(I just wanted to improve Cyrus a bit for the time skip, sine i havent done so yet.)

Recently, rumors have been going around about an unknown beast living in a small cave deep within the Monster Range. Usually, the worst you see are the rare T-Rexaurs, whih still shouldnt be enough to severly injure well-trained students. But this beast is said to be quite dangerous. Although it hasnt killed anyone, a couple students have been sent to the infirmery with odd, glowing claw marks on their bodies. Whenever Garden staff searched, though, they found no evidence of any such creature.

About a week ago, Cyrus and a friend decided to go search for the beast, curious about what it might look like. However, when they left, Cyrus was beat up and barely able to walk, and his friend was quite badly injured as well.

A much more serious Cyrus, now wanting to find the creature and capture it for revenge, walked down the hall to the Monster Range in his still torn up robe, and a broken toy Omnitrix that wouldnt work in its condition even if it were real. Although he was still in pain, especially his left arm, he was determined to defeat the monster and show it to Cid. He hadnt actually seen the best during the attack, but from students who claim to have seen it, he heard that it has crimson stripes, it slightly resembles the Guardian Force Ifrit, and that its elemental affinity seem to be Lightning or Fire.

"Well, beastie, you messed with the wrong mime. "

The boy was nothing if not a fool. Even after a beating as thorough as the one he'd received at the claws of this unseen, unnamed beast, he was still going alone after it. Erk couldn't tell whether he was brave, rash, or merely stupid. Perhaps all three.

Watching the boy nearly limping down the hall, Erk turned to the elf at his side. Small and slight in the way of his race, the boy stood just a bit taller than Erk himself. "You've been complaining of boredom recently. Why don't you accompany him; I'm sure he could use someone to watch his back out there, in the state he's in. If you're still hoping to occupy yourself, then perhaps this will keep you busy; and hopefully, out of my liqueur cabinet!" The elven youth, grinning sheepishly, set off to intercept Cyrus.

Watching him, Erk sighed deeply. His newest pupil had proven more trouble than he was worth. The only reason that he'd gotten into the Garden was through considerable string-pulling on Erk's part; he was beginning to regret it. Erk still maintained contacts with his old clan in the forests of his old home. The boy, Peren, was the grandson of an elder matron of his childhood village. At the request of his grandmother, he'd shoved Peren through the admissions process.

He rationalized the obvious favouritism with the knowledge that if the new student was anything like his grandmother, then the school would benefit almost as much as from their acquisition of Shinu all those months back. No such luck. Peren had proved to be an impulsive, layabout brat. He held considerable talent, that was sure, but proved, sadly, unexceptional. Reflecting on what he was going to do with Peren in the future, Erk turned away and made his own way down another hallway towards the library.

Meanwhile, the auburn-haired elf accosted Cyrus. "You're not going alone to try and best this thing, are you? Alone, and in your condition, you wouldn't last a minute by yourself! Why don't you do yourself a favor and let me come along. Safety in numbers and all that tired jazz." Peren turned, and continued walking beside Cyrus, not waiting for an answer.

((Ivan's post was edited a bit. Erk is not with us, it's a new student Peren.))

Shinu was headed for the monster range to find the boy. His potential still untapped, Cyrus had become of great interest to Shinu. The boy was weird for sure, but that meant normal here. He thought he would have developed by now, but he hadn't heard from Cyrus since the ball, not good. He wanted himt o be a leader as the future of the Academy when the likes of Shinu and the others retired. Where was that boy? Monster Range he heard, not too shabby.

When he encountered him finally, Corenian was scolding him. Ha, Corenian was really coming into his own as a true leader for the Garden. Another boy Shinu didn't know was with them, none too impressive. He remembered his file, he lacked the credentials to be here.

Corenian don't you think you're too hard on them? Are we any better my good friend? The future of the Garden lies with these two young men and their peers. You have to learn to lose before you learn to win. Never give up, never give in, and never betray those who have got you to this point men.

Shinu addressed the young boys with a few words of encouragement as he'd been known to do.

I know you're worried because they lost, but maybe we can give them some veteran company and make sure things go alright. They need the training like we all do. Shall we gentlemen?

Cyrus turned to Cornerian as he began scolding him. Although he was still serious, he was kinda happy that someone was trying to talk him out of this dangerous task.

"I will gladly return to the infirmiry later, but im afraid i have some very important business with that monster, I apologize..."

He examined the bandages on his left arm while he listened to Shinu. This was the first time he saw Shinu in 8 months, so he was also happy that he had returned.

"Im glad you all wish to join me But please be careful... The beast im after is much more powerful than any Grat in here."

"Thats why I need to capture it... I dont know how it got here, but I know a teacher or Cid wouldnt have put something his dangerous into the field. And Ive caused too many people to get hurt by this beast in past attempts to catch it..."

Cyrus said this as he looked down on the floor, trying not to think about it. He seemed more upset every time he thought about the creature, or the friend of his who was attacked while searching with Cyrus a week ago.

Shinu didn't want to see Cyrus down in the dumps like this. He was probably the weirdest kid he ever met, but he was a nice one and with good intentions for sure. He wanted to help him. He wasn't sure this would actually be a challenge, but he knew that it meant a lot to poor Cyrus.

Well come on Cyrus, take us to the beast. The likes of Kira and Corenian have defeated the Fire God himself, I'm sure with these two, Peren here and my summons, we'll handle some business.

"Thank you, everyone I know this beast is probably nothing, but I still dont think it should be here... I asked a bit about the beast, and a majority of the attacks happened near a cave near the back of the Monster Range. As for its appearance and its powers, ive heard different things, but most reports say its a red beast, it uses Fire and Poison, and it can charge electricity in its claws. It has been compared to a legendary monster, buts its much weaker than the other beast is rumored to be, so i doubt its the real thing."

Cyrus said this while reading through a notebook he had been hiding. The notebook looked old and slightly torn, with a stain on it that looked like dried blood. It has a tag on it that was from an old store in Timber, and it said "Drake's Diary" on the cover.

"Whatever the elements they don't matter to me. As long as I get the chance to crack some skulls I'm already satisfied. Besides, mysterious creatures don't come around everyday... you have my and Fia's support," Corenian grunted, whipping out a half-drunk bottle of sake and taking a few long gulps, psyched after hearing about the unknown monster.

Fia on the other hand was more concerned and definetly less foolhardy than her companion. Whatever the thing was, it certainly would be dangerous and Corenian getting drunk would make things even more hazardous, not only to the monster but everyone else as well. However, there really wasn't much she could do about his drinking habits so all she could do was hope for the best.