The carriage rattled along the stone road leading to Arclight Beast Academy, jolting Novas Volt slightly. Behind him, the Volt family crest gleamed faintly — a lightning-shaped sigil symbolizing power, prestige… and failure.
Unworthy. Pathetic. A Volt disgrace.
He shook his head. "No. Not anymore. I'm not them. I'm me."
The academy gates loomed above, tall metal arches etched with glowing runes. Students bustled, each accompanied by beasts of every shape and size: flame-tailed wolves, hovering wisps, iron-scaled drakes. Whispers and curious glances followed him.
[Ignore them. You're here for yourself] He Thought.
Registration Hall
The hall buzzed with activity. Students registered for classes, their beasts growling or hovering obediently.
"Next, name?" called an instructor.
"Novas Volt."
The instructor's eyes widened. "…Volt?" He shuffled papers, then sighed. "Placement: Gray Division, Class C."
Whispers erupted around him:
"Remedial Volt…"
"Even his family abandoned him…"
"He can't raise a beast properly…"
Novas pinned the gray badge to his jacket and walked on, chest steady. Confidence, not arrogance.
Contract Hall
The hall stretched wide, containment crystals glowing faintly, each holding a potential companion beast. Students flocked toward the powerful creatures: Flame Cubs, Swiftclaw Tigers, Iron Fang Wolves.
Novas scanned the leftovers — small, weak, strange. And there it was: the Trish Beast, trembling, barely larger than a rabbit, three stumpy horns, anxious eyes, tail twitching nervously.
Instructor Helian Drosser walked by, sharp gaze lingering. "That one? Practically defective. Take it if you must, but don't expect anything."
Novas met the creature's eyes. Despite its size, he sensed a spark of determination.
"…I'll take it."
Helian arched an eyebrow. "Are you certain?"
"I'm certain."
When Novas touched it, warmth spread through his palm. Then, white-hot pain, swirling symbols, evolution cycles spinning across his vision.
"See… what others cannot."
Above the Trish Beast, faint text shimmered, visible only to him:
[Species: Trish Beast — Hidden Variant]
[Potential Paths (Locked/Unknown): 3]
[Evolution Requirement: Frost Petal, Beast Core Fragment]
Novas' pulse quickened. I can see its potential… and maybe others' too. But not yet. I'll keep it hidden.
"Novas Volt."
Novas froze. The voice was familiar — sharp, teasing, unmistakable.
Kael. Childhood friend, mischievous partner in every adventure. They hadn't seen each other in years.
Kael leaned casually against a wall, amber eyes glinting, messy dark hair, a shadow-like forbidden beast coiled around his shoulder.
"You… Kael?" Novas whispered, disbelief and relief mixing.
"You've grown," Kael said. "Still stubborn, still the same. Didn't expect we'd meet again in this circus of a school."
The warmth of old friendship surged through Novas. I can face this academy. I'm not alone.
Kael spotted the Trish Beast. "Low-level trash, huh? Still, you've got fire. Don't worry, I'll have your back — brotherly bond, remember?"
Novas smiled. Yes. I can trust him completely. "And I'll help you too. Whatever comes, we face it together."Kael nodded, satisfied. Brotherhood above all.
A soft voice then cut through the crowd.
"Novas?"
He turned. Lyriel Aelwen, silver hair flowing, sharp green eyes, standing with poise and elegance. Confidence radiated from her posture, yet her fingers fidgeted lightly with the strap of her dagger — betraying a subtle nervousness.
Lyriel… Novas' heart skipped. He remembered liking her before she disappeared years ago.
"I… I wasn't sure you'd be here. Or if you'd remember me," she said softly.
"Of course I remember," he said, smiling gently. "I… could never forget you."
Lyriel's lips curved into a soft smile. Beneath it, her heart fluttered — she had liked him for years, though he didn't know.
Kael nudged him, grinning. "Looks like someone's got a fan."
Novas chuckled, aware of her skill and poise but unaware of her feelings. Above her companion beast, faint shimmering patterns marked hidden evolution paths.
I can see… but I won't tell her. Not yet. Kael first. Lyriel later, if she can be trusted.
"Good to see you again," he said carefully, confident yet cautious.
She nodded, lips faintly pink. "It's good to see you too. I'll be watching your progress."
And maybe… hoping you notice me too, she thought silently.
Meanwhile from the far end of the hall, a tall, cocky noble with a fire drake at his side sneered. Lord Theron Kaelric, 17, heir to one of the most influential noble families.
He noticed Novas holding the Trish Beast and scoffed. How pathetic… a Volt in Gray Division, with that… thing?
Theron's eyes flicked to Kael and Lyriel as well, calculating — this year would be about proving his superiority.
At the other end of the hall
Headmaster Helian Drosser and Professor Aramis Sylven walked through the hall. Helian's sharp gaze measured each student, while Aramis' curiosity lingered on the unusual patterns hovering faintly over Novas' Trish Beast — though he didn't realize what it meant yet.
Interesting… Aramis muttered. Some students hold potential beyond the ordinary.
after a lot of catching up with kael they eventually got their dormitory key and happed to be sharing rooms but kael had other things to do first before going to the dormitory so novas left first to check it out.
That night, Novas sat in the dormitory. Trish Beast curled at his side, Kael's shadow beast flickering in the corner.
I can see everyone's potential… Faint evolution paths shimmered above the Trish Beast, Kael's forbidden beast, and even Lyriel's companion.
But he kept it locked away. Kael had earned full trust; Lyriel… he would wait, cautious, until he understood how much to reveal.
The Trish Beast nuzzled his hand. Novas smiled. "We'll get stronger… together. And maybe… they'll see us differently."
Outside, the academy gates glimmered under the moonlight. The journey had only just begun.