The days at the academy were passing by in a blur. Raine's life had become a delicate balancing act—between his studies, the trials in the Beast Taming Tower, and the increasingly ominous rumors swirling about the Shadows. He couldn't shake the feeling that something dark was lurking at the heart of the academy, waiting to reveal itself. But he couldn't afford to focus solely on that. His goals remained clear: to perfect his Beast Taming skills, to rise above the expectations of the nobles, and to bring honor back to his family's name.
It had been three weeks since the last trial in the Beast Taming Tower, and Raine's mastery over his beasts was growing. But there was still so much to learn. More than just learning about his tamed creatures, Raine knew that the essence of Beast Taming was not simply about control, but about understanding. Understanding the creatures, their wills, and their emotions. But even as his knowledge expanded, he knew there was more he had to unlock within himself.
The Difficulty of Growth
One evening, after a particularly grueling practice session with Flame Sprout, Raine retired to his private study, the familiar weight of exhaustion settling in his bones. He sat down at his desk, staring at the stack of books on Beast Taming techniques, magical theory, and the obscure history of the Valthorn bloodline. His eyes flicked to his status board, which had become his most trusted tool for tracking his progress.
He had gained significant experience over the past few weeks, but it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Raine's thoughts were interrupted when a soft, almost imperceptible chime echoed in his mind.
System Notification:
You have accumulated enough experience points to upgrade your attributes. Choose wisely.
Raine glanced at the list of attributes and sighed. He had reached a point where the upgrades required more effort, more time. The simple increase in his stats from natural growth and practice wasn't enough anymore. His body and mind had to struggle, had to earn the right to grow further.
Attributes to Upgrade:
Strength: 10/10Agility: 9/10Intelligence: 10/10Charisma: 9/10Perception: 10/10Focus: 10/10Luck: 7/10
While his intelligence and focus were his greatest strengths, Raine had started to feel the weight of his decisions. To increase his attributes now was no longer a simple matter of accumulating experience—it would require specific, targeted efforts. Strength would need intense physical training, Agility would require mastering the nuances of combat and movement, Charisma could be enhanced through persuasion and leadership, and Perception would demand constant vigilance.
But it wasn't just his physical stats he needed to improve. Raine was acutely aware that his Luck was stagnating, not due to a lack of effort, but because Luck was a fickle attribute that could only be influenced by chance—and Raine had always been a man of control.
He decided to focus on Agility first. Agility would aid in his Beast Taming techniques, allowing him to better handle the unpredictable movements of the mystical creatures he was taming. But there was a catch: improving his Agility required more than just practice; it required an immersion into high-pressure situations where he could test his reflexes.
System Notification:
Upgrading Agility requires exertion beyond normal limits. The next step will take time and focus. Prepare yourself for the challenge.
Raine stood, stretching his arms above his head. He had already put in hours of physical training every day, but he knew this next step would push him further than ever before. The system was offering him a chance to reach new heights, but it would be no easy feat. He would need to apply himself in ways that challenged his limits—not just through his mind, but through his body. It was going to take everything he had.
A Test of Limits
The following day, Raine began his rigorous training regime. He ventured into the Beast Taming Tower early in the morning before most of the academy students had risen. The tower was largely deserted at this hour, save for the few beast tamers who had come to train. Raine walked through the tall, narrow corridors, his steps echoing against the stone floors, until he arrived at the Training Hall.
He placed his hand on the door's smooth surface, feeling the faint pulse of magic that was embedded in the tower itself. The academy had long ago learned how to harness the building's magical properties, making it an ideal place for cultivating Beast Taming and combat skills.
As Raine entered the hall, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. Standing near the center of the room was Alric Denshaw, the boy whose affinity had been rejected at the Affinity Awakening ceremony two years ago. The boy, now taller and with a slightly more confident air, was practicing with a low-ranking beast. Raine recognized it as a Mud Hound, a creature that was known for its agility and tenacity, but it was hardly a match for more powerful beasts.
Alric looked up as Raine entered, and for a moment, there was a brief, almost awkward silence. Alric had been quiet since the ceremony, and Raine had not paid him much attention. However, there was something about Alric's presence today that seemed different, as if the boy had shed some of his old insecurities.
"Raine," Alric said, his voice steady. "You're here to train, too, I assume?"
Raine nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sized up the boy. There was no obvious reason why Alric would seek him out now, but Raine was curious.
"I'm pushing myself harder than ever," Alric said, sounding almost defiant. "I know I'm not meant to be a mage, but I can still fight. I can still become strong. The trials—they won't define me."
Raine studied him for a moment, the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on him. Alric's words echoed in his mind: The trials won't define me. It reminded Raine of the time before he had inherited the system, when his life had seemed so small, so limited. But now, with his potential unlocked, he had more power than he ever thought possible. Yet, the more he pushed forward, the more he understood that it wasn't just strength or magic that mattered—it was something more. Something deeper.
"You're right," Raine replied quietly. "The trials don't define anyone. It's what you do afterward that matters."
As Raine and Alric exchanged a few more words, Raine felt an unfamiliar sense of unease. There was something lurking beneath the surface of the academy, something far darker than he had anticipated. He wasn't just up against the Shadows or the noble families. He was up against the very idea that power could be controlled, that mastery over beasts could be exploited.
And then, as if to confirm his worst fears, a soft whisper caught his ear, a voice that seemed to come from nowhere, yet echoed in his mind with chilling clarity:
"Raine Evernight Valthorn, your true trial has yet to begin..."
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The world around him felt suddenly smaller, more oppressive. Something was coming—something that would test him in ways he had never imagined.
Raine's Status Update:
Agility: 9/10 -> 9.5/10 (Training progress: 15%)Luck: 7/10 -> 7.2/10 (Luck improvement: 5%)Beast Taming: Master -> Advanced (Training progress: 80%)
A sense of foreboding lingered over Raine as he continued his training, but deep inside, he could feel the weight of his journey pressing him forward. Whatever came next, he would be ready.
The real trials were just beginning.