Chapter 1

Wind blew through the long narrow passageway as winter had finally arrived. Water froze hours ahead of his arrival and animals flew into hiding. As he finally arrived at what he had been chasing for years. Finally what had been lost was rediscovered again as his eyes gazed upon the wide open fields. Untouched by man's hand for centuries. It was a faint place located in the far east, some of the last bit of land without any human traces. Several kilometers away was a massive fjord that ran all the way to a pristine lake with a direct connection to the ocean. And there was a massive fertile valley teaming with wildlife and animals. It had taken him years to navigate through the wilderness to find this place. Out of the millions of jewels spent on this expedition it was a worthy investment. As the last land of Fiore which was unexplored would finally be surveyed and further maps drawn up over a span of several years. 12 other men followed him down this long arduous journey to these unconquered land. A place that would soon bloom with wealth and people.

"Set up camp here. I shall be back before sunrise," with that he wandered from the men. Who looked at one another, but before they could say anything he slipped away. Leaving them to their own devices as he wandered for some time in the unnamed forest as animals, some familiar and some not, but all of them scurried away. Finally some distance from the camp he let lose some of his control. A cold blizzard emerged from his grasp and wrapped the entire area for kilometers in all directions. Wild winds erupted as ice formed on tree leaves and animals scurried for shelter. He moved down a crooked pathway carefully following a wild animal. This land was field with scents he couldn't quite describe, but something was off. It was a unique smell that had caught his nose and so he seeked it out. Followed the almost feline scent, but there was something else and he couldn't figure it out. It took him around 20 minutes moving from the long valley fields into a small cave near the rivers bank. Stepping inside he looked around quietly observing the area. Something was here that wasn't supposed to be here.

Walking down the cold cave he came up to a small structure. Now bigger than a meter tall and half a meter wide. Inside was a small blue blanket falling to one knee. He carefully studied the structure. The scent was coming from this particular structure made out of smelled of feline, fish and wild berries from the area. Sniffing the air the man who wore a deep brown clock could smell that whatever creature was here. Following it he walked out of the cave and followed the scent for some distance. Moving deeper into the forest as leaves crunched underneath his boots. Whatever he was following had gone for some distance. As he walked carefully as one could in a blizzard only following his eyes. Something finally caught the glimmer in his blue eyes. A small creature flew past him speaking in a human tongue he understood. Curiously he followed the creature carefully as it flew around seemingly confused. Winds ruptured against its wings forcing it to fly against the wind. As ice shards from the whipped up blizzard emerged knocking the creature down. As it screamed in frustration. Holding out his hand he brought the wind towards his body bringing a calm to the storm that his magic naturally created.

"Wahh!" The creature shouted as it fell from the sudden wind and plummeted. Only for the last moment for the creature to recall its wings and then spread them out again. Only a few meters above the ground. This allowed him to get a good look at the creature from a distance. It was a small cat-like creature that was around 1 meter tall with dark blue fur. Green eyes and carrying a small sack made of leather that was now empty. Most likely to hold food of some kind. That was now spilled across the forest around its neck was a small red bandana and the creature landed on a branch in the tree. It flew to the ground to pick up some foreign object on the ground, "Where did this storm come from? I hate this place!"

"Then why are you here?" He spoke with a calm tone and caused the small creature to panic as it flew into the air. With that he unleashed a storm knocking the creature to the ground. He walked over and picked up the creature by its tails which the tip of it ended with a white color.

"Don't eat me!" The creature struggled against him with tears following from its eyes. It was like a child, "I'll give you all my food. Just please don't eat me, I don't have much."

"Only if you shut up and answer my questions," was the only response and after a while the thing finally calmed down and looked at him. Trying its best not to anger him which if he hadn't been dead inside for years would have resulted in him rolling his eyes. "Why are you all the way out here? And how well do you know this area's landscape?"

It looked at him puzzled for a moment, "I didn't even know there were humans in this strange place. You're kinda different from normal humans. You have this weird smell." It commented and he tightened his grip on the exceed's tail letting magic slip from his fingers. Causing it to yelp, "Alright. Alright I'll tell you. My name is Dusk and I'm an Exceed from Edolas and after my people moved here. I've been stuck in this place on my own!"

"Do you or do you not know the layout of this place?" Dusk looked at him with fear in his eyes as it took him a moment to recognize it.

"Of course I do. I've been here for years at this point," Dusk said.

"Well at least you'll have some use," with that he kept Dusk in his hand. Much to the exceed's dismay and walked back towards camp.

"Don't eat me!" Dusk screamed in a panic.

7 Years Ago

Winter winds blew through the crevice of the cave. A sudden blizzard had emerged from the long shadows was a figure. Pulling themselves from the crack in the cave breathing heavily. A storm was brewing as a young man only 13 years of age emerged from his long held chambers. Scars and scratches across his body as the storm only grew more bitter and violent. The storm was an extension of his physical body without any way of controlling it. Every breath he took only dropped the temperature of the world by another degree. His cold rage was unfettered as his training only grew more stricter and far more rigeless. Closing his eyes the mysterious 13 year old stood stewing in his own rage coming to a mellow calm. When a woman's scream broke him from his complication. She stood back from him running towards the barrier of wind that would skin the woman alive. His blue eyes focused on the woman in front of him.

Present

Returning to the camp it took him over an hour and he finally released the cat. The 12 other men looked at Dusk with curiosity, "I have no clue what it is. But I do know it's intelligent and has been in this area for a while. He's our ticket to exploring this area. Its name is Dusk and if he tries to flee, cut its tail off. Now I'm going to rest for the night." With that the man wearing the brown clock left his twelve men and the strange creature to themselves. With that he slipped into a small tent, one of the smallest of the rather small camp. But one thing was on his mind, where was she?