4 years have passed since the meeting and the arrogant declaration. Ray has been training hard. With Arthur's guidance he has improved leaps and bounds.
He cultivates the new set of sun arts Arthur has been teaching him called Solar bone refinement. This technique allows a person to absorb solar energy into their bones to strengthen their bones and store solar power.
The best part is because it doesn't need a mana core to activate, Ray could practice it.
The second sun art is next in the technique chain. It is called sun skin which uses the solar energy absorbed by the bones.
The energy is released at night to strengthen the skin making it more durable and able to resist the impacts natural effects have on the body.
He also trained his body using all types of exercises taught to him by Arthur. His body is more refined than any of his peers.
His punches are able to leave cracks in stone and he moves like a top grade athlete.
He is currently practicing his fighting skills with one of the guards, much more rigorously then usual.
He was in a great mood since waking up because, today is the day he is going to the forest to fight the beasts that reside within.
Although he received many warning from his mother about how dangerous the beasts were in the end he still decided to go.
Arthur knew of a method to make him stronger, exponentially! He couldn't pass up the opportunity.
It is also his chance to prove to his siblings that his words are not shallow and he is strong.
She was still worried sick, that her last child would lose his life. In the end she could only begrudgingly trust in his choice, since she knew he is not one to change his mind easily.
Ray grabs a meal with his mother and prepares for his hunt.
Before he walks out the door he runs over to his mom and gives her a hug.
"I'll be back." He says confidently.
Emily scoops him into a tight hug and whispers. "Be safe my dear Ray of sunshine."
She sets him back down and walks him to the door.
______
He heads out of the manor and to his surprise, his sister Rose is waiting for him.
She wore the same type of outfit that Rebecca used to wear except it had only one pauldron, and on it was the symbol of a spear.
She is now 20 and she recently developed a class which is a lancer.
Classes were usually matched with the awakeners personality and element. There were some rare awakeners who had two elements and so they would have a class that could match both.
"I thought you said I'll have to do this by myself." He says sarcastically.
"Yeah, well big sis said I have to go with you to make sure the little baby is safe." Rose says doing her best baby voice.
"And to make sure you don't go cheating." She adds on.
"You'd have to keep up to make sure I'm not cheating." Ray teases.
"You out running me is only happening in your dreams now come on, let's leave before I beat your ugly face in." She teases while rubbing his head.
Arthur complies with a nod and a smug grin. Rose turns to wave to her mother sitting in the doorway smiling at them.
They head out of the gates of the manor and board an elegant carriage that is pulled by a large stallion with flames for hair.
The carriage takes off and moves swiftly through the streets of the city.
Ray takes the opportunity to look out the window at the city, since he's never been there before.
The various different buildings, people and animals they pass by greatly intrigued him. Arthur held a similar sentiment.
'Wow so this is how far cities have come since I've been away' He says in their mind. During his time the building were still made of brick and mortar.
The building now are mostly made of metal and some have special plates on them to defend from attacks.
Many people did have devices called tele-coms. These kept track of a person's rank and allowed communication between them.
They can play live broadcasts through holograms and send emergency signals straight to the law enforcement. They also help in translation and researching.
The building themselves were mostly made of metal and some have special plates on them to defend from the beasts.
In the Solaris empire the law enforcement is run by the 3rd branch. They had been given this task by the first branch since their founding, so they take great pride in the task of keeping the peace.
______
Not many words were exchanged between the two siblings the whole way as Ray is to preoccupied in sight seeing and Rose took the time to rest.
The trip was long due to the fact the Empire spans across multiple continents.
As they draw closer to the border of the empire, Ray could see something magnificent.
The great wall of Mesolan. It is named after the man who came up with the wall and built a large majority of it.
The wall ranges 30000 miles long and 100ft tall and 30ft wide. It's armed to the teeth with heavy weapons and filled with soldiers 24/7. Built for the purpose of protecting the people from the beasts after a great war.
As he passed under the Gate he got a feel for the true majesty of the Solaris Empire.
{The outskirts of the beast territory.}
(The beast territory is self explanatory, it is the area and home where beast congregate. They not only out number humans ten to one but also over power humans greatly.
The average beast take longer to rank up, but they are almost three times as physically strong as the average human.
Because of the nature of beasts they don't get along well enough to stage an attack on the humans again. Current technology is also a great deterrent against them.
They are constantly hunted to clear them out, gather they resources their bodies provide and help train new soldiers and law officers.)
The carriage comes to a stop along the border of the forest. Rose instantly wakes up while Ray continues to have conversations with Arthur.
'We need to kill a fire beast first so we can get stronger' Arthur explains.
"Are you ready to go or have you gotten cold feet?" Rose asks with a grin seeing Ray wasn't moving.
Suddenly Ray focuses back on reality.
"Weren't you just passed out like some old lady." He satirically asks.
"Now you've done it. I'M NOT OLD!" Rose hollers while creating a bolt of lighting in her hand.
"Okay, let's go!" Ray busts out of the carriage and takes off into the forest. Rose hops out as well not chasing him right away.
"About time." Rose giggles under her breath. She tells the horse to wait here and takes off after him.
They head into the dense forest that surrounds the beast territory.
About a half a mile into the forest, Ray thought that it was too difficult to find the beasts on the ground.
He quickly decides to climb a nearby tall tree. They trees are sturdy with strong branches allowing him to quickly make it to the top he can see above most the forest.
What he sees makes his eyes light up.