Morning sunlight spilled across Silvercross Academy's outer fields, catching on the dew that glimmered like powdered mana. Students still whispered about yesterday's duel, the one where Kael Draven had flattened the academy's star knight with a single command. Rumor had already turned the story into legend: flames the size of a dragon, thunder that split the sky, the Guildmaster personally applauding.
Kael ignored all of it. He stood at the edge of the training range, Ember perched on the fence rail beside him, golden feathers warm against the breeze.
"You hear that?" he murmured. "Apparently I'm famous. Tragic."
Ember chirped and tilted her head, unimpressed.
"Right. Fame means people expect effort. Terrifying."
A faint shimmer pulsed around Kael's wrist—new runes etched there after the duel. When he focused, they glowed brighter. His Status Panel flickered into view:
[Level 10 — Beast Slot Unlocked]
He smiled. "Finally. Let's see who joins the team."
The Summoning Sanctum
The academy's subterranean Summoning Sanctum was empty except for the low hum of crystals and the faint scent of ozone. Runes etched across the marble floor pulsed as Kael stepped inside. Instructor Mira and Guild Officer Lira waited near the doorway, both wearing identical please-don't-explode-anything expressions.
"We'll monitor your resonance," Mira said.
"Translation," Lira added, "we'd like the building to stay standing."
Kael offered a lazy salute. "I make no promises."
He placed both hands inside the primary rune ring. Ember fluttered to the edge of the circle, her glow merging with the etched lines. The air thickened, pressure rising until dust lifted from the floor. Mana surged through Kael's veins like liquid fire.
"Second Contract," he whispered. "Answer the call."
The chamber darkened. Light gathered between his palms, swirling into a storm of silver sparks. A deep growl rolled through the vibration—low, ancient, proud.
Then the circle erupted.
The Arrival of Aegros
When the blaze faded, a massive wolf stood inside the ring. Its fur shone like hammered steel; each hair carried the faint glint of metal. Crimson eyes burned with quiet intelligence. Steam rose from its nostrils, and twin fangs of pure iron curved from its jaw.
[Beast Summoned: Ironfang Wolf — Rank B | Potential: SSS | Level 8]
The wolf's gaze met Kael's without fear. A line of mana linked them, visible only for an instant—a chain of gold and silver threads merging heartbeat to heartbeat.
Lira's breath caught. "B-Rank on a fresh slot? That's… that's not possible."
Mira shook her head slowly. "He's skipping entire growth tiers."
Kael crouched, resting one hand on the wolf's forehead. Warm metal pressed against his palm; the creature rumbled but didn't pull away.
"Easy, big guy," Kael said softly. "Welcome to the team."
Ember flapped down and landed on Kael's shoulder, glaring. A single spark leapt from her feathers and fizzled against the wolf's snout.
The wolf huffed smoke.
"Ember," Kael warned. "No territorial wars inside school property."
Ember gave a sulky trill.
"Good. Progress."
The Naming
Kael closed his eyes. Images flashed behind them—iron peaks under storm clouds, the crash of thunder, the cry of a lone wolf echoing through metal rain. The name surfaced naturally.
"Aegros," he said. "Your name is Aegros."
The wolf lifted its head and howled, a resonant note that shook dust from the ceiling beams. The runes around them flared gold, sealing the bond.
[New Summon Registered: Aegros — Ironfang Wolf (B Rank)]
[Beast Slots: 2 / 2 Next Unlock at Level 25]
A new pulse joined Kael's heartbeat—steady, heavy, protective. Fire and iron balanced inside him, their rhythms overlapping until his aura shimmered gold and gray.
"Feels like carrying thunder in my ribs," he muttered.
"That's not normal," Mira said flatly.
"Neither am I," Kael replied.
Trial Run
"Demonstrate control," Lira ordered. "Target three."
Kael pointed toward a mana dummy across the chamber.
Aegros crouched low, claws carving grooves into stone.
"Go."
The wolf blurred forward, a streak of silver light. Impact boomed like a cannon. The dummy disintegrated; half the arena cracked. Shards of glowing crystal bounced across the floor.
Mira's mouth twitched. "Target three, you said?"
"He's enthusiastic," Kael said. "Great work ethic."
Ember puffed indignantly, wings bursting into small flames. She shrieked once, daring Aegros to match her. The wolf responded with a low, echoing growl that rattled the windows.
Kael sighed. "Children, please."
Golden threads appeared along his fingers. The command bond pulsed, and both creatures froze instantly. The air fell silent.
Lira stared. "Instant dual-bond suppression… zero delay."
"See?" Kael said. "Total control."
Mira rubbed her temples. "You're going to give me gray hair."
"Consider it a life-experience upgrade."
Quiet Night
Hours later, Kael sat in his dorm room, window open to the cool night.
Ember curled on the sill, tail flicking tiny sparks into the breeze.
Aegros lay beside the desk, massive head resting on his paws, eyes half-open and watchful.
Kael leaned back, the warm hum of their shared mana filling the air.
"Two beasts already," he said softly. "I'm starting to feel productive. It's unsettling."
Ember gave a sleepy chirp; Aegros answered with a low rumble that might have been agreement.
Kael smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow we'll see what the Guild throws at us. Tonight, we rest."
Outside, Valenhardt's city lights shimmered like constellations. Somewhere within the Guild tower, a crystal pulse recorded the newest SSS-tier resonance on its network. Across the Five Kingdoms, monitors flickered as unknown energy signatures spiked.
The world didn't know it yet, but another legend had just been born.