Threads of the Soul

Despite the twinkling light emanating from the confines of the leather pouch, it did not disperse the heavy veil of shadows that covered the face of the Lord Crow, not that there was even a face beneath to be revealed.

However even without a face or feature, the wide smile on Seth's face was just as radiant as the light emanating from the pouch, and more than obvious to even someone as emotionally blind as Bob.

As if they too could see the prize he had acquired, and were eager to see the results of it, the crowds that had gathered within the Taming Field suddenly began to cheer and applaud. Of course, they couldn't see what Seth had acquired, it was simply a nice coincidence.

Their excitement instead stemmed from the young man stepping out into the Taming Field. A young man with literal golden skin and long, flowing locks of blonde hair that reached down past his his shoulders.

Strolling through the field, the young man bathed in the sea of cheers, flashing them a radiant smile as he waved to the crowds of his adoring fans. Many of them screaming his name, in a bid to gain his attention and affection.

"Midas! Midas! Midas!"

Once this 'Midas' was done basking in his own glory and stroking his own ego, he turned on his heels and faced the Lord's observation box, waiting to get a look at their wonderful Lord. Of course, in his mind it was only natural that the Lord would come and watch his match, he was a rising star amongst their warrior ranks and not to mention undeniably handsome.

Men and women alike swooned at his dashing looks, it couldn't be helped. Perhaps the Lord too was infatuated with him, Midas wouldn't blame him if he was.

Quickly pulling the threads of the pouch, Seth tightened up the pouches mouth and tied it closed once again, before placing it back into Bob's hand.

"Wonderful. Have our usual man deliver it to the spider's lair as soon as possible. Make sure to return the prototype as well as a report on it, so we can improve it for wider use."

"Yes Father."

"In fact, why don't you stay for the match. I'm sure a few minutes won't hurt."

Bob bowed his head slightly, absorbing the pouch back into the swirling mass of his body, where it would be kept safe alongside the core of his being. It was Bob's equivalent of keeping it close to his heart.

Seth commanded Corvus to stand, approaching the edge of the observation box like he had all the time in the world. When he finally showed his face, metaphorically speaking, the crowd once again erupted into cheers, more so than were garnered by adonic Midas.

At a raise of his hand, the crowd immediately grew absolutely silent. Many of them raised their hands, their thumbs hooked together and hands splayed outwards, to create the figure of a bird with its wings spread.

As they raised their hands like this, they bowed their heads in a type of penance, as they showed their devotion to their Lord.

Seth looked down at this display with an uncomfortable expression, seeing these people like that always left him with a pit in his stomach. He had been on the other side of that, maybe it was only when he was young, but he could still remember parts of it.

Not just that, but he could see how it had effected his siblings, siblings he had yet to find. He told himself that the search would begin after he cleared the city, but part of him knew it was a desperate act to cling to hope.

Schrodinger's sibling. After all, in a world like this they were most likely dead, but so long as he didn't confirm it... there was always a chance they would be alive. Even if it was just in his mind.

But regardless of whether his own family was alive or dead, these people and their families were very much alive and dependent on him. He couldn't strip them of their faith, god knows he had tried, and it was only growing by the day. Both in devotion and in population.

So if he was going to be their divine lord, then it was up to him to make sure that their strange, cultish teachings didn't go too far. He would actually have to be a guiding hand, just like a true cult leader, a feeling he absolutely did not like.

Nevertheless, Seth lowered his hands and used a trickle of mana to amplify his voice, letting it echo through the Taming Field as he addressed the golden boy within.

"Challenger Midas, You have been informed of the rules and of the risks, yet here you stand. Ready to face yet another trial in the path of evolution. Have you decided upon your opponent?"

The young, golden skinned man in question raised his hands in the same gesture as those within the crowds, although with his complexion it looked less like a raven and more like a glowing phoenix. He bowed his hand, before lowering his hands and puffing out his chest, raising his head high and pointing his chin to the sky as if he was trying to capture the sun in his chin dimple.

"Yes my Lord! I will conquer the Regal Lion's Bane!"

"Very well. May your strength lead you to victory."

With a wave of his hand, a heavy gate opened on the other side of the Taming Field, the steel chain clunking as the gate was pulled open. Thunderous footsteps sounded from within the depths of the gate, the beast cloaked in the darkness, before it burst forth with a bloodthirsty... neigh.

The beast charged out from within the gate and revealed itself to the crowds of the Taming Field Rearing onto its hind legs in an attempt to look fearsome, was the most dazzling stallion one could ever lay eyes upon.

Its skin glistened in the light, as every inch of its flesh was made entirely of diamonds. It's eyes were a solid blue, like two sapphires placed into its eye sockets, because that was exactly what they were.

It's heavy breathes twinkled with glittering dust, as if its lungs were filled with glitter, as it tossed its mane to the side. A mane that itself seemed to be composed of gemstone, yet still moved like natural hair, and was strangely coloured like a perfect rainbow.

Finally, atop this jewelled stallions head, was a singular horn made of the purest ivory. Not even the smallest speck of dirt dared to sully the perfect, pure white sheen of its regal horn.

Seth scoffed to himself as he watched the diamond skinned unicorn charge at the golden skinned man. He was honestly surprised when the two actually came to blows, like they were supposed to. Immediately starting to trade kicks, punches and horn slashes in an attempt to slay the other.

He was half convinced that this match would end up being the pair trying to out dazzle each other.

Yes, the Taming Field was indeed closer to an arena than a field, but not just in design. It was here that many of their population would come to battle against beasts that they had captured.

There were some who objected to his practice of capturing beasts at first, saying that it was utterly pointless and that they would be best just killing for the meat and the possible Requital, and Seth could see the validity in their argument.

But this practice gave them access to something sorely lacking in the apocalypse. Entertainment. Sure, there were plenty with a communication device and could talk with each other, as well as watch videos posted of others.

However not everyone had them, and there was something intrinsically different between watching a video of something and being there to see it in person. It was the same reason many went to concerts in the times before.

Just like in those concerts, the atmosphere was palpable in the arena as the two glamorous, glittering fighters duked it out.

The Taming Field wasn't just about entertainment though. People paid to participate, and although viewing was free there was in house gambling. All of it helped fuel their recently started economy and bring a sense of normalcy back to these people's lives.

But these fights weren't to the death, nor were they for glory. These fights were for the purpose of the Taming Field's very name.

These fights were to allow the challengers to tame a new beast, even if it was through the method of beating them into submission most of the time. It wasn't always the case, there were some cases were peacocking was required, like Seth expected of this match, and others were a beast would respect someone that could endure its strength rather than overwhelm it.

Such was the case with many elemental beasts, who would only submit to something they couldn't destroy or harm simply by existing close to them.

In Seth's mind, if they could add these beasts strength to their civilisation, turn their enemy into an ally, then it would only serve as a a benefit. He himself had only benefitted from his bond with Omelette. Speaking of, Seth had also been hoping to set up a place where the young could bond with new-born beasts, but that was easier said than done.

Finding a newly born beast in the wild, or an egg yet to crack, was difficult enough. Getting it away from the mother was even harder. But such issues would be solved with domestication.

No matter the method, however, it was only possible through equipment Seth had designed himself, through weeks of study and experimentation.