Soren woke up with the fox sitting on his face.
Not beside him.
Not on his chest.
Directly. On. His. Face.
He flailed. "I CAN'T BREATHE—"
The fox chirped and hopped off, landing gracefully on the floor like it hadn't just suffocated him awake.
Kael, already dressed, didn't look up from tying his boots. "You're late."
"I JUST WOKE UP TO A FOX ATTACK."
Aldric stretched lazily. "You're dramatic."
Lira handed him a comb. "Your hair is a disaster."
Soren stared at her. "My life is a disaster."
The fox chirped.
They walked toward the Inner Division training grounds — a massive courtyard surrounded by towering stone pillars and shimmering barriers. The air hummed with energy. Students trained everywhere, each one looking like they could bench‑press Soren and his entire bloodline.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
Kael nudged him. "You'll be fine."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you stop."
Lira smiled. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled his cheek.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I'm breathing. I hate it."
Instructor Seraphine stood at the center of the courtyard, phoenix perched on her arm, glowing like a miniature sun.
"Welcome to the Inner Division," she said. "Your training begins now."
Soren whispered, "I'm not ready."
Kael whispered back, "You never are."
Seraphine continued, "You will be assigned mentors, training partners, and specialized classes based on your performance."
Soren perked up. "Classes? Like… learning? Sitting? Indoors?"
Seraphine looked directly at him.
"No."
Soren deflated. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
A tall figure approached — a man with dark hair, sharp eyes, and a beast at his side that looked like a cross between a wolf, a panther, and a nightmare.
Soren squeaked. "Who is THAT."
Kael straightened. "Instructor Veylan."
Aldric groaned. "Of course."
Lira bowed her head slightly. "He's one of the elite combat instructors."
Soren whispered, "He looks like he eats students."
Veylan stopped in front of them.
His beast growled.
Soren hid behind Kael.
Kael dragged him back out. "Stop that."
"I CAN'T."
"You can."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Veylan's gaze swept over the group.
Then landed on Soren.
Soren squeaked again.
"You," Veylan said. "Vale."
Soren pointed at himself. "Me? Why me? What did I do? I didn't do anything. I swear. I'm innocent."
Veylan ignored him. "You're with me."
Soren screamed internally. "WHY."
"Your fox," Veylan said, "is unusual."
Soren hugged the fox protectively. "He's perfect."
Veylan nodded. "Yes. Which means you require specialized training."
Soren blinked. "Specialized… what kind of specialized—"
Veylan turned and walked away. "Follow."
Soren stared at Kael. "I'm going to die."
Kael shrugged. "Probably not."
"PROBABLY?!"
Lira smiled. "You'll be fine."
Aldric smirked. "Barely."
The fox hopped onto Soren's shoulder and chirped.
Soren sighed. "Okay. Let's go die."
Veylan led him to a smaller training arena — circular, enclosed, and filled with floating platforms, glowing runes, and what looked suspiciously like traps.
Soren froze. "This is a death room."
"It's a training room," Veylan said.
"It's a death room."
Veylan ignored him. "Your fox's abilities rely on precision, timing, and spatial awareness."
Soren blinked. "I have none of those."
"Correct."
Soren deflated. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Veylan pointed at the floating platforms. "Your first task: cross."
Soren stared. "Cross? CROSS WHAT? THEY'RE FLOATING. THEY'RE MOVING. THEY'RE GLOWING. WHY ARE THEY GLOWING."
"Begin."
Soren screamed.
He stepped onto the first platform.
It wobbled.
He wobbled.
He screamed again.
The fox flickered to the next platform effortlessly.
Soren glared. "SHOW‑OFF."
He jumped.
He missed.
He fell.
He screamed the entire way down.
A barrier caught him inches before he hit the ground.
Veylan sighed. "Again."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Three falls later, Soren finally made it to the third platform.
He raised his arms triumphantly. "I DID IT—"
The platform vanished.
Soren fell.
Again.
Veylan rubbed his temples. "This will take time."
Soren lay on the barrier floor. "I'm going to die here."
The fox hopped onto his chest and chirped.
Soren sighed. "Okay. Maybe not die. But definitely suffer."
Veylan nodded. "Correct."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped louder.
And Soren's first day in the Inner Division continued exactly as expected:
Badly.