Death... and me

Javiu was waiting for Rean outside. As for the other disciples, he sent them away a long time ago. When he saw Rean coming out, he immediately went to ask how things ended.

"So, did the egg survive?"

It was then that he saw a big chick... on Rean's arms.

"It hatched without any problems. However, I have no idea what kind of Demon Beast this little guy is. Does Elder Javiu know anything about her?"

Javiu, obviously, didn't expect to see such a... weak... demon beast, especially after how much Spiritual Energy it absorbed to hatch. As far as he could see with his Spiritual Sense, there was really nothing impressive about it. He felt that if he put a little pressure, he would break all the bones of the chick.

"This... if not because it is much bigger than a real chick, I would surely say it is a chicken. Even the yellow plumage is the same as one. Of course, it definitely has nothing to do with chickens after what happened."

Elder Javiu grabbed the chick, who seemed very dissatisfied with him. However, it had no power to resist at all. It was also tired after using its little Spiritual Energy to gather Light Element a few moments ago inside the Barn.

"Hum... I've never heard of a white and black crown either. Or better, is it even a crown? Well, it does look like one. I will have to take a look into the books of our Beast Taming Repository. However, I know most of the books already, so I'm pretty sure that I won't find anything in there."

Javiu continued to ponder until he decided to suggest.

"I might have some knowledge about demon beasts, but I believe it will be better to seek elder Reliance Gongol's advice."

Rean remembered that name. Back then, when he first arrived at the Beast Taming faction, elder Javiu told him that Reliance Gongol was the Inner Sect elder responsible for their district. However, even after working there for so long and the other times he came by, Rean had never seen that Elder in person.

"I thought that this elder didn't like demon beasts."

Javiu immediately shook his head.

"Of course not. Elder Reliance Gongol loves them as much as we do. I can't blame you for thinking like this, though. After all, he seldom appears in our district. However, it is not because he doesn't like it, but because he spends most of his time traveling around to learn more about Demon Beasts. You might as well know that he is the only Nascent Soul cultivator of our sect that is not a Core Sect Elder."

Rean was quite surprised to hear it. So far, all the Nascent Soul Elders he found were Core Elders.

"Why is that?"

Javiu shrugged his shoulders.

"Isn't that obvious? Unlike the other Nascent Soul cultivators of our sect, Elder Reliance is the polar opposite of his own name. You can't rely on him at all! Unless the sect reaches a life and death situation, he probably won't raise a single finger to help with anything. Of course, unless someone offers something in return. What good would he bring to the sect as a Core Elder? The fact that he is an Inner Sect elder is basically to show some face to his Nascent Soul cultivation."

Rean had to admit that the guy was quite a figure.

"Well, then why is he the leader of the Beast Taming faction? Even if he loves Demon Beasts, it won't be of much help if he isn't present."

Javiu then explained.

"That's because he usually leaves his Demon Beasts behind in the sect for us to take care. He might not make much himself, but the Demon beasts that he tames definitely do--especially the aerial ones he leaves here. Because of that, he was capable of holding the title of the leader of our faction."

However, there was still one thing Rean couldn't understand.

"If he doesn't like to help the sect, why would he want to keep the position of Beast Taming Faction's leader?"

Javiu shook his head, though.

"Who knows? He might want to guarantee that he will always have a place to leave his Demon Beasts. Or maybe it is another reason altogether. No one really understands that guy."

Elder Javiu then passed the chick back to Rean and approached his ear. Only then did he murmur something.

'Between the two of us, Elder Reliance is kinda.... no, he is totally a weirdo.'

It was then that Rean noticed something strange. Suddenly, right in front of Rean's Eyes, Elder Javiu was sent flying like a cannonball!

*Bang!*

The poor guy crashed against the Barn and broke through the wall, falling somewhere inside. No one knew if he was alive...

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

It was then that Rean saw a man approaching from a distance. He had big dreadlocks that surpassed his shoulders. Not a big beard, but enough to cover the skin. Rean could also see he smoking something as the old men did back in his Varen Tribe. Last but not least, he was the first 'black' guy he had ever seen in this world.

"Wasn't Bob Marley dead?"

"Dead your head! No, wait! Who the hell is Bob Marley?"

Of course, it definitely wasn't... Bob Marley... but the guy did look like the man indeed. Even his clothes were quite colorful, one of Bob Marley's noteworthy trends. Sure enough, even Rean had at least heard about this figure back in his past life. The man in front of him was way too similar!

'Sister Orb... were we the only ones to have reincarnated in this side of the Universe?'

[As far as I know, yes.]

Rean nodded as he answered the Elder's question.

"Ahem... Sorry, Elder. It is just that you look quite similar to... a friend... I met in the past. By the way..."

Rean then looked at the human-shaped hole on the Barn's wall and asked.

"Should I prepare Elder Javiu's funeral?"

For some reason, a certain wounded man's mouth twitched inside the Barn.

'I'm still alive, you know?! Can you please not prepare my funeral without first verifying my condition?!'

Finally, Elder Javiu got up with some difficulty. He then made his way out of the Barn and bowed to the black guy.

"Cough, cough... Paying respects to Elder Bo- Ahem... Elder Reliance. I wasn't expecting Elder to come back to the sect so soon. Otherwise, I would have definitely prepared something."

Elder Reliance nodded.

"I wasn't expecting my early return either. However, that brat Mia insisted that I should come to check something. Anyway, I was on my way there when I heard a certain someone speaking about me on my back."

Elder Javiu then smiled bitterly but refrained from commenting. Who knows, he might make things even worse.

'What kind of luck is this? The guy rarely comes back, but when he does, he knows how to select the perfect time.'

Seeing that Javiu didn't say anything else, Reliance then made his own question.

"Whatever, how were my Demon Beasts while I was out?"

Javiu then immediately answered.

"They have been treated well. Elder can go and take them anytime elder wishes. However, as per the agreement with the sect, Elder's Demon Beats are also available for the sect's use. That being said, a few of them are out of the sect with other disciples or elders."

Elder Reliance then shook his head.

"It's okay, I don't need to bring any of them with me. As long as they are fine, then that's good."

Reliance then looked at Rean.

"Anyway, who are you?"

Rean then bowed as well.

"My name is Rean Larks. I'm a new disciple that joined the sect during the last recruitment. My master is Elder Droman from the Formations Master Hall."

"Oh, old paw Droman is your master, uh? Oh, right. I heard that Droman broke through the Soul Transformation Realm. Is that true?"

Rean nodded.

"Yes. He should be in the Formations Master Hall, so Elder can look for him there if necessary."

Reliance then pondered a bit before nodding his head.

"I do need him to check the imprisonment formation flags that I use. Very well, I'll go there later to take a look."

Reliance then turned around and was just about to leave when Javiu stopped him.

"Elder Reliance, please wait! Our faction has a lot of things that need your verification and approval. Can you do that first?"

Unfortunately, Reliance couldn't care less.

"Too boring, just go ahead and do whatever you want. Just make sure my Demon Beasts are treated well."

Javiu insisted, though.

"We can't! Without your signature, the higher-ups will not accept our decision."

Reliance then summoned the surrounding Earth Element and used the Earth on the ground to make a seal. After that, he threw it at Javiu.

"Just put some paint and stamp it on all the documents. Remember, this Seal will only hold for a day, so you better stamp everything before it crumbles. Also, I better not hear that it was used for some bullshit later. Alright, I'm off!"

Javiu didn't even have the time to reply before Elder Reliance disappeared like smoke. Or better, one could even say that he totally run away! Rean then looked at Javiu and could see that the poor guy was almost crying.

'No wonder he said he is the polar opposite of his own name.'

Suddenly, Rean remembered something as he looked at the chick on his arms.

"Ah! I forgot to ask Bob Marley about the Chicken!"