The gates of Xian'Lin opened with an ethereal glow, revealing the mortal world beyond them. Logan Black took a step forward, leaving behind the mystical realm of the Qilins that had been his home and training ground for the past two years.
The young man emerging now bore little resemblance to the frightened boy who had entered. At fifteen, Logan had grown considerably for his age. His body, once scrawny, now displayed defined muscles beneath fair skin. His longer red merle hair fell in disciplined waves to his shoulders, with strands that seemed to shift in tone with the light—sometimes reddish, sometimes grayish. His eyes, however, had undergone the most notable transformation: the original amber now held golden veins that glowed when he concentrated, a constant reminder of his connection to Fenrir.
He wore simple yet elegant clothes—black leather trousers, riding boots, and a dark blue tunic embroidered with the Black family crest in silver. At his waist hung a ceremonial dagger with the symbol of Fenrir engraved on the hilt—a gift from the Ancestral Qilin at the end of his training.
"Finally free!" Logan exclaimed, taking a deep breath of Sky Reaper's air, feeling the wind caress his face. "Two years without feeling this wind… without seeing the real sky!" He looked at the long staircase leading to the castle surface and smiled confidently. "Let's see if all that training paid off."
With a fluid movement, Logan began to ascend the steps. His body moved with the grace of a predator, the result of countless hours of martial arts training under the tutelage of the warrior Qilins. He had learned not only to fight but to fuse hand-to-hand combat with his innate magic—a rare technique called Corpus Arcanum, which allowed channeling arcane energy through physical strikes.
The magical training had been equally intense. Under the guidance of the Ancestral Qilin, Logan had learned to control the power surges that had plagued him since the forced awakening. The after-effects of that dark ritual—latent aches, sudden fevers, involuntary partial transformations—had finally ceased. Now he could consciously access a fraction of Fenrir's power without losing control.
When he finally reached the top of the staircase, Logan was panting, resting his hands on his knees. "By all the Arcane Beasts…" he murmured between heavy breaths. "I trained for two years… and still… these stairs are… a nightmare!"
"Some things never change, do they?" The familiar voice made Logan quickly raise his head. Rogan Black stood before him, imposing as ever in his ceremonial armor, but with a warm smile on his face. Beside him, Gália watched her son with eyes shining with pride.
"Father! Mother!" Logan exclaimed, running to embrace them.
Rogan enveloped his son in a strong hug, noting with surprise that Logan now nearly reached his shoulder height—a significant change for just two years. "Look at you," Rogan said, stepping back to examine his son. "The Ancestral Qilin kept its promise. You've returned stronger."
"And taller," Gália added, hugging Logan next. "I almost didn't recognize my own son."
Logan smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of his mother's hug. "I missed you," he said, his voice deeper than they both remembered. "The monthly visits never seemed like enough."
"Not for us either," Gália agreed. "But it was necessary. The intensive training required isolation." "Come," Rogan said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "We have much to discuss."
The castle's meeting room was a circular space with light stone walls and a large round table at the center—symbolizing the equality among all who sat there. Detailed maps of the continent covered one wall, with strategic markings and flags indicating troop positions. Logan observed the maps with interest as his parents settled in.
"A lot has changed in two years," Rogan commented, following his son's gaze. "The war between Frostgard and Eryndark has intensified, as we feared."
"Your Aunt Maeve has been leading Frostgard's forces with exemplary bravery," Gália added. "But the situation has been… complicated."
Rogan stood up and walked to the map, pointing to the borders between the two kingdoms. "After your kidnapping, we intensified the hunt for the Arcane Hunters. We discovered their main base was in Eryndark, protected by King Mordred himself. This confirmed our suspicions about their alliance."
"We sent troops to aid Frostgard," Rogan continued, tracing imaginary lines on the map. "With our help, your aunt's forces managed not only to drive Eryndark from their territories but also to advance and conquer some border regions."
"We thought the war would end quickly," Gália said, her tone somber. "But then Eryndark revealed its trump card."
"Arcane Beasts," Rogan added, his face hardening. "Or rather, creatures altered by the Hunters' rituals. Abominations that mimic the power of true Arcane Beasts."
Logan felt a shiver run down his spine. "How is that possible?" he asked, remembering the ritual that had nearly killed him.
"The Hunters have experimented with the blood of magical creatures for centuries," Gália explained. "But now, with Eryndark's open support, they have advanced their research. They created hybrid soldiers, fusing humans with stolen essences from magical creatures."
"With this new army, Eryndark regained part of its territory," Rogan said. "Currently, we are at a stalemate. The battles are concentrated on the border, with advances and retreats on both sides."
Logan absorbed the information in silence, feeling the weight of the situation. "And what about me?" he finally asked. "What happens now?"
Gália exchanged a look with Rogan before answering. "Now, you go to the Aldaria Academy of Magic, as planned," she said. "It's time to complete your formal education."
"Aldaria is in Etheria, the neutral country in the center of the continent," Rogan explained. "It's a territory that has remained separate from conflicts for centuries, housing the most prestigious magic academy in the world."
"Being a neutral territory, the academy receives students from all kingdoms," Gália added, her tone cautious. "Including Eryndark."
Logan raised his eyebrows, understanding the implication. "You mean I'll be studying side-by-side with people whose kingdom tried to kill me?"
"Exactly," Rogan confirmed. "That's why you'll need to be extremely cautious. Not all citizens of Eryndark support their king's actions, but some students might have… complicated loyalties."
"The academy has strict rules against violence between students," Gália said. "But that doesn't mean you'll be completely safe. You'll need to be always alert."
Logan nodded, absorbing the warning. "I understand. I'll be careful."
"There's one more thing," Gália said, her face softening into a smile. "You won't be alone. Blake has also been accepted into the academy. And Kassia Grey will be there too."
Logan's face lit up. "Blake and Kassia? Are they here?"
"They've been at the castle for days, awaiting your return," Gália replied. "Blake has been training tirelessly with Magnus since the… incident. And Kassia arrived a week ago, anxious to see you before departing for Aldaria."
Logan jumped to his feet. "Where are they?" "In the east gardens, probably," Rogan replied, barely containing a smile at his son's enthusiasm. "Go. We have time to discuss more details later."
Logan needed no further encouragement. With a quick thanks, he dashed out of the room, leaving his parents exchanging amused glances. "Some things really never change," Gália commented, smiling.
The east gardens were one of the most beautiful places in Sky Reaper, with crystal fountains, flowering trees, and meticulously kept flowerbeds. Logan ran along the polished stone paths, his heart accelerating with anticipation. Two years was too long without seeing his best friends. He spotted them near the large silver oak tree—Blake sitting on a stone bench, apparently telling an animated story, and Kassia laughing, the sound carried on the breeze.
Logan stopped for a moment, observing them. Blake had grown almost as much as he had, though he maintained a more slender frame. His silver-blue hair, an inheritance from his ice elf lineage, was longer, tied back in a low ponytail. He wore the Royal Guard uniform—a simplified version of his father's armor, indicating he had followed the expected path.
But it was Kassia who truly captured his attention. She had transformed from a girl into a young woman. Her blond hair, previously always in elaborate braids, now fell in soft waves to her waist. The sky-blue dress she wore enhanced her golden eyes, characteristic of Evolved Humans. There was a grace in her movements Logan didn't remember, a confidence that made her even more radiant.
"Are you going to leave me standing here all day, or are you going to notice me?" Logan joked, finally announcing himself.
Blake reacted first, turning sharply with wide eyes. "Logan?!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. Kassia turned more slowly, her golden eyes widening as she recognized him. "Logan…" she murmured, rising gracefully.
Blake ran to his friend, wrapping him in a strong hug before pulling back to examine him. "By the gods, look at you!" he exclaimed, giving Logan's shoulder a light punch. "Looks like the Qilins fed you growth potions!"
Logan laughed, returning the gesture. "And you? Finally managed to grow; you won't need my help reaching the high shelves anymore." The two laughed, easily falling back into their old camaraderie, as if the two years of separation had never existed.
Kassia approached more slowly, her eyes studying every detail of the new Logan. When she finally stood before him, a faint blush colored her cheeks. "You've changed," she said simply.
Logan felt an unexpected warmth rise up his neck as he met her gaze. "You too," he replied, his voice softer than he intended.
An awkward moment of silence hung between them, until Blake cleared his throat dramatically. "If you two have finished admiring each other, maybe we can sit down and Logan can tell us all about his secret training?"
The comment broke the tension, making Kassia lightly slap Blake's arm while Logan laughed, grateful for the intervention. The three sat down under the silver oak, and Logan began to narrate his experiences in Xian'Lin—the strenuous training, the Ancestral Qilin's lessons, the fantastic creatures he had met. Blake and Kassia listened fascinated, interrupting occasionally with questions or comments.
"So you can really… you know…" Blake made a vague gesture with his hands. "Transform?"
Logan hesitated, glancing around to ensure they were alone. "Not completely," he replied in a low voice. "Not like that night. But I can access part of the power when necessary." To demonstrate, he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, the amber had been completely replaced by a brilliant gold. His nails lengthened slightly, turning into short but sharp claws.
Kassia gasped, her eyes widening. "It's… impressive," she said, hesitantly reaching out a hand. "May I?" Logan nodded, and she lightly touched his claws, marveling. "Doesn't it hurt?"
"Not anymore," he replied, letting the features return to normal. "It was agonizing at first. Now it's like… flexing a muscle."
"And at the academy?" Blake asked, concerned. "You'll have to hide this, won't you?"
"Yes," Logan confirmed. "No one can know. It would be too dangerous, especially with students from Eryndark around."
"Speaking of which," said Kassia, her tone turning serious. "Have you heard the rumors about what Eryndark is doing? About the experiments?"
Blake nodded grimly. "My father told me some things. They're creating… monsters."
"Not just monsters," Kassia corrected. "Hybrids. Trying to replicate what happens naturally with people like Logan."
Logan felt a shiver run down his spine. "My father mentioned that. Said they're using stolen essences from magical creatures."
"It's worse than that," said Kassia, lowering her voice. "I overheard my father talking with other Council members. They believe Eryndark is trying to create its own Arcane Beast bearers. Artificially."
A heavy silence fell over the trio as they absorbed the implication of those words. "That's…" Blake started, but couldn't find the words. "An abomination," Logan completed, feeling a rising anger. "The Arcane Beasts aren't tools to be used. They are ancient, powerful entities. Trying to replicate that artificially is…" "Dangerous," Kassia concluded. "And that's why we need to be prepared. The academy isn't just about learning magic. It's about preparing ourselves for what's coming."
Logan looked at his friends, feeling the weight of the responsibility they shared. They were no longer children playing in the castle gardens. They were young adults about to enter a world on the brink of war. "Then we'll prepare together," he said, extending his hand. "Like we always have."
Blake placed his hand on Logan's without hesitation. "Together," he agreed.
Kassia hesitated for a moment, her golden eyes meeting Logan's. Something passed between them, a silent understanding, before she also placed her hand on theirs. "Together," she said softly.
In that moment, under the silver oak in the gardens of Sky Reaper, the three friends sealed a silent pact. The future was uncertain, full of dangers and challenges, but they would face it all side by side.
A week later, they would depart for the Aldaria Academy of Magic, leaving behind the safety of Sky Reaper and embarking on the next phase of their lives. What they would find there, none of them could predict. But one thing was certain: nothing would be the same again.
The heir of Fenrir had awakened, and the world would tremble with the consequences.