It was a few years ago I when I first learned to jump across sky islands this citadel was the first place I came to, it’s no secret amongst the beasts that a human resided within the grandiose sky castle.

His body was bare of any hair and wore a long flowing robe like priest, his face as young as a man in his prime but he spoke with the wisdom of sage,

Underneath his robs was a body tattooed with stitches, leg replacement, arms kidneys, heart, any part that could be replaced was,

It is rumoured the reason he makes dealings with body parts are to replace his own constantly failing body.

Although he was a prisoner of the beasts they treated him with reverence due to his knowledge, but also–

“–I…I’m aware.. aware,

Ehm, excuse,” Shiryu stammers, his first time having to speak properly to someone in years,

There is something about this man, a regal aura that commands respect,

“I am aware of who you are, but how do you know me?”

“I have seen it” Sir Savage gestures the young man to come closer, 

One of his eyes sparkle a pale grey and the other a caramel brown

“You are going to ask me where the ‘body’ is not so?

The phantom flame is what you beasts call it,

But you’re not one of them, you are a human correct?”

(He knows plenty)

Shiryu’s reptilian violet eyes dart around the room nervously he spots a row of mortuary cabinets in the corner no doubt holding several dead bodies…..

…..

“I..I am, but since I don’t have to explain myself, 

Give me the bod–”

“–Yes, you can have it”

“Huh, what?”

“You want the body, and I want to give it to you,”

(This is not how I planned this to go)

“You, see Shiryu, years ago before you were even conceptualized, I was given a piece of the body, it’s eye, granting me tremendous scientific knowledge,

But also an ability that allowed me to see, at the time, a few seconds in the future,

I have been forcefully extending my life all this time since then growing my range of sight,

And I have seen it all Shiryu,

I’ve been waiting for you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

.....

…

The venerated feeling back when I first met Sir Savage still has not left me

I wish I could say that he taught me plenty things, but none of that would be true,

From the get go the man who could see the future would do little to explain anything to me

Only sending me to run errands for him,

‘Go here, do this, do that'

I didn’t protest to it

Why would I?

From birth we are taught to obey those of greater knowledge and power,

Sir Noah Savage was clearly a man who knew plenty more than I

If helping him meant I could fulfil Raguel’s wish,

Then I would do just that….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crunch!

Munch!

Crunch!

Munch!

Munch!

Shiryu chomps down on magic stones once again he sits on a barren floating island overlooking the citadel a good distance away

Crunch!

His diet only consists of magic stones, most beastmen are self sufficient, they don’t need to eat as their body converts magic into energy, although many beasts enjoy eating humans simply because they taste good.

Munch!

(What’s taking so long…) thinks Shiryu, letting his mind wander back to a couple hours earlier…..

……..

“Are all the bombs placed?” 

“Yeah, I did it exactly as you said,

And no one saw me come here either Sir Savage,” 

“Good, I’ll go over the plan again…

The moment I warp you away, those bombs will go off and destroy most of the space citadel,

I’ll escape with the phantom flame and crash somewhere in the desert on Gaia, 

I will die, most certainly die but it will look convincing enough that the flame was also destroyed,

All you have to do is find a way to get the team that’s going to track me down, 

When you do find us they’ll think I’m dead, and for obvious reasons leave the bodies,

One of those bodies will be the phantom flame, the god’s corpse,

Absorb a magic stone into it and it will begin to revive,

After that the rest is up to you,”

“I got it,

Don’t worry I won’t make any mistakes,”

“I know you won’t because I’ve seen it…

Goodbye.”

…..

…..

(I’ve been waiting so long now and nothing’s happened)

.

KAAABOOOOOMMM!

As the thought crosses Shiryu’s mind an explosion goes off in the permanent night sky of the bends 

BOOOOMMM!

BOOOOMM!

Several explosions follow as a jet zips off the premises towards the mainland

Shiryu quickly leaps across the isles to the citadel…

“What was that what that!?

What happened!?” he calls landing the Citadel’s Island into a crowd of beasts escaping from the burning structure, 

“Grrr the lion emperor is dead and the black magic dealer and some other accomplice made away with the flame” a lion growls at Shiryu,

Boom!

Another mini explosion

(Just like Sir Savage said would happen)

“Well, what are we standing around for!?” Shiryu hisses loudly with instigating intent 

“We have to follow that scum before he gets far,

Technology does not work on Gaia remember? 

He can only get so far in that jet!”

“Grrr

Yeah,” the monsters becoming gas lit by his words

“After that

We must get revenge!

He mustn’t get away!”

…..

…..

And thus, the pursuit was on, a chase that unknowingly would set off a chain events, which would eventually—

….

….

….

—