Morning classes at Starfall Academy were supposed to begin with calm, orderly instruction. A gentle introduction to the world of beast‑taming. A chance for new students to settle in, breathe, and learn.
Soren did not get that experience.
He got chaos.
He got stares.
He got whispers following him like a parade of gossiping ghosts.
And worst of all—he got a tiny fox who was far too proud of itself.
The fox perched on his shoulder as he walked toward the training fields, tail swishing like a banner of victory. Students pointed. Some waved. Some whispered. Some glared.
Soren wanted to crawl into a hole.
Kael walked beside him, annoyingly calm. "You should get used to the attention."
"I don't want attention," Soren muttered. "I want anonymity. And safety. And maybe a nap."
"You can't have all three."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped, clearly disagreeing.
---
Instructor Rowan's Class
Training Field 1 was already filled with students and beasts of all shapes and sizes. Fire‑lizards, stone‑shell turtles, wind‑hares, even a small thunder‑sparrow perched on a girl's shoulder.
Soren felt painfully out of place.
Instructor Rowan stood at the front, emerald wolf at his side. His calm presence quieted the field instantly.
"Welcome to Beast Handling 101," Rowan said. "Your first and most important class."
Soren straightened. The fox sat up proudly.
Rowan continued, "Beast‑taming is not about strength. It is about connection. Trust. Understanding. A beast is not a tool. It is a partner."
Soren nodded vigorously. The fox chirped approvingly.
Rowan's gaze swept the students—and landed on Soren.
Soren froze.
Rowan smiled faintly. "Mr. Vale. Step forward."
Soren nearly died on the spot. "M‑me?"
"Yes. Bring your fox."
Soren stumbled forward, fox clinging to his hoodie like a fluffy barnacle.
Rowan gestured to the center of the field. "Your duel yesterday has caused quite a stir."
Soren winced. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. You demonstrated something valuable."
Soren blinked. "I… did?"
Rowan nodded. "Determination. Loyalty. And a bond strong enough to push a weak beast beyond its limits."
The fox puffed up proudly.
Rowan continued, "Today, we will test that bond."
Soren's stomach dropped. "Test? How?"
Rowan snapped his fingers.
A wooden training dummy rose from the ground, glowing faintly with runes.
"Command your fox to strike the target."
Soren stared at the dummy.
Then at the fox.
Then back at the dummy.
"Strike?" he whispered. "As in… attack?"
Rowan nodded. "Yes."
Soren swallowed. "Okay. Um… fox? Buddy? Pal? Could you… maybe… attack that thing?"
The fox blinked.
Then trotted over to the dummy.
Then head‑butted it.
Very gently.
The dummy didn't move.
The fox chirped proudly.
The class burst into laughter.
Soren covered his face. "Oh no…"
Rowan chuckled. "A good start. But not enough."
He knelt beside the fox. "Your beast is small. Weak. But not without potential. You must teach it to use its strengths."
Soren blinked. "Strengths? What strengths?"
Rowan smiled. "Speed. Agility. Cleverness. And fluff."
Soren stared. "Fluff?"
Rowan nodded. "Fluff is a weapon."
The fox chirped triumphantly.
Rowan stood. "Try again. But this time—focus your intent. Beasts respond to emotion."
Soren took a deep breath.
He pictured the duel.
The lion.
The fire.
The fear.
The determination.
He pointed at the dummy. "Fox—hit it. Hard."
The fox's eyes sharpened.
It crouched.
It sprinted.
It leapt—
And it slammed into the dummy with surprising force.
The dummy wobbled.
The class gasped.
Soren's jaw dropped. "He did it!"
Rowan nodded. "Better. Again."
The fox repeated the attack—this time faster.
Then again.
And again.
Each strike grew sharper, more precise.
Rowan smiled. "Good. Very good."
Soren felt pride swell in his chest. "You're amazing," he whispered to the fox.
The fox chirped happily.
---
A New Problem Appears
Just as Soren began to relax, a shadow fell over him.
A tall girl with silver hair and cold blue eyes stepped forward. A massive frost‑wolf padded beside her, breath misting in the air.
Soren froze.
Kael muttered, "Oh no."
Soren whispered, "Oh no what?"
"That's Lira Frostbane."
Soren blinked. "Who?"
Kael sighed. "Top student. Noble family. Specializes in ice beasts. Very competitive."
Soren's stomach dropped. "Why is she looking at me like that?"
Lira crossed her arms. "You're the one who beat Aldric."
Soren squeaked. "Technically the fox beat him."
Lira's eyes narrowed. "I want to see your bond for myself."
Soren blinked. "Why?"
"Because Aldric is an idiot. If he lost to you, I need to know why."
Soren whimpered. "I don't like this."
Lira pointed at the fox. "Make it dodge."
Soren blinked. "Dodge what?"
Lira snapped her fingers.
Her frost‑wolf launched an ice shard.
Straight at Soren.
Soren screamed. "FOX—MOVE!"
The fox blurred.
One moment it was on Soren's shoulder.
The next—it was behind him.
A soft ding echoed.
[FOX FLICKER ACTIVATED]
Short‑range burst movement successful.
The ice shard shattered harmlessly against the ground.
The class gasped.
Lira's eyes widened. "Interesting."
Soren clutched his chest. "You tried to kill me!"
Lira shrugged. "It was a small shard."
"That doesn't make it better!"
Rowan stepped forward, expression stern. "Miss Frostbane. No attacking students."
Lira bowed slightly. "Apologies, Instructor."
Rowan sighed. "Return to your place."
Lira obeyed—but her frost‑wolf kept staring at the fox.
The fox stared back.
Soren whispered, "Please don't start a rivalry."
The fox chirped defiantly.
Soren groaned. "We're doomed."
---
A New Skill
As class ended, a soft glow surrounded the fox.
Soren gasped. "What's happening?!"
A screen appeared.
[NEW BEAST SKILL UNLOCKED: FOX FEINT (E‑Rank)]
Effect: Creates a brief illusionary afterimage to confuse enemies.
Duration: 1 second.
Cooldown: Moderate.
Note: Host's panic continues to be effective.
Soren stared. "Illusions?! You can do illusions now?!"
The fox chirped proudly.
Kael smirked. "You're leveling up."
Soren shook his head. "I'm not ready for this."
Kael shrugged. "Too late."
---
The Day's Final Surprise
As students packed up, Rowan approached Soren again.
"Mr. Vale."
Soren stiffened. "Y‑yes?"
Rowan handed him a small wooden token carved with a fox emblem.
"This is an invitation."
Soren blinked. "To what?"
Rowan smiled. "The Beginner's Beast‑Tamer Trials. They begin in three days."
Soren's heart stopped. "Trials?!"
Rowan nodded. "Mandatory for all promising first‑years."
Soren squeaked. "Promising?! Me?!"
Rowan's wolf huffed in amusement.
Rowan placed a hand on Soren's shoulder. "Prepare well. You and your fox have potential."
Soren stared at the token.
Then at the fox.
Then at Kael.
Kael smirked. "Congratulations. You're officially in trouble."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped excitedly.
Soren sighed. "And you're excited again. Of course."
He looked at the token one more time.
Three days.
Three days until the trials.
Three days until disaster.
He whispered, "We're doomed."
The fox chirped confidently.
Soren groaned.