The bell rang at dawn all over Magic City, and the sound echoed through the Beast Tamer Academy's walls and spires like thunder.
Chen Ho stood in a line of new students with Phoenix sitting lightly on his shoulder. The courtyard sparkled with morning mist, and banners with embroidered animals like lions, dragons, qilins, and tigers waved in the breeze.
He still heard whispers.
"That's Chen Ho."
They say he killed a Rockback Bear.
"No, he killed Zhao Yunxian's snake!"
"I heard that his bird isn't even real; it's just a weird mutation."
The Phoenix chirped in a way that showed it didn't care.
The Teachers
A man in scholar's robes came up with a scroll under his arm. His beard was sharp, and his eyes were colder than steel in the winter.
He said, "I am Instructor Wei Cang." "Beasts' theory, law, and contracts." If you forget them, your own partner will betray you.
A woman in red armor walked behind him, and her eyes were like a drawn sword. "Teacher Xue Ling," she yelled. "Fight." I break bones so you don't lose your mind in the field.
Then a man with broad shoulders and robes that were stained with ink and herb dust came. His smile was nice, but his hands had scars on them. "Teacher Han Lu. Getting better, forming groups, and staying alive. If you fail here, you won't live to fight.
Finally, at the back, Dean Yue Lian herself was there, her robes glowing faintly with spirit light. She looked over the students, pausing for half a heartbeat longer on Chen Ho.
The First Talk
They were led into a large stone hall with shelves of beast manuals and crystal tablets. Instructor Wei slammed his scroll down on the lectern.
"Pay attention. Every beast bond is made in contract law, with blood for blood and spirit for spirit. If you don't handle it right, you'll die screaming. You can only grow beyond being average if you learn to follow your beast's natural law.
He pointed to a tablet that was faintly glowing with writing. For example, people say that the Phoenix line represents the rebirth of fire, with flames that get stronger through destruction. But for five hundred years, there has been no real Phoenix.
Everyone looked at Chen Ho.
The Phoenix on his shoulder fluffed its feathers and made sparks.
Chen Ho stayed calm and just took notes.
Training for Combat
In the afternoon, the students met in the training yard. Straw and iron dummies were ready.
Xue Ling, the teacher, walked in front of them. "Beasts are not just weapons. They are parts of you. If you flinch, they will too. "They die if you wait."
Pairs were told to fight. Claws ripped straw. Fire burned iron. There were loud roars in the air.
When they called Chen Ho's name, Zhao Yunxian laughed. "Again? Okay. "I'll break you here where no one can lie," I said.
His Crimson Scale Serpent hissed, its scales still scarred but glowing more brightly.
Chen Ho stepped forward, and the Phoenix spread its wings and lit up with golden fire.
The yard was quiet, and everyone was waiting.
The Clash
Zhao was the first to hit. The snake lunged, and its tail smashed through straw dummies like they were paper. Chen Ho moved lightly, stepping aside and staying calm.
He said, "Cry."
The Phoenix replied—Phoenix The cry rang out sharply, stunning the snake for a moment. Chen Ho closed the gap, knife flashing and making sparks fly off of red scales.
"That's enough!" Instructor Xue Ling yelled and stepped in between them. "This is a spar, not a fight to the death."
The snake pulled back, and Zhao was angry. The Phoenix landed back on Chen Ho's shoulder, as proud as ever.
"Control," Xue Ling said, narrowing her eyes at both of them. "Without it, you're like kids playing with fire."
Suspense
As the students left, whispers started up again.
"He's already too strong."
"Zhao can't even stop him..."
"If this keeps up, Chen Ho might soon challenge the inner ranks."
Chen Ho walked quietly, and the Phoenix glowed softly. He could feel the weight of the looks—envy, fear, and curiosity.
Dean Yue Lian watched from the balcony above, but his eyes were blank.
The Dragon Scale in his pouch pulsed once, softly but steadily, as if to remind him.
Chen Ho stroked Phoenix's head as it softly chirped. "Patience," he said softly. "Step by step."
But the Academy wouldn't leave him alone for long. There were already rivalries.