Raine stood there, the weight of the headmaster's words hanging in the air like a thick fog. His mind raced, torn between the instinct to protect his secret and the undeniable pull of ambition. The 5-star beast—no, the potential 7-star mythical beast—was his trump card. It was his advantage, his only edge in the world that seemed ever so determined to see him fail. If he revealed it now, everything could change. The balance of power, the future of his Beast Taming magic, everything he had fought for could be exposed—and possibly destroyed.
The headmaster's piercing gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering, as though silently waiting for his response.
"You've been hiding something from us, Raine," the headmaster said again, the tone almost predatory. "You don't need to be afraid. There is no shame in possessing extraordinary power. But in this academy, we do not operate on secrets, especially when those secrets could affect the safety and future of the students here."
Raine's heart beat in his ears. The headmaster was right. The academy was a place of power, a place where knowledge was revered above all else. Secrets had a way of unraveling things in ways that couldn't be controlled. The question was whether Raine wanted to risk that unraveling or maintain his position of control, however fragile it was.
Amara's words echoed in his mind: They've been watching you.
And indeed, they had been. They'd been watching his every move, his every success. His rising power in Beast Taming was no longer a secret. But there was a difference between knowing something and understanding it fully. If he revealed the 5-star beast, he could show them his true strength. But at what cost?
The headmaster leaned forward slightly, sensing the hesitation in Raine's posture. "I can offer you something in return for your transparency. But only if you trust me."
Raine blinked, his guard immediately raised. "What is it you're offering?"
"Protection," the headmaster replied, their voice almost a whisper now. "Protection for your beasts, your magic, and your place here at the academy. There are forces at play that would see you fail, Raine. But if you align with us—if you prove that you can be trusted—we can help you."
Raine's breath caught in his throat. Protection. That word held weight. It was something he hadn't considered before. But he knew all too well how fragile his position was. One wrong step, and he could be cast aside, discarded like so many others before him. The stakes were too high for him to ignore.
But the price—was it worth it?
"You want me to trust you?" Raine asked, his voice cool, though his thoughts were anything but. "And what would you want in return for that protection?"
The headmaster's eyes flashed with something unreadable. "Power is a currency in our world, Raine. And you will need it if you are to survive. If you want to become the best, to rise above everyone else, you need allies. But more than that, you need influence. You need the right kind of power, the kind that comes with knowledge and support."
Raine's mind churned. It all made sense. The academy had resources, influence, and connections. Aligning himself with the headmaster's faction could offer him advantages that no amount of Beast Taming could give him alone. But there was a catch. There was always a catch.
"And if I refuse?" Raine asked, his voice steady.
"Then you remain where you are now," the headmaster said bluntly. "An isolated student with no true allies. Your beasts, your magic—they will be yours to control, but you will always be vulnerable. We cannot promise your safety if you choose to remain independent. There are those who would see your rise cut short."
Raine considered the offer carefully. He had learned the hard way that power without allies was fragile, while power with the right allies could propel him to heights he had only dreamed of. But even with that, there was a part of him that resisted, that wanted to cling to the shadows, to hide his true power and control it in silence.
The thought of showing them his 5-star beast, the creature with the potential to evolve into something more, unsettled him. It was too dangerous, too powerful to reveal. But on the other hand, if he refused to cooperate, he might lose everything.
He had to make a choice.
"Let me think about it," Raine finally said, his voice colder than before. He needed time to decide. He couldn't make this choice on a whim. Not when the stakes were this high.
The headmaster's eyes narrowed, but they nodded, seemingly understanding Raine's need for space. "Very well. But remember, Raine, time is not something you have in abundance. The decision must come soon."
With that, the headmaster gestured for Lady Virella to escort Raine out of the room.
Raine left the study in silence, his thoughts a whirlwind. The offer was tempting, too tempting to ignore. But was it the right move? Was it the move that would truly secure his future—or would it be his downfall?
Back in his room, Raine collapsed onto his bed, his mind still racing. The pressure of the decision weighed heavily on him. He had come this far, had fought to rise above his past, but now, the future was unclear. The choices before him were clouded in uncertainty. The power to change his destiny was within his grasp, but at what cost?
As he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, a soft whisper broke the silence. It wasn't from outside the room—it came from within.
Power is everything. But don't forget who you are.
Raine closed his eyes. The voice in his head was faint, but it was familiar—his own voice, his own inner resolve. The question now wasn't whether to trust the headmaster, but whether to trust himself.
The decision could wait. For now, he needed to focus on what came next. He had more than enough power in his grasp to reshape the world. But the path he walked must be his own, and his alone.
To be continued…