After unlocking the Awakening skill, Thorne immediately summoned Tylen and the others.
The once-youthful boys had matured considerably over months of training. Tylen, already a pillar of the Huang Tribe, was growing into his own since the High Priest's departure. Gordon's death had made him quieter, more reserved.
"Lord Lake God, do you have orders for us?" Tylen asked.
His faith in Thorne was absolute—100%. His sole desires were to serve Thorne and protect the remaining Huang Tribe.
"First, report on the magic beast nurturing progress these past months."
At the mention of magic beasts, Tylen's face brightened. He'd raised them himself, treating them like his own children, and they were fond of him.
"Lord Thorne, over the past two months, we've nurtured fifty-six magic beasts: two at Mortal Tier Level 3, eighteen at Level 2, and thirty at Level 1."
Such beasts weren't particularly useful to Thorne yet, but every journey starts somewhere. With the Awakening skill, the next batch could scale exponentially.
"Pause the nurturing for now. There's a task I need you all to undertake."
"Please speak, Lord Lake God. We'll see it done," Tylen and the Huang Tribe replied devoutly.
"I know the Huang Tribe were once the elves' specialists in raising and training magic beasts. How much of that skill remains?"
Tylen hesitated, exchanging glances with his kin before answering, "We've been apart from the elves too long. The elders say much was left behind. What we brought was passed down orally and through practice, but the younger generations were weak and didn't learn it all. Little remains now."
"That's troublesome if you've lost it all. I've no experience training magic beasts myself," Thorne frowned inwardly.
Still, he pressed on, unwilling to give up. "Can you at least train them for coordinated combat?"
Tylen scratched his head, shaking it. "We only know basic rearing. Combat training—we've had no chance to practice it, so we didn't learn."
Thorne's heart sank. Without skilled trainers, even a horde of magic beasts would be a rabble, lacking real combat strength.
Seeing Thorne's prolonged silence, Tylen ventured nervously, "Lord Lake God, if you need trainers, I could return to the Huang Tribe's main camp. Some elders might still know those skills. They just never taught us, deeming them useless then."
Thorne considered it—there might be truth to that. With the High Priest unreachable, sending Tylen was the only option.
"Alright. Ride the Red Flame Windchaser and return quickly. Stay safe. If you face danger you can't handle, silently call my name three times in your heart."
The main camp's survival was uncertain. This beast tide was massive, and Thorne doubted the elves would bother protecting the Huang Tribe—mere tools to them. Tylen's trip was risky, but training methods were vital, so he had to go.
Before that, though, there was one more task.
"Spread out and sit on the ground. I have something to bestow."
Tylen and the others obeyed eagerly, spacing out and sitting cross-legged, expecting another Blessing.
"Use skill: Awakening."
This was no gentle Blessing. A blood-red light pierced their bodies, igniting flames within that spread throughout.
"Stay calm and endure. Great rewards await," Thorne's voice soothed them like a balm.
Despite pained expressions, none rose or cried out, bearing it stoically.
The agony lasted an hour. Their beast-hide clothes were soaked with sweat, as if fished from the lake.
But they all felt profound changes—wings sprouted behind them, not the elves' dainty white ones, but sandy desert hues.
"Is this… elven blood? We've reverted to elves?"
"But why are they different?"
"Different is better! We're not elves—we're Huang Tribe, loyal to Lord Lake God!"
The group buzzed with shock and joy. Tylen quickly knelt by the lake, bowing to Thorne.
"Alright, adjust to your new state. Tylen, set out. The rest stay here, manage the magic beasts, and prevent fights."
"Yes, Lord Lake God."
They left excitedly, some youths already testing their new wings.
Thorne watched them go, puzzled. "Why were the Huang Tribe banished to this desert and stripped of their bloodlines?"
Not all elves had wings—only royal descendants who awakened their bloodlines did, holding high status. Grandi had wings; Elysis didn't. Yet these "lowly" Huang Tribe members all grew wings upon awakening, varying in form but proving their noble lineage.
Mass bloodline awakening for magic beasts awaited Tylen's return, so Thorne idled. He noticed the Magic Dragon Gecko hopping on the Ghost Thorn Tree.
"What if I used Awakening on the little gecko?"
He doubted it could awaken again, given its current state.
The Ghost Thorn Tree had woken half a month ago, reaching Mortal Tier Level 8. Finally below Thorne, it restored some masterly dignity. Instead of growing its trunk with Thorne's water, it focused underground, expanding its roots—likely realizing a taller trunk made a bigger target.