The first week at the academy flew by in a blur of classes, early mornings, and late-night training.
Kai's schedule was packed: Beast Biology in the morning, Basic Bonding Techniques after lunch, and free afternoons for practice. Zephyr loved the open sky above the training fields, darting between clouds while Bouncy rolled happily in the grass, testing new bounce patterns.
His special instructor, Master Elowen, turned out to be an older woman with silver-streaked hair and sharp green eyes. She wore a long cloak embroidered with faint glowing runes. Her own beast, a graceful silver hawk named Lirien, perched silently on her shoulder most of the time.
Their first private lesson happened in a small stone chamber behind the main hall. Sunlight streamed through narrow windows, catching dust motes in the air.
"Show me again," Elowen said, arms crossed. "The fusion. Slowly this time."
Kai nodded. He set Bouncy and Zephyr on the smooth floor.
"Fuse traits, bounce and wind."
Both beasts glowed softly. Bouncy's body took on a faint blue shimmer, and when it bounced, a small whirlwind trailed behind like a comet tail.
Elowen watched without blinking. "You're not just combining physical traits. You're pulling concepts from… somewhere else. Where did you learn this?"
Kai hesitated. "It just… comes to me. Like ideas popping into my head."
She studied him for a long moment. "The system you mentioned in your report. Describe it."
He told her everything: the blue screen, the tasks, the energy, the way fusions felt natural. Elowen listened quietly, fingers tapping her chin.
"Fusion isn't common," she said finally. "Most tamers strengthen bonds through trust and shared battles. A few rare ones can merge traits temporarily in high-stress moments. But a dedicated system that lets you do it freely? That's something ancient. Something dangerous if misused."
Kai swallowed. "Dangerous how?"
"Power like that draws attention. From people who want to control it. Or destroy it." She paused. "The old library wing has records of similar phenomena. Forbidden section. I'll get you access, but only if you promise to report anything unusual directly to me."
"Deal."
That afternoon, Kai slipped into the restricted wing with a special key Elowen had given him. The air smelled of old paper and faint magic. Shelves stretched high, covered in dust.
He found a thin book bound in cracked leather: *Echoes of the First Tamers*. Inside were faded drawings of people merging beasts with strange objects, fire with stone, wind with feathers, even water with light.
One page caught his eye: a sketch of a glowing orb floating above a boy's hand. Below it, words in elegant script:
"The Fusion Core chooses its vessel not by strength, but by heart. It awakens when the soul crosses boundaries, between worlds, between lives. Beware: the Core hungers for growth. Feed it, and it will elevate you. Starve it, and it will consume."
Kai's fingers trembled. Crosses boundaries between worlds. That sounded exactly like transmigration.
He closed the book quickly. Heart racing.
Back in the dorm, Theo was already asleep, owl snoring softly. Kai sat on his bed, Bouncy curled in his lap, Zephyr nestled against his neck.
"Guys," he whispered, "I think this system… it's not just a gift. It's looking for something. Or someone."
Bouncy gurgled softly, almost comforting. Zephyr chirped once, like he understood.
The next day brought the first group sparring session.
Instructor Lena paired students randomly. Kai ended up against Aria, the girl with the fire lizard.
She grinned as they faced off in the sandy arena. "No holding back, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Her lizard, Ember, hissed and flames flickered along its tail.
Kai sent Zephyr up high for scouting, Bouncy rolling low.
Aria attacked first. Ember shot a small fireball. Bouncy bounced high, wind pushing it aside. The flame missed by inches.
Zephyr dove, creating a gust that fanned the flames back toward Ember. The lizard yelped and scampered sideways.
Aria laughed. "Clever!"
She commanded Ember to charge. Kai fused on the fly: Bouncy absorbed a bit of Zephyr's wind mid-bounce, spinning faster. It slammed into Ember's side, not hard enough to hurt, just enough to knock the lizard off balance.
Ember rolled, dizzy. Aria raised her hands. "I yield!"
The crowd clapped. Aria jogged over, wiping sweat. "That was fun. Your slime's insane."
"Thanks. Your lizard's got real power."
They shook hands. Something warm bloomed in Kai's chest, real friendship forming.
But Renn watched from the sidelines, jaw tight.
That evening, as Kai walked back to the dorm, a shadow moved.
Renn stepped out from behind a tree, Fang at his side.
"You think you're untouchable now?" Renn said quietly. "Aria likes you. Everyone's talking about your weird tricks."
Kai stopped. "I'm not trying to take anything from you, Renn."
"You already have." Renn's voice cracked, just a little. "I trained my whole life for this place. Then you show up with your slime and bird and suddenly everyone's watching you."
Kai looked at him. Really looked. Under the anger was hurt.
"I get it," Kai said. "But pushing people away won't make you stronger. Come train with us sometime. No tricks. Just practice."
Renn stared, surprised. Then he scoffed and walked away.
But he didn't attack. That was something.
Later that night, the system pinged.
[Hidden Quest Progress: 10%]
[New Clue Located: Speak to the Groundskeeper about the Forgotten Grove]
Kai stared at the message.
The Forgotten Grove. He'd heard whispers, a sealed part of the academy forest where old beasts still roamed. Off-limits to students.
He glanced at Bouncy and Zephyr, both sleeping peacefully.
"Looks like we've got another adventure coming," he murmured.
Tomorrow, he'd find the groundskeeper.
And maybe, just maybe, uncover why the system had chosen him.