As the door clicked shut, Adrian cast a brief glance at Varyn. His gaze remained frosty, but a spark of curiosity lingered, like he was sizing up the newcomer. It made Varyn uneasy, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
The girl beside Adrian broke the silence with a soft, welcoming smile. "My name's Lynn," she said. "And you must be Varyn, right?"
Varyn nodded.
"Don't mind Adrian," she continued in a warm tone. "He's like this with everyone. But you'll get used to it soon."
Adrian scoffed, clearly hearing her, but didn't bother to argue. Instead, he turned and motioned for them to follow, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. Lynn lingered beside Varyn, her presence easing the tension as she started chatting.
"Master Orrin's house is amazing, isn't it?" she said, gesturing to the rooms they passed. "That's the library. It's full of old, dusty tomes—most of them about Beastbounds and magic. Over there's the armory, stocked with all kinds of strange weapons. Oh, and the kitchen is just through that door; it always smells like herbs and spices."
Despite himself, Varyn found comfort in her lighthearted chatter. The house, with its quiet elegance and odd inhabitants, felt like stepping into a different world. It wasn't what he had expected, but perhaps that was a good thing.
"So," Varyn finally asked, "are you and Adrian Beast Tamers?"
Lynn tilted her head, a proud smile forming. "I'm already a Beastbound. Bonded and everything."
His gaze shifted to Adrian. "What about him?"
"He's a bit different," Lynn said, her voice dropping slightly. "Adrian's what they call an Irregular."
"Wait, what?" Varyn stopped in his tracks, staring at Adrian in disbelief. "Irregulars are real? I thought they were just rumors."
"They're real," Lynn replied confidently. "And one of them's standing right in front of you."
Irregulars were said to possess an extraordinary affinity for magic, their power rivaling that of Beastbounds without the need for a beast bond. They were a relatively new phenomenon, so many—including Varyn—still considered them myths.
Adrian glanced back at Lynn, his cold expression unchanging. "You talk too much."
"Come on, he's one of us now," Lynn said dismissively. "Besides, he'll find out eventually."
She turned her attention back to Varyn. "So, what's your magic ability?"
Varyn hesitated. "I... I don't know," he admitted, feeling a little embarrassed.
Lynn blinked, surprised. "Really? Well, we'll just have to find out!"
Before Varyn could protest, she grabbed his arm and led him through a door that opened into a large open field behind the house. The area was expansive, bordered by dense trees, with a clear sky above.
"This is where we train," Lynn explained. "Master Orrin usually helps us with our abilities, but since he's busy, we'll do it ourselves."
"What exactly are we doing?" Varyn asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
"We're going to help you discover your abilities!" Lynn declared, her excitement evident.
"That's reckless," Adrian interjected, crossing his arms. "Abilities manifest under extreme conditions. This could end badly."
"You worry too much," Lynn shot back. "I quiet stong myself and besides, I've also got you to help if anything goes wrong."
Adrian sighed but didn't argue further.
Lynn turned to Varyn with a mischievous smile. "Alright, here's how this works. Beastbound abilities usually manifest when someone's life is in danger. So, I'm going to... well, put you in danger. Don't worry—I'll try not to kill you for real. But don't count on it."
A small, fiery bird suddenly materialized on her shoulder. Its feathers glowed with a brilliant red hue, radiating heat.
Varyn recognized it instantly. He'd seen Beastbound abilities before during his time in the Legion. The manifestation of a beast always accompanied the use of their powers.
"Wait, hold on!" Varyn protested, stepping back. "I just got here!"
But Lynn was already moving. "Here I come!"
She launched forward at incredible speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. Varyn barely managed to dodge her first punch, stumbling as he scrambled backward.
He tried to create more distance, but it was futile—she was too fast. In a blur, she was upon him again, her fist aimed directly at his chest.
This time, he couldn't dodge. He raised his arms to block, and pain shot through him as the impact cracked his bones. The force sent him skidding across the ground.
'If I were still just a normal human, that punch would've shattered my arms completely,' Varyn realized, his mind racing. 'She's serious. She's actually trying to kill me!'
Gritting his teeth, he stood and braced himself. Lynn came at him again, her movements fluid and precise. He retaliated with a kick, using every ounce of strength he had.
She smirked, easily dodging by ducking beneath it. Her counterattack came swift and brutal—a punch to his stomach that knocked the wind out of him. Blood spattered from his mouth as he was hurled backward, landing in a crumpled heap.
He gasped for air, his vision swimming. And then he saw it—Lynn descending toward him, her arm wreathed in flames.
'I'm going to die,' he thought, panic surging through him. Memories flashed before his eyes—his struggles, his losses, the massacre at the base.
Something snapped.
His pupils narrowed into slits, glowing with an eerie yellow light. A dark, bloodthirsty expression overtook his face.
From the shadows around him, black spikes erupted, surging toward Lynn. She barely had time to react before the spikes collided with her fiery shield, resulting in a massive explosion.
'He did it,' Lynn thought, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. But her relief was short-lived.
More shadowy spikes emerged, three times the number from before. They spiraled toward her with deadly precision, leaving her no time to escape.
'This is too much!' her eyes widened in alarm.
A torrent of flames suddenly engulfed the battlefield, obliterating the spikes. As the smoke cleared, Adrian stood between them, his hand outstretched and glowing faintly with residual heat.
"That's enough," he said, his voice calm but firm.