Chapter 1

My name is Alex Fang. I am a warrior of Cathopia a grand city of Feles. I am a knight of Cathopia, under the class of Guardian, in charge of keeping the princess safe and I am the light that destroys the darkness.

It wasn’t always like this. I never had knowledge of what destiny had in stall for me, mainly pushing forward to keep a promise to my best friend. I had to work hard and failed at so much to reach where I wanted to be. To fail is to succeed.

I ignored my purpose to begin with, as the darkness spread across our land, never realising that I was the only one who could destroy it; back then I didn’t understand the secrets of my family or my ties to the distant past.

In the beginning I was a little runt of a Feles born to a family of bakers, under the name of the Fang clan, my family had survived within the royal family in some way or another, as knights, Guardians and even bakers.

The bakery was housed in the grand castle of Cathopia. My mother was born into the line of bakers, but my father had been a Guardian and advisor to the king. He put that all aside as he met my mother, settling into the life of a baker.

I only ever heard rumours of most of the thing’s dad was capable of, even though he had been the most powerful warrior from his generation, he preferred not to fight, saying there was always another solution to take.

They had me, a few years into their marriage. I heard I was quite a handful, but not as much as Princess Tigra, my first and best friend. As soon as she could walk, she’d give her Guardians the run around, her favourite place to hide was in the bakery, but I’ll get to that.

I was mainly alone, an only child living in the bakery with my parents. They did their best to play with me while dealing with the customers at the bakery. I even got a love for helping them.

I would stand next to mum, with only the top of my head reaching over the counter, not many Animalia noticed me, but mum would pick me up, so I could help out, rather than just standing there.

Animalia were the creatures of this world, our features closely resembled wild animals, like cats, but we were so much more, standing tall on two legs.

“Now take the ladies money.” mum said. I would then put it in the till, picking up the change, then handing it to the lady.

“Thank you.” The lady smiled at me. She was a regular customer. “He is getting so big now.”

“I know right.” Mum smiled. “How is Tigra and Hunter?” That was the first time I heard her name. Mum had told me this particular lady was the queen of the city – Queen Daz. She was a Feles like me with white fur and black stripes an Album Tigris.

“Oh, they are both fine. Tigra likes to play hide and seek, while Hunter follows his dad around like a little hatchling.”

“I think I saw them the other day, very proud for someone so young,” commented mum.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“How about baby Loki?”

“He is with Alton,” she answered. “His development has been a bit slower than Tigra and Hunter, but I think he’ll surprise everyone.”

“They always do.”

“Is that Daz.” Dad came up from the back, bowing as he saw her.

“You know you don’t have to do that.” Queen Daz shook her head. “Oh, have you started Alex’s training?”

“No.” Dad answered. “Our clan only starts training on their sixth birthday after receiving their first talisman.”

“I see,” she nodded. “Not far off then, which one will he be getting?”

“Wind fairy,” replied mum.

As they continued to talk I just watched them, listening to their conversation, some of it I didn’t actually understand, but speaking with Queen Daz always put smiles on my parents faces.

“Alex Fang.” Queen Daz smiled at me. “You have much to live up to, perhaps you’ll be even greater than your dad.”

“Oh, he is special,” said dad. “The darkness will shake in his wake.”

“I am sure it will.” Queen Daz left shortly after that.

“Come on Alex.” Dad held out his hand. “You can help me with the deliveries today.”

“Can I?” I jumped up and down, this would be the first time I would go out on dad’s delivery run.

“It’s about time you saw the whole castle and the city.” I grabbed hold of dad’s hand excitedly.

“Have fun.” Mum smiled, waving us off.

Dad sat me in the cart he dragged along with him, it was filled with all sorts of different breads. I wasn’t sure why, but he always took his sword with him, he’d always say it was his trusted companion.

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“Where to first?” I asked looking around in anticipation.

“The castle kitchens,” answered dad as he navigated the corridors of the castle with ease. Everything looked so big, and every wall looked the same to me. I felt kind of scared, what if I got lost while out. “Just stay in the cart, so I don’t lose you okay.”

“Okay.” I nodded.

Everyone dad passed said hi or bowed their heads in respect. I was quite surprised at how many Animalia knew dad; mind I still knew so little about him back when I was small.

Our first stop was the castle kitchens, it was so big, with so many different kinds of Feles in there. I saw an orange Album Tigris, some were yellow with spots, others had tufted ears.

“Say it with me Alex.” Dad pointed to the one who was yellow with black spots and tear like markings on their face. “Jubatus.”

“Jubatus.” I repeated.

“Tigris.”

“Tigris.” They were like the queen, but their fur was orange.

“Lynx.” Dad had been teaching me the different names of Animalia who lived here, some of them were really difficult to say, others easy. I didn’t get how he could remember so many.

“Lynx.” The ones with grey fur, barely visible spots, short tail, and tufted ears.

“Smilodon.” Was the one who came over.

“Smilodon.” I repeated.

“Yamato,” she nodded, her fur was a yellowish brown, she had long fangs and a short tail.

“Here is your delivery.” Dad picked out a large tray handing it over to her.

“Thank you very much,” she looked at me. “Finally showing your son the castle.” She gave me a little wave. “Hi.”

I went suddenly bashful. “Hi.”

Dad let out a little laugh. “I thought it was about time he saw his home and learn the Animalia to the name.”

“Good idea.” She nodded.

“Best be off. I have more deliveries to make.” Dad grabbed the handles of the cart.

“Of course. See you again tomorrow.” She waved us both off.

Dad waved and continued on, stopping at different doors on the way. Each one said hi to me too. Watching dad work I was amazed by him, wondering around with such ease, pulling the cart, which got emptier.

One of Dad’s last stops took us out of the castle and into the city. There were so many Animalia not just Feles. There were big ones with brown fur, thin and tall with big heart-shaped wings, some even had up to eight legs.

I looked up to see even more flying around above us, amongst the birds. I shrunk down a little as one came into land.

Dad laughed. “It’s alright Alex, there is nothing to fear Zekon and I will keep you safe.” He pointed to the sword on his back, the sword containing a spirit called Zekon.

“So, relax already.” I heard Zekon, usually they remained silent only talking to their chosen wielder, but they could communicate with others if they wanted to.

I calmed down, having complete faith in my dad. The streets were lined with houses but became more open as we reached the markets. It was even busier here. I looked around as we went, spotting a bridge stretching out across a huge body of water.

There were Animalia coming and going in carriages, on horseback, but something that caught my eye was a huge statue at the heart of the bridge, it looked like a girl flying, a fairy.

“Sorry I’m late.” Dad stopped at a stall which was much like the bakery at home. “I was showing Alex about.”

“No worries Yamato.” The stall owner had grey and white fur, strange spots which were more like markings and a tail longer and fluffier than mine. “Having fun Alex.”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“What is he Alex?” Dad asked.

“An Uncia.” I replied.

“Very good.” Dad patted me on the head.

“Not long before he starts his combat training right?” he enquired.

“Another seven months before his birthday,” answered dad.

“I’ll finally get to meet her.” I smiled thinking of the kind voice I had been hearing since I was born.

“Her?” He gave dad a strange look.

“Family secret.” Dad responded.

“I see,” he grinned. “You have way too many of those.”

“Just keep up the good work.” Dad moved the subject on. “I need to get back now, taken longer today.” He glanced at me.

“Alright.” He nodded as dad grabbed the cart and was on the move again. He smiled as he left the worst of the crowds. “Hold on Alex.” I grabbed hold of the sides as dad broke into a run.

“Wow!” I let out a cry. Dad ran for a long time, even heading up a hill not too far from the castle. I was surprised dad just kept on running, almost like he had an endless amount of energy. “Faster!”

“Alright.” Dad picked up the pace, with the cart empty it was most probably as light as a feather to him.

Reaching the top, I saw a beautiful sight of a stunning lake, it stretched out across the whole scene. Dad came to a stop at the edge of a wall, where he picked me up and sat me on the ledge.

The lake met with the mountains in the distance, and forest in the other direction, I spotted the four bridges.

“Wow.” I stared out, relaxed with my dad’s arms around me.

“This is our home Alex, Cathopia.” Dad began to point at different things. “Those are the Jagged mountains, it is the back of our city, very dangerous to climb.” Then he pointed out the four bridges. “Those are the main routes into the city named after legendary talismans, the wind fairy, water maiden and the twin lion bridge.” I noticed the twin lions bridge was different being separated by a little island.

“What about the fourth one?” I asked.

“No one really knows,” answered dad. “It was damaged many years ago, the grand statue and its name lost.”

“That’s so sad.” I wondered why, but not even dad had the answer. “What’s beyond the forests?”

“A lot of things, much I am sure you will one day see,” said dad. “From the deserts to the seas.” I continued to look out across the scenery in awe as dad kept speaking. “Underground caves, ancient ruins and stunning forests, some even grander than ours. Cities built from sand, some underwater and even in the skies.”

I could only imagine the world dad was telling me about, filled with even more Animalia than I had seen today, places grander and vaster than this one, everything looked so big to me.

“Have you seen it?” I asked.

“Yes.” He placed his arms a little tighter around me. “Ready to go home.”

“Not yet.”

“Alright.” Dad was hugging me. “We can stay as long as you want.”