Dawn broke over Starfall Academy with a cold, pale light that made everything feel sharper, quieter, more dangerous. The kind of dawn that whispered, "Something terrible is about to happen."
Soren felt that whisper in his bones.
He stood at the edge of the Trial Forest with his team—Kael, Lira, and Aldric—trying not to throw up. The fox perched on his shoulder, tail swishing confidently. The beetle buzzed lazily above his head like a tiny lantern.
Soren whispered, "Why are you so calm? We're about to die."
The fox chirped.
Aldric scoffed. "Your beast is delusional."
Soren glared. "He's optimistic."
"Same thing."
Kael stepped between them. "Focus."
Lira nodded. "The Trials begin in minutes. Save your energy."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped sympathetically.
The Gathering
Hundreds of students stood in the clearing, grouped by teams. Beasts of every shape and size filled the space—scaled, feathered, glowing, armored, floating, and some that looked like they'd been assembled by a confused god.
Instructors lined the perimeter. Rowan with his emerald wolf. Mirella with her floating runes. Brakka with his hammer. And Seraphine, phoenix perched on her arm, armor gleaming.
But the one who drew every eye was Commander Arcturus.
He stood at the front, cloak billowing, golden eyes sharp as blades. His presence alone made the forest seem to stand straighter.
Soren tried to hide behind Kael.
Kael shoved him forward. "Stop that."
"I can't."
"Try."
"I can't."
Lira sighed. "You're exhausting."
Aldric smirked. "He's always like this."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The Commander's Speech
Arcturus raised a hand, and silence fell instantly.
"Students," he said, voice deep and steady, "today you face the Beast‑Tamer Trials. These trials will test your instincts, your courage, and your bond with your beasts."
Soren swallowed hard.
Arcturus continued, "The forest is alive. It watches. It adapts. It will not go easy on you."
Soren whispered, "Why does he talk like that? Why can't he say something comforting?"
Kael murmured, "Because he's honest."
"I hate honesty."
The fox chirped.
Arcturus gestured to the forest. "Stage One: Navigation. Three checkpoints. Find them in order. Avoid unnecessary conflict."
Aldric smirked. "Conflict is necessary."
Lira glared. "Not if it slows us down."
Arcturus continued, "Stage Two: Combat. You will face another team. Victory is required to advance."
Soren squeaked.
Kael patted his shoulder. "Breathe."
"I can't."
"Try."
"I can't."
Arcturus's gaze swept the crowd.
"Stage Three: The Core Trial. Unknown. Adapt. Survive."
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Arcturus raised his hand.
"Begin."
Stage One — Into the Forest
The moment the horn sounded, teams scattered into the trees.
Aldric sprinted ahead, lion cub at his heels. "Keep up!"
Lira followed, frost‑wolf gliding silently beside her.
Kael nudged Soren. "Go."
Soren stumbled forward. "I'm going! I'm going! I'm—AH!"
He tripped over a root.
The fox flickered, reappearing on a branch above him.
Soren groaned. "Show‑off."
Kael hauled him up. "Focus."
"I'm trying!"
They plunged into the forest.
The trees were tall and ancient, their leaves glowing faintly with magic. Strange sounds echoed through the underbrush—chirps, growls, rustles, whispers.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Aldric shouted from ahead, "Vale! Scout!"
Soren squeaked. "Why me?!"
Lira called back, "Because you're fast!"
Soren looked at the fox. "Buddy… please don't let me die."
The fox chirped confidently.
Soren sighed. "Okay. Let's go."
Scouting (a.k.a. Running for His Life)
Soren and the fox darted ahead, weaving between trees, ducking under branches, leaping over roots.
The fox flickered, dashed, and feinted around him, guiding him like a tiny, fluffy compass.
A soft ding echoed.
Soren groaned. "Not now…"
A screen appeared.
[NAVIGATION BONUS ACTIVATED]
Fox's instincts are guiding you toward the first checkpoint.
Soren blinked. "You can do that?!"
The fox chirped proudly.
They followed the fox's lead through a narrow path, across a shallow stream, and up a mossy slope.
Soren gasped. "We're actually doing it!"
Then something growled.
Loudly.
Soren froze. "We're not doing it."
A massive shadow moved in the bushes.
Kael and the others caught up.
Aldric smirked. "Finally. Something interesting."
Lira narrowed her eyes. "Prepare yourselves."
The bushes rustled.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The First Beast
A creature burst from the bushes—a massive boar with glowing tusks and runes carved into its hide.
Soren screamed.
Aldric grinned. "Perfect."
Kael stepped forward. "We don't need to fight it. We can go around."
Aldric scoffed. "Coward."
Lira glared. "We don't have time for pointless battles."
Aldric ignored her. "Leo! Attack!"
The lion cub roared adorably and charged.
The boar roared back—much less adorably.
Soren panicked. "We're going to die!"
Kael grabbed his arm. "Stay back."
The fox growled.
Soren blinked. "No. No no no. You're not fighting that."
The fox chirped defiantly.
Aldric shouted, "Leo! Flame Pounce!"
The lion cub leapt—
The boar swung its tusks—
Kael cursed—
Lira raised her hand—
Soren screamed—
The fox flickered.
Fox Intervention
The fox darted between the boar's legs, leaving behind an afterimage.
The boar stumbled.
The lion cub struck.
The frost‑wolf froze the ground.
Kael lunged with his spear.
The boar collapsed.
Soren blinked. "We… won?"
Aldric smirked. "Of course we won."
Lira nodded. "Good teamwork."
Soren stared at the fox. "You're insane."
The fox chirped proudly.
A ding echoed.
[BOND INCREASED: LEVEL 4]
Evolution Requirement Met.
Catalyst Still Needed.
Soren froze.
Kael read the screen. "Oh no."
Lira read it. "Interesting."
Aldric read it. "Don't evolve now. I refuse to babysit."
Soren panicked. "I DON'T CONTROL IT!"
The fox chirped.
Soren groaned. "We're doomed."
The fox chirped louder.
Checkpoint One
They reached a glowing stone pillar—the first checkpoint.
Soren collapsed beside it. "We made it… somehow."
Kael nodded. "Two more."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Get up. We're not done."
Lira pointed deeper into the forest. "Next checkpoint is that way."
Soren sighed. "Okay. Let's go die some more."
The fox chirped enthusiastically.
Soren groaned.