The First King of Beasts

"Those names sound so cheeky." Dustin said as he walked back home from the town's hall. (I might have referred to it as city hall before. Know that it's the same thing. Just my bad memory at play there.)

As soon as he had left, Akara locked her door and took out a piece of stone that had carvings engraved on it. It could be said to be a totem of some sort, and as she held it in her palm, she infused some of her mana into it. With the input of mana, the carvings on the stone began glowing brightly for some seconds, but the light wasn't emitted outwards in rays and beams, it just illuminated a bit of the surrounding. After the light died down and the room that had fed off the illumination returned back to normal, Akara made a move to return to her seat, as she had remained staring before her door after locking it, before she activated the thing in her hand, but then she halted. The same man had once again appeared before her, wearing the same robe as the previous time.

"Surprised that I am the one who came this time too?" The man asked with a warm voice.

"Yes, I had expected..."

"She's busy. What is the reason for calling me this time? I assume it concerns Dustin, mm?" The man asked as he made his way to a seat. This time he took the guest seat while Akara remained standing.

Akara went on to explain what Dustin's plan was and where he had chosen to go after he recovered. Listening to Akara, a smile could only bloom on the man's face. That kind of smile, it was as though he was scheming something, and Akara suspected it.

"It's ok. If he's going towards that region, he might as well complete a job for me." The man said while getting up.

"You have a job for him?" Akara asked.

"Not right now, and maybe not. Thing is there's a possibility that the job might come, and if it does it's going to be one I need someone really capable to handle, and fast." The man said before disappearing seconds later.

After the man left, Akara remained standing there where she was initially with a little worried expression. She might have agree to tell Dustin about those places and even report it to the messenger, but she was a bit worried about Dustin. He just got back after years of being presumably dead, and now all these events are following up. She didn't know what kind of life Dustin had lived when he got missing, and for so many years. Dustin himself wouldn't speak on that particular topic, and when she asks he would just divert it or simply not answer. 'No, I can't. I have to at least do that much first.' Akara thought in her mind as she walked back to her seat. No matter what it was, it just wouldn't sit well with her to send someone to their death, especially someone who just came back from his grave apparently, as Dustin would sarcastically say.

..

A few more days go by uneventfully, and towards the week's end, Dustin could be seen in his house parking some things towards one corner as he walked about. He was completely fine now, and he planned to leave in two days. The thing is Dustin also suspected that the time they had in this realm, or world, whichever it was, was almost up. The entire realm of Na'ash seem to encourage those that want to become stronger to become stronger, as there is always a challenge and something stronger than yourself. He had the system, and now that the cores no longer had any effects on him, he wondering how they could make themselves stronger. Something he would have to find out later. No harm in finding other ways to increase ones strength.

While Dustin was going about his house preparing for his expedition, he heard a knock on the door, and went to open it. As he opened the door, he found Elva standing outside. "Hey! The city lord has asked me to come to you today." Elva said a bit energetically.

Dustin being a bit confused as to what the matter was just let himself be dragged outside by her. Normally one would invite their guest in, but remembering how scattered his house was at the moment, Dustin much preferred to be dragged out.

After stopping some distance from his house, Dustin halted and asked, "what's the matter? And why are there people following us?" He asked calmly.

Elva was a little startled by the question, as she didn't expect the people following in the shadow to be found out so easily. 'He really has improved? Or was he always like this?' Elva thought to herself. She quickly dispersed the thought though, as she felt it was impossible for someone who just entered Na'ash to be that skilled and strong.

"Well, guess there's no need for them to follow in the dark anymore." She said.

With her words, five figures dressed in black appeared behind and beside her almost instantaneously. They were all covered up to the neck, and some had masks of different types on. Only two didn't wear a mask, and they were the people who stood beside Elva.

"These are the people directly under me, my squad. Please, allow me to introduce them." Elva said, before she went on to introduce them all to Dustin. She didn't want to look antagonizing, as she wasn't sure what Dustin could do, or how strong he was. Also, Time changes a man. The Dustin she once thought she knew might not be the one she was looking at now, so it's better to be cautious.

From her right, she introduced the man as Panda, to her left was Snake, as girl. They were the leaders, and the only ones without a mask, so Dustin could take note of their faces. Behind her were Monkey, Crow, and Fox, all of them with different specialties.

"Ok, so? What are we doing?" Dustin asked. It was clear they weren't here just to make friends and eat mushrooms, besides, he already knew why.

"Not to sound like we don't believe in you, but the city lord would like to access your strength before you go on your expedition. Knowing how good you are will put her mind at peace knowing she hasn't sent you to an early grave.

"Alright, let's get to it then."