with the wilds.
Liora motioned to a small table near the fire, where a few rough-hewn wooden chairs sat. She did not speak again, but her actions were clear. She was inviting him to sit, to be at ease, but also to wait for what would come next.
Max sat, watching her carefully. She didn't seem in any hurry. She was letting him settle into the space, letting the tension of the journey seep out of him before the real work began.
"Before we begin," Liora said, her voice carrying an edge of authority, "tell me why you want to learn to tame creatures."
Max blinked, taken aback by the question. He hadn't expected something so simple.
"I want to control them," Max said, his voice steady. "I want to understand them — to be able to form stronger bonds, to make them part of me. I need to be able to control them to create hybrids, to synthesize them." He faltered slightly. "I want to take the power I have and... learn to use it."
Liora considered this for a long moment. She seemed to weigh his words, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded.
"You think controlling them is the goal," she said slowly. "But that's where many tamers go wrong. You don't control the beast. You make it trust you. You understand it. Only then can you gain its loyalty."
Max's brows furrowed in confusion. "But... that's not enough. If I just make them trust me, they could still refuse to fight for me or listen when it matters most."
Liora's smile was slight, but there was something in it that Max couldn't quite read. "That's where you misunderstand. A creature's loyalty isn't won through force, it's won through respect. You can tame them, but you can't command them as you would a weapon. Not if you want something that will stay by your side when it matters most."
Max shifted uneasily. "How do you teach them that? How do you make them fight for you?"
Liora's eyes gleamed. "Through training. Through understanding. Taming is only the beginning. Training is where true mastery lies. You think a beast listens because it fears you. But the strongest ones, the ones that will serve you most fiercely, do so because they choose to. When you can teach a beast to trust you, you will have its loyalty — not because you forced it, but because it wants to be by your side."
Max listened intently, absorbing every word. This was different from the lessons he had imagined. He thought taming was about asserting dominance, making the creature obey. But now he was beginning to realize that it was something deeper, something more personal.
Liora stood up suddenly, the motion sharp and purposeful. "Come with me," she said, her voice now filled with quiet authority. "I will show you."
Max followed her out of the hut, the wild boar close behind. Liora led him into a clearing behind the hut, where a few creatures wandered — wolves, mountain goats, and other beasts that Max didn't immediately recognize. Some of the creatures seemed calm, others skittish, their instincts alert but their movements controlled. Max could feel the wildness in the air, but it wasn't the same sense of danger he'd felt earlier. These creatures weren't threatening him; they were merely existing in their own space.
Liora turned to face Max, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Your task will be simple. Spend time with them. Don't try to tame them yet. Just be with them. Watch them. Learn how they move, how they think."
Max's confusion deepened. "You want me to do nothing?"
Liora nodded. "Yes. That is where many tamers go wrong. They rush to take control, to tame the creatures as if they are objects. But creatures are living beings, Max. You must be patient. Allow them to understand you first. Only then will the bond form."
A Lesson in Patience
Max spent the next several hours standing in the clearing, simply watching the creatures move, observing their interactions. The wild boar stood quietly beside him, its large body still and attentive. He was beginning to understand what Liora meant. Taming wasn't just about asserting control — it was about allowing the creature to accept you, to trust you. He saw the way the mountain goats moved with purpose, how the wolves worked together in small groups, communicating with a kind of unspoken harmony.
He stood still, letting the stillness of the moment wash over him. The animals were not afraid of him. They noticed him, but they didn't feel threatened. In their presence, Max realized something: taming was not about making the creature submit. It was about meeting them in the middle.
Liora watched him from the sidelines, her gaze sharp but calm, waiting. She didn't interrupt. She simply let him experience the lesson in his own way.
The First Step Toward Control
As the day came to a close, Liora approached Max, who had spent hours simply observing the creatures. He wasn't sure what he had learned exactly, but he could feel the shift inside him. Something had clicked. The bond was stronger between him and the wild boar than it had been before. He had let go of the notion that he needed to control it through force. Instead, he had understood it, and that made all the difference.
Liora looked at him. "You've learned something, I can see. But this is only the beginning. You have much to learn, Maxiel. Much more than just taming. But for now, I will accept you as a pupil."
Max nodded, a sense of determination rising within him. "I'm ready. Teach me everything."