The village of Greystone stirred awake with the promise of a momentous day. For Kael, however, it was a day that weighed heavily on his shoulders.
The morning sun filtered through the cracked shutters of his small room, casting faint golden patterns across the floor. Kael sat on the edge of his wooden cot, staring at his calloused hands. His elder sister, Aria, had patched his best clothes for the occasion—a simple tunic and trousers that now felt unbearably tight.
Today, like every child who reached the age of ten, Kael would receive his first beast. It was a rite of passage that marked the beginning of a tamer's journey, a moment that would define his future.
Yet, Kael felt no excitement, only a gnawing fear that coiled in his stomach.
"Kael!" Aria's voice rang out from the kitchen, breaking his thoughts. "You'll be late if you don't hurry. Everyone's already gathering."
Kael stood reluctantly, brushing the dust off his clothes. He caught his reflection in the cracked mirror above his desk—a wiry frame, dark hair that refused to lie flat, and green eyes shadowed by doubt.
"Coming," he called back, his voice barely above a whisper.
...
Outside, the village square buzzed with energy. Brightly colored banners fluttered in the breeze, and stalls lined the cobblestone streets, selling trinkets and food for the festival that accompanied Bonding Day. Children Kael's age clustered together, their faces alight with excitement as they exchanged tales of the legendary beasts they dreamed of summoning.
Kael moved through the crowd, his head down. He could feel the weight of their stares, the whispered words that followed him wherever he went.
"There he is—Aria's little brother."
"Think he'll awaken anything useful?"
"Doubt it. He's always been so... quiet."
He clenched his fists and kept walking, the words digging into him like thorns.
At the center of the square stood the Tamer Stone, an ancient artifact that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. It was said to connect tamers to the vast web of spiritual energy that bonded humans and beasts. Villagers crowded around it, eager to watch the ceremony.
Kael spotted Aria near the edge of the crowd, her long auburn hair tied back and her face bright with a smile that belied her weariness. She waved him over, her confidence in him as unwavering as ever.
"You'll do fine," she said, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just focus on the bond. Don't worry about what anyone else says."
Kael nodded, but the knot in his chest remained.
...
The ceremony began with the village elder, a wiry man with a booming voice, stepping forward to address the children.
"Today, you take your first steps into the world of taming. Your beast will be your partner, your strength, and your guide. Treat it well, and it will serve you faithfully."
One by one, the children were called forward. As they placed their hands on the stone, beams of light shot out, streaking toward the nearby forest. Moments later, beasts emerged, each one unique—a frost wolf, a wind panther, a gleaming iron boar.
The crowd cheered, each child greeted with applause and admiration.
Kael stood at the back of the line, his heart pounding louder with each name called. When his turn finally came, the square fell silent.
He stepped forward slowly, his legs trembling beneath him.
"Kael Ardel," the elder announced, his voice carrying across the square.
Kael reached out and placed his hand on the cold surface of the Tamer Stone. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint wisp of light flickered, weak and unsteady, before darting into the forest.
The crowd murmured.
"Did you see that? Barely a spark."
"Maybe it's broken?"
"Or maybe he just doesn't have the talent."
Kael bit his lip, his eyes fixed on the forest's edge. Minutes passed, each one stretching into eternity. Finally, a small creature emerged from the shadows—a rat, no larger than his hand, with dull black fur and red eyes that glinted faintly in the sunlight.
A ripple of laughter swept through the crowd.
"A shadow rat? How pitiful!"
"Even a stray dog would've been better."
Kael's cheeks burned as he knelt to meet the creature's gaze. It tilted its head, squeaking softly.
"Complete the bond, Kael," the elder said, his tone impassive.
Kael reached out hesitantly, touching the rat's head. A surge of warmth coursed through him as the bond snapped into place. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might faint.
When his sight returned, faint glowing text appeared before him, floating as if etched into the air.
Beast Name: Shadow Rat
Potential Evolution Paths:
1. Shadow Stalker (Rare) - Requires exposure to moonlight essence and 5 shadow cores.
2. Night Warden (Epic) - Requires consumption of nocturnal crystals and forging a shadow bond.
3. Abyss Reaper (Legendary) - Requires devouring 100 fear essences and mastering the Abyssal Mark.
Kael blinked, his breath catching in his throat. Was this... his talent? Could anyone else see it?
The crowd's jeers faded into the background as a small smile formed on his lips.
The shadow rat might have seemed weak, but Kael knew better now. It wasn't about what it was—it was about what it could become.
And he would show them all.
...
The laughter and murmurs faded into the background as Kael stood, cradling the small shadow rat in his hands. Its red eyes gleamed faintly, scanning its surroundings nervously.
"Congratulations, Kael," the elder said, though his voice lacked warmth. He moved on to announce the next name, and the crowd quickly shifted their attention to the next child.
Kael slipped through the throng, his heart pounding. Aria was waiting at the edge of the square, her smile unwavering despite the whispers trailing behind him.
"You did it," she said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Kael managed a weak smile, though doubt gnawed at him. "Did I, though? Everyone's laughing. A shadow rat… it's useless."
Aria crouched to meet his eyes, her expression firm. "Don't let their words decide your worth, Kael. Every beast has potential—it's up to you to find it."
Her words offered little solace, but Kael nodded anyway. "Let's go home."
...
The walk back to their small cottage was uneventful, though Kael couldn't shake the weight of the bond he now carried. The shadow rat perched on his shoulder, its tiny claws digging into the fabric of his tunic. It made no sound, but its presence was a constant reminder of the path he'd just begun.
Inside, Aria busied herself preparing a meal while Kael sat at the table, staring at his bonded beast. The faint text describing its evolution paths still lingered in his mind.
Shadow Rat
Potential Evolution Paths:
1. Shadow Stalker (Rare) - Requires exposure to moonlight essence and 5 shadow cores.
2. Night Warden (Epic) - Requires consumption of nocturnal crystals and forging a shadow bond.
3. Abyss Reaper (Legendary) - Requires devouring 100 fear essences and mastering the Abyssal Mark.
He closed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he'd seen. Was this his talent? Could anyone else see these paths, or was it unique to him?
"Kael, are you all right?" Aria's voice broke through his thoughts.
He opened his eyes and hesitated before responding. "I think… I might've awakened a talent."
Aria paused, setting down the bowl of stew she'd been carrying. "A talent? What is it?"
Kael glanced at the shadow rat, unsure if he should share everything. "I… I can see its potential evolution paths. It's like there's a list in my mind, showing me what it could become and what it needs to get there."
Aria's brows knit together. "That's... incredible. Do you know how rare that is? If this is true, Kael, it means you can see what even the greatest tamers struggle to uncover."
He frowned. "But what good is it? The shadow rat is weak. Even if I know how it can evolve, it'll take resources I don't have. And who's going to listen to someone like me?"
Aria leaned forward, her expression serious. "Kael, listen to me. This world doesn't reward the strongest—it rewards those who persevere. If your talent can uncover the potential in beasts, then you've been given a gift most tamers could only dream of."
Her words settled over him like a warm blanket, but doubts still lingered. "I'll try," he muttered. "I'll do my best."
...
That night, as the village celebrated Bonding Day, Kael sat outside under the stars, the shadow rat curled in his lap. He studied it closely, noting its thin fur, sharp claws, and wary movements.
"Shadow Stalker, Night Warden, Abyss Reaper," he whispered. Each name sounded grander than the last, but they also felt impossibly distant.
The shadow rat squeaked softly, and Kael sighed. "I don't know how we're going to do this, but I won't give up on you. They think you're weak, but we'll prove them wrong. Together."
For the first time, the shadow rat nuzzled his hand, a flicker of trust passing between them.
Kael leaned back, staring at the moonlit sky. His journey as a tamer had only just begun, and already, the path seemed insurmountable. But somewhere deep within, a spark of determination began to grow.
If this talent was truly his, then he would use it to carve a new future—not just for himself, but for the shadow rat and the beasts no one else believed in.
...
The morning after Bonding Day was quiet in the Ardel household. Kael woke to the soft rays of sunlight spilling through his window. His shadow rat was curled up in the crook of his neck, its tiny body warm and oddly comforting.
As he stretched and got ready for the day, the events of the previous day came rushing back. The ridicule, the whispers, the bond—it all felt surreal. But the glowing words in his mind hadn't faded, a constant reminder of the path ahead.
Kael made his way to the kitchen, where Aria was already busy, her hands kneading dough. She glanced up and smiled.
"Sleep well?" she asked.
Kael nodded. "Better than I expected."
Her eyes flicked to the shadow rat perched on his shoulder. "It's still early, but if you want to get stronger, you should start training with your beast. Even the smallest steps matter."
Kael hesitated. "How do I even train it? It's… just a rat. It doesn't look like it can do much."
Aria wiped her hands on a cloth and crossed the room to ruffle his hair. "Every beast has instincts. You need to figure out what it's good at and build on that. Why don't you start with something simple, like teaching it to evade or follow commands?"
...
Kael found himself outside, standing in the small clearing behind their cottage. The shadow rat skittered across the grass, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air.
"All right," Kael muttered, crouching down. "Let's see what you can do."
He picked up a small stick and tossed it gently a few feet away. "Fetch."
The rat tilted its head, staring at him as if he'd lost his mind.
Kael sighed. "Okay, maybe not fetching."
He tried a different approach, tapping the ground in front of it to get its attention. When the rat looked up, he tossed a small pebble toward it. The rat flinched but didn't move.
"This is going to be harder than I thought," Kael muttered.
...
Hours passed, and Kael made little progress. The shadow rat followed him around but showed little interest in the tasks he tried to teach it. Frustration gnawed at him, but he refused to give up.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, Kael sat down, wiping sweat from his brow. The rat climbed onto his lap, nuzzling against him.
"I guess we both need to figure this out," Kael said softly.
That's when he noticed something—small, faint wisps of shadow trailing from the rat's movements. They were barely visible, but they were there.
"Wait a second…" Kael leaned closer, his heart quickening. "You have a shadow affinity, don't you? Maybe we've been going about this all wrong."
He picked up a stick and held it above the rat, casting a shadow on the ground. The rat's red eyes focused on it immediately, its body tensing.
Curious, Kael moved the stick, and the shadow shifted. The rat darted after it, moving with a speed and precision that surprised him.
"That's it!" Kael exclaimed. "You're drawn to shadows. Maybe we can use that."
...
For the next hour, Kael experimented, using the stick to cast shadows in different directions. The rat followed them eagerly, its movements growing more fluid and confident.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Kael felt a spark of pride. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
The rat perched on his shoulder again as they made their way back to the house. Aria was waiting at the door, her arms crossed but her expression warm.
"How did it go?" she asked.
Kael grinned. "I think we made progress. It's not much, but it's something."
Aria ruffled his hair again. "That's all that matters, Kael. One step at a time."
...
That night, as Kael lay in bed, he closed his eyes and summoned the glowing text in his mind once more.
Potential Evolution Paths:
1. Shadow Stalker (Rare) - Requires exposure to moonlight essence and 5 shadow cores.
2. Night Warden (Epic) - Requires consumption of nocturnal crystals and forging a shadow bond.
3. Abyss Reaper (Legendary) - Requires devouring 100 fear essences and mastering the Abyssal Mark.
He didn't understand most of the requirements, but one stood out to him: exposure to moonlight essence.
Kael turned his head to look out the window. The full moon hung high in the sky, its light spilling across the fields.
"Moonlight essence…" he murmured. "That has to mean something."
Determination flared within him. He didn't know how long it would take or how many obstacles he'd face, but he was certain of one thing: he would uncover the shadow rat's potential, no matter what.
For the first time in his life, Kael felt a glimmer of purpose