The morning bell of Eldara Academy echoed across the misty cliffs, summoning hundreds of students in shimmering robes. Each wore a crest glowing with their chosen path — red for Warriors, blue for Mages, silver for Knights, and… brown for Beast Tamers.
And in the far back of the courtyard, among yawns and mocking whispers, stood Lyn Ashveil, a seventeen-year-old boy with messy dark hair and a lazy grin. His brown crest barely flickered with light — a tamer's mark.
"Hey, beast boy! Heard you're still feeding that slime you caught last year?""At least my slime listens better than your sword arm," Lyn replied with a shrug, earning a few snickers.
The crowd dispersed when the Grandmaster of Classes, an old mage wrapped in golden runes, raised his staff."Today," he thundered, "the academy's annual Summoning Trial begins. Your familiars will define your rank — and perhaps, your destiny."
Lyn sighed. He didn't expect much. Every year, tamers got the weakest beasts: slimes, squirrels, maybe a crow if lucky. Warriors got lions. Mages summoned drakes.
But as the summoning circle lit beneath his feet, Lyn felt something different. The ground trembled faintly. His crest flared gold for a split second — and vanished.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
"Finally… found you."
A shadowy silhouette of a horned creature appeared behind him, unseen by others. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence — and danger.
The crowd gasped as Lyn's summoning circle exploded with black mist.When it cleared… there was nothing.
The instructor sneered. "Failed again, Ashveil. Perhaps next year, you'll manage to summon a rabbit."
But Lyn's faint smile didn't fade. Deep within his shadow, two crimson eyes blinked.
"Master… shall we hunt?"