Back at the academy, the Council convened in emergency.The Archmagister's eyes were sharp, her hands resting on an ancient tome.
"The emergence of these creatures is no coincidence," she said. "And the Tamer responsible… must be observed closely."
Kaelen stood nearby, arms crossed. "He handled the courtyard attack better than most Class A Tamers would have."
"Exactly why we must monitor him," the Beastlord Representative said. "If the bond grows stronger, the repercussions could destabilize everything we've built."
Meanwhile, Lyn retreated to the vault chamber with Umbra, seeking answers. The forgotten crest — the one mentioned in the inscriptions — pulsed faintly on his hand.
"It's awakening," Lyn said. "I can feel it."Umbra's amber eyes glimmered. "It's a signal, Lyn… and a key. But to what?"
The ancient door creaked open slightly, reacting to the crest. Faint golden-violet light spilled out. Shadows shifted but did not attack. Instead, they seemed to guide Lyn forward, whispering fragments of old incantations and warnings of the rebellion's rise.
"So the legends were real," Lyn murmured, tracing the runes. "The forgotten tamers… the true bond… it all existed."
From the deepest shadows, a single shape emerged — a smaller version of the vault commander, a shadow wisp with intelligence. It circled Lyn and Umbra, observing silently.
"It is testing you," Umbra said. "Not for battle… but for destiny."
Lyn placed a hand over his crest. A surge of golden light intertwined with Umbra's violet aura, pulsing stronger than ever before. He realized: this was no longer just survival — this was preparation for something far greater.
"If the rebellion is rising," Lyn whispered, "then we'll be ready for it."
The vault seemed to pulse in agreement, whispering promises of forgotten power, ancient allies, and trials yet to come.