A Rare Sighting

4 Years had passed.

Jilun and Jia were now 12 years old.

A short while after they were 9 years old, Jia started to help Jilun in the farm as well, though this took Jilun a good amount of persuasion. As long as he did whatever she wanted an hour for every hour she works, she would gladly help him. Although she slowly grew out of it as time went on, her clinginess only serve to become graver over the years.

After Jilun turned 12, his father allowed him to finally head to the forest. His family's farm had many herbs and plants that are very weak to sunlight, and require the cover of trees to grow. The reason his father hadn't allowed him before was because of the possible dangers an inexperienced child could face within a forest unknown to them. But after teaching Jilun the same way he was taught when he ventured out by himself, Jilun knew the areas which to avoid and the areas to pass through based on previous sightings in the past few decades. After this, Feng was finally reassured that his son was ready to go on his own.

Magical Beasts are extremely rare, as in this rural area they wouldn't find much to eat. Feng was just worried that in the off chance that a Magical Beast did appear, his son would be out of harms way. As a precaution, Feng handed his son a specialized dagger.

"This is a poisoned dagger. Only use this should you encounter a Magical Beast. The Potency on this poison effects the upper body the fastest, so aim for the head region."

Placing the dagger in his sons cupped hands, he said in a serious tone as he point at Jiluns eyes and mouth.

"The Daggers piercing strength is very weak, so you would do well to attack the eyes and mouth, you aren't yet strong enough to pierce into its skull."***

Jilun nodded. He picked up his gathering bag as he made his way to the door, stopping again when heard his dads voice.

"Make sure to return before sundown. Be safe."

Jilun turned around and smiled before heading out the door, closing it behind him. Jilun was very excited. This was the first step in realizing the dream he hoped for, and this would only be the beginning.

***

Jilun walked down a dirt trail that led further away from the village. As he walked further and further away, his farmhouse became nothing but a dot in the horizon. By this point, his families farm had ended. This was about as far as he had ever gone without the eye of his father or mother.

After walking for an hour or so continuing down the trail, Jilun finally saw the forest he was looking for. Trees so tall that the usually bright sun had no affect here. As his family's farmhouse was surrounded by plains and barely any trees, seeing such a dark atmosphere made him feel uneasy. Keeping the dagger his dad gave him in is right hand and bag on his back, he began slowly walking forward to enter the forest.

"Wow! This is also my first time seeing a 'forest'."

"AH!"

Jilun heard a voice behind him as he jumped forward. Turning to look around with his dagger at the ready, he saw Jia standing right behind him. She too had a bag on her back.

"You scared me!"

Jia giggled as she as she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Jilun snapped out of the fright Jia just gave him as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in front of him.

"What are you even doing here!?"

Jia pick up one of the hands on her shoulder as she interlocked her fingers with his.

"I couldn't let you see the forest without me."

Jilun was used to her clingy behavior and didn't bat an eye at the sudden moment of intimacy. She suddenly brought her mouth next to his ear.

"I didn't tell mother~ you should feel very special"

Jilun lightly pushed her away as he turned to walk deeper into the forest. He laughed internally at Jia's act, as if she even listened to her mother, which Jilun knew all too well was but the opposite.

"Stop playing around. Let's go."

Jia smiled at his attempt at a serious demeanor as she caught up with him and hugged his arm.

***

"Are those the ones?" Jia pointed to a plant growing near the base of a tree large tree.

Jilun looked over towards Jia's direction, pausing his collection of herbs.

"The leafs have a blue tip, normally three by the base of the stem. That's why its called the triblue plant."

Jia confusedly looked at Jiluns face, clearly seeking assistance without directly asking. Jilun sighed as he got up to help her. Arriving next to the crouching Jia, he leaned over her shoulder as he pointed to a plant further in front of her.

"It's that one."

Jilun walked around her as he rested one of the blue tipped leafs on his palm. He started turning his head back to face her.

"See? Right here you see th-"

Jia suddenly jumped onto him, pinning him to the ground.

"Awww, Thank you so much Jilun! What would I do without you?"

Jiluns face grimaced. He knew something like this was bound to happen, that's why he was against taking her with him. She never knew when to take things seriously. He closed his eyes to display his annoyance.

"Yes, yes your welcom-"

He sudden felt two soft lips cover his mouth.

This time though, he was taken aback. Jia had never been this bold before, so much so as to kiss him. Even so, he quickly calmed himself down. But even after a few seconds, Jia didn't release his lips. He brought his hands up to her head to separate her lips from his.

"What is going on with you today!?" Jilun really felt uncomfortable with the way she was acting. It seemed… to exaggerated and unnatural when compared to her usual behavior.

Jia giggled as he grabbed his arms as she pinned them to the side. Jilun was surprised at Jia's immense strength. He had never seen Jia temper her strength before as she had always disliked working. It was only through pampering that he ever got any work out of her.

"You are min-"

She suddenly paused. Jilun immediately noticed this change, but dismissed it as another one of her bouts. Still, he couldn't help the slight color of pink forming on his cheeks. He brought his now free arm to his mouth as he wiped it with his hand.

"I think you've done enough tod-"

Jia suddenly grabbed Jilun as she jumped to the side, bring his body with her.

*Crash!*

Both Jia and Jilun fell to the side. Looking back, the tree that had been in front of them exploded. In the area that the tree once stood, a beast, already twice as big as his father, stood upright on four feet. Whiskers adorned the sides of its mouth which spared no effort in hiding the massive pearly white canines protruding out of its jaw. Both Jia and Jilun stared at the Beast in front of them.

A Magical Beast.

*** Think of the magical beast as a large tiger with different color stripes