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started at ~100 stats
kinged March 18 '23 at ~300 stats
In the beginning, Mythika, the elder disgraced king, found Fascination, who was young and ambitious. With little else to call his own, he took the other under his wing, spending countless days and nights mentoring the fellow, teaching them how to be a good ruler to a pride that could one day be their own - a truly good leader, better than he ever was. They listened intently when he would recite history to them, spinning tales of his misdeeds which had led to his downfall and loss of his pride. He taught them to be merciful, to be a true leader, with strength and integrity, but unafraid to do what it takes when necessary.
Mythika and Fascination would go on to travel side by side for many moons to come. Every day that passed, Fascination seemed to learn something new. Their once puny body grew toned and refined as Mythika instructed them along, teaching them to hunt for themself, and eventually for him as well, when his own muscles began to tire and wear away. He taught them to patrol to ensure the safety of the area they were residing in, knowing that he would come to the point that he could not defend himself any longer, and would need their aid. Fascination, of course, had no qualms over providing for and protecting their dear mentor. Mythika was, after all, the only lion that had seen promise within them. They could not bear to stomach the thought of leaving him to rot, knowing they would've been nothing without him.
Eventually, the day came that Mythika simply could not push on any longer. The two laid down at the edge of a waterhole, and Fascination carefully groomed Mythika's fur with concern plain in their eyes. They asked him softly if there was anything they could do for him, and he simply responded, in a hoarse and strained voice, that there was not. He looked to them tiredly, and delicately brushed his nose under their chin. He assured them with utmost sincerity that he knew they'd push through no matter what happened to the both of them. Fascination had not known grief like that which they felt come the next rise of the sun, when Mythika was found to have passed in the night, pressed close against their side.
Fascination mourned their mentor for an uncertain period of time. They did not eat, and they did not drink. All they did was lay there next to him, consumed by grief. All of their plans they had formed with him felt like they were set far beyond their reach. Everything felt impossible. That was, at least, until something in them seemed to change and shift. Their mind turned with a new yet familiar presence. It seemed the voice of Mythika spoke to them again, in words no one else could ever hear. He told them they must rise and become everything he taught them to be. He told them they must move on from their mourning place, and to make something more of themself. And who were they to refuse him?
Upon weary paws they rose, casting a last pained gaze at the body of the old lion. After sorting themself out and finding what they needed in nourishment, they set out again, this time physically alone, with the goal in mind to create a pride for themself, as Mythika wished of them. It did not take long until they came face to face with a lone lioness. She made no hesitation in remarking to Fascination that their eyes positively glowed. Fascination thought it a flirt, and grew bashful, but the lioness before them insisted that really, their eyes were glowing! Fascination, naturally, had no idea what to make of the claim then, and asked if they could be shown to the nearest body of water to get a look at themself. The lioness granted their request, and guided them to a lake not too far north of where they stood prior. As it were, the lady was right! Their eyes, and parts of the fur on their face as well, were glittering with vibrant golden light. All they could hear in their mind was the all too well known cackle of Mythika, while their company stared at them with an expectant gaze.
Fascination and the lioness they had met that day did soon join up, and a new pride budded from them as they traveled and found more wandering individuals, but in all the steps taken through plain and prairie, forest and thicket, Fascination still held questions they did not have answers to. It would take them many, many more moons to discover the true extent of what the spirit of Mythika had granted them.
The prophetic visions came first. Fascination saw the future of their pride in their dreams. They saw the faces of the new lions which would soon join them, they saw the cubs that would be sired by them and which of those cubs would not make it. They saw the rise of threats to their pride and they saw what precautions they'd need to take to avoid it. They led their pride elegantly, claiming it all to be accredited to their "intuition", at least until their pridemates began to ask questions. Unwilling to truly deceive those which supported them, they admitted to the truth that they assumed the visions of the future to be a result of Mythika's influence upon them. Naturally, some did not believe them, but others did.
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