The amphitheater buzzed with anticipation, its stone seats packed with villagers, aspiring tamers, and guild officials dressed in shimmering robes embroidered with beast sigils. Ryn stood at the edge of the circular arena, hands clenched into fists as he waited for his name to be called. His heartbeat hammered in his ears, drowning out the cheers and jeers from the crowd.
This was his last chance. His third and final attempt at bonding during the Tamer Guild's annual evaluation. Fail again, and he'd be branded as a reject—a liability to the village. Someone without potential.
"You look nervous," a voice drawled beside him.
Ryn glanced to his left. Drevan Ulric leaned lazily against the stone wall, his golden hair catching the sunlight like a trophy. The son of a renowned Gold-ranked tamer, Drevan had already bonded with a mid-tier Flame Wyvern on his first attempt. Today, he was here for his second beast.
"What's the matter, Ryn?" Drevan smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Afraid you'll summon another dud? Or worse—nothing at all?"
Ryn gritted his teeth but said nothing. He couldn't afford to get distracted, not now. He stared at the massive Bonding Obelisk in the center of the arena—a monolithic stone carved with glowing runes that hummed with ancient power. It was said to be connected directly to the Tamer's Codex, capable of reaching into the soul of a potential tamer and drawing forth their destined beast.
"Ryn Altair!" The voice of the guild master boomed across the amphitheater, silencing the murmurs.
Ryn swallowed hard and stepped forward, his boots crunching against the sandy arena floor. The crowd's eyes bore into him—some curious, most already dismissive. His failures in the past two evaluations had made him infamous.
"This is it," he whispered to himself as he placed his trembling hands on the cold surface of the Bonding Obelisk. The runes flared to life, a brilliant cascade of light spiraling upward as the obelisk read his soul.
A hush fell over the crowd. The air grew heavy, crackling with energy as the Codex worked its magic. This was the moment every tamer dreamed of—the moment their destined beast would appear, materializing from the raw energy of their bond.
The light pulsed once… twice… then dimmed.
And then it appeared.
A small creature padded into existence before him, emerging from the swirling light like a fragile ember. It was barely larger than a housecat, with soft white fur, glowing blue eyes, and a faintly flickering tail. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by hushed whispers.
"A… spirit fox?" one of the guild officials murmured, incredulous.
Ryn's heart sank. Spirit foxes were known for their beauty, but not their strength. They were weak creatures, barely able to hold their own in combat. Worse, they were notoriously difficult to evolve.
The crowd erupted into laughter.
"Of course it's Ryn! Only he could summon a pet instead of a partner!" Drevan's voice cut through the mockery like a dagger, drawing more jeers from the spectators.
Ryn knelt down, ignoring the laughter. The fox blinked up at him, its glowing eyes shimmering with curiosity. Its fur was so soft it almost seemed to dissolve into the air.
"Hey there," Ryn murmured, his voice shaking. "I guess… you're my partner now."
The fox tilted its head, then took a hesitant step forward, nuzzling his hand. In that moment, Ryn felt something strange—a warmth spreading through his chest, a faint pulse in the back of his mind. The bond had formed.
"Congratulations, Ryn Altair," the guild master announced, his tone laced with disappointment. "Your evaluation is complete."
The laughter grew louder. Drevan's mocking applause echoed above the noise. Ryn clenched his fists, his face burning with shame, but he didn't let go of the fox.
As the crowd began to disperse, Drevan approached, grinning. "Well, congratulations, Ryn. You've really outdone yourself this time. Maybe you should name it 'Useless.' Seems fitting, doesn't it?"
Ryn stood, his jaw tight. "Get out of my way, Drevan."
Drevan's grin widened. "Careful, now. Wouldn't want your little fox getting hurt."
The spirit fox bristled, a faint glow rippling across its fur. Ryn stepped protectively in front of it, glaring at Drevan.
"You don't scare me," he said quietly.
Drevan's smile faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly, turning with a laugh. "Suit yourself, reject. You won't last a week out there."
Ryn watched him leave, the humiliation simmering in his chest. He looked down at the spirit fox, which was now perched on his shoulder, its tiny paws resting lightly against his neck.
"We'll show them," he whispered, more to himself than the fox. "You and me… we're not done yet."