Soren had never been more aware of time in his life. Every tick of the academy's enchanted clock felt like a countdown to doom. Two days until the Beast‑Tamer Trials. Two days until he had to work with Aldric, Lira, and Kael. Two days until he was expected to not die.
He was not confident.
The fox, however, was extremely confident. It trotted beside him with its tail held high, chirping at every butterfly, leaf, and passing student like it was greeting fans.
Soren whispered, "You're too happy. Why are you so happy? We're going to die."
The fox chirped louder.
Kael walked ahead, spear slung over his shoulder. "Stop panicking."
"I can't."
"Try."
"I can't."
Kael sighed. "Then panic quietly."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
---
The Team Meeting That Should Never Have Happened
The four of them—Soren, Kael, Lira, and Aldric—met in a quiet corner of the academy gardens. It was supposed to be a strategy meeting.
It was not going well.
Aldric stood with his arms crossed, lion cub at his feet, glaring at Soren like he was a stain on his boots. Lira leaned against a tree, frost‑wolf sitting obediently beside her. Kael stood between them like a referee who regretted his life choices.
Soren stood awkwardly, fox perched on his shoulder, trying not to cry.
Aldric sneered. "I still don't understand why he is on our team."
Soren raised a hand. "I don't understand either. I'm open to alternatives."
Kael pushed his hand down. "Stop volunteering to be replaced."
Lira spoke calmly. "The teams are fixed. Complaining is pointless."
Aldric scoffed. "Easy for you to say. You're not dragging around dead weight."
Soren flinched. "I'm not dead weight."
Aldric smirked. "You're right. You're negative weight."
The fox growled—a tiny, squeaky growl that made the frost‑wolf tilt its head in confusion.
Lira's eyes narrowed. "Enough. We need to discuss strategy."
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Fine. Strategy: stay out of my way."
Kael stepped forward. "That won't work. The trials require cooperation."
Aldric snorted. "I don't cooperate."
Kael's voice sharpened. "Then you'll fail."
Aldric's jaw clenched.
Lira sighed. "We need roles. Kael is frontline. I'm control. Aldric is offense."
Aldric smirked. "Obviously."
Lira continued, "And Vale—"
Soren braced himself.
"—is support."
Soren blinked. "Support?"
Kael nodded. "You craft. You buff. You distract. You keep beasts alive."
Aldric scoffed. "He can barely keep himself alive."
Soren winced. "He's not wrong."
Kael ignored him. "Your fox is fast. Agile. Good at dodging. That's useful."
Soren blinked. "It is?"
Lira nodded. "Speed is valuable. Especially in scouting."
Soren paled. "Scouting?! As in… going ahead? Alone?!"
Lira shrugged. "Not alone. With your fox."
Soren whimpered. "That's worse."
The fox chirped proudly.
Aldric rolled his eyes. "This is pointless. I'm leaving."
He turned and stormed off, lion cub trotting behind him.
Lira followed soon after, frost‑wolf padding silently at her side.
Kael sighed. "That went well."
Soren stared at him. "No it didn't!"
Kael shrugged. "Could've been worse."
"How?!"
"You could've cried."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically.
---
Instructor Mirella's Summoning Class
Soren's next class was Summoning 101, held in a circular stone hall filled with glowing runes and floating crystals. Instructor Mirella—a tall woman with silver hair and a staff carved with ancient symbols—stood at the center.
"Welcome," she said, voice echoing. "Today, you will learn the basics of summoning circles."
Soren perked up. "Summoning? I can do that?"
The fox chirped, as if saying probably not.
Mirella continued, "Summoning is not simply calling a creature. It is forming a contract. A bond. A connection."
Soren nodded. "I can do bonds. I have a fox."
The fox chirped proudly.
Mirella gestured to the floor. "Draw a basic circle. Focus your intent. Channel your mana."
Soren knelt and drew a circle in chalk.
It was lopsided.
Very lopsided.
Kael glanced over. "That's not a circle."
"It's circle‑ish."
"It's a potato."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Mirella approached. "Mr. Vale. Try again."
Soren erased the potato and drew another circle.
It was worse.
Mirella sighed. "Intent, Mr. Vale. Intent."
Soren closed his eyes.
He pictured the fox.
He pictured not dying.
He pictured the trials.
He pictured Aldric's smug face.
His hand moved.
He opened his eyes.
A perfect circle glowed on the floor.
Soren gasped. "I did it!"
The fox chirped proudly.
Mirella nodded. "Good. Now summon."
Soren blinked. "Summon what?"
"Anything your mana can reach."
Soren swallowed. "Okay. Um… summon?"
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He tried a third time.
A spark appeared.
Then a puff of smoke.
Then—
A tiny creature popped into existence.
It was… a beetle.
A glowing beetle.
A glowing beetle with wings too big for its body.
Soren stared. "I summoned… a bug."
The beetle buzzed proudly.
The fox chirped in horror.
Kael snorted. "Congratulations."
Mirella nodded. "A Lightwing Beetle. Weak, but useful for illumination."
Soren sighed. "I hate this place."
The beetle buzzed indignantly.
---
A New Notification
As class ended, a soft ding echoed.
Soren froze. "Oh no."
A screen appeared.
[NEW SUMMON ACQUIRED: LIGHTWING BEETLE (F‑Rank)]
Effect: Emits bright light.
Bonus: Distracts enemies.
Note: Host continues to summon unexpected creatures.
Soren groaned. "Why can't I summon something cool?"
The fox chirped smugly.
Kael smirked. "Because you're you."
Soren sighed. "I hate this place."
---
The Evening Surprise
As Soren walked back to the dorms, fox on his shoulder and beetle buzzing around his head, he noticed a crowd gathered near the academy gates.
Students whispered excitedly.
Soren pushed through the crowd—and froze.
A massive carriage stood at the gates, pulled by two armored griffins. The academy crest gleamed on its doors.
Instructor Seraphine stepped out.
Behind her—
A tall man in royal blue armor.
A man with golden eyes.
A man who radiated power.
Kael whispered, "That's Commander Arcturus. Captain of the Royal Beastguard."
Soren's heart stopped. "Why is he here?!"
Seraphine raised her voice. "Students. The commander is here to oversee the Beast‑Tamer Trials."
Soren squeaked. "WHAT?!"
Kael nodded. "He evaluates promising students."
Soren grabbed Kael's sleeve. "Kael. KAEL. I'm not promising!"
Kael shrugged. "Too late."
The fox chirped excitedly.
Soren whispered, "We're doomed."
The fox chirped louder.