If his mother had a choice, he wasn't sure if she'd ever give up her crown.

His mother Mitsuki-sama was a hero. She conquered lands and spread their beliefs to places he'd only ever dream of, bringing prosperity their people could never hope for. Her beast, a minotaur the size of a house, never left her side, and Katsuki would forever deny but never forget how safe he felt in their presence. He didn't remember his father, much too young to remember what it felt like being held in his arms as a child before he passed, but his mother was more than enough.

She taught him everything she knew and everything she didn't in the hopes that when the time came, he would survive beyond his coronation trial and lead their people into peace and prosperity for generations to come. Their clan had faced hard times at the start of her reign and he knew for a fact that she left her legacy behind not just for the clan, but for him. He would be damned if he didn't at least take up the mantle and continue what she started.

He was 14 when the elders summoned him to their council room, swimming in incense and hymns. His mother sat at the center with a serious expression and he knew why he was there. "Well, let's get this over with," he drawled. "Don't speak out of turn, brat," his mother chastised him, abnormally sharp teeth bared. "Sit down." it wasn't a request.

Katsuki was humble enough to at least sit appropriately in the presence of the council after his outburst, knowing he had to play nice to even get the chance to accept what they were ready to offer him. Sitting upright, he grunted so they knew he was ready.

"Katsuki, son of Mitsuki. You have been summoned before the council of elders, the clan leader, and the gods of Mustufu to lend your ear to us as we grant to you the right to undergo the trial of beasts at the next solstice."

He held his breath despite knowing exactly where this meeting was going.

"Your mother and clan leader has requested this right be given to you so that you may have time to grow into your beast bond should you survive, and continue to learn from her before her life is called by the gods." His mother gazed at him impassively. "Should you accept preparations will begin immediately. Do you wish to accept this right which we have given you?"

His answer was out almost before the elder finished speaking. "I accept the right which has been given to me."

The elder pursed his lips but otherwise said nothing about his manners. He continued, "Very well. Your right has been offered and accepted. We will begin preparations at once."

A flurry of motion surrounded him as he continued to sit in place, processing everything. His mother approached him. "Ya know, brat, normally you wait for others to finish speaking before you give out your answers." He scoffed at her, "No one in their damn right minds would ever believe I needed time to think about their offer." Vermillion eyes narrowed at him, "You need to learn your place, brat."

"Hah?! I'm about to be leader, I know my place!" His mother cuffed him behind the head with a sharp fist, "Not yet you're not! You still have too much to learn! Why else do you think you're getting a beast?! So you can learn from me!"

The solstice came quicker than he expected. Preparations had been made and he stood at the compound gates in front of the entire clan. His mother, next to her great minotaur, looked to him encouragingly, "You're ready."

"Tch." He looked away from her and faced the gate, not looking back at his people as he walked towards his future, ears straining to hear the hymns they sang for him to wish him luck on his journey the further and further he walked away.

Surviving the forest itself wasn't the focus of the trial. Any clan member worth his salt could survive in the wild for an indefinite amount of time. No, the true point of the trial was to find a beast. A real leader, a true leader of the clan, always had a beast companion. They were a sign of luck, faith, strength, power, and divine rule. Acceptance and approval of a leader's rule by the forest, the beast, and the gods, for they were the only ones who granted them the magic needed to find and bind with their companion.

He wasn't sure what he would find during his rite of passage in the dangerous woods of the Beast's Forest. Among the leaders were an array of masters who tamed some of the most fearsome beasts to ever roam their lands, and though confident, he worried he wouldn't find a suitable beast as his companion- worried about how long this trial could take.

There were whispers, amongst his people, that he was too wild, too undisciplined to conquer a beast. They were all wrong, he knew, and those quiet doubts lit a fire within him.

He had a year to explore the Forest and conquer its lands, the beasts, and the magic that flourished within it. The trial demanded he conquer it all, command the respect of every living creature he would reign over. The year long time limit would establish him as the tribal leader, the Forest protector, and realm master.

In recent years, unrest rippled in the realm, new technologies and wars drained the magic of the land and their tribe suffered because of it. Some of the most ancient, and magical beasts that used to roam the forest hadn't been seen for decades, the unicorns and basilisks to name a few, were now few and far between. Most now considered them extinct creatures.

Most of the beasts he'd come across this far were typically larger than life animals turned to giants by the magic that swirled in between forest floor, and he tamed them easily enough. Though none called to him as potential companions.

He came across a clearing three months into his trial. It led him towards a massive boulder near the edge, old, dormant magic calling him forward towards what could only be his companion's calling. He approached slowly, cautious of the beast he may have to fight before he earned its respect. Light steps made no sound as he neared the boulder, and when he finally laid eyes on the creature, his breath hitched. Dragon.

Not one, but two serpentine beasts. One a rippling silver, the other a bold red, each horned and spiked, ready to grow into their power should time and magic permit them. They appeared to be young, small, and not very frightening, though beastly all the same. They laid curled into each other atop a low laying boulder, sunbathing. Their eggs still spread out around them. Hatchlings. Katsuki couldn't believe the sight before him. As he let out a slow breath to still his loudly beating heart, a single eye of the silver one opened and he froze at the sight of a turquoise iris staring straight into him, calling him.

As soon as the beast opened its eye to him, everything moved at a rapid pace. Together the silver and red dragon unfurled and swirled around each other. He could feel magic swarming all around them as their scales rippled in the sunlight. They danced around him and Katsuki could feel the magic taking hold between them, and he was struck by it all right until they attacked him.