The Ultijuru: Rise of The Beast Herders

All towns have deep seeded secrets which keep the history of such places in a sphere. Perfectly sealed off from the world, but not so out of the ordinary to visitors. Most would not assume this town as a home to the most exotic of pets. An abode to the Elemental Zodiacs and Ultijuru masters. And as it happens historical events which stem from an origin point have come to claim lost time. A revenge toward the people’s cult of animal worshippers known as the Beast Herders.

The youngest of two, Destiny the sister to Irvin walks a path alone to home as curfew comes in effect in nearly twenty minutes. A close call she normally avoids, but Duster her void beast needed walkies. Void species are a form most take as the guardian and accumulation of ancestors, a sort of after life but on four legs. Duster happens to be quite clever in the shape it takes as a black dog, symbol of death, but to humans a mere dog. Destiny stopped tying her raven hair up as it drooped across her face. The moon and lamps lit the pathway forward as Duster led the route. It will be here at this time when something will find them. Greenery encroached the road and waves from the sea crashed against the cliff. A calmness claiming the time it took the tentacle to burst from the ground and drag the girl and her dog into the depths. It happened so quickly not a single peep could be screeched from either. They were the third taken.

Winds blow a current striking Irvin when the Wyvern takes off with its master, Elyssa. Its six wings, four in the front and two just before the tail, sweeping through the night sky toward Dark Wood preserve. A mandated nightly patrol for those who are Skyborn. If his sister is not back by, she may very well be friends, like Nelly and her Maully just a block from them. After sending a message he decided it was best to go back inside; the swaying of the trees; coldness of the air and silence of the night were foreboding, but nothing can be done now.

The following morning Destiny and Duster were still absent when Irvin came to their doorway. Taboo to enter let alone check to see if she did in fact make it back. Nelly messaged him earlier. Irvin put it off.  Searched for any sign of life in the room, but it would be silly for Destiny to be hiding from him at her age. He started to tear the room apart searching for clues. She only took Duster for a walk, nothing strange about it. People do not just disappear for no reason. No human would dare to kidnap his sister. Not many would know about the Beast Herders or the Ultijuru or even Elemental Zodiacs. Why would they it has been a secret passed on by surviving Ultijuru of Sand Rapture incident. An event leading to the dismissal of their holy land.

Here’s the continuation for your chapter based on the provided draft:

Irvin stood at the school gate, a mix of tiredness and dread weighing on him. He didn’t sleep well, not after hearing Destiny hadn’t come home. She’d been late before, but this time felt wrong. His parents didn’t even speak at breakfast; they just sat there, hoping for a call or a knock at the door. No news.

“Yo, Irv!” a familiar voice cut through the fog in his mind. Mike jogged up to him, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “You hear about Destiny?”

Irvin nodded, trying to keep his face calm. “Yeah. Nothing yet.”

Mike frowned. “Third person gone this month. Something’s going on, man. You think it’s connected to those, you know, things?”

Irvin glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “I don’t know. My parents are freaking out, though.”

Mike adjusted his glasses, the sunlight glinting off the lenses. “Well, my sister’s been saying weird stuff too. Like, her plants are dying no matter what she does. She’s convinced it’s some sign or curse. Honestly, this place just gets stranger.”

They walked into the building, the smell of disinfectant and old books hitting them like it always did. The day dragged on, class after class blurring together until their history lesson.

“Settle down, everyone,” their teacher, Mrs. Elin, called out. Her voice carried that sharpness that could cut through any chatter. She turned to the chalkboard and wrote: The Ultijuru and the Elemental Zodiacs.

Mrs. Elin set down her chalk and turned to the class, her eyes gleaming with uncharacteristic intensity. “It’s one thing to hear a story,” she began, “but another to see it. Today, we’re going to try something…different.”

The class exchanged puzzled glances. Mike leaned over to Irvin and whispered, “What’s she talking about?”

Mrs. Elin raised her hands, her fingers moving in fluid, deliberate gestures, forming shapes that seemed to shimmer faintly in the air. “Pay attention. This is a technique passed down through my family. It’s called the Threading. It allows a shared vision—if you’re willing to participate. Close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and let your thoughts intertwine with mine.”

Skeptical muttering filled the room, but one by one, the students followed her instructions.

“Good,” Mrs. Elin said softly. “Now…look.”

The classroom faded away, replaced by a windswept desert stretching endlessly in all directions. A crimson sky loomed above, heavy with the weight of something otherworldly. In the distance, five figures trudged forward, their silhouettes stark against the sand.

“These are the Ultijuru,” Mrs. Elin’s voice echoed in their minds, calm and steady. “A band of wanderers who dared to venture where no others had gone. They sought refuge, but instead, they found destiny.”

They stumbled upon a cave, its entrance marked by ancient glyphs glowing faintly in the dim light.

“Inside,” Mrs. Elin continued, “they found more than shelter. They found the realm of darkness.”

The vision plunged deeper, the cave’s walls narrowing and twisting until the group emerged onto a jagged ledge. Below them was an abyss so vast it seemed to swallow the very concept of space. A faint glow flickered on the far side, their only beacon.

A stone platform materialized beneath their feet, shifting and groaning as it ferried them across. The air grew colder with each passing moment, the silence broken only by their labored breaths and the hum of unseen forces.

The platform stopped, depositing them before a vast chamber. At its center sat a creature unlike anything they had ever seen—a massive owl with feathers shimmering in iridescent hues, its eyes pools of infinite depth.

“I am the Seer,” it spoke, its voice resonating like a chorus of whispers. “You have come seeking refuge, but I offer more. A bond. A pact. Pair your souls with the Elemental Zodiacs, beings of a world beyond your comprehension. In return, you will wield their power and protect your kind. Do you accept?”

The five exchanged hesitant glances. Draul was the first to step forward, his bravado masking uncertainty. “I’ll take your deal, bird. Power sounds good to me.”

One by one, the others followed, each for their own reasons: Kerti, to safeguard her companions; Nekris, with a glimmer of defiance in her dark eyes; Merf, driven by an insatiable curiosity; and Hulo, to honor his duty to protect.

The owl spread its wings, and the chamber filled with light. From the abyss rose five figures—ethereal beings shaped by fire, water, earth, air, and shadow. The Zodiacs moved to their chosen partners, their forms shimmering before melding into the travelers.

“You are now bound,” the Seer intoned. “Your fates intertwined. Go forth, Ultijuru, and carry this power wisely.”

The vision faded abruptly as the classroom lights flickered back into focus. The bell rang, its sharp clang shattering the students’ trance.

“That,” Mrs. Elin said, her voice returning to its usual matter-of-fact tone, “is the origin of the Ultijuru. Now, off to your next class.”

The students shuffled out, dazed and murmuring. Mike nudged Irvin. “Tell me that wasn’t the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen.”

Irvin didn’t answer. His mind was elsewhere, still lingering on the Seer’s piercing gaze and the strange sense of familiarity it stirred within him.

Irvin stepped out of the school building, still shaken from Mrs. Elin’s bizarre lesson. The late afternoon sun glared down on him as he adjusted his bag and started toward the main gate. His thoughts were a tangled mess, caught between the story of the Ultijuru and the gnawing worry for Destiny.

He barely noticed Jessica until she collided with him.

“Oh! Sorry!” she exclaimed, stumbling back a step. Her caramel-colored eyes widened as she looked up at him. “Didn’t see you there.”

Irvin steadied himself, recognizing her from earlier. “Jessica, right?”

“Yeah,” she said, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I was, uh, just looking for the library. Guess I got turned around.”

Irvin raised an eyebrow. “Library’s the other way.”

She laughed nervously. “Figures. Thanks.” She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “Hey, quick question… Is it true there are, like, special classes here for certain students? Local kids, I mean. Like, something extra?”

Irvin froze. “What are you talking about?”

Jessica shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just something I overheard. Thought maybe you’d know since you’ve probably lived here forever.”

Irvin narrowed his eyes. “If there were something like that—and I’m not saying there is—why would you care?”

Jessica’s demeanor shifted subtly, her casual tone giving way to something more serious. “Look, I’ve been in this town for three days, and it’s already the weirdest place I’ve ever been. People whisper about things they think I can’t hear. Animals look at me like they understand. And now there’s talk of secret classes? Come on, Irvin. What’s really going on?”

He stared at her, his gut twisting with unease. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” she countered, her voice dropping. “Because I saw you and a couple of others heading somewhere after lunch. Somewhere no one else was going.”

“That was just study hall,” Irvin lied, his tone sharp. “You’re reading way too much into this.”

Jessica’s shoulders slumped, but her eyes stayed locked on his, scrutinizing him. “Fine. Forget I said anything.” She turned to walk away but paused when Irvin spoke again.

“Wait,” he said, his voice quieter now. “There’s something else. My sister…she’s missing.”

Jessica turned back, her expression softening. “Missing? Since when?”

“Last night. She was supposed to be home by curfew, but she never showed up. The police think it’s just another runaway, but it’s not like her. Something’s wrong.”

Jessica’s brow furrowed, her earlier curiosity replaced by genuine concern. “I’m sorry, Irvin. That’s awful. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Irvin shook his head. “Not unless you can find out what’s been happening to the people who disappear around here. She’s not the first.”

Jessica hesitated, then placed a hand lightly on his arm. “For what it’s worth, I hope she’s okay. And if you change your mind…about needing help, I mean…let me know.”

He nodded, his gaze distant. “Thanks.”

As Jessica walked away, Irvin felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. She was digging into things she didn’t understand—things no one should understand. If she wasn’t careful, she’d find herself in trouble, just like Destiny.

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