The academy felt different the night before the Trials. Quieter. Heavier. Like the air itself was holding its breath.
Soren was not holding his breath.
Soren was hyperventilating.
He paced the dorm room in frantic circles while the fox sat on the bed, watching him with the calm judgment of a creature who had no concept of anxiety.
"We're not ready," Soren muttered. "We're absolutely not ready. We're going to get lost. Or eaten. Or lost and eaten. Or eaten and then lost—"
Kael grabbed him by the shoulders. "Stop."
"I can't."
"Try."
"I can't."
Kael sighed. "Then panic quieter."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped, hopped off the bed, and trotted over to Soren, nudging his leg with its tiny head.
Soren looked down. "You're not worried at all, are you?"
The fox chirped proudly.
Kael smirked. "He believes in you."
Soren blinked. "Why?"
Kael shrugged. "You're his person."
Soren's heart softened. "Oh."
The fox chirped again, louder this time, as if saying stop being dramatic.
A Knock at the Door
A sudden knock made Soren jump so hard he nearly tripped over the fox.
Kael opened the door.
Lira Frostbane stood there, frost‑wolf at her side, both of them radiating cold confidence.
Soren squeaked. "Lira?! Why are you here?!"
Lira stepped inside without waiting for permission. "We need to talk."
Soren whimpered. "That's never good."
Lira ignored him. "The Trials begin at dawn. We need a plan."
Kael nodded. "Agreed."
Soren raised a hand. "Can the plan be 'don't die'?"
"No," Lira said flatly.
Soren lowered his hand. "Okay."
The frost‑wolf sniffed the fox.
The fox sniffed back.
The frost‑wolf growled.
The fox growled back—tiny, squeaky, and completely unthreatening.
Lira sighed. "Your fox is fearless."
Soren shook his head. "No. He's just… him."
Lira studied the fox. "Fearless or foolish. Hard to tell."
The fox chirped indignantly.
Kael cleared his throat. "Let's focus. Stage One is navigation. We need a scout."
Lira nodded. "Vale and his fox."
Soren squeaked. "Why me?!"
"Because you're fast," Lira said.
"And expendable," Aldric added from the doorway.
Soren screamed.
Aldric stepped inside, lion cub at his feet, smirking. "Relax. If you die, it's not my fault."
Soren glared. "That doesn't make me feel better."
Aldric shrugged. "Not my problem."
Kael stepped between them. "Enough. We need to work together."
Aldric scoffed. "I don't work with weaklings."
Lira's eyes narrowed. "Then you'll fail."
Aldric's jaw clenched.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically.
The Plan (Which Soren Hates)
Kael drew a rough map on the desk.
"Three checkpoints," he said. "We need to reach them in order."
Lira pointed. "I'll control the battlefield. Frost‑wolf can freeze obstacles."
Aldric smirked. "Leo and I will handle offense."
Soren raised a hand. "And me?"
Kael pointed at him. "You scout ahead. Find safe paths. Avoid danger."
Soren blinked. "Avoid danger? In a forest full of beasts?"
"Yes."
"That's impossible!"
Kael shrugged. "Do it anyway."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped encouragingly.
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Your fox is too confident."
Soren nodded. "I know."
Lira studied the fox. "Confidence is good. But evolution is better."
Soren froze. "Evolution?!"
Lira nodded. "Your fox is close. I can feel it."
Soren panicked. "No! No evolving! Commander Arcturus said it could be unstable!"
Aldric snorted. "Then don't let it evolve."
Soren threw his hands up. "I don't control it!"
Kael sighed. "Calm down."
"I CAN'T."
The fox patted Soren's cheek with a tiny paw.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
"Okay. Trying."
A Moment of Quiet (Finally)
After the others left, the room felt strangely peaceful.
Soren sat on his bed, fox curled in his lap, beetle glowing softly on the nightstand.
Kael sat across from him, polishing his spear.
Soren whispered, "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 lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The fox curled up on his chest.
The beetle dimmed its glow.
Kael blew out the lantern.
The room fell into quiet darkness.
Soren whispered, "Tomorrow is going to be awful."
The fox chirped softly.
Soren smiled faintly.
"Yeah. But we'll face it together."
He closed his eyes.
Sleep came slowly.
Uneasy.
Heavy.
But not alone.
A Midnight Warning
Soren dreamed again.
The glowing forest.
The floating runes.
The fox standing on a stone pedestal, tail glowing faintly.
A voice whispered through the dream.
"Bond… strengthen… soon…"
Soren reached out. "What does that mean?"
The fox's eyes glowed.
"Evolution… near…"
Soren panicked. "No! Not yet! Not unstable!"
The voice echoed.
"Balance… trust… heart…"
Soren reached for the fox—
And woke up.
A New Notification
A ding echoed in the darkness.
Soren groaned. "Oh no…"
A screen appeared.
[EVOLUTION THRESHOLD APPROACHING]
Bond Required: Level 4
Current Bond: Level 3
Catalyst: Unidentified
Warning: Instability increasing
Soren stared.
Then screamed into his pillow.
Kael sat up. "What now?"
Soren held up the screen.
Kael read it.
Paused.
Then said, "You're doomed."
Soren groaned. "I know."
The fox chirped confidently.
Soren whispered, "We're doomed."
The fox chirped louder.