Chapter 2: Shadows in the Leyline
"—ione! Pleione, wake up! You're going to be late!"
Pleione shot up in bed, her heart racing.
"I'm awake! I'm awake!" she called, already scrambling to pull on her uniform. Her blanket got tangled in her legs as she tried to stand, and she nearly fell over with one boot halfway on.
Her familiar—the Thunder Devouring Snake—uncoiled lazily from its spot on the windowsill, flicking its tongue and letting out a low, amused crackle of static.
"You could've warned me," she muttered as she yanked the other boot on.
Downstairs, the smell of eggs and fried greens greeted her.
"Hurry or you'll miss the school shuttle!" her mom called from the kitchen.
"I know!" Pleione dashed into the dining room. Her mom, Anita, handed her a lunchbox, already packed. Her dad, Xander, was by the door lacing up his work boots.
"Try not to trip any teachers this time, alright?" he teased.
"That was one time!" Pleione huffed, grabbing her food.
"And you short-circuited the announcement board," Anita added, laughing. "Good luck today!"
Pleione gave them both a quick hug and bolted out the door, her snake slithering around her wrist and nestling into her sleeve as she ran.
---
Murkwell Academy stood nestled at the edge of town, framed by wild hills and bramble trees that had long since been tamed by stone barriers. The outer walls of the academy were built from rough grey slate, stitched with vines and moss, and capped with copper gutters that caught the morning sun. Inside the courtyard, stone pathways led between squat buildings with steep roofs and wide windows. Colorful banners fluttered over archways, and faint glyphs carved into the flagstones shimmered with residual energy from daily enchantments.
A temporary stage had been set up in the central courtyard, draped in the Beast Taming Association's purple cloth, the triple sigil fluttering in the wind: claw, horn, and wing.
Students gathered in tight groups, buzzing with energy. Crates of supplies lined the edges of the space—starter beast feed, herbs, talismans, and low-tier energy stones.
Pleione found her place in the crowd, heart still pounding from the run. Her familiar shifted on her wrist, calm and alert.
Her eyes flickered again. Text boxes hovered over the other students' familiars:
> [Species: Cloud-Tailed Fox]
[Tier: C]
[Grade: Bronze]
> [Species: Iron-Talon Finch]
[Tier: D]
[Grade: Copper]
No one else seemed to notice them. She blinked, and they faded slightly. That strange visual still hadn't gone away.
"Pleione!" Ashley called out, waving. "You're here!"
"Barely," she said, brushing back her hair. "My snake let me sleep in."
Ashley's Six-Eyed Raven sat still on her shoulder, eyes blinking in unnatural rhythms. "I guess we're both the center of attention today, huh?"
Before Pleione could answer, Principal Harwin Kael stepped onto the stage, and the crowd hushed.
---
"Students of Murkwell," the principal said, his voice calm but resonant, "today marks the beginning of your journey as summoners. But you must understand—this is no ordinary year."
He was tall, with silver-streaked hair tied back and a long coat embroidered with the sigils of both the Beast Taming Association and Iyesgarth. His presence demanded attention—not through volume, but through the depth of every word.
"Two nights ago, perimeter scouts detected the presence of an A-tier Ember-Fanged Wyrm near our borders."
Gasps broke out among the students.
"It did not attack. It simply watched. That alone is troubling. But it was not the only anomaly."
The map behind him shifted, glowing with complex runes and deep, pulsing lines beneath the town.
"A leyline—dormant for centuries—has reawakened beneath Murkwell. These leylines feed spiritual power into the land. They accelerate familiar growth. They empower summoners. But they also attract... things. Beasts. And attention."
He let the silence sink in.
"Because of this surge, Iyesgarth has extended its protective jurisdiction to include Murkwell. As of this morning, our town is under the Arcane Union's observation."
He stepped back slightly as robed figures emerged silently from the crowd—observers from Iyesgarth. Their familiars were strange and silent: one glowed with soft golden light, another hovered on invisible wings, one curled like a clockwork feline ticking gently.
"Some of you may be selected for advanced programs. But remember—power draws responsibility. And danger. We stand on the edge of something older than we understand."
Pleione watched carefully. Her vision flickered again.
> [??? — Observer Marked ???]
[Tier: Unknown]
[Grade: ???]
But the tag didn't hover over the observers. It floated beyond the school fence.
Beneath a dead tree, someone stood.
A man. Cloaked. Still.
She blinked. He remained.
---
After the supplies were distributed and the crowd thinned, Pleione drifted toward the edge of the courtyard. She wasn't entirely sure why. Her snake moved restlessly beneath her sleeve.
The fence creaked as she passed through the old gate and down the worn footpath that ran along the school's eastern boundary. The trees here grew dense, wild, and old—left mostly untouched by the groundskeepers.
The man hadn't moved.
As she approached, he turned—not abruptly, just enough to acknowledge her.
"You're the only one who noticed me," he said, voice calm, low.
Pleione stopped, keeping a cautious distance. Her familiar slid down to coil at her side.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Someone who's seen that kind of serpent before," the man said, nodding toward her companion. "And that look in your eyes. The way you see... not just with sight."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You see more than they do. Your Mark isn't just summoning—it reads, it reveals. That kind of talent doesn't come from nowhere."
She didn't know what to say.
He reached into his coat and handed her a small, octagonal token. It shimmered faintly, etched with a serpent encircling a bolt of lightning.
"When the time comes and the world begins to blur, break this. I'll find you."
"Why help me?" she asked.
"Because people with your sight rarely get a second chance. Most never even get a warning."
And then, without flourish, he turned and walked away between the trees.
---
Pleione stood still, the token warm in her palm. Her familiar gently bumped against her leg.
She looked up at the empty woods.
She wasn't sure what any of it meant just yet. But somehow, things didn't feel overwhelming—just new.
With her familiar curling once again around her arm, and the token tucked in her pocket, Pleione turned back toward the academy.
There was still a whole day ahead.
And maybe—just maybe—something exciting beginning.