Spirit Taming

Chapter 122: Feeding Birds

"Isa, I think we can take down this sandworm and take it back for research." Ella knew that this was a beast she did not intend to breed. But, it was a beast that she could learn about and try to breed similar beasts in the future

"If you want it then we can get it. It's all an investment." Isa didn't mind. She knew to any researcher that having the beast bodies to analyze would be valuable. If someone researched a beast and then tried to raise them, it was already proven that the raising would be better than if the breeder did not research them.

"Perfect. I will have my earth wisps distract it. You will send your ice maiden to back me up. Your flame sprite can take the nest while I use my wind sprites to cut it down." It was a simple job. But Ella was not going to hold back.

The wisp that Ella controlled came out and started to send spiritual energy around. The wisps that came to it were the same that had remained in hiding since earlier. They were raised by Ella but also free. However, they were attached to her and the wisp that was her spirit beast. They would never abandon her. It was still amazing to witness wisps coming out of thin air to help her.

"They are going to take it down. We will see more than we thought." Maria made note of this. She and Clark were still hidden but both of them had a feeling that the other two knew they were around. It was just a gut feeling.

"If they are going to take it down, then they will have to attack the joints in the armor. I think Ella knows that though." Clark watched and pointed out the earth sprites making vibrations and small earth spikes. This caused the sandworm to rise from the nest in anger. Its territory had been invaded so it was ready to attack anything that moved.

The wind sprites moved to the side of Isa's ice maiden. They were going to be backing up the force of the ice maidens' attacks with their wind. Every single icicle that condensed in the air already had small vortexes of wind behind them.

"That's a great combination. The icicles and the wind will break the armor even without aiming for the slots in the plates of the sandworm's armor." Clark found this tactic even better than attacking individually. He had not considered many combination moves. It would be a topic he had to revisit soon.

The icicles flew right at the sandworms' backs. It was too caught up with the earth wisps that were constantly making spikes on the ground. The spikes all around it vibrated making it hard to sense any other movement. It was almost a trap of earth around a beast that relied on earth.

The icicles crashed in to the sandworm shattering but leaving a bloodied hole in the armor. This pain caused the sandworm to writhe on the ground before collapsing completely. The power of the icicles were much more than anyone had expected. But the result was very clear, victory.

"Now that was a good attack. We should record that. Use it in training suggestions for others that get a beast with ice and wind together." Ella wanted to record it but knew they had a best and beast to collect.

'I think you two worked very well together. Maria and I just made a lot of noise." Clark walked in to see them empty the nest.

"I knew that was you that made so much noise. You seem like you would want the attention." Isa felt pretty good and didn't have any problem teasing Clark who was already making waves as a top student and youngest student in the research building.

"We have taken the sandworm for research. I may not breed them but you and I can use it to learn more. We should be able to develop a better beast growth plan to sell with them." Ella was all research while she pulled out some slightly smaller pale yellow eggs than what Clark had found.

"We managed to find a really big nest. The sandworm wasn't just a normal one. Clark said it was an elder sandworm." Ella froze in place when she heard that. She knew what that meant.

"So you have eggs that could become giant sandworms? Ones that only live deep underground and in deserts?" Ella knew that if Clark could tell them avert with her help, then they would be a massive seller.

"Yes. and I have already started to notice the differences between them. I think we might have five or six giant sandworm eggs." Clark's smile grew while he watched Isa start to pull small earth crystals from the sandworm nest.

"Between you two finding these eggs and the earth crystals we will buy whatever we need in Star city. We could even take over the merchant district." Isa's giggles were slightly evil. Clark and Maria worried that they were watching the birth of a big business villain.

"We will have to analyze the difference in the eggs. I want to sketch a diagram. Maria, will you record the growth and hatching plans?" Ella had heard from Isa that Maria was very quick and organized when writing. Having a secondary recorder would be perfect for the speed that which Ella and Clark would analyze things.

"Of course, I will. I have to pull my weight somewhere. But before that, Clark said there should be two more nests to handle. You two can deal with one and we will handle the last." Maria kept them on topic, making Isa and Ella focus.

"The nest you two can take is here." Clark pointed it out on the map they had of the area. He was sure that there would be a little trouble at the nest that he had decided to take so he allowed the other two to take the safer option.

"So we are taking this spot? It's pretty out in the open." Maria knew what that meant.

"It would be the best place to get a full analysis of the stone falcon for our extra assignment." Clark accepted that he had to do this.

"Then we meet up in an hour to finish everything." Isa put a limit on everything and then pushed Ella towards their next target. Clark wasn't worried about them at all. The wisps seemed to be even better than he had realized.

Crim took the lead toward the next nest. Devi was patrolling around them invisibly before Clark felt that Devi had found something. "Devi found our targets." Following Devi's mental instructions, Clark managed to find the sandworm nest with a lot of open space.

This nest had been made within a large clearing in the trees. It made it the perfect space for any flying beast to swoop down. It also made it perfect for a stone falcon to sit in a tree and wait for the sandworm to surface. "There it is. It's pretending to be part of that tree."

Maria was able to find the stone falcon before Calrk. Her sharp eyes as an archer proved to be more advanced than Clark's

' stone falcon- rare

The reason this is a rare beast is due to the unique elemental typing. It is a pure earth/rock type beast that can fly. It is done so through a unique skill that controls the feathers on its body. The stone falcon grows soft feathers that it condenses stone on, therefore, gaining the ability to manipulate them. The hallmark attack is stone feather needles.

It is incredibly weak to water because it softens the stone on the feathers. The stone falcon is also not a graceful flier. It will often move too fast and crash in to things making it easy to dodge to escape. Beware the tough beak.'

The analysis was softly mumbled to Maria who recorded it all down before Clark brandished the black needles. He was ready to send them out and start the fun.

The sandworm felt the vibrations and reacted as any would. Unfortunately, it was being baited with each of the black needles hitting the ground. The more it rose to attack the spot the black needles hit, the more the stone falcon prepared to take off.

In a sudden burst of speed, the stone falcon reached out talons and clasped on to the sandworm above the ground. The following crash and spray of dirt illustrated lack of control but also power. The falcon had shredded the armor of the sandworm like it was butter.

With its prey in its talons and beak tearing away the armor, the stone falcon took off. "Now that was something to watch." Clark felt that he had learned a valuable lesson about ambushes.

"I will always check the trees for danger." Maria followed the treeline to the nests to start their harvest. Her eyes constantly checking the surroundings.