Chapter 2: A man and his buffalo

CHAPTER II

A MAN AND HIS BUFFALO

The children approach the wall of the kingdom; ragged, wet, cold, alone, but alive. They see a guard in a gray armor. I sent The Master to wait for the children at the gate. I watched from atop of the wall.

"Hello children" says the master in a deep yet wise voice. He was a tall slender man covered in a home made, dim multi-colored robe. His eyes covered by a makeshift sewn shawl and white hairs. His beard was long, white and decently kept. "I was summoned to take you in. Do not be alarmed, I'm here to help."

The children went with The Master, as their "father" instructed them to. They went to the masters residence. The building stood two stories and was a faded black; it looked sturdy and well fortified. Above the door held a old, rotting sign that said "'Master' Combat". They went inside and saw a deep blue, circular chamber with a red stripe forming a circle half way from the edge and the middle. Inside the red, was a lighter blue that filled the circle in the back of the room were a small set of stairs leading to a chair that was a big and important looking chair. A small, long, black carpet was put on the middle of the stairs that went from the chair to the red circle. The chair was red, gold and brown; the legs looked of a horses and the arms were straight that led to a smooth spiral. The top was an arc lined with gold; two brown spikes were on either side.

The children marveled at this run down training room, it was the fanciest thing they ever saw, living in the forest all their life.

The Master said, "This is where I live. It's not much, but it's enough. I hope you children like it." With that said he smiled.

"Welcome home, Master," said a high pitch voice, and a cartoonish buffalo wearing a Tiki mask, though it appeared that the mask was his head he had no facial features beside ridiculously big eyes that I thought were really cute. his head was only slightly smaller than his body. He stood about 2 feet tall, 3 feet long, and had somewhat small horns. Other than his head having a permanent mask that wraps around the front half of his face, he looked like a normal buffalo. "I see you brought visitors. I hope they taste good." the bison said with his eyes sparkling with much joy and satisfaction.

The children started to look worried and shocked to scared, yet amassed to move, except Black Ezra, who was ready to attack

The Master laughs and says, "That’s Tiki Bison. He's really nice and positive. He's not going to eat you. He eats your aura, witch is the illumination from your soul. Your emotions and personality affect the color. To him, different colors equal different flavors."

The children were still dazed and confused to see this weird creature. Rainbow Arze asked "What is it?"

"Technically, he's is a shape shifter, well that’s what he does. I don’t know exactly what species he is, but he can shape shift."

"you have a really nice place, Mister." White Ezra said in his childish voice, "I like it, but who are you?"

The Master chuckled and said, "A old friend to your father, and a good friend at that"

Grey Ezra asked "do you know anything about that robed man?"

The old man sighed, looked down, and patted him on the head. "In time child, in time." He notices the weapons the children are carrying and gives a small laugh. "May I have a look at those weapons?"

The children react by getting in a battle stance.

The Master puts his hands up, slightly surprised. "It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you."

The children relax and they give him their weapons. Grey Ezra gives him his crooked staff. Black Ezra gives him his mostly dull, stone sword. White Ezra gives him a bow made from a few stick and a vine. And lastly, Rainbow Arze hands over his whip made from throne's on a vine with one end wrapped around a piece of wood as a handle.

The Master looks at the craftsman ship of the children's weapons. It wasn’t much but it was still impressive and creative for what they had. He goes in the middle of the room and tells them to watch. He begins to use the weapons in a

beautiful technique. The kids marvel at the graceful yet intimidating show being performed in front of them as he is leaping and slashing, jumping and cracking. A beautiful technique that would be beyond lethal if used in combat.

When he finishes, The kids all applauded and cheered. "You still amaze me, Master." Tiki Bison said.

The Master laughs, "Well it's always fun to do."

"My turn!" Tiki Bison says, as he bounces excitedly. He then turns into a seal, and starts barking and clapping. The Master laughs and throws a ball. Tiki Bison, in seal form, balances the ball on his nose, still barking and clapping.

The children laugh at this unexpected turn, and start cheering when he starts balancing the ball. The seal bows and turns back in to the adorable bison he is.

"Your always good for a laugh, ya bag of bones," The Master says with a chuckle.

"Can you please tell us what happened? With our father? Or what will happen?" Grey Ezra says loudly. The other children stop clapping and look up with big eyes and a face that says 'we want to know'. They tried to push out the sadness by trying to enjoy what they could.

The Master sighs "You’re a lot like your father. All right, I can tell you what you will do from here. The robed man killed your father."

"But we felt him as we ran away." said White Ezra.

"Well despite if you did or not, he is dead." said The Master hastily," Now, The robed man killed your father. It is my job to train you so you can defeat this man."

"Who is he? And how do you know this" Rainbow Arze asked.

"I was in the woods collecting for a stew." The Master said as he showed the kids an assortment of vegetables, herbs, and grasses. "Speaking of which, I better get started. It will be supper soon." 

With that, he walks into a room left of the entrance, half way between the chair and the front door. It was a kitchen with a big pot in the corner, partly covered by a wooden countertop. Above the counter, hung some cooking tools: spatulas, spoons, everything a basic cook would need in his kitchen. The left side contained a wooden set of tables and chairs. The walls were a light brown, same as the floor. 

"You never answered my question." Rainbow Arze said, a tad annoyed.

The Master sighs, "He was the leader of a kingdom that has been at war with this land for a while. He sends mercenaries, street thugs, anything that'll do damage." The Master then started preparing dinner.

"Why did he kill our father?" White Ezra asked

Now The Master was getting a tad annoyed "Ill tell you later, it’s a long story that I don’t feel like trying to explain. Now sit down and … talk to Tiki Bison till dinner is ready."

The children were very irritated with that response, but decided to learn more about the masked mammal. Tiki Bison shrunk down to the size of a rat and sat on the table, the children surrounding him, amazed at what power he possesses. 

The buffalo laughs "You'll get used to my awesomeness," he said while posing in a boastful position. "Do you have any questions about me?"

They all had questions. Grey Ezra asked "What all can you do." 

"I can shape shift; go in any terrain; I'm unaffected by environment, magic, and physical objects; I can go through any object; and I am able to affect all three states in a way most can't." Tiki Bison responded.

They all looked confused, "Three states?"

The bison was shocked at their ignorance, but understanding. "Well, the 3 states, realms, planes, components of reality. They are physical, mental, and spiritual. Reality is made of these three things. But beings, such as you and I, contain high levels of these. Beings are very special for this reason. Everything you do affects one of these, and if you affect one, you affect all indirectly.

"How so?" says Grey Ezra in a very curious, yet confused, as all the others are.

Tiki Bison thinks for a moment, and says, "We'll use an illusion as an example. What do you think illusions would affect.

Rainbow Arze responds, "It'd be mental, right?"

Tiki Bison chuckles and decided to lay down, for he was getting tired of sitting like a dog. He lets out a sigh of relief and says "Correct. Does anyone know what happens to the other two if someone sees an illusion."

Silence falls as the children are stumped. After a while, Tiki Bison says, "It could distract someone, you know that. When they see it they may be intimidated if it’s a monster, or joyous if it’s a rare item they were looking for; so there feelings change. Because there feelings have changed they will act differently. They will mentally see it, spiritually feel it, and physically act on it."

The children understand now and relies how amazing it is. They think of other examples in their head and find endless possibilities. 

After a while, White Ezra asked, "Is there more of you?"

"No." said Tiki Bison sadly "I don’t know actually, I've never met another."

Black Ezra asked "Do you have any enemies?"

"I sure hope not." Tiki Bison said, "I try hard to make everybody's friend."

Lastly, Rainbow Arze asked "What do you like to do?"

The buffalo said happily, "Eating and shape shifting for jokes. Watch this." Tiki Bison pushed a spoon off the table and turned into a spoon looking exactly like it. At this time, The Master poured 6 bowls of soup. I had a taste when no one was looking. He served the children a bowl and called for Tiki Bison. When he heard no response, the old man went to grab for the spoon and saw its shaft shrunk; then, rubbed the inside of the spoon and saw his spoon transform in to the bison we know.

The kids smiled and laughed at what the bison has done. They all enjoyed a delicious stew, prepared by their new ally. 

That night, beds were prepared in the room across the kitchen, at the other side of the circular room. In a basic room with a window on the left side of the beds and the entrance to the room. The four children told The Master what Tiki Bison went to sleep, uneasy, but comfortable.