56 First Mission

The briefing given by mission control was surprisingly detailed. The planet Telia was based on the oldEarth feudal systems, with areas broken into small fiefs ruled by warlords. Larger villages and cities were run by vassals of the warlords. Due to the continuously warring between fiefs small villages were often left to fend for themselves. The main livelihood was farming, the planet had little to no manufacturing.

Warlords ruled over their fiefs with a brutal fist, taxes were very high as wars were costly. Most villages were poor and had little access to education or a better way of life. Their young men were often conscripted into the army, and only woman, children and the elderly were left to eke out a living. With the strong men were taken from villages, demon beasts and bandits ran rampant often preying on weak villages. The one benefit to Telia was that the land was extremely fertile, which allowed for a strong agriculture society.

While Telia was rich in spiritual energy, the percent of the population who could perform magic was minuscule, with less than one percent being mages. Jayde was to head to the village Tardide and to seek out Elder Ryunzo. Tardide was located five kilometers north of where Jayde had appeared.

"Mission control, what about the local dialect?" Jayde asked, after listening to the mission briefing.

[Language module has been activated for the duration of your mission, you will have no problem communicating with the local population]

Jayde was assured to know that at least she would be able to understand the people around her. Just then Reiko interrupted Jayde thoughts.

[Jayde let me out, I wanna see] Reiko begged.

"Mission control, may my battle pet accompany me on this mission?" Jayde asked, remembering that Isha had told her that on most missions battle pets were allowed to accompany their contractors.

[Affirmative, initiating battle pet camouflage mode]

As soon as Jayde had confirmation from mission control, she immediately summoned Reiko from her pet space, with a flash of light, Reiko appeared beside her. Although Jayde knew that it was Reiko, he looked nothing like a Shadowbeast instead, he looked more like a very large black shaggy wolf.

Reiko noticing the weird look on Jayde faced asked her what was wrong.

"Nothing is wrong, just you look really different" Jayde answered.

"..."

Curious about what Jayde meant, Reiko used his contract with Jayde to view himself through her eyes. Seeing how he looked he was most upset.

"My fangs, where are my fangs?" Reiko wailed, then turning to look his back.

"And my wings, where are my beautiful wings?" Reiko was really alarmed that his wings were gone.

Looking aggrieved, Reiko lower lip trembled slightly. Jayde had never seen a wolf pout before, and couldn't help herself, gales of laughter filled the meadow, distressed that Jayde wasn't taking his dilemma seriously Reiko growled softly "Jayde."

Seeing that Reiko was really unhappy, Jayde tried to be more serious, "shame the poor guy really looks perturbed" she thought.

"Sorry Reiko, it just that you look so cute" she apologized sincerely.

"CUTE!" Reiko exclaimed.

"Shadowbeasts don't do cute, we are the top of the food chain, the kings of the Dark Forest, we are ferocious predators, we — are — never — cute" Reiko stressed firmly holding his head up high, he had never been so insulted in his life, calling him cute, who has ever heard of a cute shadowbeast, he thought sourly.

Smiling quietly to herself, Jayde quickly placated her insulted pet.

"Of course you are the strongest, and most powerful warrior beast of Doha," she said seriously.

"No other spirit beast could be as fierce as you" she cajoled.

"Hmph" Reiko looked at Jayde suspiciously.

Seeing that Reiko was still in a bit of a tiff, Jayde went on "I would never think that your shadowbeast form is cute, it just that this form is somewhat cute, which remind me what beast is this?"

"Mission control, what type of beast is Reiko?" she asked.

[Your battle pet has been disguised as an Ebonywolf, a well respected and feared battle pet found on Telia, its known for its battle prowess, and is considered one of the most bloodthirsty battle pets available, it is also well known for its loyalty to its owner.]

"See Reiko, even in this form you are a fierce predator," Jayde said earnestly.

Hearing that his new form was respected and feared soothed Reiko ruffled feathers. Noting that her pet was in a better mood, Jayde made a mental note never to call him cute to his face ever again, although secretly she really thought he was cute in either form.

"Okay let's go, Reiko — let us see what this world has to offer," Jayde said her eyes glowing with excitement.

Jayde and Reiko turned northwards, and with a brisk pace, and a slight bounce in their step they set off to start their adventure on Telia.

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