Both her parents nodded in unison, a quiet affirmation that felt heavier than any spoken truth. Her father exhaled, shoulders tensing slightly before he leaned forward.
"You see," he began, voice low and calm, "the Divine Beasts were once protectors. Symbols of balance. But the organization… they were created to control them."
He pulled a folded, yellowed paper from the inside of his coat and slid it across the table toward Esme. The parchment was old, the ink faded but legible. As she unfolded it, her father continued.
"This… this was written over a hundred years ago. Back then, the organization wasn't what it is now. Its original purpose was to regulate the Divine Beasts' energy—too much of it could overwhelm the bearer, or even kill them. The organization was formed to protect both the beast and its owner."
Esme's fingers tightened on the edge of the paper, her mother's voice picking up the thread.
