Age of Beast Tamers and Exorcists

Nero panted, each step he took towards the distant house forceful. He had just carried the weight of this unconscious guy through corners, alleyways, turns, and others.

And now, he resisted everything till he reached the front of a roof-thatched house. 

Despite the structure of its roof, it had its surroundings tidied. No other buildings stood nearby to the left or right. Only a vast river sat about fifteen meters away, whooshing. On the other side, one could see peak mountains shrouded in dense forest. 

Though unconscious, as if understanding his burden on Nero, Zmey's arm fell off his neck. His body toppled to the cold floor. 

Nero didn't pick him up. He held his waist tight, panting in exhaustion. He swallowed down. Then he glanced at the distant house. "Lady Nadia! Lady Nadia, I need a hand here!"

At that moment, a shadow moved on the orange gleaming window shield of the house. Then the door creaked like a machine being forced to power on, signaling its old years of usage. 

"Did you cause trouble again?" a woman appeared at the doorstep and questioned him in a not-too-serious tone. She pulled a long glance forward, nuzzling the door with her left hand to a close.

Her brows creased as she moved closer. The picture got clearer to her with time. 

Reaching a few meters more, she saw it – an injured man lying beside Nero. 

But despite the realization, her composure was still intact. What changed in her was just her initial to current standing posture – now, she crossed her arms, the two legs straight and aligned together. 

"Is he still alive?" she asked, frankly. 

Nero signaled for her to come closer, exhibiting impatience. "That isn't necessary. Let's help him in first…"

"I must first know if you brought home a dead man," the woman interrupted him. "What happened? And where did you bring him from? Explain everything to me, Nero."

"Isn't… isn't it more important that he only fainted?" Nero squinted. "He's still alive…"

The woman nodded her head. She then turned her back after telling Nero to get him into the house. And she went inside. Nero knew he had no choice but to do it alone. He had demanded help in moving this heavy guy inside.

Yet, she only talked for a while before heading back inside. He grunted as he bent, wrapping Zmey's arm around his neck for the third time now. 

But the guy wasn't grateful, which Nero was still sure that he wouldn't be when he woke up. 

He withstood the pressure, wrinkling his nose till he reached inches from the door. He paused. And glanced at Zmey. 

"What a weird man."

-----

The Beast Tamer stood rigid before the Necrot. The red-painted tips of his long hair moved in the steady wind – the other part of his hair in yellow. He wore a thick black shirt, with a slightly baggy pant tied from a point above the ankles to his toes by white straps.

Attached to a link at his hips was a black-sheathed sabre with a red turtle design imprinted at the mouth of the case. 

Just like a few seconds to then, they had both been silent. The Necrot stared at him with a confused yet somewhat amazed expression, a hint of a smile dancing on her face.

Yet, the Beast Tamer knew his own game. 

At that moment, he glanced backward. For some seconds, he stared there. Then, reverting his glance forward, his hardened expression crumbled. He knelt down on one knee.

He bowed, holding onto his sabre sword as part of the respect. 

The female Necrot tilted her head. 

"Silvan Ferox, Captain of the Tamers and Exorcists Pavilion in Frosthaven. I'm entirely at your service, lady Nymera," the Beast Tamer said in an overly submissive tone. 

The Necrot nodded her head. She paced forward, and said, "Well, well, I have heard you say that for the hundredth time now," then went in the other direction. Repeatedly.

She continued, "Thought you, the diligent captain, finally have turned against me. Your inquisitiveness saved you a big time."

"Forgive me if my appearance seemed like a show-off, my lady. I rushed in without informing you about my plan beforehand."

The woman stopped pacing herself. She shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, well, you seem like a really loyal dog. I was very much against you serving me years ago when your king assigned you. I can't say much.

Your underlings listen to you, and indirectly to me. That's letting you know this is a compliment because I know that plan of yours already. It is about Nero Norman, isn't it?" 

The captain glanced at her immediately. He asked, not showing surprise but maintaining his tone instead,

"How did you figure that out that quick? You're truly exceptional, my lady. My respect has always belonged to your divine soul." 

He bowed again. 

The Necrot smiled. She later raised her eyebrows, her steps steady as she continued pacing herself. Intentionally. 

"I can assure you I knew about him before you did. That has always been me. The most inquisitive one," she fumbled. 

She stopped her pacing again, pulling a long glance into the air suddenly. Her brows creased a little before she turned to the man kneeling. 

"Captain Silvan Ferox," she frankly called out. 

The man glanced up. "At your service, lady Nymera." 

"Did you… perhaps pick up something strange when you saw the other human with Nero Norman? The one unconscious."

For some reason, the man lowered his gaze. His eyes rolled from one side to the other. But that only lasted for a few seconds before he glanced back up. 

"Yes, my lady," he replied.

"Oh?" she intoned, continued pacing herself. "You did too? Well, well… you must have known why I'm asking that question now."

"Definitely," the man responded. "He had no Divine Light of power gleaming on him. There was a hint of dark energy around him. It's not normal for a powerless person to have such.

One either stays completely unable to be a wielder or has developed a mage body with their respective Divine Lights gleaming all over them.

I saw clearly – he had no mage body. Not even the Starless Mage Body that every human possesses at birth. I found it strange as well."

"Get him to my hideout soon. Handle something for me concerning Norman too. He has been hiding well from me all this time because of that woman protecting him.

Try to separate them, probably when you'd get the other human, and I would take care of the rest. I'm expecting you soonest."

Instantly, she disappeared into the night light. Dark motes drifted around where she was a microsecond ago.

"Understood, lady Nymera."