The gentle warmth of early morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Academy dormitories, casting golden patterns across the polished floors. Aren sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the bracelet-like mark on his wrist—a silent reminder of the bond he shared with Sharu. The little beast lay curled beside him, silver fur glinting in the light, two tiny horns twitching slightly in sleep.
Though he hadn't spoken a word, Sharu had already become a presence in Aren's life. Cold, sarcastic in expression, and somehow always giving off the air of nobility, Sharu was unlike anything Aren had expected. Most students bonded with beasts that obeyed instantly or were at least friendly. But not him. No—his beast acted as if it had lowered itself to be by Aren's side.
Still, that morning, for the first time in days, Aren felt something close to contentment. He had made it to the Academy. He had a beast. He belonged—at least on paper.
As he left his room, the hallways were buzzing with excitement. Orientation week had passed in a blur of speeches, building tours, and lectures about beast compatibility, contracts, and the code of ethics. Now, it was time for classes to begin.
The central plaza of the Academy was vast, surrounded by elemental towers—each representing the core domains of magic and beast types: Flame, Ice, Storm, Earth, Shadow, and Light. New students gathered beneath banners fluttering in the breeze, each one indicating a class group.
Aren looked around for anyone familiar, nervousness curling in his stomach. Then he saw a group standing apart, and among them—Liora Frostwind. Regal as ever, she stood with arms crossed, her ice-blue eyes scanning the crowd. The ice wolf beside her sat still, disciplined, and majestic.
Before Aren could approach, someone clapped him on the back. "Still brooding like a lost puppy?"
Aren turned to see Dorian Thorne, his dark lion beast lounging nearby like it owned the courtyard.
"Dorian," Aren said with a nod, hiding his amusement. Dorian had been… competitive since the day they'd met, but there was a spark of camaraderie growing between them.
"Don't fall behind today," Dorian warned with a smirk. "Just because you tamed a cute silver furball doesn't mean you're special."
Sharu, sitting at Aren's feet, opened one eye, yawned, and then turned his back on Dorian. The message was clear.
"I see your beast is as rude as you," Dorian said with a snort.
A chuckle sounded behind them. Lyra Stormcloud approached, her steps soft and quiet. Her shadowy bird familiar circled above lazily, trailing faint crackles of lightning.
"Don't take it personally," she said. "I think he's cute. Your Sharu, I mean."
"Thanks," Aren said. "He doesn't seem to like anyone except my sister."
"Maybe she's the only one pure enough for him," Lyra offered with a mysterious smile.
The group's banter was cut short by the arrival of a new face—Aric Sunflare. His golden beast padded next to him with an almost smug air.
"I hope you're all ready," Aric said. "Professor Kael is known to be ruthless during the first week. He likes breaking down egos."
They walked together toward the Flame Tower, where their first class was scheduled. The academy's flame instructors were known to be aggressive and strict, emphasizing strength, precision, and teamwork. For many, this was their first real test.
Inside the training hall, the professor stood waiting. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a jagged scar down his left cheek. His beast, a massive magma serpent, coiled behind him.
"I am Kael," he said simply, his voice like gravel. "Your beasts are only as strong as the bond you share with them. Those who believe otherwise will fail. Those who hesitate will fall."
With a wave of his hand, training dummies appeared across the hall. "Pair up. Your beasts will attack, and you will assist. I want to see control, coordination, and raw strength. Go."
The group hesitated briefly, then sprang into action. Dorian called out to his lion, which roared and charged forward, its powerful form slamming into a dummy with earth-shaking force.
Liora's wolf glided like ice itself, freezing her targets mid-air.
Even Lyra's bird beast struck with precision lightning bolts, frying its target cleanly.
Aren glanced at Sharu, who was still sitting, uninterested.
"Sharu…" he began, but the silver-furred creature gave him a disdainful look. Still, after a few seconds, he stood, stretched, and trotted lazily toward a dummy.
Then—without warning—he vanished in a blur.
Aren blinked.
The next moment, the dummy exploded in a flash of purified energy. It wasn't flame, lightning, or ice. It was something… cleansing.
The entire class turned to stare.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "That… was unexpected."
Sharu returned to Aren's side as if nothing had happened. Aren smiled nervously.
The rest of the lesson continued, but whispers had begun. Who was that boy? What kind of beast was that? It didn't match any known type.
Later that day, the group sat near the Academy's central fountain, eating bread rolls and soup from the cafeteria.
"I have to admit," Dorian said begrudgingly. "That was impressive."
"Thanks… I think," Aren replied.
"I've never seen energy like that," Lyra mused. "It felt… pure. Almost like it cleansed the air."
Liora said nothing but eyed Sharu with a new kind of interest.
Aric leaned in. "Don't let it get to your head. There's a difference between a flashy trick and real power. The monthly tournament will show who's actually strong."
"I'm not trying to compete with anyone," Aren said.
"Then you'll lose," Aric replied simply.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the towers, Aren returned to his room. Sharu jumped up onto the bed, curling into a tight ball.
"So… we made it through day one," Aren whispered. "Somehow."
Sharu cracked open an eye, snorted softly, and went back to sleep.
Aren laughed quietly.
Despite everything, he felt like he was finally where he belonged.
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End of Chapter 6