The Verdant Wilds stretched beyond Verdant Academy, a maze of tall oaks and glowing vines pulsing with Essence. Kai crouched behind a big rock, his Starborn Cub nestled beside him, its silver fur sparkling like a starry sky. His black hair, streaked with silver, stuck to his sweaty forehead, and his green eyes scanned the trees. The star-shaped scar on his left hand pulsed, matching the cub's warm glow. His Thorned Viper slithered nearby, its green scales blending with the moss. His blue robes, pinned with a Novice medallion, rustled softly in the breeze.
A week into Verdant Academy, Kai's skills were growing fast. The sparring match with Lila had sharpened his control, their teamwork against a corrupted Shadowmaw Raven showing his cub's power—and its danger. Veyra's shadowy appearance, crushing the raven with her Voidfang Scepter, stuck in Kai's mind, her violet eyes hinting at trouble. Today's mission, set by Sylvara, was his first as a Novice: hunt a Common beast in the Wilds and grab its core to prove his bond. The cub yipped, wings twitching, ready to go.
Lila crept up, her auburn ponytail swaying, blue streaks in her hair catching the sunlight. Her hazel eyes sparkled with excitement, and her green robes fluttered as her Windwing Sparrow perched on her arm. Her Windchime Pendant glowed, boosting her Windslash and Windstep moves. "Found anything, Kai?" she whispered, smirking. "Or you just hiding?" Kai grinned, her teasing lifting his mood. "Waiting for you to scare everything off, Lila."
Sylvara had paired them for the mission, trusting their teamwork from the trials. Kai's scar tingled, the cub nuzzling him. Its Starflare move was strong but wild, and the viper's Venomcoil Strike needed work. Lila's sparrow, quick and sharp, gave them an edge, but the Wilds were tricky. Rumors of corrupted beasts with red eyes had spread since the raven attack. "Ready?" Kai asked. Lila nodded, her sparrow taking flight. "Let's hunt, Kai."
They moved through the Wilds, the cub's Starflare lighting the path with soft starlight. Lila's sparrow flew ahead, its Windslash cutting vines. Kai channeled Essence, his scar glowing as he synced with the cub's heartbeat. "Find a beast," he whispered. The cub bounded forward, leading them to a clearing where a Common Ironhoof Stag stood, its antlers shiny like metal.
Kai raised his Binding Cord, its runes glowing. "Viper, move!" The serpent slithered, circling the stag. Lila's sparrow dove, its Windslash grazing the beast's side, making it bolt. Kai focused, his scar warm. "Cub, Starflare Burst!" A new move, a wide arc of starlight, scorched the grass, slowing the stag. The viper lunged, its Venomcoil Strike wrapping its leg. Kai tossed the cord, shouting, "Bind!" The bond formed, the stag's core pulsing in his hand.
Lila clapped, grinning. "Starflare Burst? Show-off, Kai." Kai smirked, the cub yipping proudly. "Learned it watching you, Lila." Her cheeks turned pink, her eyes soft for a moment before her smirk returned. "Keep dreaming."
A deep hum shook the clearing, chilling the air. The cub growled, its fur standing up. Lila's sparrow screeched, landing on her shoulder. The ground rumbled, and a corrupted beast appeared—a Common Dusktalon Owl, its feathers dark with veins, eyes glowing red. Its power felt like a shadow, heavy and wrong. Kai's scar burned, the cub baring its teeth. Lila's pendant glowed, her voice low. "Here we go again, Kai."
Kai acted fast. "Cub, Starflare Burst!" The cub's wings flashed, a bright arc staggering the owl. Lila's sparrow dove, its Windslash cutting a wing. The owl screeched, its talons slashing. Kai dodged, shielding the cub, while the viper struck, its Venomcoil grazing the owl. Lila's Windstep blurred, her sparrow weaving through the air, its Windslash relentless.
The owl's dark power pulsed, a black mist swirling. Kai's scar throbbed, the cub's starlight pushing back the shadows. "Together!" he shouted. The cub's Starflare Burst mixed with the viper's Venomcoil, a glowing attack. Lila's Windslash joined, a storm of light and air. The owl faltered, its dark power fading, but it lunged at Kai, talons sharp.
A shadowy tendril shot from the trees, pinning the owl. Veyra stepped into the clearing, her black hair braided with dark runes, violet eyes sharp. Her dark robes hugged her slim form, and her Voidfang Scepter pulsed with strange power. "Reckless kids," she said, her voice smooth but sharp. The tendril crushed the owl, its body fading into mist. Kai's cub growled, wary of her. Lila stepped forward, her sparrow tense. "What do you want, Veyra?"
Veyra's lips curved, her eyes on Kai's cub. "Your Starborn pulls in trouble, Kai. Watch your back." Sylvara appeared, her Blazefury Drake roaring, flames lighting the clearing. "Veyra, leave," she warned, her voice hard. Veyra smirked, vanishing into the shadows. Sylvara turned to Kai and Lila. "You're safe, but the core?" Kai held up the stag's core, earning a nod. "Good job. Back to the academy."
As they walked back, Lila's hand brushed Kai's, her hazel eyes soft. "Nice work, Kai," she said quietly. Kai smiled, the cub's warmth calming him. "Couldn't do it without you, Lila." The Wilds grew quiet, but Veyra's words and the owl's red eyes lingered. The academy was a new path, but danger was close.
In his dorm, Kai sat with the cub, its Starflare glowing softly. Lila leaned against the door, her sparrow perched nearby. "You're gonna be trouble, Kai," she teased, her voice warm. Kai grinned, the viper coiling at his feet. "Good thing you're here, Lila." The night was calm, but the shadows felt alive.