Soren walked into the Inner Division lecture hall with the same energy as someone walking into their own execution.
The room was enormous — tiered seating, glowing runes along the walls, and a massive projection crystal floating above the instructor's podium. Students filled every row, each one looking sharper, stronger, and more terrifyingly competent than the last.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
Kael sat beside him. "You'll be fine."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You will."
Aldric leaned back in his seat. "Both of you stop."
Lira smiled gently. "Just listen and take notes."
Soren stared at her. "I can't take notes when I'm panicking."
"You can."
"I can't."
"You can."
"I can't."
"You will."
The fox curled up in Soren's lap and chirped.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I'll try. I hate it."
The room fell silent as the instructor entered.
Instructor Arwen.
Tall.
Elegant.
Eyes like polished obsidian.
A beast perched on her shoulder — a raven made of shimmering starlight.
Soren whispered, "She looks like she can see my soul."
Kael nodded. "She can."
Soren squeaked. "WHY."
Aldric smirked. "She teaches Beast‑Bond Theory."
Lira added, "She's the academy's foremost expert."
Soren stared. "Foremost expert in what? Killing me with eye contact?"
The fox chirped.
Arwen stepped to the podium.
Her voice was calm, smooth, and terrifyingly precise.
"Welcome to Inner Division Theory. Today, we begin with the fundamentals of advanced beast‑bond resonance."
Soren blinked. "The what."
Arwen continued, "Your bond is not merely emotional. It is energetic. Spiritual. Instinctive. And, in rare cases—"
Her eyes landed directly on Soren.
"—symbiotic."
Soren froze. "Why is she looking at me."
Kael whispered, "Because of your fox."
Aldric muttered, "Obviously."
Lira smiled. "It's a compliment."
Soren whispered, "It doesn't feel like one."
The fox chirped proudly.
Arwen raised a hand.
A glowing diagram appeared in the air — a silhouette of a human and a beast, connected by swirling lines of energy.
"Most bonds," she said, "are stable, linear, and predictable."
The diagram shifted.
The lines became chaotic, looping, spiraling, pulsing.
"This," Arwen said, "is a rare bond. A volatile bond. A bond with exponential potential."
She turned her gaze to Soren.
"Vale. Stand."
Soren screamed internally.
Externally, he squeaked.
Kael nudged him. "Go."
"I don't want to."
"You have to."
"I CAN'T."
"You can."
Soren stood.
Shakily.
Awkwardly.
Like a baby deer learning to walk.
The fox hopped onto his shoulder.
Arwen gestured. "Your fox's evolution was triggered by resonance. Show the class."
Soren blinked. "Show… what?"
"Your connection."
"I don't know how!"
"You do."
"I DON'T."
"You do."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox nudged his cheek.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
"Okay," he whispered. "Buddy… glow?"
The fox's tails lit up softly.
Arwen nodded. "Good. Now focus."
Soren tried.
He really did.
He focused so hard his brain hurt.
The fox's glow brightened.
The diagram above the podium shifted — matching them.
The class murmured.
Arwen said, "Observe. His fox responds directly to emotional cues. Fear. Focus. Instinct."
Soren whispered, "Mostly fear."
Arwen continued, "This bond type is extremely rare. And extremely dangerous."
Soren choked. "DANGEROUS?!"
Arwen nodded. "If mishandled."
Soren screamed internally.
Externally, he squeaked again.
The fox chirped and nuzzled him.
Arwen's expression softened — barely. "But with proper training, it can become one of the strongest bonds in the academy."
Soren blinked. "Me? Strong?"
Aldric snorted. "Barely."
Kael nodded. "Potentially."
Lira smiled. "Absolutely."
Soren sat down. "I hate this place."
The fox curled up in his lap and chirped.
Arwen continued the lecture.
"Now," she said, "we will discuss the dangers of over‑synchronization."
Soren froze. "Over‑what."
Arwen projected a new diagram — a human collapsing as their beast glowed too brightly.
Soren whispered, "I don't like that picture."
Kael whispered, "Don't worry."
Aldric whispered, "Worry."
Lira whispered, "Don't listen to Aldric."
Arwen continued, "If a tamer draws too much power from their beast, the backlash can cause physical, mental, or spiritual damage."
Soren raised his hand. "Hypothetically, what if someone accidentally did that during a Trial."
Arwen stared at him.
Soren lowered his hand. "Hypothetically."
Arwen said, "Then that person is lucky to be alive."
Soren fainted.
Again.
Kael caught him.
Again.
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Pathetic."
Lira sighed. "Expected."
The fox hopped onto Soren's chest and chirped.
Soren groaned weakly. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped louder.
And the entire class watched the boy who fainted his way through advanced theory.