The park was quiet, the midday sun casting a golden glow across the benches. The soft hum of the city's distant heartbeat was muted here, just the rustle of leaves in the wind and the occasional chirp of birds overhead. The tranquil atmosphere was a rare thing in Greenthorne, where life usually moved at a furious pace. Kai and Meena sat on one of those benches, a few hours after the chaos of the Hollow Pathway. They had walked in silence for a while, just trying to let the weight of everything settle.
Kai leaned back against the weathered wood, his arms crossed, a slight frown still etched on his face. He glanced at Meena, who seemed to look unbothered. The flaming red of her hair caught the light, and she rested her chin on her palm, her eyes unfocused as if her mind was elsewhere.
"You know," Kai started, breaking the silence, his voice slightly hoarse. "The whole synchronization thing with beasts... I still don't get it. Like, how does it really work? I mean, why does Ignis act like he knows what you're thinking sometimes?"
Meena's eyes flicked to him, her lips quirking up slightly. "Beast synchronization isn't just about bonding to the beast, Kai. It's about resonance." She turned to face him, her tone shifting to something more instructive. "Every host, every beast, has a frequency — a wavelength. The closer the bond, the more in tune you become with each other. It's like... tuning an instrument." She shrugged. "The better you sync, the stronger the connection."
Kai furrowed his brow, trying to wrap his head around it. "So it's not just magic? It's... instinct, too?"
"Exactly. You start to feel the beast, like it's part of you. You know what it's going to do before it does it. And when the synchronization is perfect, the beast can act almost independently. That's how high-ranking protectors work, especially the ones with more powerful beasts." She tapped her finger against her chin.
"So is that a rosegold trick or is it a general thing..?" But Meena looked at him and smiled.
"Must be nice," Kai muttered under his breath, his gaze falling on the ground. "All I've got is Dracon... and he's barely done anything since the portal." He wasn't even sure the dragon had heard him.
Meena's expression softened, and she gave him a sidelong glance. "You'll get there. It just takes time. You've already got something few others ever will — a beast like Dracon doesn't just pick anyone."
Kai hesitated before looking up at her. "And Ignis? You really think she's a part of you? That she's... not just a weapon?"
Meena's gaze was steady, and she didn't flinch. "Ignis and I are sort of a different kind of bonding..we understand each other." Her voice dropped to a softer tone. "But if you're not careful, a beast can become more of a burden than a blessing."
Before Kai could respond, a distant sound broke their quiet conversation — a sharp, loud buzz that echoed in the air like a warning. Kai's eyes snapped to the horizon, narrowing as he saw the familiar sight of a black-armored figure making its way toward them.
"Meena." Kai's voice was a low whisper. "It's the military."
Meena's face hardened, and she stood up swiftly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. "What do they want now?" Her voice was terse, but she didn't seem surprised.
Alfonso, Meena's older brother, was a high-ranking protector — one of the few that could move through the city without anyone questioning his presence. The tension between them was palpable, something unspoken but always there.
Meena squared her shoulders, preparing herself for the encounter. Kai stood too, unsure of whether he should just leave. But before he could take a step, Alfonso's voice rang out, cold and clipped.
"Meena, it's time."
She exhaled sharply, tension visibly lining her posture as she turned toward him. "What's going on now?" she demanded, crossing her arms in defiance.
"It's not about you." Alfonso's tone was curt, his eyes scanning Kai for a moment before returning to his sister. "The council has summoned him."
At the mention of the council, Kai's stomach churned. He had heard stories. No one was ever called before the Protector Council unless they were seen as a serious liability. His body stiffened at the thought of being dragged into the heart of Greenthorne's power structure, surrounded by the very people who controlled everything.
"No. Not now. I'm not ready," Kai muttered under his breath, but Meena was already shaking her head.
"You don't get a choice," she said, the edge to her voice making it clear she wasn't going to argue. She glanced back at Kai, her expression softening. "I'll be fine. Just stay out of trouble."
Kai wanted to protest, but she was already walking away, her brother close behind, not sparing him another glance. He was left standing there, his thoughts swirling like the storm clouds gathering overhead. He felt a tightness in his chest, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him.
The sound of heavy footsteps broke his trance, and he turned to see two more men in black, military garb, walking up to him. Their presence was unnerving. Without speaking, they motioned for him to follow.
Kai swallowed hard and started walking, his legs feeling heavier with every step. The city felt like it was closing in on him, like a cage tightening its grip.
---
Greenthorne Protector Council Hall
The council hall was an imposing structure of cold stone and iron, towering at the heart of Greenthorne, reserved only for the city's elite. As Kai was led through the narrow hallways, the sound of his footsteps echoed off the stone walls. He had been here before — as a child — but this was different. He wasn't just a visitor today. He wasn't just some random kid playing in the shadows. He was a subject.
Two guards flanked him, their silent movements almost unnerving. As they reached the grand doors, Kai was motioned to stop. He stood there, staring at the dark wood, his palms clammy. When the door finally opened, it felt like the world shifted.
Inside, the atmosphere was starkly different. The room was long and narrow, filled with a cold, oppressive energy. A long table stretched across the center of the hall, surrounded by individuals who commanded power, wealth, and respect. Their gazes locked on him as he entered, assessing him like he was little more than an object. Kai felt the weight of their eyes — cold, calculating, and full of expectation.
The leader of the council, a man with silver hair streaked through with age, sat at the head of the table. His eyes were sharp, like knives, but his face betrayed no emotion as he stared at Kai. Beside him was a woman in a long white robe, her expression regal and untouched by the world. To her side was a man whose armor gleamed like blackened steel, his face hidden behind a mask.
The room was tense, the silence almost suffocating.
Kai felt small, insignificant, beneath their watchful gazes. They were the ones who ruled Greenthorne, the ones who decided who was a threat and who was a tool.
"Lannister," the leader spoke, his voice echoing in the chamber, "You stand here today because the city must understand what you represent. Your beast… your bond…" He paused, his gaze shifting briefly to Dracon, perched calmly on Kai's head as usual. "This is not a simple matter."
Kai held his breath, his mind spinning. What did they want from him? What were they going to do?
The room filled with murmurs as the council members began to speak.
"This creature…" one of them started, his voice tight with suspicion, "is not normal. It is an ancient bond."
Another member spoke up. "Are we certain this is just a beast and not something more? A god-touched contract, perhaps?"
Kai's stomach dropped. He felt the weight of their judgment, the realization that he was far from safe here. The room had just gone from uncomfortable to dangerous.
"We must discuss containment," the leader said, his voice cold, "and determine if this boy and his creature are a threat to the city."
The dragon stirred atop Kai's head, its eyes narrowing as if it sensed the growing hostility.
Meena's brother, Alfonso, stood in the back of the room, his presence a quiet shadow. His eyes met Kai's briefly, but he didn't offer any reassurance.
Kai felt his pulse quicken as the council deliberated his fate.
The murmur of voices filled the room again, growing louder as the council members exchanged heated opinions. Kai stood motionless, feeling like a specimen on display, waiting for the verdict that would shape his future.
"We cannot ignore the possibility that this boy is a threat," one of the council members, a woman with gray eyes, said. Her voice was sharp, like the crack of a whip. "The bond with that creature—this dragon—could destabilize the city."
Kai's pulse raced. He clenched his fists behind his back, resisting the urge to protest. They were talking about him like he wasn't even there, like he was a ticking time bomb, a liability. He could feel Dracon stir on his shoulder, as if sensing the rising tension in the room. The dragon's gaze flicked from one council member to another, its eyes glowing faintly.
"It's not just the bond," another voice cut in. A man with a deep, gravelly voice, dressed in black ceremonial armor. His dark hair was streaked with silver at the temples, and his eyes were sharp, calculating. "We've should check for any god-scarred signatures in his contract. That's not something we can ignore."
The mention of "god-scarred" made the room grow even colder. Kai's heart skipped a beat. He had no idea what that even meant, but he could tell by the way the council members were reacting that it was something dangerous.
"We don't know what we're dealing with here," the gray-eyed woman said. "This boy could be the key to something far bigger than any of us." Her gaze shifted to Kai, as if she was seeing him for the first time, really seeing him. "The gods may still be a threat. If we allow him to roam free…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence. Kai felt the weight of it—the fear, the suspicion—settling over him like a dark cloud.
The leader of the council, the silver-haired man, steepled his fingers in front of him, his eyes flicking between the other members. His gaze lingered on Kai for a moment longer than anyone else's. Then he spoke, his voice heavy with authority.
"We cannot allow this... dangerous potential to be left unchecked," he said slowly, the words deliberate. "This boy's bond is unlike any we've seen before. And given the gods' interest in his contract, we must act before it spirals out of control."
Kai's stomach twisted in knots. He didn't know what they were talking about, but the weight of their judgment was suffocating. He wasn't sure whether to be terrified or furious. All he wanted was to be left alone, but the council was closing in on him, their plans already set in motion.
The man in black armor, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Containment may be necessary," he said. "But we need to make sure we have full control over him. We can't allow him to be a liability to the city."
A ripple of agreement spread through the council. Kai felt his throat tighten as the discussion continued, each word digging deeper into the hole he could already feel himself falling into. They were treating him like a problem to be solved, like a tool to be locked away.
"There is an academy," the gray-eyed woman suggested. "The Greenthorne Military Academy. It's already well-equipped to handle… individuals of his caliber." She glanced at the leader for confirmation, and he gave a slight nod.
"Agreed," the silver-haired leader said. "He will be enrolled there immediately. The academy will ensure that he is monitored, and that his potential is properly contained. We will have control over him there, and they will have the resources to keep him under strict supervision."
Kai's heart plummeted. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The military academy? He had heard rumors—stories—about the brutal training that awaited anyone who was sent there. It was a place for those deemed dangerous, unstable, or uncontrollable. He was going to be locked in a cage, surrounded by soldiers, with no way out.
"Wait…" Kai finally spoke, his voice shaking. "You can't just… you can't just send me there. I haven't done anything wrong!"
The leader of the council turned his cold gaze toward him. "You are not in control of the beast you've bonded with, Lannister. We cannot allow you to run rampant in this city, uncontrolled. You will go to the academy. There, you will be taught discipline. You will learn to control your bond."
"You don't get a say in this," the woman with the gray eyes added sharply. "This is for the safety of the city. You've been marked by the gods, whether you like it or not. This bond has already attracted too much attention."
Kai could barely breathe, his body trembling. He wanted to scream, to fight back, but the weight of the room was too much. They had made their decision, and he was powerless to stop it.
"Take him," the leader said, his voice final. The guards behind Kai stepped forward, their hands firm but not aggressive. "Take him to the Greenthorne Military Academy. Make sure he is enrolled immediately."