Vael'nir.
It was a fractured world orbiting a dying sun, one of several key planets in the Starborn System.
The Starborn System itself was part of a coalition of Colony Planets and Space Outposts where Beast Masters served as elite guardians.
Their power came from merging with Interstellar Beasts that appeared from Entropic Rifts.
Their power was absolute. The strongest among them could fly into outer space on their beasts and fight wars against spacefaring worlds.
They were practically heroes, champions who fought against Entropic Beasts that erupted from the rifts like nightmares with teeth.
And Vex Talon was one of them.
So what hope did Damian have? What chance at retribution or revenge could he cling to?
When even the authorities seemed to side with the drunken murderous Beast Master?
He knelt at the grave of his wife, staring blankly at it, and the many other graves around her.
His rage and guilt grew unchecked as he sat there.
So much rage, but nowhere to direct it.
Not without getting himself killed.
And probably taking Ilyana's sister with him, who was barely even herself these days.
"I wish you were here... I wish..."
The words came out as a whisper as he closed his eyes.
But when he did, it wasn't her face he saw.
It was the blood. Her blood. Everywhere!
And the drunken Beast Master, still laughing and mounted on that Rhino-bat Hybrid Beast.
After the massacre and the cover-up, he hadn't even been able to recover her body, or anyone else's.
They were declared contaminated by Entropic Energy.
The excuse? They were too dangerous to recover.
So they'd buried empty coffins.
And the organization Vex Talon belonged to? Well, they were gracious enough to pay for the entire burial.
Wasn't that just...fucking nice of them to do?
The more Damian thought about it, the angrier he became.
Wallowing in helplessness once again, he finally rose, ready to leave.
He tilted his head to the sky.
The sun had faded into dusk.
Only the blinking lights of Aether Skimrunners remained- personal hover vehicles used by Interstellar Beast Masters and truly rich Cybernetic Humans, powered by Altered Entropic Drives.
Further in the distance, he spotted the silhouettes of Ebonprism Drifters- massive luxury blimps that always floated above the Ebonreach Metropolis. Rumor had it that they held lavish, floating parties for the most elite of Beast Masters in them every single night.
Damian stared up at that dark sky sprinkled with light and shook his head.
About to turn and leave.
When…
"Huh?"
Something blinked in the sky. A flicker of silver purple light.
He blinked again, and it disappeared. Almost like it had never been there at all.
But he could've sworn it had...curved. Like it changed direction mid-flight.
And just as he tried to brush it off, this blinking light paused…and turned.
Straight toward him.
…!
Then it vanished again, like it had never existed at all.
"What the hell...?"
Was he hallucinating now?
He squinted, trying to catch its blinking again when…
BOOM!
A silver purple ball of light and flame came thundering down, just meters above his head.
'Oh, what the fucking fuck?!'
That was the only thought he had before it struck him.
He felt a heavy impact and then, there was only darkness.
Complete, utter, darkness.
'Are you serious?'
Even now, floating in the void, he was still thinking. Still angry.
Killing his wife and everyone else wasn't enough? Now he had to die, too?
But...wait.
After that initial jolt of pain, he didn't feel anything.
And stranger still, he could still feel his body!
The darkness began to fade. Receding like it had never been there at all.
Then...something warm nudged his stomach as his eyes shot open and he scrambled backward.
Immediately, he noticed two things.
One was the cratered surroundings that made it look like a meteor had landed.
Two was…the thing that was nudging his belly and purring.
It was a small, fox-like creature, its silver-white fur shimmering brightly.
Six translucent tails fanned behind it, and its glowing silver eyes stared up at him with a pout.
It looked... soft. Ridiculously soft.
Its pupils were huge and round, drooping sadly as if Damian's reaction had hurt its feelings.
"What in the world is happening...?"
Damian shook his head, completely baffled.
And then he noticed something else.
When he looked at the creature, he didn't just see it. He could sense it as if it was a part of him.
And at that moment, it purred again sadly, and a strange sound echoed inside his head.
"Kitsuul..."
A voice. A voice that was not his, but it danced around in his head like it was his thought.
He muttered the word aloud without realizing it.
"Kitsuul?"
…!
The creature that was fox-like, glimmering, and magical perked up instantly.
It started bouncing excitedly as if screaming yes, yes, yes! without words.
Like it was celebrating that he had spoken its name.
Its name.
But...what was it?
The moment Damian asked himself that question, a piercing pain shot through his skull.
Kitsuul leaped into his arms again, and this time, Damian was too dazed to push it away.
And then, he received new thoughts. They were scattered and fragmented, but they were real.
[Kitsuul...Veilborn Interstellar Beast...irreversibly bound...]
…!
His brain buzzed. His mind reeled!
An Interstellar Beast? Veilborn?!
"Holy shit!"
And just as he cursed out his shock, the fox-like creature curled up on his lap with its eyes closed.
Already asleep.
'Kitsuuuuuul...'
Its whimper of exhaustion could be heard as if it had done far too much work today already!