It had been a month since Kaden had begun attending the academy. Days blurred into weeks as he immersed himself in the lectures, martial arts training, and endless attempts to gather knowledge in the library.
As the lecture wrapped up that day, Mr. Duke stood at the front of the class, his pride filled voice echoing through the room.
"Next week, we'll be having your first practical test," he announced, his gaze scanning the room. "You will be traveling to another planet to hunt beasts."
The classroom erupted in chatter. Some students cheered at the opportunity to gain beast crystals and test their abilities, while others exchanged nervous glances, whispering about the dangers that awaited. Kaden sat quietly, his mind flooded with memories. Every encounter he'd had with beasts had been disastrous, taking pieces of his life he could never get back—his parents, then Lira. The thought of stepping into that chaos again made his stomach churn.
