Thursday, November 5, 310 A.D.E
Adeon had already made his way to school, stopping at a small café on the way before heading over to register for the upcoming forge exams.
Why?
Simple, he was broke. Dirt broke.
Sure, his ability to see evolutionary pathways gave him a massive edge, slashing the trial-and-error costs that bled other tamers dry. But even with that advantage, the reality was brutal: materials weren't free. A quick stroll through Beast Avenue had opened his eyes, some materials were priced higher than the beasts themselves, the kind of numbers that made his wallet want to crawl into a corner and cry.
In this world, the education system had been reshaped from the ground up. From the 9th grade onward, students were introduced to the fundamentals of beasts, the many professions open to beast tamers, and the intricate web of knowledge surrounding them.
By the 10th grade, a line was drawn. Students were split into two groups, those who had awakened and those who hadn't. And with that divide, the discrimination began.
For the awakened, the curriculum brimmed with survival theory, combat drills, and specialized knowledge, all designed to pave their way into beast-taming majors at university. The unawakened, on the other hand, were quietly herded into history lessons, obscure classifications of professions, and cultural studies, subjects that politely pushed them away from the frontlines and into safe, forgettable roles.
Of all the professions, the one that suited him most was that of the forger. Despite the misleading name, a forger didn't craft weapons, they crafted bloodlines. Through rare materials, and an almost spiritual understanding of beast essence, they could awaken dormant traits, strengthen lineage, and even create entirely new paths of evolution. It was a profession that shaped powerhouses.
Bloodline forgers stood at the very peak of respect and influence… and for good reason. The work demanded vast resources, knowledge that most couldn't even comprehend, and a level of precision where a single misstep could ruin a beast — or its tamer — forever.
Before awakening, Adeon's ambition had been modest: become a forge assistant. Not because the work itself called to him, but because it would place him beside someone powerful, someone who might help him find his parents. But now? Now, he no longer had to think so small. Talk less of being an assistant, he could dream of becoming a forger himself.
Blackwood Fifth Highschool .
This was the fifth government highschool in blackwood base. Adeon stood in front of it's massive gate. Nothing had changed, except he was now awakened... And the new silver bracelet on his wrist
' A new start awaits'
Merging into the stream of students, he stepped onto the school grounds. Yet, something felt… off. Something was missing.
'That's right… Sylv.'
He usually waited for Adeon at the gate. His absence was strange.
Maybe he's already gone inside, Adeon thought, quickening his pace.
He made his way to the administration building to register for the awakeners class. Entering into the room that's said " Registration ", he was greeted by the faint scent of paper and the constant sound of the clacking of keyboards.The man at the counter had the permanent scowl of someone who believed smiling was a taxable offense. Without looking up he asked,
" Name?"
" Adeon Taloba "
" Purpose? "
" Class change "
" Reason?"
" Awakened"
The man finally raised his head to look at him, but that was all, just a glance and he buried his head back into his computer. For about two minutes he didn't say anything, didn't glance at Adeon. He just kept on typing
With a final clack on the computer, he pushed his chair back stood up and said " follow me. "
Without saying another word, he walked out of the room, Adeon followed suit, they walked down the hallway before coming out into an expansive room. He was astonished, it was like he was in a while different world, equipments he hadn't seen before in the non- awakened area, dotted this place.
" Stand here "
The man gestured to a circular platform, Adeon climbed unto it as a floating virtual screen appeared before the man, punching a few things into it, faint lines of light appeared scanning Adeon.
[ Energy signature detected ]
[ Energy sequence stable]
[ Candidate is successfully awakened]
A cold robotic voice sounded, following which the man typed something on the floating screen before him.
[Summon your beast and step off the platform]
The metallic voice spoke out again. Adeon looked at the man, but seeing as he didn't say anything, he raised his right arm and said.
" Valeryss "
Immediately the silver bracelet on his right arm began to squirm, it stretched in size to form a palm sized silver scaled snake, it slithered across his arm.all the way to his face and nuzzled it head against his face, it's ruby red eyes narrowing in happiness, an odd look appeared on his face at this.
The man who had been paying closed attention noticed this and scowled
" tsk, he is averse to his beast... Spoilt brat "
What he couldn't have known was that, through their bond Valeryss had called Adeon " Father "
Valeryss was one of the two eggs Ysira had given him, upon attending to all he had to do and feeding Ling some beast meat, he had proceeded to form blood bond with the two eggs.
The bond had been successful and had given him two beautiful... Well daughters... As they had not stopped calling him father since they had hatched. The silver egg hatched Valeryss whom was on his arms now, while, the black egg hatched Ourus.
Valeryss slithered from his hand to the ground and rapidly enlarged from a palm sized snake to a python sized snake. Adeon stepped off the platform and watched in amazement as it extended and a translucent barrier appeared around it.
CLANG
The sound of metals hitting each other rang out, at the other end of the platform, a cage from who knows where had appeared, in it was a wolf in chains, trashing and banging, trying to free itself from the cage.
[Initiating practical combat assessment] .
The robotic voice said, followed by a buzzing sound, the chains fell of and the doors to the cage swung, contrary to it's prior restlessness, the wolf stepped out slowly it's gaze locked on the snake before it, it's steps, slow and measured. The only thing stopping it from pouncing was a translucent wall that had appeared between it and the snake.
But Valeryss snake eyes remained cold as it watched what it deemed the oversized dog in front of it. Adeon willed his Auron into his eyes as he gazed at the wolf.
SPECIE: Iron backed wolf
BLOODLINE QUALITY: Normal
GRADE: normal lv 5
CONDITION: Hungry, Angry
EVOLUTION PATH: .....
He had heard of the iron backed wolf before, a beast of prey that had evolved to shed canine animals most vulnerable part, their waist, generally canine animals had ' waists as soft as tofu ', this was a saying that was said to have come from the Eastern region. But still seeing the stats of the beast he was relaxed. Turning his gaze towards Valeryss.
NAME: Valeryss
SPECIE: Argen fang
BLOODLINE QUALITY: Rare
GRADE: Normal lv 10
CONDITION: Calm, Bored
SKILLS: BASIC > Toxic fang ( Novice), Titan Coil ( Proficient ), Whiplash ( Novice )
INTERMEDIATE > Void lunge ( Novice )
EVOLUTION PATH: Depends on the Allmother
EVOLUTION REQUIREMENTS: Blood essence of the Allmother.
Valeryss and Ourus were the first beasts Adeon had ever seen with a rare-quality bloodline. Bloodline quality didn't necessarily equal battle power, but he had learnt from Ysira that it was still a decisive factor. The stronger the bloodline, the greater the beast's potential, especially when paired with a high level. And Valeryss… was a full five levels above the iron-backed wolf.
Feeling the flow of Auron the man turned his gaze towards Adeon,
' hmmm... He has an innate talent '
"Are you ready " he asked Adeon, who replied with a nod.
[Battle to start in 3…2…1… start].
As soon as the robotic voice finished counting, the translucent barrier between the wolf and snake vanished, the wolf pounced, snarling, but Valeryss was faster.
Her scaled body shot out like a spear, coiling around the wolf mid-leap. The wolf landed with a bone-deep thud. Valeryss had coiled around it all the way from it's waist to its neck. Its furious growls broke into choked whines as the coils tightened, it's ribs creaked under the relentless pressure. It clawed against her armor-like scales, but didn't even leave a scratch, instead with it's struggles, she only coiled tighter.
' What sort of command did he give his beast… that's an iron backed wolf, that snake couldn't possibly…'
CRACK.
A resounding crack sound rang out from the platform, it sounded eeriely like bone snapping. With a final pitiful whimper, the wolf stopped thrashing and lay slack in Valeryss coils. The light in its eyes dimming.
[ Combat assessment complete ]
[ Time taken 30 seconds ]
[ Grade S+ ]
The robotic voice gave the results of the assessment, while the man just stood there slack jawed.
" You did good Valeryss "
{ Hehe, I want to hug papa}.
Valeryss nuzzled her face against his. With a resigned look on his face, Adeon accepted his fate as a young and single father at the tender age of 16.
(っ ᵔ◡ᵔ)っ 'hehehe'
Walking towards the man, he asked " uhm… is that all."
" Ahem" he cleared his throat not meeting Adeons gaze, he quickly typed a few more commands on the screen, with a flicker of blue light, a card shimmered into existence, faint blue lines hovered above it's surface, as they did words appeared on the card. After that was done the man grabbed the card and threw it towards Adeon
" That's your id, you are now officially a member of the awakened class… do not lose it."
With that, he turned and left. Adeon quickly followed, Valeryss draped around his neck like a living, scaly scarf. The hallway seemed endless, the awkward silence seemed to make it seem even longer.
They finally stopped before a set of massive double doors. Sounds of teaching drifted from behind the door. The man gave them a firm knock, then pushed them open.
Adeon's breath caught.
The classroom was vast, easily as big as the school gym. Students sat on the ground, each accompanied by their beast, perched on shoulders, lounging at their feet, or looming protectively at their sides.
A hundred pairs of eyes turned toward the doorway in eerie unison.
Adeon froze. His brain, already unreliable in social situations, now decided to abandon him entirely.
"This is Adeon," the man announced. "He'll be joining this class."
Adeon felt the silence stretch. Against his better judgment, he blurted, "Uh… hi. I'm… Adeon. I like… uh…" He glanced around desperately for inspiration and saw a boy absentmindedly stroking his wolf's fur. "… stroking."
A couple of students snorted.
From somewhere in the back, a voice called out lazily, "Figures… Late awakening trash… probably doesn't even have a talent."
A ripple of laughter followed.
The tutor made no statement to reprimand them, instead he turned to Adeon " find yourself a place to sit "
The ' admin man ' as Adeon decided to call him whispered a few things to the tutor, the tutor's expression changed rapidly before concealing it, he whispered a few things back to the admin man.
Clearing his throat, " that's enough… let's get back to teaching "
The murmurs died down as Adeon found a space to seat. To his right sat a dark skinned girl, with springy black curls on her head. She didn't laugh, she just watched him, curious, he seemed like an awkward person.
" Hiii... My name is Kara " the dark skinned girl with black curls introduced herself leaning closer oblivious to the murmurs. She was really close, like she was talking to an old friend.
"Hiii," Adeon replied, a little uncertain.
"Don't beat yourself up too much about them…" She patted his shoulder in a way that was more of a slap than a gentle touch. "If anyone bothers you, tell me. I'll beat them up for you."
Her grin stretched wide, flashing a neat row of teeth, except for the two pointed canines that caught the light just enough to make him wonder whether they were a joke or a weird quirk.
Adeon sat rigid. He wasn't sure whether to be grateful for her kindness… or deeply concerned that his only ally in the room might be a muscle headed airhead