The village of Graybrook was small, nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by thick forests. The people here lived simple lives—farmers, blacksmiths, hunters—content with the rhythms of the seasons and the safety of their close-knit community.
As Hiro walked through the village streets that morning, he noticed the beasts that wandered through the fields and forests nearby. To the villagers, they were nothing more than animals. A cow grazing lazily by the riverbank. Birds flitting between trees. A pack of wolves lurking deeper in the woods, their presence feared but accepted as part of the natural order.
But to Hiro, they were more than that. He could feel them, in a way that no one else could. It wasn't just instinct or intuition—it was a connection. The same connection he had felt in his past life, when beasts had followed him willingly, recognizing the strength and leadership he offered.
Today was the Awakening Ceremony. Hiro had turned sixteen, and like every other young person in Graybrook, today he would receive his class—a magical designation that would shape the course of his life. The villagers believed in warriors and mages, healers and archers. They placed their hopes in combat and magic, seeing beasts as nothing more than part of the scenery.
But Hiro knew better.
The ceremony took place in the center of the village, at the base of an ancient stone that had stood there for centuries. The Awakening Stone, they called it. Every sixteen-year-old would touch the stone, and in return, it would reveal their class, a magical word that appeared above their head, marking their future.
Hiro stood in line with the others, feeling the energy of the stone hum faintly in the air. The other boys and girls were nervous, whispering to one another about their hopes and fears.
"I hope I get Mage," a boy ahead of him muttered, clenching his hands nervously. "My father says it's the most powerful class."
Another girl laughed softly. "Mage? I want to be a Warrior. A Mage can throw fire, but a Warrior can break bones."
Hiro remained silent. He knew what class he would receive. He had lived this before.
When his turn came, Hiro stepped forward, the village watching with quiet curiosity. He placed his hand on the stone, feeling its rough surface beneath his palm. A familiar pulse of energy surged through him, awakening something deep within. The stone glowed softly, and for a moment, the entire village held its breath.
Then, above Hiro's head, the word appeared in shimmering light: Beast Sovereign.
The crowd murmured, confused. "Beast Sovereign? What does that mean?" one of the villagers whispered.
"Must be a mistake," someone else muttered. "That's not a real class, is it?"
But Hiro didn't listen to them. He stepped back from the stone, a small smile playing on his lips. It was exactly what he expected. They didn't understand yet, but soon they would. They saw beasts as nothing more than animals—but Hiro knew better.
He turned his gaze to the forest beyond the village, where he could feel the presence of something powerful waiting for him. It was time to begin.