The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 290: The Gathering Of Divine Beasts

Chapter 290: The Gathering Of Divine Beasts

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue across the tranquil landscape. However, the air was chilly as Winter had finally arrived. It would not take too long before the people of the Seelie Empire would be seeing the first snowfall of the year.

Annalise stepped out of the back door into the backyard and headed toward the magical oak tree, her heart pounding with anticipation as she approached her secret hideout. The hideout had been her sanctuary, a place where she could connect with herself and the mysterious powers that she possessed, and immerse herself in the mystic energies of the world.

As she neared the tree, she noticed an unusual silence hanging in the air. The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves had ceased, replaced by an almost eerie calm. Her instincts told her that something was not right but still, she didn’t feel the presence of any sort of danger.

With cautious steps, Annalise stepped past the huge old oak tree and headed in the south direction without actually knowing why. It was just her instincts that were leading her there and they proved right when her gaze finally landed on the reason behind all the unusualness.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she beheld an astonishing sight. The ice Phoenix, with its resplendent blue and white feathers, stood regally alongside the elegant white nine-tailed fox. Towering above them all was the majestic black dragon, its obsidian scales glinting in the soft glow of magical crystals. Hovering gracefully in the air, the Pegasus extended its beautiful wings.

Their eyes locked onto Annalise as she entered the small clearing where all the Divine Beasts had gathered, and she felt an overwhelming sense of awe and reverence in their gazes.

Her gaze landed on her familiar as the Little Snow Lion approached her, his furry form exuding warmth and love which only surprised her more. He spoke with a gentle yet confident voice, "Annalise, we’ve gathered here to share something of utmost importance."

She nodded, her heart racing with excitement and curiosity. "I’m listening," she replied while forgetting to ask if they knew she would be coming here.

The Ice Phoenix stepped forward, its fiery eyes softening as it spoke, "Over the past couple of days, we have observed your courage, kindness, and unwavering determination. We have witnessed how you and your husbands succeeded in freeing us from our ancient bindings."

The white nine-tailed fox continued, "We were once protectors of this realm, guardians of the balance between darkness and light. But we had grown distant from the world, lost in time and isolation."

The black dragon rumbled deeply, "When we sensed your presence, we knew there was something unique about you. Your spirit resonates with the ancient magic that flows through this land, the very magic that helped in the creation of this world."

The Pegasus added, "We want to pledge our allegiance to you, Annalise. We wish to become your familiars, to stand by your side and help you in bringing peace back into our world."

Annalise was overcome with emotions. She felt shocked, happy, and even scared. The more she heard someone recognizing her true potential, the more it made her realize that she wasn’t born to live a peaceful life away from all worldly affairs, instead, she seemed to be born to help in protecting that very same world.

Also, she never imagined such a moment would come, where the very beings she had revered would pledge their loyalty to her. It was an honor she could scarcely fathom but also a responsibility she was scared to shoulder.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude. "I’m humbled by your trust and faith in me. I promise to wield this power responsibly and with the utmost care." The power she mentioned was her bond with these beautiful creatures who were putting their faith in her.

The little snow lion nuzzled her ankle affectionately, and the others nodded in unison. They could sense the sincerity in her words, and it strengthened the trust that was forming between them.

"But... how are we going to do that? I mean... forming the bond?" Annalise asked curiously as she looked between all the Divine Beasts.

The way Little Snow Lion immediately let out a deep sigh almost made her feel like it was looking down on her.

"Don’t you know the spell already? Have you forgotten that I’m your familiar too?" Little Snow Lion asked while fluttering its wings.

"Oh... right."

They all shifted to form a circle, except for Little Snow Lion who was watching from the sidelines, and Annalise channeled her magic to start the formation of familiar-master bonds with all the four Divine Beasts.

It took barely a few moments before the ritual was completed and suddenly, Annalise found herself with not only one but five very powerful Divine Beasts as her familiar. Feeling her eyes getting overwhelmed with unshed tears, she whispered - "Thank you... Thank you so much for trusting me. I promise to do my best to not let you all down."

She was surprised when warm and soft wings surrounded her before she was pulled into a group hug by the huge Divine Beasts. There were two wings, one from the dragon and one from the pegasus, wrapped around her. The little snow lion was already in her arms and the Ice Phoenix and the Nine-Tailed Fox were also trying their best to become a part of the hug.

She chuckled at the scene which made the beasts finally step away while they all seemed slightly embarrassed.

She sent a message through the bonds to her husbands, telling them about her whereabouts and how she ahd formed bonds with the Divine Beasts. Once they were assured that she was safe, they left her in the company of her familiars.

As the night deepened, they sat together under the branches of the oak tree, sharing stories of their past and dreams for the future. The Divine Guardian Beasts had seen civilizations rise and fall, witnessed the ebb and flow of magic throughout the ages. Now, they found solace in the presence of Annalise, a beacon of hope in the turbulent times ahead.

Within the depths of the magical oak tree, Annalise found a sense of belonging and acceptance she had never known before. She knew that the upcoming war would be no easy feat, but with the unwavering support of her newfound familiars and the love of her husbands, she felt invincible.