The atmosphere in the arena shifted from thunderous applause to tense anticipation. The announcement of the top ten had sent ripples through the students—cheers from the crowd, hushed murmurs among classmates, and the occasional grumble from those who had expected to rank higher. Aren stood with his friends, Sharu perched lightly on his shoulder, the silver-furred beast calmly observing the excited chaos around them.
"Team selection will now commence," the judge declared, his voice echoing across the training grounds. "You will be grouped into squads of four based on both performance and compatibility. These teams will undergo a month of joint training followed by the Inter-Division Battle Trials."
Aren glanced at his companions. Aric gave him a confident thumbs-up, his Fire Salamander flicking its tail in anticipation. Liora stood with quiet dignity, her Ice Wolf calm but alert at her side. Dorian cracked his knuckles with impatience, his Shockwave Lion letting out a low growl. Lyra, as always, stood at the edge of the group, her Shadow Falcon perched silently behind her.
The judge raised his hand. "Team One: Aren Valen, Aric Sunflare, Liora Frostwind, and Dorian Thorne."
A beat of silence. Then—cheers. Aric whooped and clapped Aren on the back.
"We're together!" Aric said brightly. "Now this will be fun."
Aren allowed himself a small smile. Despite the odds and all the ridicule he'd endured before bonding with Sharu, he was now part of one of the strongest squads formed from the first round.
Lyra, who hadn't been called yet, gave them a fleeting look before turning back to the line.
The group was ushered off the arena stage and into a briefing hall where team leaders from the academy awaited. Commander Ryven, a seasoned beastmaster known for training elite squads, stepped forward to greet them.
"Team One," Ryven said, scanning their faces with sharp eyes. "You've been selected not just for strength, but for your potential to complement each other. You'll begin with coordination drills tomorrow. But for today, spend time getting to know your teammates—not just their beasts, but their way of thinking."
Dorian snorted. "Way of thinking? My way is simple. Hit hard."
"And yet," Liora said coolly, "if that was all that mattered, you'd be ranked higher."
"Ouch," Aric muttered with a grin. "I like this team already."
Aren laughed softly. Sharu rolled his eyes from his perch but said nothing—his silence, as always, a quiet contrast to the chatter around him.
Later that day, the team gathered in the training grounds near the dorms. The air was still charged with energy from the matches earlier.
"Alright," Aric said, sitting cross-legged on the grass, "if we're going to work together, we should probably know what each of us can actually do."
Dorian stood tall, his lion pacing behind him. "Shockwave Lion. Heavy impact. I lead from the front, create chaos, and take hits."
Liora nodded. "Ice Wolf. Precision and control. I can restrict movement and counter attacks."
Aric grinned. "Fire Salamander. Flexible combatant. Mid-range and mobility specialist. I can distract, flank, or pressure."
All eyes turned to Aren.
"Sharu..." Aren began, glancing at his partner.
The silver beast lazily yawned.
"He can channel purified energy from corrupted beasts," Aren said. "Right now, his abilities are still developing. He mostly assists with sensory detection and minor energy bursts."
"So, support and utility for now," Liora mused.
"Until he gets bigger," Aric said, poking at Sharu, who promptly bit his finger.
"Ow! Rude."
Sharu stared him down with narrowed blue eyes.
They spent the evening sparring, testing reactions, syncing timing. Dorian found it hard to slow his aggressive pace. Liora preferred methodical tactics. Aric played the middle ground, while Aren focused on adapting to each of them.
By nightfall, they were tired but more connected.
As they rested near the dormitory steps, Aric looked up at the night sky. "I think we're going to surprise a lot of people."
"Only if we keep improving," Liora replied.
Dorian crossed his arms. "Let them underestimate us. We'll knock them down."
Sharu lay curled at Aren's feet, tail flicking gently.
Aren looked at his teammates. For the first time i
n a long while, he felt like he belonged.
---
End of Chapter 13.