Dawn broke over Eldara Academy, painting the spires with soft gold and silver light. Yet the usual serenity of the grounds was gone. The air thrummed with unease — whispers of shadow creatures moving beyond the perimeter had spread overnight.
Lyn Ashveil stood at the edge of the courtyard, Umbra coiled at his side, senses alert.
"They're out there," Lyn murmured.Umbra's ears flicked. "And curious about us. Probably testing our strength before the Council even notices."
A sudden tremor ran through the ground. Students gasped; some scrambled toward instructors. Lyn's crest flared involuntarily, resonating with Umbra's aura.
The courtyard erupted in panic. Shadowy beasts — smaller than the vault creatures but swift and aggressive — appeared from the forest surrounding the academy. They darted between trees, snapping at anything that moved.
"Everyone, stay calm!" Kaelen shouted, forming a protective barrier of shimmering mana."This isn't training," Lyn said, eyes narrowing. "They're testing us — or scouting."
Students scrambled, some attempting to fight with half-formed spells. Lyn leapt forward, Umbra alongside him, their Dual Resonance forming a protective wave of golden-violet energy.
The shadows recoiled. Lyn felt the bond with Umbra strengthen in the heat of real danger.
Amid the chaos, a familiar figure appeared — Arden Veyne, Class A, smirking even in the fray.
"So this is what the buzz was about," Arden called, conjuring a blade of pure mana. "Your little beast isn't enough to scare anyone, Class E."
Umbra growled, fur flaring with golden light.
"Careful, Arden," Lyn said. "This isn't a duel — it's survival."
But Arden didn't heed the warning. He charged, forcing Lyn to engage both him and the encroaching shadows.
The battle was chaotic. Lyn's coordination with Umbra grew instinctively — golden threads intertwined with violet, forming shields, counterattacks, and bursts of light.
"We can do this," Lyn whispered, eyes scanning for the shadows' source.Umbra nodded. "Follow my lead!"
Their combined force drove the creatures back toward the forest edge. But Lyn noticed something unsettling: the shadows were not acting independently. They moved as if guided, almost intelligently.
"Someone's controlling them," Lyn realized aloud.Umbra's eyes glimmered. "And they're watching you."
From the treeline, a figure emerged, cloaked in swirling darkness, larger than any human or beast. Its eyes glowed with amber intensity, matching the Ancient Shadow Lyn had sensed in the vault.
"So, the spark has arrived…" it murmured, voice echoing in Lyn's mind."And the rebellion begins."
The shadows halted, waiting for orders. Lyn's pulse raced — this was no random attack. The world beyond the academy had already noticed him, and the first threads of a true rebellion were pulling tight around Eldara.
Umbra bristled beside him, growling low.
"Ready, Lyn?""Always," he said.
The golden-violet threads of their bond pulsed fiercely, lighting the courtyard. The first battle of the rebellion had officially begun.