The Verdant Academy's arena buzzed with excitement, its stone benches packed with villagers cheering. Kai stood at the edge of the trial field, his Starborn Cub nestled in his arms, its silver fur glowing like stars. His black hair, streaked with silver, fell into his green eyes, which darted nervously across the crowd. The star-shaped scar on his left hand pulsed, matching the cub's warm glow. His blue robes, pinned with silver runes, felt out of place among the other Initiates. The cub yipped, its tiny wings flapping, sensing his nerves.
The Verdant Academy trials were a big deal. Winning meant becoming a Novice and joining the academy, a step out of Verdant Hollow. Losing meant staying stuck, and Kai refused that fate. Yesterday's training with Lila had helped him control the cub's Starflare, but it was still wild. The corrupted Ironclaw Bear from two days ago, with its creepy red eyes, stuck in his mind. Something dark was out there, and his cub seemed to draw it.
Lila stood nearby, her auburn ponytail bouncing, blue streaks in her hair shining. Her hazel eyes sparkled with excitement, and her green robes swayed as her Windwing Sparrow perched on her shoulder. Her Windchime Pendant glowed, boosting her Windslash and Windstep moves. "Ready to lose, Kai?" she teased, grinning. Kai smirked, her challenge firing him up. "You wish, Lila." Their teamwork against the bear showed they were better together, but the trials were every tamer for themselves.
Torren stepped onto a platform, his gray beard swaying, his Rare Ironfang Wolf growling softly. "Initiates!" he shouted, quieting the crowd. "The first trial tests your bond. Enter the Verdant Maze, bond a Common beast, and get back in one hour. Watch out—danger's in there." His eyes landed on Kai's cub, a warning about the corrupted beasts.
Kai's stomach twisted. The Verdant Maze was a tangle of vines and stone, full of beasts and rumors of corrupted ones with red eyes. The cub nuzzled him, its warmth calming him. Lila nudged his arm. "Don't get lost, Kai," she said, half-joking, half-serious. He nodded, gripping his Binding Cord.
The horn blared, and the Initiates rushed into the maze, a huge arch of vines looming ahead. Kai sprinted, the cub bounding beside him, its Starflare lighting the way. Lila kept pace, her sparrow flying above, its Windslash cutting vines. "Stay close, Kai!" she called, her pendant glowing. Kai grinned, his scar tingling as he channeled Essence. "You stay close, Lila!"
The maze twisted, vines pulsing like they were alive. Kai's cub darted ahead, its Starflare glowing brighter. Lila's sparrow scouted, their moves syncing like in training. Kai focused, his scar warm. "Cub, find a beast!" The cub's ears twitched, leading them to a narrow path where a Common Thorned Viper slithered, its green scales shiny.
Kai raised his Binding Cord, its runes glowing. "Viper, bind!" he called, pushing Essence. The cub's Starflare flashed, distracting the viper. Lila's sparrow dove, its Windslash grazing the beast's side. The viper hissed, lunging at Kai. He dodged, his scar burning as he poured Essence into the cord. "Obey!" The bond clicked, the viper calming, coiling at his feet.
Lila clapped, grinning. "Not bad, Kai!" Kai exhaled, the viper's bond steady. They had to hurry—the trial was timed. The maze grew darker, the air heavy. A hum vibrated, like the one from the bear attack. The cub growled, its fur bristling. Lila's sparrow landed, screeching. "That's not good," Lila whispered, her pendant glowing.
A scream echoed. Kai and Lila ran toward it, finding another Initiate cornered by a corrupted beast—a Common Razorclaw Fox, its fur dark with veins, eyes glowing red. Its power felt wrong, like a shadow over the maze. Kai acted fast, his cub's Starflare bursting to push the fox back. Lila's sparrow unleashed a Windslash, cutting its flank. The Initiate fled, shouting thanks.
The fox lunged, claws sharp. Kai's scar burned, and he shouted, "Cub, Starflare!" The celestial light staggered the fox, but its dark power resisted binding. Lila's Windstep blurred, her Windslash hitting hard. Together, their moves drove the fox into the shadows, its red eyes fading. Kai panted, the cub nuzzling him. Lila grabbed his arm, her eyes wide. "That was too close, Kai."
They raced through the maze, the cub and viper leading, Lila's sparrow above. The exit appeared, a glowing stone arch. They crossed it, breathless, as the crowd cheered. Torren waited, his wolf growling. "Good work," he said, eyeing Kai's cub and viper. "But that fox… it's a sign. Stay sharp."
Lila bumped Kai's shoulder, her grin soft. "Nice job, Kai. We make a good team." Kai smiled, the cub warm in his arms. "Yeah, Lila. We do." The trials weren't over, but the fox's red eyes stuck with him. Something dark was watching, and his cub was in the middle of it.