Music for Chapter: Deftones – Change (In the House of Flies)
The morning sky above Kirin Academy was awash with lavender and rose-gold as the sun crept past the horizon. The courtyard buzzed with movement as first-year students gathered in lines, outfitted with travel gear, light armor, and tension in their eyes.
Aullie adjusted the strap of his pack and flexed his shoulders beneath his academy coat, which hung loosely over reinforced travel gear. His tie was gone, but the collar was still half-buttoned, as usual. His forearm tattoo peeked from under the cuff of his rolled-up sleeve as Shinku leapt onto a stone post nearby, tail flicking.
"You don't have to walk," Aullie murmured, low enough only Shinku could hear. "You can stay in the space."
Shinku's red eyes glinted. "And miss all the bonding failures? Definitely not."
The crowd parted as Headmaster Inoue stepped onto the stone dais flanked by a trio of elite instructors. His silver and blue robes fluttered lightly in the wind, and his sharp eyes surveyed the crowd with military precision.
"Students," he began, voice cutting clean through the murmurs, "For some of you, today marks the beginning of your first trial beyond these walls. You will journey to the Shinkyo Wilds, a region preserved for early-stage beast bonding."
Hushed murmurs echoed through the crowd.
"You will spend five days and nights in the wild. You will track, encounter, and attempt to bond with your first beast. You are not guaranteed success. You are not guaranteed safety."
Several students stiffened.
"The region is classified for beasts up to Level 4. Do not stray into unscouted areas. If you engage anything higher, run and signal your instructor. This is a test of awareness and restraint, not dominance."
Behind Aullie, someone whispered, "We're really doing this..."
"You will be accompanied by seasoned instructors. Each squad will operate semi-independently. Your decisions in the field will determine your success."
Aullie felt a brush of energy on his wrist. His Void bead pulsed faintly, almost in anticipation.
Inoue paused, gaze sharp. "The beast chooses as much as it is chosen. Let pride go, and let instinct lead. Bonding is a sacred mutual pact. Beasts instinctively seek the bond because it helps them grow faster, unlock abilities, and drastically extends their lifespan, matching yours. That said, most aggressive beasts will demand a show of strength before submitting. It is a battle for respect, not a battle to the death. Understand the difference."
More murmurs.
He added, "For non-aggressive beasts, many of which are rare or endangered, the bond may occur without combat. These creatures are often targeted by newer jewelmasters. They may not possess as many combat-oriented abilities, but their value in support and utility roles should not be underestimated."
Aullie's friends stood straighter as the weight of those words sank in.
Inoue gave a final nod. "Prepare yourselves. Physically, mentally, spiritually. The wilds will test you. Not just your strength, but your character. Dismissed."
"Group 6," called Instructor Mayu, her voice brisk. "Ikeda. Watanabe. Ito. Kimura. With me."
Aullie shouldered his bag and moved to join the others. Haru was already grumbling about carrying too much gear.
"Why do I need two canteens? Who needs two?"
"Because one's gonna leak, and you know it," Aki said, smirking. She looked like she'd slept in her boots and was already itching for a fight. "Besides, think of it as leg day. Builds character."
Sora was calm and composed as always, violet eyes scanning the perimeter like a soldier ready for war. She nodded to Aullie when he joined them, and he nodded back.
Instructor Mayu was tall, with graying hair pulled into a severe bun and a pale scar running from her jaw to her collarbone. She wore half-plate Aether armor over a battle robe and walked with the relaxed focus of a woman who'd survived more fights than she'd ever brag about.
She gave them all a long look.
"You follow my pace, you listen when I speak, and you live. Simple," she said.
Aullie looked between his friends.
"Seems easy enough," he said dryly.
"Famous last words," Haru muttered.
Aki grinned. "I give it ten minutes before someone tries to fight a tree."
"Let's hope it's not a Level 4 tree," Sora added.
Mayu smirked very faintly before turning on her heel. "Move out."
No one argued.
The gates of Kirin groaned open. Sunlight spilled over ancient stone as the students stepped beyond the safety of the Academy.
The forest was a different world. The deeper they went, the denser the canopy grew. Strange birds called overhead, and the Aether in the air felt alive, pulsing beneath the soil and bark. Ancient trees twisted toward the sky. Flowers glowed faintly. Leaves shimmered with residual energy.
Instructor Mayu halted near a ridge and gestured toward a clearing below. A mooselike beast with silver fur and small antlers sniffed the air before bounding away.
"Level 2," Mayu said. "Look at the crest."
The students leaned forward. On the beast's shoulder, two glowing yellow circles pulsed gently.
"Not that I expect it, but if you see any black circles make no noise and signal to me the number 7, and if you're unlucky enough to ever see a hexagon, don't look for me because I will already be running, just like you should."
Haru gulped audibly.
They reached their camp zone by early afternoon, a high clearing overlooking a ravine. Tents were erected. Fire pits dug.
Mayu gathered them by the fire circle. "Tonight, we watch. Tomorrow, you scout. Remember the rules: do not chase beasts into unknown zones. Do not provoke a bond. The beast must want it. Especially for aggressive types, it's a matter of dominance and mutual recognition. Fight if you must, but never to the death unless necessary."
Aullie didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on him an extra second.
That night, the forest whispered. The students sat near the fire, talking in hushed tones.
"How do we even approach bonding?" Haru asked. "Do we talk to them? Bow? Bring snacks?"
"I'm bringing fists," Aki replied. "If I like something, I'll let it beat me up a bit, then return the favor. Mutual respect."
Sora laughed softly. "You'll bond with something equally feral."
Aullie stared at the fire. Shinku sat nearby in cat form, tail twitching.
"You need to make them feel safe," Aullie said. "Let them see who you are. Beasts sense emotion."
They listened quietly but Aullie rarely gave long answers.
Morning fog still clung to the underbrush when Instructor Mayu split them into scouting pairs. Aullie and Haru took the east path. Aki and Sora veered west.
They moved in silence for a while, blades sheathed, eyes sharp.
Then Aullie paused, crouching by a set of tracks.
"birdbeast. Light-footed. Wind affinity," he murmured.
Haru nodded. "Should we follow?"
Aullie pointed ahead. "There. Three circles. Level 3."
A glowing triple-ringed yellow crest shimmered faintly on a tree where the beast had brushed past.
They tracked it through a ravine. Aullie spotted movement. Silver feathers. It was relaxing.
He motioned Haru to stay back.
But a misstep snapped a twig. The beast bolted.
Aullie cursed under his breath.
"Sorry," Haru whispered.
Aullie sighed. "It happens."
Shinku, still silent in beadspace, made his opinion known inside Aullie's mind: "Clumsy."
Screams echoed from the south.
Aullie and Haru sprinted toward them. Sora and Aki emerged from the brush at the same time, converging on a clearing.
A massive bear-like creature stood on a ridge, its frame hulking and its red eyes wild with fury. On its shoulders, two glowing red circles burned like brands.
"Level 5," Aullie muttered. "It's way above our threshold."
Instructor Mayu appeared in a blur, her blade already drawn. "Group up! Defensive formation! Don't engage!"
But it was too late. A student lay sprawled on the ground, blood trailing from their leg, too close to the creature's reach.
Aullie didn't hesitate. He shot forward, feet digging into the earth. He slid into place just as the beast's claw came down. He grabbed a discarded shield and braced it in front of him.
Pain. A crushing pain that tore through his arms and rattled his bones, knocking him to one knee for a moment.
"Go!" he shouted at the wounded teen. "Move!"
With a grunt, he threw his weight into a pivot and activated Void Step. In a flash of dark purple energy, he appeared beside the injured student, grabbed their arm, and hauled them to safety.
Behind him, a snarl ripped through the air.
Shinku erupted from his bead, now in full panther form, his fur bristling and red stripes glowing.
The beast hesitated. Shinku's growl deepened, eyes locked onto the monster's with unblinking menace.
For a few long seconds, they stared each other down.
Then Mayu and two other instructors slammed into the fray, blades and Aether flaring. The beast roared in frustration and finally retreated into the trees, shaking the ground with every step.
The clearing fell into silence.
Aullie looked down at his arms, a dull throbbing pain was all he could feel. Luckily nothing was broken.
Haru arrived breathless at his side.
"You're insane."
"They were gonna die," Aullie shrugged.
Sora and Aki joined them, both tense, but unharmed.
Instructor Mayu turned back to them, eyes fierce.
"That was not protocol," she said, pointing at Aullie. "But it was brave. Just don't let me see you die a hero, got it?"
Aullie nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Shinku huffed and shifted back into his smaller form, leaping up to perch on Aullie's shoulder.
"You could've let me eat it," the cat muttered.
"Let me get a few more jewels before we try and get you a level 5 bear steak dinner," Aullie smiled and murmured.
They walked back to camp slowly, shadows long beneath the trees, the echoes of danger still hanging in the air.
That night, Aullie sat alone by a pond beyond the camp. Crickets chirped in the grass. Moonlight glittered on the surface of the water like scattered gemstones.
Shinku followed silently, his feline form gliding onto a moss-covered rock nearby. He curled his tail neatly around his feet, watching Aullie with narrowed, glowing red eyes.
"You don't miss the space?" Aullie asked after a while, breaking the quiet.
Shinku gave a low purr. "It's quiet there. Peaceful. But boring. There's only so much brooding I can do when surrounded by void and nothingness."
Aullie smirked. "Didn't take you for the introspective type."
"I contain multitudes," Shinku replied with mock grandeur. "Mostly sharp claws and endless sarcasm."
Aullie chuckled, then looked back toward the forest. "Still... thanks. For showing up today. I mean it."
Shinku blinked lazily. "Of course. Can't let my favorite human get mauled by a deformed bear. Besides, if you die, I go back to being bored for eternity."
Aullie leaned back, hands bracing against the cool ground. "You think they're ready? Haru, Aki, Sora?"
"They're stronger than they know. Just like you. Though if Haru trips over one more exposed root, I'm biting him."
"Only if you warn me first. I want to film it."
"No promises."
Aullie fell quiet while absentmindedly twirling his lockpick, the sounds of the forest folding around him. Wind whispered through the branches. Water lapped gently against the pond's edge. For the first time in a while, he didn't feel the pulse of Void pressing against him.
Just life. Breath. Balance.
A distant roar echoed, not ancient or supernatural. Just wild. Primal.
Shinku's ears perked.
"This forest isn't tame," he said softly.
Aullie nodded. "Neither are you."
Shinku stretched and settled more comfortably on his rock, tail flicking again. "Damn right."
The night held its breath around them.
And the real test had only just begun.