Akata didn’t have the right to retreat from Tabet’s hand as he reached out. Tabet grabbed Akata by the shoulder and happily took a step forward. In the blink of an eye Akata found himself somewhere on the island by a small cave. The cave was well hidden as it was covered by trees, vines, and other things.

However the plants in the area weren’t lively at all. In fact most of the plants on the island were decrepit and old. It was an abandoned island after all with nobody to look after it.

Tabet threw Akata down toward the cave. He then strode past him with unhurried steps. His face held reminiscences in it as he walked to the cave. A nostalgic aura washed over him as he got closer to it.

“This place was my home when I was younger. My family lived here long ago before the Vermilion Land War. It was a great war but alas, it split up the home where I lived.” Tabet stopped in front of the cave entrance and continued speaking.

“And when I say split up I literally mean it. My family had their land cast off of the mainland and pushed out into the vast ocean as punishment. My family had to survive on their own for generations but we managed to do it. But then a plant cultivator came to our land and ravage our already weakened family. Not only that but he cast some type of magic on us that cursed us; bringing death upon us in a slow manner. My tribe slowly died off one by one, now only a few of us remain.”

He stopped talking, his back to Akata, but if Akata could see his front he would notice a hopeful gleam in his eyes. He turned to look at Akata. His eyes were sharp but they weren’t menacing. He gave a complicated look at Akata, seemingly not knowing how to address this situation. In the kindest manner he could managed he squeezed out his sentence.

“I don’t know how you did it kid. Maybe you have a connection with plant cultivators, or maybe you don’t but… you have to save the rest of my family. Only a plant cultivator can undo the magic that was cast on them.” He wasn’t pleading with Akata, probably due to the passage of time he had long ago consigned himself to the fate of his family dying. So even if Akata couldn’t save them he wouldn’t be mad.

Akata gave a confused look at the beast. The beast had used him as a “training partner” just a few hours ago, now it wanted him to save his family? Akata had many thoughts surface in his head. One was that it was a beast who was asking for help, next was the fact that the beast called him a plant cultivator, another was that the beast didn’t have any malicious will towards him.

If the beast had threatened him to save his family then Akata would have no choice but to oblige even though he would have no idea what he would be doing. Yet it didn’t happen that way. In fact, the beast didn’t have any intentions to kill him since they first met. This thought had constantly boggled Akata’s mind.

Akata didn’t care about the beast’s family nor about the beast himself, but what he did care about was surviving for these next two months. If he didn’t help this beast’s family then it was possible that the beast would kill him. Even if he tried but failed it would still be possible. But, if Akata tried and succeeded then it would be immensely easier to survive on the island. Maybe he would even gain an ally as well.

The problem was that Akata didn’t know anything about plant cultivation. All he knew were some of the ranks and a little bit about advancing through them. All in all it was much more different than immortal cultivation.

Before Akata could think any further Tabet spoke again. “How about this, if you at least try and help my family I won’t bother you anymore and won’t seek you out to harm you. And if you save them then I can teach you a runic technique along with getting you to the 5th Grade. What do you say?” His broad voice sounded enticing.

Akata couldn’t help but be amazed. How could he turn down and offer such as this. He stood up and as he did his face became confused. “You know runic techniques?” He had to ask. Techniques involving runes were something that mortals had come up with. How was it that a beast could use these techniques?

“Of course I know runic techniques. I’m a Scarlet Runic Tiger after all. You humans devised many techniques from watching us beasts and other creatures, so who is to say that we couldn’t do the same back? Long ago my species watched as you performed magic with runes and sought to copy it. That is how my Scarlet Runic Tiger race came to be.” Tabet spoke proudly as he pounded his chest.

Seeing Akata’s interest in the matter of runes he waved his hand in the air creating a long line of runes that glowed with bright light. To Akata they seemed extremely complex, mysterious, and dazzling; but to Tabet they were the most basic of runes he could create.

Of course he figured Akata wouldn’t notice this, his bet was to draw Akata in and looking at his now astonished face, it had apparently succeeded. Inwardly he was proud of himself but on the outside he held the look of some master of the arts.

Akata stood there lost in thought. He ended up agreeing to the deal. First off, there were no downsides to the matter. Second off, if he succeeded then there were boundless rewards for him. He could learn more about plant cultivation, gain a new ally, have an easy time surviving on the island, and learn about runes.

In truth he didn’t care about the part of him getting to the 5th Grade as that was something he wasn’t worried about. In due time he could get himself there without any problem whatsoever. So after a bit of “thinking” he agreed to try and heal the family of Scarlet Runic Tigers.

Tabet nodded his head and his face turned serious. “If you do anything to worsen their condition however, I will immediately kill you.” He said before turning toward the cave entrance. “Follow me.” Tabet’s red hair grew in size as it covered all over his body. His body became more feral-like and his fingernails and teeth grew longer. Soon he was back to his original appearance of the red furred tiger.

Akata felt his heart freeze over from the beast’s threat. It filled his body with an icy coldness that he had never felt before. ‘What a strong killing intent.’ Akata couldn’t help but gulp down some saliva. He then took a step and followed after the tiger.

Inside the cave it was murky and became darker as they walked further in it. Soon Akata wasn’t able to see a thing inside. He held a finger in the air in front of him as he ignited a black and red flame on it. The flame surprisingly brought a bright light, even though it was a dark flame. It immediately filled the cave with warmth that spread out to cover him and Tabet.

Tabet lifted and eyebrow as he felt the warmth rush over him. ‘Hellfire? He’s able to cultivate hellfire at his level? Just where did he get his hands on it? Not only does he cultivate in the Mortal and Plant Realm, but he has access to Demon Realm techniques. Just who is this kid that randomly appeared on my island?’

“Hey kid, you still haven’t told me your name yet. It’ll be nice to know a little about you, you know?” Tabet spoke out in an echoing voice.

Akata looked over at the beast but kept his pace up. “I’d rather not. I’m still wary of a beast like you after all.. If I go around giving my name to everybody, who is to say I won’t be hunted down?” Akata spoke calmly.

“You got a point there… then again, I told you my name so it’s only courteous to give your name back. And I gave you my name not long ago so I would prefer you to use it rather than calling me a beast. I have more intelligence than an average beast after all.” Tabet spoke proudly, howling out showing his pride.

Akata couldn’t help but agree with this fact. Not only was this beast able to speak, it could also transform to look like a mortal as well. Just how scary of a thought was this? If all beasts who were this intelligent could do this, was there no way to tell them apart from a mortal?

“My name is Akata. I have a few questions myself I you don’t mind my asking… Tabet?” The only way Akata could clear up his confusion was by asking Tabet himself. He also had the feeling that if he didn’t comply with Tabet’s wishes then he wouldn’t answer.

“First, how are you able to speak and turn into a mortal? Second, just what is a plant cultivator? And third, what exactly am I supposed to do to heal… your family?” Akata spoke quickly, he couldn’t believe that he was asking a beast some questions to clear up his confusion.

Tabet smiled happily as he trotted along the path in the cave. “Hehe… what wonderful questions to ask. To answer your first question, us transforming into mortals have to do with the energy of heaven and earth. Heaven and earth favor the mortals, so when us creatures cultivate and reach a high enough cultivation base we are able to connect with the will of heaven and earth and turn our appearances into mortals.

As far as speaking goes, we have been speaking this language longer than you mortals. You actually obtained your language from us. The will of heaven and earth just kept our understanding of each other separate. So once we have attained a certain level that allows us to turn into mortals, we are able to communicate with each other. But for those that aren’t able to truly speak before transforming, they are able to speak mentally.

Secondly, Plant cultivators were…”