Soren woke up the next morning with a sense of dread so strong it felt like someone had placed a brick on his chest. Not metaphorically. Literally. The fox was sitting on him.
"Good morning," Soren wheezed. "Please get off."
The fox chirped and hopped onto his pillow, tail swishing proudly.
Kael, already dressed and tying his boots, didn't look up. "Trials are tomorrow."
Soren groaned. "Why would you say that first thing in the morning?"
"Motivation."
"That's not motivation. That's psychological warfare."
Kael shrugged. "Same thing."
Soren flopped back onto the bed. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically, then immediately chirped again in excitement, as if saying let's go die gloriously.
Soren sighed. "You're too enthusiastic."
Mandatory Strategy Meeting (a.k.a. Torture)
The team gathered in the same garden corner as before. Soren arrived last, mostly because he tried to hide behind a statue for ten minutes before Kael dragged him out.
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 elegantly beside her, both of them radiating cold superiority.
Kael stood between them, looking like he regretted every life choice that led him here.
Soren stood awkwardly, fox perched on his shoulder, beetle buzzing around his head like a confused halo.
Aldric sneered. "You're late."
Soren squeaked. "I'm early in spirit."
"No, you're late in reality."
Soren wilted. "Sorry."
Lira sighed. "Let's begin. The Trials have three stages."
Soren swallowed. "Three?"
Kael nodded. "Three."
Aldric smirked. "Try to keep up."
Soren glared weakly. "I'm trying."
Lira continued, "Stage One: Navigation. We must find three marked points in the forest."
Soren blinked. "Forest? As in… beasts? Wild beasts?"
Kael nodded. "Yes."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
Lira ignored him. "Stage Two: Combat. We face another team."
Soren squeaked. "Another team?! Like… people? With beasts? Strong beasts?!"
Aldric smirked. "Yes."
Soren whimpered again.
Lira continued, "Stage Three: The Core Trial. Unknown until we reach it."
Soren stared. "Unknown?! Why?!"
Kael shrugged. "Tradition."
"I hate tradition."
Aldric rolled his eyes. "You hate everything."
Soren nodded. "Correct."
The fox chirped proudly.
Lira pointed at Soren. "Your role is scouting."
Soren paled. "Scouting?! Alone?!"
"Not alone," Lira said. "With your fox."
"That's worse!"
Kael sighed. "You're fast. Your fox is faster. You'll be fine."
Soren shook his head violently. "No. No I won't. I'll die. I'll die so fast."
Aldric smirked. "Then don't."
Soren glared. "Wow. Inspirational."
Training Session: Panic Edition
Kael dragged Soren to Training Field 9, a large open area filled with obstacles, dummies, and enchanted targets.
Soren stared. "Why are we here?"
"Speed drills," Kael said. "You need to learn to move with your fox."
Soren blinked. "Move… with him?"
Kael nodded. "Yes. You're a team."
Soren looked at the fox.
The fox was currently chasing a leaf.
Soren sighed. "We're doomed."
Kael clapped his hands. "Start running."
Soren blinked. "Running where?"
Kael pointed at the obstacle course. "Through that."
Soren stared. "That looks dangerous."
"It is."
"I hate this place."
Kael shoved him. "Go."
Soren stumbled forward, fox darting beside him.
He dodged a swinging log.
He tripped over a rope.
He ran into a wall.
He screamed when a dummy popped out.
The fox flickered, dashed, and zipped around him like a tiny guardian angel.
Soren panted. "I'm… dying…"
Kael shook his head. "You're warming up."
"Warming up?!"
"Again."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped encouragingly.
A Surprise Visitor
Halfway through the drills, a cold breeze swept across the field.
Soren froze. "Oh no."
Lira Frostbane stepped into the clearing, frost‑wolf at her side.
Soren squeaked. "Why are you here?!"
Lira ignored him. "I want to see your progress."
Soren whimpered. "Why does everyone want to see my progress?!"
Kael smirked. "Because it's entertaining."
Soren glared. "You're the worst."
Lira pointed at the obstacle course. "Again."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
He ran.
He tripped.
He screamed.
The fox flickered, dashed, and feinted around him, guiding him through the obstacles.
Lira watched silently.
When Soren finally collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air, Lira spoke.
"Not terrible."
Soren blinked. "Not… terrible?"
Lira nodded. "You're improving."
Soren stared. "I… am?"
Kael nodded. "You are."
Aldric's voice cut through the air. "Barely."
Soren screamed internally.
Aldric approached, lion cub at his side. "If you slow us down tomorrow, I'll—"
Kael stepped between them. "Enough."
Aldric glared. "Stay out of this."
Kael didn't move. "No."
Lira sighed. "Both of you stop. We need teamwork."
Aldric scoffed. "I don't need teamwork."
Lira's eyes narrowed. "Then you'll fail."
Aldric's jaw clenched.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically.
A New Skill (Because Panic Is Magic)
As Soren sat on the grass, trying not to die, a soft glow surrounded the fox.
Soren panicked. "Not again—please don't explode—"
A screen appeared.
[NEW BEAST SKILL UNLOCKED: FOX ECHO (E‑Rank)]
Effect: Creates a brief sound illusion to distract enemies.
Bonus: Slight increase in stealth.
Note: Host's panic continues to be a reliable catalyst.
Soren stared. "Sound illusions?! You can make fake noises now?!"
The fox chirped.
Then chirped again.
Then chirped from behind Soren.
Soren screamed. "STOP DOING THAT!"
Kael laughed.
Lira smirked.
Aldric rolled his eyes.
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The Night Before the Trials
Back in the dorm, Soren lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The fox curled on his chest, beetle glowing softly on the nightstand.
Kael sat on his bed, polishing his spear.
Soren whispered, "Kael?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think we'll survive tomorrow?"
Kael paused. "Yes."
Soren blinked. "Really?"
Kael nodded. "Because you're not alone."
Soren looked at the fox.
The fox chirped.
Soren smiled weakly. "Okay. Maybe we'll survive."
Kael smirked. "Maybe."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I hate it slightly less."
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow was the Trials.
Tomorrow was chaos.
Tomorrow was doom.
But tonight…
Tonight he had a fox.
And somehow, that made everything feel a little less terrifying.