This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Of course, Darius couldn't go into too much detail due to the contract he'd made with Kain. But, before he'd signed the contract, he'd also told these guys about some of the vague promises made by Kain.

Not to mention that before leaving the building, upon realizing how great of an opportunity this was, he'd discussed with Kain about also allowing his group to undergo the procedure.

Kain wasn't too surprised that Darius had a group he operated with, after all evading Kain while keeping an eye on him as he had previously done, would have been difficult to achieve alone. Therefore, Kain had long guessed that he had some allies.

However, Kain couldn't just pick up any old friend of people he'd recruited—spots were limited. The organization he established was in its burgeoning stage now, but he hoped to establish a stable system of recruiting and filtering through individuals worthy recruitment.

Darius' partners would be the first ones that would go through these recruitment tests, which would consist of completing a mission for Kain that would showcase their potential. Of course though, Kain let Darius know that even if they completed the mission there was no guarantee that he would accept them all, or even one of them. In addition to potential and skill, Kain also paid attention to their loyalty.

Therefore, as Darius led his group into the building, he knew that his allies had probably already begun to be scrutinized by Kain surveilling the scene, but didn't clue them into that fact in case they lose this opportunity due to his interference.

The group followed, their eyes wide with curiosity and disbelief. The interior of the building was plain and unremarkable, but knowing that the entire course of their lives may change due to what was inside this building, they felt as though it was cloaked in a mysterious veil.

Once they were inside, Darius turned to face them, his expression serious but tinged with excitement. "Alright," he said, rolling up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the intricate, glowing mark on his upper arm. The mark resembled a jellyfish, its tentacles swirling in a mesmerizing pattern. "This is what they gave me. It's similar to a bloodline mark. From what I understand, it's similar to how the southern tribes awaken dormant bloodlines. This mark is what connects me to my contract."

The group leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on the glowing mark. Miya reached out to touch it, but Darius swatted her hand away. "Don't poke it," he said, half-joking. "I don't know what'll happen if you mess with it." In actuality, the spot was just still quite tender, but he didn't want to reveal such a weakness in front of them.

"It's so… shiny," Miya said, her voice filled with awe. "Like a tattoo, but way cooler. Does it glow in the dark?"

"I haven't checked," Darius admitted. "but maybe…."

Garret, the burly muscle of the group, squinted at the mark. "So, what, you just got this thing stamped on your arm, and now you're a beast-tamer? That's it?"

"Not exactly," Darius said. "There's more to it than that. The process was… intense. Painful, even. But it was worth it." He gestured to the glowing creature floating beside him. "This is my contract. It's still young, but it's got potential. And once it grows stronger, I don't think that bastard Alaric would be a match for me."

The group turned their attention to the creature, their curiosity piqued. It was a strange, otherworldly being—a cross between a jellyfish and a squid, with shimmering, translucent tentacles and a soft, bioluminescent glow. It hovered in the air, its movements graceful and fluid, as if it were swimming through water.

Miya was the first to reach out, poking one of the creature's tentacles. "It's squishy!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with delight. "Like a really fancy stress ball."

The creature let out a soft, almost indignant hum, but it didn't pull away. It seemed to understand that these were Darius's friends and didn't react aggressively, even as the group began to crowd around it, poking and prodding at its gelatinous body.

"Careful," Darius warned, though he couldn't help but smile at their antics. "It's not a toy."

"But it's so cute!" Miya said, squeezing one of the tentacles gently. "Look at it! It's like a little glowing marshmallow."

"A marshmallow with tentacles," Jax muttered, though even he couldn't resist reaching out to touch it. "Weirdest thing I've ever seen."
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Lira, ever the strategist, was more reserved. She observed the creature with a critical eye, her mind already racing with possibilities. "If we can all become beast tamers," she began slowly, "then we would all have an actual chance against our targets."

Darius nodded. "Exactly. And that's why I brought you here. Kain—the guy who gave me this—said that you all could have the same opportunity. But there's a catch."

The group fell silent, their attention snapping back to Darius. Even Miya stopped poking the creature, her expression turning serious.

"What kind of catch?" Garret asked, his voice wary.

"You'll have to complete a mission for him," Darius explained. "It's a test, to see if you're worthy of joining him. If you pass, you'll get the same mark I have, and you'll become beast-tamers. But if you want to take the mission, you'll have to sign a contract first. It's non-negotiable."

"A contract?" Jax said, raising an eyebrow. "What, like a blood oath or something?"

"Something like that," Darius said. "It's an enchanted contract. Once you sign it, you won't be able to talk about what happens here or the fact that you're being tested. If you break it, you will die…painfully."

The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. Becoming a beast-tamer was a dream they had all shared but never thought possible. Now, the opportunity was right in front of them. But it came with risks.

Miya was the first to speak up. "I'm in," she said, her voice firm. "If it means I get one of these squishy little guys, I'll sign whatever."

"Same," Garret said, cracking his knuckles. "I never even dreamed that this was possible. I'm not passing it up."

Although Darius was happy they agreed, he still warned, "this isn't just some deal you can back out of later. Once you sign, you're locked in—no second chances."

Lira nodded slowly. "It's a risk, but it's one worth taking. If this Kain can give us power, then we owe it to ourselves to try."

Jax sighed, running a hand through his scruffy beard. "Well, I guess I will reluctantly agree... But if this goes south, I'm blaming all of you."

Darius grinned, relief washing over him. He had been worried that one of them might refuse, but he should have known better. These were his people—his family. They had been through too much together to back down now.

"Alright," he said, pulling out a stack of papers from a nearby table. "These are the contracts. Read them carefully, and if you're sure, sign at the bottom."

The group took the papers, their eyes scanning the text. The contracts were detailed, outlining the terms of secrecy and what they could and could not do or say. But none of them hesitated. One by one, they signed their names, their determination unwavering.

As the last signature was added, Darius felt a surge of happiness.

"Alright," Darius said, rolling down his sleeve to cover his tattoo and looking at his team. "Here is your mission."