The Verdant Academy arena roared with cheers, its stone benches packed with villagers under the bright midday sun. Kai stood on the dirt field, his Starborn Cub bouncing at his side, its silver fur sparkling like a starry night. His black hair, streaked with silver, stuck to his sweaty forehead, and his green eyes burned with focus. The star-shaped scar on his left hand pulsed, matching the cub's warm glow. His Thorned Viper coiled nearby, its green scales shiny, still new to their bond. His blue robes, pinned with a Novice medallion, felt light, but the pressure of the trials weighed heavy.
Yesterday's maze trial had pushed Kai and Lila to their limits, bonding the viper and facing a corrupted Razorclaw Fox with creepy red eyes. The fox's strange power stuck in Kai's mind, a sign of something dark growing. Today's trial was about fighting—Initiates faced off with their beasts to show control. Winning meant securing Novice rank and a spot in the academy. Losing meant staying stuck in Verdant Hollow. Kai's cub yipped, wings twitching, ready to shine.
Lila leaned against a post nearby, her auburn ponytail swaying, blue streaks in her hair catching the light. Her hazel eyes sparkled with excitement, and her green robes fluttered as her Windwing Sparrow perched on her shoulder. Her Windchime Pendant glowed, boosting her Windslash and Windstep moves. "Hope you're ready to lose, Kai," she teased, grinning. Kai smirked, her challenge firing him up. "Keep dreaming, Lila." Their teamwork in the maze was strong, but today they were rivals.
Torren stepped onto the platform, his gray beard swaying, his Rare Ironfang Wolf growling softly. A new figure joined him—a woman with fiery red hair and sharp amber eyes. Her crimson robes shimmered with flame runes, and an Ember Crown sat on her head, glowing with heat. Her Blazefury Drake, a big beast with fiery scales, loomed behind, wings casting a warm glow. "This is Sylvara," Torren said, his voice loud. "A Master Tamer from the Blazefury Sect, here to judge."
Sylvara's eyes swept the arena, landing on Kai's cub. "Initiates!" she called, her voice strong. "This trial tests your control. Fight your opponent, use your beasts, and show strength. Weak bonds break." Kai's scar tingled under her gaze, his cub nuzzling him. Lila whispered, "She's intense, Kai. Don't mess up."
Torren called the first fights. Lila went first, her sparrow dodging a rival's Stone Badger with quick Windslashes. She won fast, earning cheers. Kai clapped, impressed but ready. Then Torren shouted, "Kai versus Lila!" The crowd roared, sensing a big show. Lila's grin widened, her eyes sharp but warm. "No going easy, Kai," she said, stepping into the fighting circle.
Kai nodded, the cub bounding forward, viper slithering beside it. Lila's sparrow took flight, circling with a gust. Sylvara raised her hand. "Start!"
Lila moved fast, her pendant glowing. "Sparrow, Windslash!" The bird dove, sending a sharp gust at Kai's beasts. Kai channeled Essence, his scar warm. "Cub, Starflare!" The cub's wings flashed, a burst of starlight hitting the Windslash, scattering sparks. The viper lunged, fangs ready, but Lila's Windstep made her a blur, her sparrow dodging easily.
The crowd cheered, eyes glued to the fight. Sylvara watched, her drake's tail flicking. Kai focused, syncing with the cub's heartbeat. "Viper, strike!" The serpent darted, forcing Lila's sparrow to weave. The cub's Starflare burst again, grazing the sparrow's wing. Lila grinned, her pendant flashing. "Nice try, Kai!" Her Windslash spiraled, pushing Kai back. Their moves danced, starlight and wind mixing in a storm.
Kai's control grew sharper, the cub's Starflare steady. He felt Lila's rhythm, their teamwork from the maze shining through. "Cub, together!" The cub and viper attacked as one, Starflare and fangs aiming for the sparrow. Lila's Windstep spun her away, her sparrow's Windslash creating a whirlwind to block them. The fight stretched, their Essence clashing in bursts of light and air.
A loud hum broke the cheers, chilling the air. The cub growled, its fur bristling. Lila's sparrow landed, screeching. The ground shook, and a corrupted beast—a Common Direwolf, its fur dark with veins, eyes glowing red—burst from the forest. Its power felt wrong, like a shadow over the arena. The crowd screamed, running.
Sylvara's drake roared, flames flashing, driving the wolf back. Kai and Lila acted fast, their beasts joining in. The cub's Starflare lit the arena, staggering the wolf, while Lila's Windslash cut its side. Sylvara's flames pushed it into the trees, its red eyes fading. She turned to Kai and Lila, her eyes hard. "Good work, but the trial stops here. You both pass."
The crowd calmed, whispering about the wolf. Lila grabbed Kai's arm, her voice low. "That's no coincidence, Kai. Your cub's pulling them." Kai nodded, the cub's warmth steadying him. Sylvara approached, her drake looming. "Your cub's special, Kai," she said softly. "It draws danger. Be ready." She walked off, leaving a spark of fear.
Lila's hand stayed on Kai's arm, her hazel eyes soft. "We're tougher than that wolf, Kai," she said, smiling. Kai grinned, the cub nuzzling him. "Yeah, Lila. Together." The trials were almost over, but the wolf's red eyes meant trouble was coming.