The courtyard buzzed with energy as hundreds of new students gathered beneath the towering banners of Starfall Academy. Soren stood somewhere in the middle of the crowd, trying to look invisible. The tiny fox perched on his shoulder like a fluffy guardian angel—if guardian angels were easily distracted, occasionally bitey, and obsessed with shiny objects.
The fox was currently batting at Soren's hair.
"Please stop," Soren whispered. "I'm trying to look normal."
The fox chirped and batted harder.
Kael snorted beside him. "You're failing."
Soren groaned. "I know."
The stage at the front of the courtyard shimmered with magic as the armored woman - clearly someone important—stepped forward again. Her phoenix spread its wings, sending sparks of golden flame drifting into the air.
"Welcome, new students," she said, her voice amplified by magic. "I am Head Instructor Seraphine Dawncrest, overseer of the Outer Division."
Soren straightened instinctively. Even Kael stood a little taller.
Seraphine's gaze swept across the crowd like a blade. "You are here because you possess potential. Some of you come from noble families. Some from common backgrounds. Some from distant kingdoms. But here, you are all the same."
Soren swallowed. He definitely felt "the same"—as in equally terrified.
Seraphine continued, "Starfall Academy is built on three pillars: knowledge, discipline, and strength. You will learn to tame beasts, craft artifacts, summon spirits, and defend yourselves. You will be challenged. You will be tested. And some of you will fail."
Soren's stomach dropped.
Kael elbowed him. "Relax. She says that every year."
"That doesn't make it better!"
The fox chirped in agreement.
Seraphine raised a hand. "Before we begin, I will introduce the instructors who will guide you."
A row of robed figures stepped forward.
A tall man with messy brown hair waved lazily. "Instructor Rowan—Beast Handling."
A stern woman with a staff nodded. "Instructor Mirella—Summoning Arts."
A short, muscular dwarf with a hammer grinned. "Instructor Brakka—Crafting and Forging."
Soren perked up slightly. Crafting. He could… maybe do that. If the system didn't sabotage him again.
Then a final figure stepped forward—a man with silver eyes and a cloak embroidered with runes.
"I am Instructor Veylan," he said softly. "Combat."
Soren immediately shrank behind Kael.
Kael smirked. "He's strict, but fair."
"He looks like he eats students for breakfast."
"Only the weak ones."
Soren whimpered.
The fox patted his cheek sympathetically.
The First Demonstration
Seraphine raised her hand. "To begin orientation, we will demonstrate the difference between a trained beast and an untrained one."
A large cage was wheeled onto the stage. Inside, a massive boar-like creature snorted, its tusks glowing faintly with runic markings.
Soren's eyes widened. "That's an F‑rank beast?!"
Kael nodded. "Yep."
"It looks like it could eat me."
"It could."
Soren whimpered again.
Instructor Rowan stepped forward, calm and confident. He opened the cage.
The boar charged.
Soren screamed internally.
Rowan simply raised a hand. A soft green glow enveloped the boar, and it skidded to a halt, snorting but obedient.
"This," Rowan said, "is the power of beast affinity."
The boar nuzzled his hand like a puppy.
Soren stared. "How… how do I do that?"
Kael shrugged. "Practice."
The fox chirped proudly, as if saying I already like you, so you're halfway there.
Soren wasn't convinced.
The System Interferes
As the demonstration continued, Soren felt a familiar ding.
A screen popped up in front of him.
[NEW PASSIVE SKILL UNLOCKED: PANIC SENSE (F‑Rank)]
Effect: Increases awareness when terrified.
Note: Host is terrified often.
Soren's eye twitched. "I hate you."
[ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT.]
Kael glanced over. "Talking to yourself again?"
"No! I mean—yes! I mean—system! I mean—never mind!"
Kael shook his head. "You're strange."
The fox chirped in agreement.
Soren groaned.
The Beast Assessment
Seraphine clapped her hands. "Now, new students, step forward for your initial beast assessment. This will determine your starting classes."
Soren froze. "Assessment?! Already?!"
Kael nodded. "Relax. They just check your beast's rank and affinity."
"My beast is F‑minus!"
Kael shrugged. "Then your expectations are accurate."
Soren wanted to cry.
Students lined up in front of a glowing crystal pillar. One by one, they placed their beasts on the platform.
A girl with a fire‑lizard stepped up.
[RANK: E+]
[AFFINITY: HIGH]
The crowd murmured approvingly.
A boy with a stone‑shell turtle stepped up.
[RANK: D‑]
[AFFINITY: MEDIUM]
More murmurs.
Then it was Soren's turn.
He stepped forward, legs shaking. The fox hopped onto the platform, tail wagging.
The crystal glowed.
[SCANNING…]
Soren held his breath.
The fox tilted its head.
The crystal flickered.
Then—
[RANK: F‑]
[AFFINITY: EXTREMELY HIGH]
[EVOLUTION POTENTIAL: ???]
The crowd gasped.
Soren blinked. "Wait… extremely high?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "That's… rare."
Instructor Rowan stepped closer, studying the fox. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Soren panicked. "Is that good? Bad? Dangerous? Am I going to die?!"
Rowan smiled. "It means your fox likes you."
Soren blinked. "That's it?"
"For now."
The fox chirped proudly.
Soren sagged in relief.
Then another screen appeared.
[TINY FOX HAS GAINED +1 EVOLUTION POTENTIAL]
[BEAST BOND LEVEL INCREASED]
Soren's heart warmed. "You're amazing, you know that?"
The fox puffed up proudly.
The Problem
Just as Soren stepped away from the platform, a loud voice boomed across the courtyard.
"WAIT!"
Everyone turned.
A tall boy with golden hair and a majestic lion‑cub beast strode forward. His uniform was embroidered with noble insignias.
Soren recognized him instantly.
He had the face of someone who had never struggled a day in his life.
The boy pointed at Soren. "You! Commoner!"
Soren flinched. "M‑me?!"
"Yes, you! How did an F‑minus beast get extremely high affinity?! That's impossible!"
Soren blinked. "I… fed him a mushroom?"
The courtyard fell silent.
Kael facepalmed.
The noble boy's eye twitched. "You're mocking me."
"I swear I'm not!"
The fox chirped innocently.
The noble boy sneered. "I challenge you to a beast duel!"
Soren's soul left his body.
"A WHAT?!"
"A duel," the boy repeated smugly. "Tomorrow morning. At dawn."
Soren shook his head violently. "No! Absolutely not! I refuse! I decline! I—"
A ding cut him off.
A new screen appeared.
[NEW QUEST: SURVIVE THE DUEL]
Objective: Don't die.
Reward: Beast Skill Unlock.
Penalty: Severe injury. Possibly death.
Soren screamed internally.
Kael sighed. "You're doomed."
The fox chirped.
Soren grabbed the fox. "We're doomed!"
The fox chirped again—this time sounding suspiciously excited.
The duel was set.
And Soren had less than 24 hours to prepare.
The fox wagged its tail.
Soren wanted to cry.