Arriving at the gates of the school, I was now completely awake, no trace of the sleepy haze that had clung to me earlier. The cool morning air carried a quiet buzz of energy, Henry and I exchanged a glance, both of us trying, and failing, to hide our excitement. Today was the day we'd choose our first beasts.
Unlike yesterday, we didn't head toward the field. Instead, we entered the academy's largest building, the one reserved for high-level staff and administrative offices. The marble floors gleamed beneath the soft morning light, and the air smelled faintly of ink and polish. We made our way up the wide staircase, step after step, until we reached the top floor, where the principal's office was located.
Henry knocked twice, his usual confidence returning in full force. "One moment!" a voice boomed from inside.
A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal the principal himself, looking as lively as ever despite the wrinkles marking his face. His sharp eyes flicked between the two of us, and then a broad grin spread across his face. "Come in, come in," he said warmly, gesturing toward the two chairs in front of his large oak desk.
We took our seats, though I couldn't help but chuckle as Henry awkwardly squeezed himself into the small chair, his knees nearly hitting the desk. The principal gave him an amused glance before settling into his own chair on the other side.
"Alright," he began, folding his hands together, "do you two already have an idea of what beasts you want, or should we go through the available options?"
Henry and I looked at each other for a moment before both letting out small, barely contained laughs as the memory of our conversation last night came rushing back. We'd spent nearly an hour joking about ridiculous beasts we'd never get, like a flaming chicken or a dragon with stage fright. I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself before answering.
"We don't know yet, sir," I said. "We'd like to see what's available."
"Understood." The principal nodded and turned to his computer, typing rapidly. The sound of keys clicking filled the room for a moment before he spun his monitor toward us.
"In our Astfall City," he explained, "there are four major breeding centers authorized to raise beasts with general-level potential. I'll start with a few you might find interesting."
The first image appeared on the screen, a lean, black-furred dog with glowing red eyes and flickers of fire leaking from its mouth and eye sockets.
"This is the Hell Hound," the principal said. "It's a fire and dark-type beast. It excels in agility and attack, though its defense is quite poor. There are currently three known evolutions at Commander rank and one confirmed General-level evolution."(Image in comments)
Henry didn't even hesitate. "Next," he said immediately, waving a hand as if dismissing it outright.
I studied the image a bit longer, intrigued despite myself. The Hell Hound's speed and dual typing made it versatile, but the lack of defense was concerning. One mistake in battle and it'd be finished. After a moment, I shook my head slightly. "Can we see the next one, please?"
The principal nodded, spinning the monitor back to him and typing again. When he turned it back around, the screen now showed a massive creature towering nearly 12 feet tall, its entire body made of rough brown stone.
"This," he said with a note of pride, "is the Stone Bear. A ground-type beast known for its incredible defense and raw strength. For its tier, it boasts one of the highest durability stats recorded. However, its speed and agility are minimal. It currently has two known Commander-rank evolutions and one at General level." (Image in comments)
Henry's face lit up immediately. "Now that's a beast!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. It was clear he preferred the strong, sturdy types, something that could take a hit and dish one out just as hard.
I, on the other hand, couldn't quite share his enthusiasm. The Stone Bear looked powerful, sure, but slow, too slow for my liking. I leaned forward slightly, eyes still on the screen, and said, "I think I'd prefer something a little faster."
The principal nodded knowingly, his fingers already poised over the keyboard. "Then you'll like the next one," he said with a small, mysterious smile.
Looking at the screen once again turned to face us, I couldn't help but tilt my head, confusion creeping onto my face. The image before me wasn't something I'd ever seen before, a massive eagle with feathers that looked as sharp as a knife. Wisps of red energy bled from its wings, leaving faint trails that almost looked like smoke. Its talons were sharp enough to tear through stone, and its glowing scarlet eyes gave off an eerie intelligence, wild, feral, and yet somehow aware.
"This one here," the principal began, clearly intrigued by the beast himself, "is called the Frenzied Eagle. It's a rare psychic and air type beast. What makes it unique is how it uses its psychic power. Instead of attacking its opponents directly with its mind, it turns that power inward. It uses psychic energy to send itself into a state of controlled madness, amplifying all of its physical capabilities. Its strength, speed, reflexes, even its endurance, all of them skyrocket." (Image in comments)
He paused for a moment, eyes still lingering on the image as if he admired the creature's raw potential. "It currently has one known evolution to Commander rank and one confirmed evolution to General rank. It's a beast that thrives in battle, constantly pushing itself further the longer it fights."
Henry leaned forward, eyes wide. "That's… insane," he said, grinning slightly. "It looks like it could tear apart anything in its path."
I stayed quiet for a moment, studying the eagle's gaze on the screen. There was something in its eyes, a glint of ferocity that didn't look like determination, but chaos. "When it throws itself into that state," I finally asked, "does it still listen to its master's commands?"
The question made the principal hesitate. He shifted in his seat and rubbed his chin, clearly considering his words. "Well… to be completely honest, not always," he admitted. "During the early stages of training, it tends to lose control. The madness overwhelms it, and once that happens, it can become unpredictable. Some tamers have even been injured trying to rein it in. With the right discipline and bond, it can learn to maintain awareness, but it's risky."
I frowned slightly, leaning back in my chair. The Frenzied Eagle was powerful, maybe even more than the others we'd seen, but the idea of a beast that might turn its claws on me mid-battle didn't sit right. I wanted a partner, not a weapon I couldn't control.
"That settles it for me," I said quietly after a moment. "It's strong, sure… but not worth the risk."
Henry shot me a side glance, half grinning. "You're too cautious, man."
"Maybe," I said, smirking back, "but I'd rather stay alive."
"Next, please," I added, turning my gaze to the principal.
The old man chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Damn," he said, shaking his head. "I really thought that one would catch your interest."
With that, he turned back to his desk, fingers flying over the keyboard as he began pulling up the final beast available for us to see.