Soren had survived a duel, a dream, and a crowd of overly enthusiastic first‑years. He was beginning to think the universe might finally give him a break.
The universe disagreed.
The moment he stepped out of the dorm building, the fox perched on his shoulder like a smug, fluffy crown, a wave of students surged toward him.
"There he is!"
"Fox‑boy!"
"Teach us your technique!"
"What technique? He just screamed!"
Soren flinched. "Please—personal space—breathing room—air—"
Kael shoved through the crowd and grabbed Soren by the hood, dragging him free like a cat rescuing a kitten. "Move. He's not a celebrity."
"He is now!" someone shouted.
Soren whimpered. "I don't want to be."
The fox chirped proudly, clearly enjoying the attention.
Kael sighed. "You're hopeless."
---
The Announcement Board
The academy's central courtyard was buzzing. Students crowded around a massive crystal board that displayed glowing text.
Soren squinted. "What's happening?"
Kael pointed. "The Beast‑Tamer Trials list."
Soren froze. "Already?!"
Kael nodded. "Three days from now."
Soren's stomach dropped. "I'm not ready."
"You weren't ready for the duel either," Kael said. "You still won."
"That was luck!"
Kael shrugged. "Then be lucky again."
Soren groaned.
The fox chirped, as if saying we'll be fine.
Soren patted its head. "You're too optimistic."
The fox chirped louder.
---
The Frostbane Problem
Just as Soren reached the board, a cold breeze swept through the courtyard. Students parted instinctively.
Lira Frostbane approached, frost‑wolf at her side, silver hair shimmering like ice.
Soren stiffened. "Oh no."
Kael muttered, "Be polite."
"I don't know how to be polite under pressure!"
Lira stopped in front of Soren, arms crossed. "Vale."
Soren squeaked. "Frostbane."
Her frost‑wolf growled softly. The fox growled back—tiny, squeaky, and completely unthreatening.
Lira raised an eyebrow. "Your fox is… spirited."
Soren swallowed. "He's… something."
Lira studied him for a long moment. "You're on my trial team."
Soren blinked. "My what?"
Kael groaned. "Oh no."
Lira nodded. "Teams of four. Random assignment. You, me, Kael, and—" she glanced at the board "—Aldric."
Soren's soul left his body. "Aldric?!"
Lira nodded. "Yes."
Soren grabbed Kael's sleeve. "Kael. Kael. KAEL. I can't be on a team with Aldric! He hates me!"
Kael sighed. "He hates everyone."
"That doesn't make it better!"
Lira's frost‑wolf huffed.
Lira continued, "The trials require teamwork. If you fail, your entire team fails."
Soren felt faint. "I'm going to die."
Lira shrugged. "Probably."
Soren whimpered.
The fox chirped defiantly, as if ready to fight the entire trial alone.
Lira's eyes narrowed. "Your fox is unusual."
Soren blinked. "Unusual how?"
"Most low‑rank beasts fear frost‑wolves. Yours doesn't."
The fox puffed up proudly.
Lira's frost‑wolf growled.
The fox growled back.
Soren panicked. "Please don't start a war!"
Lira smirked. "Relax. If they fight, mine will win."
Soren squeaked. "That doesn't help!"
Kael stepped between them. "Enough. Save it for the trials."
Lira nodded once and walked away, frost‑wolf following.
Soren collapsed onto a bench. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped into his lap and chirped.
Soren sighed. "At least you're happy."
---
Instructor Brakka's Crafting Class
Soren's next class was Crafting 101, held in a forge that smelled like smoke, metal, and danger. Instructor Brakka—a muscular dwarf with a beard braided into runes—stood at the front, hammer resting on his shoulder.
"Welcome, ye soft‑fingered fledglings!" Brakka bellowed. "Today, ye learn the basics of beast gear!"
Soren perked up. "Beast gear?"
Brakka nodded. "Armor, collars, charms, runes—anything that makes yer beast less likely to die!"
Soren straightened. "I need that."
The fox chirped in agreement.
Brakka slammed a metal plate onto the table. "First lesson! Crafting is about intent! Ye must know what ye want before ye make it!"
Soren raised his hand. "What if I want my beast to not die?"
Brakka grinned. "Then ye'll fit right in!"
Soren sighed in relief.
Brakka continued, "Today, ye'll craft a basic charm. Something simple. Something safe. Something even ye can't mess up."
Soren nodded eagerly.
Brakka added, "Unless ye're truly incompetent."
Soren deflated.
Kael patted his shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Soren whispered, "You said that before the duel."
"And you survived."
"Barely!"
Brakka clapped his hands. "Get to work!"
---
Crafting Disaster #1
Soren gathered materials: a small metal disc, a rune stone, and a piece of string.
He stared at them.
They stared back.
The fox sat on the table, watching him with intense curiosity.
Soren whispered, "Okay. We can do this. We just… put things together. How hard can it be?"
He placed the metal disc on the table.
He placed the rune stone on top.
He tied the string around them.
The charm fell apart instantly.
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically.
A ding echoed.
Soren froze. "Oh no."
A screen appeared.
[CRAFTING ATTEMPT FAILED]
Reason: Host has no idea what he's doing.
Suggestion: Try harder.
Soren glared. "You're not helping!"
[ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT.]
Soren groaned.
Kael leaned over. "Try focusing your intent."
"My intent is panic!"
"Then focus your panic."
"That doesn't make sense!"
Kael shrugged. "It works for your fox."
Soren sighed. "Fine."
He closed his eyes.
He pictured the fox.
He pictured the duel.
He pictured the trials.
He pictured dying.
His hands moved instinctively.
Metal.
Rune.
String.
A faint glow.
Soren opened his eyes.
A small charm lay on the table, glowing softly.
Soren gasped. "I… I did it!"
The fox chirped proudly.
Brakka stomped over. "Let's see what ye made—"
He froze.
Then grinned.
"Well now! That's not bad at all!"
Soren beamed. "Really?!"
Brakka nodded. "A basic agility charm. Weak, but functional. Yer fox will move a bit faster."
Soren nearly cried. "Thank you."
Brakka slapped his back. "Don't thank me! Thank yer panic!"
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
---
A New Threat
As class ended, Soren stepped outside—and froze.
Aldric Dawnhelm stood waiting.
Arms crossed.
Lion cub at his side.
Eyes burning with humiliation and fury.
Soren squeaked. "Oh no."
Aldric stepped forward. "Vale."
Soren backed up. "Dawnhelm."
Aldric glared. "We're on the same trial team."
Soren nodded weakly. "I know."
Aldric leaned in. "If you drag us down, I'll make you regret it."
Soren whimpered. "I already regret everything."
Aldric smirked. "Good."
He walked away.
Soren collapsed against the wall. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped onto his shoulder and chirped.
Soren sighed. "At least you're here."
The fox licked his cheek.
Soren smiled faintly.
"Okay. Trials in three days. A terrifying noble. A frost‑wolf prodigy. A spear‑wielding roommate. And me."
He looked at the fox.
"And you."
The fox chirped confidently.
Soren whispered, "We're doomed."
The fox chirped louder.