The morning sun crept over the rooftops of Thesa, bathing the small trading town in golden light. The air buzzed with energy, a mix of merchants setting up their stalls and the excited chatter of families heading toward the town square. For most, it was just another day. But for Swain Hector, it was the day everything would change.
Swain sat at the kitchen table, picking at his breakfast as his mother bustled about. "You need to eat," she said, sliding a plate of eggs and bread closer to him. "Big day ahead."
"I know," Swain muttered, forcing himself to take a bite. His stomach was already in knots. Today was Awakening Day, the moment every sixteen-year-old in Thesa had been waiting for. By the end of the day, he'd be a Beast Tamer—if everything went right.
Across the table, his father chuckled over his tea. "Relax, Swain. Everyone bonds with a beast eventually. Just don't overthink it."
Swain nodded, but the words didn't do much to calm him. Bonding with a beast wasn't guaranteed. The elders said it was about mutual trust, about finding a creature that connected with you on a deeper level. But what if no beast wanted to bond with him?
His mother gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You'll do fine, Swain. Just be yourself."
"Thanks, Mom," he said, managing a small smile. He stood, smoothing his shirt and grabbing his satchel. "I'll see you after the ceremony."
"Good luck!" his parents called after him as he stepped out the door.
The town square was already alive with activity by the time Swain arrived. Rows of chairs had been set up in front of the elders' platform, and the nearby pens were filled with beasts of all kinds—wolves, hawks, even a few small drakes. Each pen was marked with symbols indicating the beasts' temperaments and strengths.
Swain spotted his best friend, Den, near the edge of the crowd. Den waved him over, grinning ear to ear. "You ready for this?" he asked, his voice brimming with excitement.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Swain replied, though his voice betrayed his nerves.
"Come on, man. It's gonna be fine. You've been talking about this day for years!" Den clapped him on the back, nearly making him stumble.
Swain tried to laugh along, but his eyes kept drifting to the pens. The beasts inside seemed calm for now, but he could feel their power radiating even from a distance. Each of them had the potential to bond with a tamer, becoming a lifelong partner. Would one of them choose him?
The crowd hushed as Elder Kael, a tall, silver-haired figure in flowing robes, stepped onto the platform. His voice carried easily over the square. "Welcome, young tamers. Today, you take your first step toward shaping your destiny."
Swain swallowed hard as the elder's gaze swept over the group.
"The bond between a tamer and their beast is sacred," Kael continued. "It is built on trust, respect, and balance. Today, you will enter the pens to find the creature that calls to you. Remember, the bond is mutual. You cannot force it. Approach with patience and an open heart."
Swain's pulse quickened as Kael gestured toward the pens. "Go now. Let your journey begin."
Swain followed the other students toward the rows of beast pens, his palms slick with sweat. The air was thick with anticipation as they stepped inside, the beasts watching them with wary eyes. Some growled softly, while others retreated to the shadows of their enclosures.
"Let's split up and cover more ground," Den said, his grin undiminished. "See you on the other side!"
Swain nodded, his throat too dry to respond. He wandered down one of the narrower aisles, his eyes darting from one pen to the next. A sleek wolf bared its teeth at him before turning away, uninterested. A hawk screeched from its perch, ruffling its feathers. None of them seemed to notice him in the way the elders had described.
"Come on," Swain muttered under his breath. "There's gotta be one."
He turned a corner and stopped in front of a smaller pen. Inside was a creature unlike the others he'd seen—a stocky boar-like beast with rough, stone-like skin and sharp tusks. It was smaller than most of the other beasts, its head low as it pawed at the dirt.
"Hey there," Swain said softly, stepping closer to the pen. The creature's ears flicked toward him, and it raised its head, its sharp eyes locking onto his.
Swain held his breath as he knelt by the gate. "You're a tough one, huh?" he murmured. "Bet you've seen your share of fights."
The boar snorted, watching him warily. Swain reached out a hand, staying just outside the bars. "I'm not here to hurt you," he said. "I just… I need a partner. What do you think?"
For a moment, the beast didn't move. Then, slowly, it stepped closer, sniffing the air. Swain felt a flicker of hope as it stopped just short of his hand. But then, just as suddenly, it turned away, retreating to the back of the pen with a huff.
Swain's heart sank. "Wait—"
A loud cry interrupted him, and he turned to see one of the other students shouting as a hawk darted toward them, wings flapping furiously. The hawk landed on the student's outstretched arm, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Another successful bond.
Swain looked back at the boar, but it had already settled into the shadows, uninterested. The knot in his stomach tightened. No matter how hard he tried, none of the beasts seemed to respond to him.
As the ceremony wound down, Swain sat on a low wooden bench near the edge of the pens, his head in his hands. Around him, other students laughed and cheered as they showed off their new companions.
Den found him not long after, his face flushed with excitement. "I did it!" he said, holding up his arm. A small lion cub with golden fur perched on his shoulder, its bright eyes scanning the crowd.
"That's great, Den," Swain said, forcing a smile.
"What about you?" Den asked, his expression faltering. "Where's your beast?"
Swain hesitated, then shook his head. "None of them… none of them wanted me."
Den's brow furrowed. "That can't be right. Maybe you just haven't found the right one yet."
"Maybe," Swain said, though the words felt hollow.
As the last of the students were called back to the platform, Swain's gaze drifted to his hand. The mark on his palm, faint and incomplete, seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. He frowned, his pulse quickening as the shimmer intensified for just a moment, then faded.
A single message echoed in his mind, clear and calm, though no one around him seemed to hear it.
[System activated: Beast Crafter. Initialization complete.]
Swain's eyes widened. "Beast Crafter?" he whispered. But there was no time to process it. Elder Kael was already addressing the group again, his voice signaling the end of the ceremony.
"Congratulations to those who have bonded today," Kael said. "To those who have not, remember: your journey is not over. Patience and perseverance will guide you. Dismissed."
Swain stood slowly, his hand clenched around the strange mark. Whatever this system was, it wasn't what he'd expected. And it wasn't going to make things easier.