The tide came in lazy waves.
Jeather stood at the edge of the shoreline, boots sinking slightly into wet sand as foam brushed past his ankles. The sky above was pale gold, clouds streaked like brush strokes across the horizon.
Behind him, Astrael's presence pulsed faintly through the Beast Realm.
Velkaria hovered quietly at his side.
Saxum was attempting to eat a seashell.
Jeather turned.
And stared at the unconscious girl face-down on the beach.
"…You can't be serious."
The girl lay sprawled dramatically, academy cloak tangled, one arm stretched toward the sea like she had attempted to wrestle it and lost.
A wave rolled in.
Splashed her boots.
Rolled back out.
She didn't move.
Saxum waddled closer and poked her cheek.
"Jett… is she treasure?"
"I hope not," Jeather muttered. "Treasure doesn't usually breathe."
He crouched and gently flipped her over.
She had silver-blue hair, pale skin, and sharp features that would normally look proud — except right now she looked like someone who lost an argument to gravity.
Her uniform was unmistakable.
Deep sea-blue fabric. Silver wave insignia. A crest embroidered near her collar.
Saltwind Tidal Academy.
Jeather raised a brow.
"Of course," he muttered. "I walk five steps near a port and the academy washes up."
Her eyelids twitched.
Then snapped open.
Clear blue eyes locked onto him.
"…Food."
Jeather blinked.
"…Hello to you too."
"Food," she repeated, expression flat but urgent.
Her stomach growled.
Loudly.
Jeather's stomach answered in solidarity.
Astrael's aura pulsed with subtle amusement.
Velkaria covered her mouth delicately.
Saxum clutched his belly dramatically.
"Jett… hungry…"
The girl sat up immediately, dignity fully intact despite nearly fainting to death.
"I forgot to eat."
"You forgot to eat."
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"…Two days."
Jeather stared at her.
"…You almost died."
"I did not," she snapped. "My mana circulation was stable."
"You collapsed face-down in sand."
"That was strategic positioning."
"…To absorb minerals?"
She glared.
"Do you have food or not?"
Jeather stood slowly.
"Fish."
Velkaria moved without a word.
The water near shore distorted — then exploded upward.
Silverfin Tide Runners leapt into the air. A Reefback Snapper thrashed violently. A long, ribbon-like Moon Eel whipped in panic.
Astrael's invisible pressure spread beneath the surface.
Within minutes, three large fish lay beside Jeather.
Saxum proudly presented a very small fish the size of his hand.
"Mine fierce."
Jeather nodded solemnly.
"The fiercest."
The girl watched silently.
"…You command multiple beasts outside your realm."
"Yes."
"They obey instantly."
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're not a Saltwind student."
"No."
She leaned forward.
"…Good."
He paused mid-cut.
"Why good?"
"Because I've beaten everyone at Saltwind."
He blinked.
"…Everyone?"
She lifted her chin.
"No one can push me anymore."
"And so you starved."
"I was training near the tidal cliffs."
"By not eating."
She crossed her arms.
"You talk too much."
"You passed out."
"…Fair."
Jeather began preparing the fish, movements calm and precise. Astrael adjusted flame temperature subtly. Velkaria controlled airflow so smoke would not suffocate the area.
The scent rose slowly.
The girl tried not to look eager.
She failed.
Jeather glanced at her.
"You're from Saltwind Tidal Academy."
"Yes."
"How is it?"
Her expression shifted slightly.
Pride.
"Saltwind isn't like inland academies. We train with tidal beasts. Sea currents. Deep pressure environments. If your beast can't handle depth, it doesn't survive."
"Sounds harsh."
"It is."
He handed her a piece of roasted fish.
She grabbed it immediately.
Bit.
Paused.
"…You cook well."
"Thank you."
She devoured the rest without ceremony.
Jeather pulled out the newly sealed card.
The icy-blue sigil shimmered.
Inside rested the spider.
He focused.
"Can you speak?"
A cool feminine voice answered immediately.
"I can."
The girl's chewing slowed.
"…Your beast speaks?"
"Yes."
She swallowed slowly.
"…That's rare."
The spider's voice continued.
"You sealed me while I was fatigued."
"Yes."
"Strategic."
"Yes."
Pause.
"…Acceptable."
Jeather smiled faintly.
"What's your temperament?"
"I prefer calculated conflict. Direct confrontation is inefficient unless necessary."
Velkaria gave a satisfied nod.
"A thinker."
Saxum blinked.
"Spider lady scary?"
"Yes," the spider replied calmly.
"…Okay."
The girl leaned closer.
"What is it?"
"Ice Abyss Weaver."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's a rare deep-tier predator."
"It was fighting."
"With what?"
"A Twin-Fanged Black Trout."
She froze.
"…That monster eats steel hulls."
Jeather shrugged.
"The spider won."
She stared at him.
"You're abnormal."
"I get that a lot."
After eating two full fish, she finally sat straighter.
"I'm Lysara Tideborn."
"Tideborn?"
"My family serves Saltwind Tidal Academy."
She said it like a challenge.
Jeather nodded once.
"Jeather."
"That's it?"
"That's enough."
She studied him.
"You sealed the Abyss Maw."
"Yes."
"You fought at platinum threshold."
"Briefly."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…You're not bronze."
"No."
Wind shifted across the shore.
She wiped her hands clean and looked at him directly.
"You asked about Saltwind."
"Yes."
She smirked faintly.
"Top ten?"
He nodded.
"Number one: Kaerith Stormveil. Platinum-tier summoner. Beast: Leviathan Crest Serpent. Cold. Strategic. Never wastes motion."
"Two: Myrith Valesca. Gold-tier. Beast: Tidal Prism Drake. Elegant. Cruel when necessary."
"Three: Dorn Halvane. Beast: Abyssal Hammerhead. Brutal fighter. Loud."
"Four: Lysara Tideborn."
She did not hide her pride.
"Five: Seros Kaeldrin. Beast: Currentshade Manta. Silent assassin type."
"Six: Valric Thorne."
Jeather's fingers tightened slightly.
"Beast: Ironclad Depth Warden. Defensive monster. Patient."
"Seven: Altheon Mirecrest. Beast: Coral Tyrant Crab."
"Eight: Nyssa Lurefin. Beast: Sirencoil Eel."
"Nine: Rovan Driftmark."
Jeather felt it.
A subtle shift.
His breathing slowed.
Lysara continued.
"Beast: Rift-Tide Devourer."
The world went silent.
Jeather's body trembled.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
But deeply.
Something ancient moved beneath his skin.
The Beast Realm rippled.
Astrael's presence expanded instantly.
Velkaria's wings flared.
Saxum grabbed Jeather's leg.
"Jett?"
Lysara narrowed her eyes.
"…You know that name."
Rovan Driftmark.
Images surfaced.
A training yard.
Salt spray wind.
A boy laughing.
A beast unleashed too early.
A sealed card shattered.
A body falling.
Dark water swallowing someone.
Jeather's jaw tightened.
Rovan Driftmark.
The first person who ever made him understand what true humiliation felt like.
Not family.
Not politics.
Just pure defeat.
His hands shook slightly.
Astrael's voice cut through.
"Control."
He inhaled slowly.
Exhaled.
The tremor faded.
"…Continue."
Lysara watched him carefully.
"You've fought him."
Jeather said nothing.
She smirked faintly.
"He's cruel in combat. Enjoys breaking opponents mentally before physically."
Jeather's eyes darkened slightly.
"Does he."
"Yes."
She tilted her head.
"You want to fight him."
"…Yes."
Her grin widened.
"Good."
"Why."
"Because I want to see someone wipe that expression off his face."
Silence stretched.
Then Jeather laughed quietly.
"…Interesting."
She crossed her arms.
"You're angry."
"Yes."
"Good."
Wind picked up across the shore.
The tide rose slightly.
Jeather glanced at the ocean.
Five minutes earlier he had captured a rare predator.
Now he had found something else.
A direction.
Saltwind Tidal Academy.
He looked at Lysara.
"What happens if an outsider enrolls?"
She smirked.
"They survive if they're strong."
"And if not?"
"They drown."
Astrael's aura pulsed like distant thunder.
Velkaria smiled faintly.
Saxum raised his tiny fists.
"Jett not drown!"
Jeather stared toward the horizon.
Rovan Driftmark.
This time—
He would not fall.