Light swallowed them whole.
For a heartbeat, Riley felt weightless—tumbling through a void of shimmering blue. The Lumin Whelp clung to his chest with tiny glowing paws, its warm fur pressed tight against him.
Then—
WHUMP.
His feet hit solid ground.
Sunlight washed over his face, warm and golden.
Voices filled the air—laughing, shouting, tinkering—mixed with the clatter of tools and distant animal cries.
They stood in the center of a bustling village square.
Wooden houses leaned cozily against stone-paved walkways. Crystal lanterns glowed faintly overhead, strung between poles and rooftops. Trees swayed around the town's edges, and a shimmering dome of protective energy hovered over the entire settlement.
Aria took one look—and exploded.
"DAY ONE, BABYYYYY! LET THE CARNAGE COMMENCE!"
Sofia clasped her hands. "Please do not cause carnage."
Riley barely heard them.
He was busy breathing in the scene he'd only ever known as a grindy tutorial zone—now alive, vivid, and brand new again.
Hundreds of players filled the square, each with their newly hatched Spirits:
Fire wolves barking sparks.
Stone cubs wrestling.
A nervous bubble-fish Spirit bouncing after a girl who screamed "SORRY!" every time it brushed her.
Chaos. Pure, glorious chaos.
Aria cracked her knuckles.
"Riley, where's the quest board? We're grabbing EVERYTHING."
"Maybe… not everything," Sofia murmured.
"We need to get our bearings first," Riley said.
The Lumin Whelp climbed onto Riley's shoulder, curling into his neck like a glowing scarf. Its soft radiance made more than a few players stop and stare.
A boy whispered—too loudly—to his friend:
"What Spirit is that? Looks… weak."
"Yeah, probably a dud starter," the friend snorted. "Bet it evolves into a glowing hamster."
Riley's jaw tightened.
Before he could respond, Aria marched up to them like a short, furious war god.
"Hey, glowstick-brain," she snapped. "Say that again about my brother's Spirit and I'll uninstall you from life."
The boys scrambled away.
Sofia sighed, "Aria…"
"What? They started it. Also, insulting cute Spirits should be a crime."
The Lumin Whelp chimed triumphantly.
All around them, players were showing off:
"My ember fox is SO fluffy!"
"Look at my stone boar! Check the defense stats!"
"MY SPIRIT BIT ME! IS IT BROKEN?!"
Aria spread her arms like a queen surveying her kingdom.
"This… is my natural habitat."
Sofia knelt beside her Lumen Pup—tiny fox-like features glowing gentle gold—as children approached to pet it.
"It's a Lumen Pup," she told them softly. "She's friendly. Promise."
The Pup yipped proudly, showering light motes into the air.
Meanwhile, Aria's Venom Webling crawled onto her head.
A passing little girl screamed, "EIGHT EYES IS TOO MANY!" and ran.
Aria shouted after her, "IT'S FLUFFY I SWEAR—COME BACK!"
Riley laughed—really laughed.
It felt good. God, it felt good.
A tall NPC in silver robes approached with calm steps. Their eyes glowed faintly as they intoned:
"Welcome, new Walkers. This is Dawnview Village, your starting point. Here you will learn combat basics, Spirit care, and exploration."
Aria saluted like she was enlisting.
"YES, MY LORD."
Sofia elbowed her. "Stop embarrassing us."
The guide continued:
"Trainers are by the eastern well. Vendors on the north street. Quest board beside the gate. The Spirit Care Center to the west."
Aria whispered loudly, "We're totally blowing something up."
Riley slapped a hand over her mouth.
"No. We're not."
The NPC turned to Riley.
"And you, Walker. Your Spirit is… unusual."
Riley stiffened. "Is that bad?"
The guide's gaze lingered.
"Not bad. Simply… rare. I have not seen one like it."
Aria fist-pumped. "HAH. Told you!"
Sofia smiled at him. "It's special."
Before Riley could reply, the NPC dissolved into particles.
---
The Quest Board
A crowd had swarmed the board so tightly it looked like a mosh pit.
Aria dove straight in.
"OUT OF MY WAY—THE QUESTS ARE MINE!"
Sofia gasped, "Aria! Pushing people is—Aria!—oh no…"
Riley stayed back, scanning the glowing scrolls as they flickered:
Hunt 10 meadow critters.
Collect 6 essence shards.
Repair fences.
Deliver a package.
Basic starter stuff.
Aria staggered out of the chaos with scrolls clutched in both hands, hair wild.
"I GOT THEM! ALL OF THEM!"
Riley blinked. "All of them?"
Sofia sighed deeply. "Of course she did."
Riley smirked. "Well… she's not wrong. We are a trio."
---
The Tutorial Meadow
Just beyond the gate, the meadow stretched out—lush grass, colorful flowers, lazy critters hopping between bushes.
Players already flooded the area:
Swinging swords and missing.
Being chased by harmless fluffballs.
Accidentally tripping over their own Spirits.
Aria cracked her knuckles.
"Oh yes. This is the chaos I crave."
Her Venom Webling hopped down, eager to hunt.
Sofia lifted her Lumen Rod with quiet determination.
"Okay… I think I'm ready."
Riley stepped ahead, Spirit Bow materializing with a shimmer.
The Lumin Whelp blinked up at him, glowing faintly.
"Alright, little guy," Riley whispered. "Let's see what you can do."
Aria cupped her hands around her mouth.
"SHOW US YOUR POWER, BABY PHOENIX!"
Sofia blushed. "Aria, don't pressure him…"
Riley grinned.
This was it.
The beginning of their new life.
A chance to rewrite everything.
A future wide open.
A small round pink critter popped up in front of them, squeaking like a toy.
Aria pointed dramatically.
"YES. FIRST ENEMY. DESTROY IT."
Sofia hesitated. "It's… adorable."
Riley notched an arrow.
"It's still a monster."
He fired.
The arrow shot forward—
The Lumin Whelp leapt from his shoulder—
And together—
they began the battle for their new future.