As Aidan prepared to leave, Professor Marlon opened a drawer in his cluttered desk and retrieved a small, cloth-wrapped object. His sharp eyes softened as he handed it to Aidan. "Consider this as my reward for your hard work," he said, his voice carrying a rare note of warmth.
Aidan unwrapped the cloth carefully, revealing a thunder beast core. The core shimmered faintly, its surface pulsating with an electric glow that seemed alive. Aidan's eyes widened in surprise. "But, Professor, we don't even know if the thesis will be accepted by the committee yet."
Marlon chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I'm confident it will be. But regardless of the outcome, you've earned this. Your dedication and insights have been invaluable to this project. Think of it as an investment in your future as a tamer—and a scholar."
Before Aidan could protest further, Marlon waved him off with a dismissive gesture. "Go on, now. You've got a bright future ahead of you, and I'm eager to see where it takes you."
As Aidan stepped out into the corridor, the weight of the thesis seemed to lift from his shoulders. For weeks, he had poured his energy into the research, balancing it with his rigorous training and responsibilities. Now, with the thunder beast core in his possession and the professor's words of encouragement echoing in his mind, Aidan felt a renewed sense of purpose.
At the end of the corridor, a familiar figure leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. Darius greeted him with a smirk. "Oh, so you're finally done with all that academic stuff?"
Aidan grinned, shaking his head. Over the past month, Darius and Aidan had grown closer, their initial rivalry evolving into a camaraderie built on mutual respect. It was Darius who had suggested that Aidan incorporate sparring into his routine. "You want to improve fast?" he had said one evening after a class. "Get yourself a proper sparring partner. That's how I've been training since I was a kid. Everyone from the big families does it."
At first, Aidan had hesitated. Sparring with someone as skilled as Darius seemed daunting, but he quickly realized the value of the suggestion. Now, with the thesis behind him, Aidan was ready to fully commit to his training.
"Yeah, I'm done," Aidan said, rolling his shoulders. "And you're right—training's the next priority. Let's head to the facility."
---
The academy's training facility was a sprawling complex equipped with everything a tamer could need. From obstacle courses designed to test agility to arenas for beast battles, the facility buzzed with activity at all hours.
Darius led the way to one of the smaller sparring rooms, a space designed for one-on-one combat. Its walls were lined with racks of training weapons, and the floor was cushioned to absorb impact.
"You ready for this?" Darius asked, tossing Aidan a practice sword.
Aidan caught it with ease, feeling its familiar weight in his hand. "Always."
The two faced off in the center of the room, their stances mirroring each other. Darius was the first to move, lunging forward with a feint. Aidan sidestepped, his reflexes honed from countless hours of practice.
The clash of wood against wood echoed through the room as their swords met. Darius pressed the attack, his strikes quick and precise, but Aidan held his ground, countering with a mix of defensive maneuvers and calculated strikes.
"Not bad," Darius said, his tone both teasing and impressed. "You've been practicing."
"Maybe I just have a good teacher," Aidan shot back, smirking.
The sparring session continued, each exchange pushing Aidan to his limits. Darius's technique was refined, his movements almost effortless, but Aidan's adaptability and determination kept him in the fight.
By the time they called for a break, Aidan was completely drenched in sweat, his breathing heavy meanwhile Darius just panted a little.
"You are really improving fast Aidan." Darius said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Keep this up, and you might actually give me a challenge someday."
---
After their session, Aidan returned to his room, muscles aching but spirit invigorated. He set the thunder beast core on his desk, its glow casting faint shadows across the walls.
Dinner was a simple affair—a quick meal from the academy's dining hall. As he ate, Aidan's thoughts drifted to the day's events. The sparring with Darius had been intense, but it was exactly what he needed to sharpen his skills.
Once his plate was clean, Aidan turned his attention back to training. He retrieved his sword and began a series of drills, the movements fluid and deliberate. Each swing, each step was a reminder of the journey he was on—a journey that demanded nothing less than his absolute best.
---
Later that night, Aidan sat cross-legged on the floor, Hope curled up beside him. The young beast had grown noticeably stronger since their bond was formed, its once-small frame now radiating an aura of budding power.
Aidan reached out, his hand resting on Hope's head. "You've been doing great, buddy," he said softly. "We're both getting stronger, one step at a time."
Hope let out a soft chirp, its eyes gleaming with affection.
Aidan smiled, his mind drifting to the thunder beast core. "You know," he said, "this thing could be a game-changer for you. But we need to be smart about how we use it. No shortcuts, okay?"
Hope tilted its head as if understanding his words.
---
As the night wore on, Aidan found himself staring out the window of his room. The academy grounds were quiet, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the landscape.
The day had been a reminder of how far he had come—and how far he still had to go. The thesis, the sparring, the core—it was all part of a larger journey, one that demanded constant growth and resilience.
Two weeks remained until the start of next monthly exam, and Hope was on the cusp of reaching the Peak of the Feral Stage. Once Hope evolved into an Awakened Beast, Aidan would finally step into the Red Stage—a milestone he had been working toward relentlessly.
But Aidan wasn't afraid. With allies like Darius, mentors like Marlon, and a partner like Hope and with the help of the mysterious system, he knew he had the tools to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
And so, with the thunder beast core tucked safely away and his resolve stronger than ever, Aidan drifted off to sleep, ready to embrace the next chapter of his story.