The corridors above the vault were silent. Students and teachers alike felt the tremors but dared not descend; only the bravest—or the foolish—would enter the unknown.
Down below, Lyn moved with purpose. Umbra darted ahead, his arcane form illuminating the shadows with gold and violet light.
"You lead. I follow," Umbra said, his voice calm but alert.
The creatures of the vault lunged. Shadows twisted into clawed forms, snarling with echoes of ancient power. Lyn summoned his courage and reached for Umbra, channeling their shared mana.
"Now, Umbra!" he shouted.
A burst of golden light erupted, colliding with the shadows. The creatures recoiled, some dissolving into mist, others retreating deeper into the darkness. Lyn's heart raced, but he did not falter.
"We're stronger together," Lyn whispered, eyes locking on Umbra.
The bond between boy and beast had deepened in ways neither fully understood. It was no longer a simple master-beast connection; it was a resonance of hearts, will, and destiny.
From the deepest shadows, a single pair of glowing amber eyes observed them silently. Unlike the others, this presence did not attack—it merely watched, as if judging their worth.
"We're being tested," Umbra said softly."By what?" Lyn asked."By something… older than the academy," Umbra replied. "And if we fail…"
The creature stepped forward, revealing a form that was both majestic and terrifying. Lyn felt his pulse quicken. This was no ordinary beast. It radiated power, history, and intent.
"Then we won't fail," Lyn said, more to himself than to Umbra. "We'll rise beyond what they expect."
The shadows shifted around them, the air alive with ancient mana. And somewhere in the distance, a faint whisper promised that the first ripple of rebellion was only beginning.