The sun sank low over Verdant Hollow, painting the hills gold and red. Kai crouched behind a big rock, his breath steady despite his racing heart. His black hair, streaked with silver, stuck to his sweaty forehead, and his green eyes scanned the clearing. Somewhere in the tall grass, a beast moved—a Common Horned Fangboar, its tusks shiny in the fading light. Kai gripped a worn leather cord, his Binding Cord, the only tool he had as an Initiate Tamer. Today was his shot to prove himself.
Verdant Hollow was a small village tucked under the Starfrost Mountains, where tamers bonded with beasts to grow stronger. Kai, an orphan raised by Elder Torren, dreamed of becoming a legendary tamer, commanding powerful creatures and shaping the world. But in a poor village like his, most tamers stayed weak. Kai wanted more. His blue robes, patched and stitched with silver runes from his late mother, felt heavy with hope.
The grass rustled. Kai's heart sped up. He'd tracked the Fangboar for hours, remembering Torren's advice: "Patience makes a tamer strong." The beast was young, barely Uncommon, but bonding it could push Kai past Initiate, earning him a spot in the Verdant Academy trials. He tightened his grip on the Binding Cord, its runes glowing faintly as he pushed Essence—a warm tingle from his chest to his fingers—into it.
A grunt echoed. The Fangboar appeared, its bristly hide scarred, eyes wild. Kai raised the cord, ready to bind. But a gust of wind swept the clearing, scattering leaves. The boar snorted, turning. Kai cursed softly. Another tamer. Lila stepped from the grass, her auburn ponytail swaying, blue streaks in her hair catching the light. Her hazel eyes sparkled with mischief, and her green robes fluttered. A Windwing Sparrow perched on her shoulder, its feathers ruffling.
"Kai, you're too slow," Lila teased, her voice light but sharp. "That boar's mine." Kai frowned, gripping the cord tighter. Lila, another orphan from Verdant Hollow, had been his rival since they were kids. Her family's wind taming skills gave her an edge—her sparrow was already bonded, and she used moves like a pro. "Back off, Lila," Kai said. "I found it first."
"Find it faster next time, Kai," she shot back, smirking. Her sparrow chirped, and a breeze swirled around her, showing off her Windstep move. Kai knew she was quick, but he wasn't giving up.
The Fangboar charged, tusks aimed at Lila. She dodged with Windstep, leaving a trail of gusts. Kai seized his chance, tossing the Binding Cord. It glowed, looping around the boar's neck as he pushed Essence. "Bind and obey!" he shouted. The move faltered, his Essence weak, the cord slipping. The boar roared, turning on him.
Lila laughed, her sparrow diving. "Nice try!" Her Windchime Pendant glowed, boosting her wind moves. "Sparrow, Windslash!" The bird sent a sharp gust, cutting the boar's side. The beast stumbled, its tough hide bleeding, and charged Kai again.
Kai rolled away, heart pounding. His Essence was shaky, and Lila was winning, but the boar's rampage could draw worse beasts. Stories of corrupted creatures—mad, with red eyes—haunted the village. Kai caught Lila's eye, a silent agreement forming. Rivals or not, they had to team up.
"Lila, distract it!" Kai yelled. She nodded, her sparrow diving with another Windslash, pulling the boar's attention. Kai circled behind, pushing Essence into the cord again. Torren's words rang in his head: "Feel the beast's heart." The cord glowed brighter, tightening. Kai's Essence surged, warmth filling his chest. "Bind!" The boar froze, its eyes softening as the bond started.
But the air grew heavy, the ground shaking faintly. A hum came from the forest's edge, not from the boar. Lila landed beside him, her bravado gone. "What's that?" she whispered. Kai didn't answer, drawn to a glowing light in the trees—a starry shimmer. The boar broke free, fleeing. Kai and Lila pushed through the brush, the light growing stronger.
In a small clearing, among old roots, lay a tiny creature, its silver fur sparkling like stars. Tiny wings folded against its back, and its eyes glowed with celestial light. A Starborn Cub—a beast from legends. Its presence felt like fate, calling Kai. He knelt, his hand shaking as he reached out. The cub's eyes met his, and a jolt hit him, like stars bursting in his veins. A star-shaped scar burned onto his left hand, glowing. The bond formed without a cord, pure and strong.
Lila gasped. "Kai, that's… not normal." Her sparrow chirped nervously, sensing the cub's power. Kai stood, the cub nuzzling him. Before he could speak, a roar shook the clearing. A corrupted beast—a Common Ironclaw Bear, its fur dark with veins, eyes red—burst through, roaring. Kai clutched the cub, its warmth steadying him. Lila's sparrow took flight, her pendant glowing.
"Together!" Kai shouted. Lila nodded, her sparrow unleashing a Windslash that staggered the bear. Kai's scar burned, and the cub let out a cry, releasing a burst of starlight—Starflare, a move he didn't know he could use. The bear reeled, stunned. Lila's Windslash hit again, and Kai directed another Starflare, searing the bear's hide. It roared, fleeing into the forest, leaving a trail of dark Essence.
Kai panted, the cub warm in his arms. Lila stared, her smirk returning. "Not bad, Kai. But you owe me." He grinned, exhausted but thrilled. "We're even, Lila." The cub's glow pulsed, promising power—and danger. The bear wasn't natural. Something dark was stirring, and Kai's bond with the cub had made him a target.
They trudged back to Verdant Hollow, the cub cradled close. The academy trials were in three days, their chance to rise to Novice. Lila's playful jab echoed: "Keep up, or I'll tame that cub myself." Kai's scar tingled, the cub's eyes meeting his. Whatever lay ahead—beasts, rivals, or shadows—he'd face it. The stars had chosen him.