The sun had barely crested the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets of Bastion 7. The day was here—the day Kael Strade had waited for his entire life. The day of the Examination.
His pulse raced as he stood in front of the weathered wooden door, his fingers brushing against the iron emblem that marked his family's house. The smell of oil and steel, mixed with the faint scent of the city's cold morning air, filled his nostrils. Kael couldn't remember a time when he hadn't dreamed of this moment—the trials, the tests, the opportunity to prove himself.
"Kael?"
His mother's voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her face a mix of pride and worry. Even after all these years, the strain of losing Galen had etched deep lines into her face. "You're not backing out, are you?"
He shook his head, offering her a small smile. "Not today, Mom."
She smiled faintly but didn't respond, instead stepping aside to let him pass. As Kael entered the house, his younger sister, Aira, was busy preparing a small bag, packing a few essentials—food, a flask of water, and a faded cloth that once belonged to his father. She handed it to him without a word, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern.
"Remember what we talked about," she whispered. "Honor Dad's legacy, but be safe. Please."
Kael nodded, taking the bag from her. "I will."
The city square was already filled with anxious candidates, each of them standing in neatly arranged lines, their faces a mix of determination and fear. The Examination was no simple trial—it was a test of endurance, strength, and wits, all of it designed to ensure only the most capable individuals would be chosen as Beast Slayers, or whatever their specific title might be. To fail was to die. The beasts outside the city walls were merciless, and the warriors who faced them were expected to return victorious—or not at all.
Kael's stomach churned as he looked around. He could already see several familiar faces, some older, some his age. They all wore the same heavy leather armor, adorned with symbols representing their families or the various schools where they had trained. But the one thing they all shared was the same palpable tension.
The announcement echoed across the square as a tall figure emerged from the massive gates of the central tower. It was the Chief Examiner, a woman known as Ravelle, who had earned her name by surviving countless confrontations with the creatures that roamed the world outside the human strongholds. Her reputation was unshakable, and she was known to show no mercy.
"Candidates," she called, her voice booming across the square. "You stand at the edge of history today. You will be tested—mind, body, and soul. Only those who survive will have the honor to serve humanity as a Beast Slayer, whatever title you may choose thereafter."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward into the center of the crowd, his eyes locking with Ravelle's. She studied him for a moment, then gestured to the arena in the distance—a sprawling complex where only the strongest survived.
"The trials begin now. Make no mistake," she said. "You fight not for glory. You fight for survival."
The gate to the arena swung open, and Kael felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders. He had no illusions about what lay ahead. His father's legacy, his family's honor, and his own dream of becoming a Beast Slayer—everything depended on the next few hours.
With one final glance at his family, Kael walked toward the arena, the sound of his boots on the stone echoing like a drumbeat in the silence of the early morning.