The shop was quiet after the first trial.
The kitten—now Silver Level—rested on the counter, its golden eyes glowing faintly as it purred softly.
Elena returned to her book, sipping her tea, but her gaze never left the pet. Something in the air felt… off.
A soft chime echoed through the shop door.
Elena's head lifted. Visitors at this hour were unusual.
A girl stepped inside, wearing a dark hood that partially covered her face.
Her presence carried a strange weight, as if the air itself bent around her.
"Good evening," she said softly. Her voice was calm, almost melodic. "I'm looking for… the Pet Mistress."
Elena's dark eyes narrowed slightly. "You've found her," she said. "And you are?"
The girl lowered her hood. Her eyes were sharp, unnatural, like she could see into the soul of the shop.
"My name is Lyra," she said. "I've come about a creature that belongs to this world… and yours."
Elena's interest piqued. "Speak clearly. What do you mean?"
Lyra stepped closer, placing a small cage on the counter.
Inside was a strange creature—part bird, part fox—with feathers and fur shimmering in silver and gold. Its eyes glowed like molten amber.
Elena's fingers twitched slightly. She could feel the energy radiating from the creature.
"This… is not ordinary," Elena murmured.
Lyra's lips curved into a faint smile. "It's beyond ordinary. It has been wandering between worlds, searching for a guide. And it chose this shop. It chose you."
The kitten hissed softly, sensing the new creature.
Elena placed her hand gently on its back. "Are you sure it's ready for a trial?"
Lyra nodded. "It will awaken only under your guidance… but it is unpredictable. You must be cautious."
Elena's lips curled into a faint smile. "Then we shall see what it's capable of."
She led the creature into the arena. The shop stretched again into endless golden light, runes pulsing beneath the floor.
The kitten—now Silver—followed closely, watching curiously.
The new creature flapped its wings, letting out a soft cry. The sound reverberated strangely, almost like a warning.
Elena crouched slightly, her hands glowing faintly.
"Let the trial begin," she whispered.
The arena shifted. Shadows began to gather, echoing the first trial—but this time, there were two targets: the kitten and the mysterious creature.
The boy gasped. "There's… two?!"
Elena's eyes glimmered. "Every creature has a path… but guidance is only the beginning. Growth comes through struggle."
The Silver kitten and the new creature faced the shadows.
Golden and amber eyes glowed in unison.
The first strike of the trial rang out—a sound that would echo through the shop, through the worlds beyond, and begin a new chapter in their journey.
The boy gasped. "There's… two?!"