The amphitheater emptied quickly, leaving behind only the murmurs of lingering villagers and the sharp echo of Drevan's laughter fading in the distance. Ryn kept his head down as he left the arena, cradling the spirit fox in his arms. Its tiny body radiated warmth, but it seemed fragile—almost weightless—like it might vanish if he let go.
The village streets were bustling despite the evaluation's end. Vendors shouted over the chatter of the crowd, hawking trinkets and taming tools to passing guild recruits. Ryn moved quickly, his tattered cloak drawn over his head to hide his face. The fox nestled closer to his chest, its glowing blue eyes peeking out curiously.
"Don't worry," Ryn muttered to the fox under his breath, his voice bitter. "I'm used to this."
"Ryn Altair."
The stern voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see Guild Master Varek standing at the edge of the path, his imposing figure framed by the shadow of the guildhall. The older man's robes shimmered faintly with the sigil of his bonded beast—a golden lion embroidered over his chest. His gaze was sharp and piercing, like he could see straight through Ryn.
"Follow me," Varek said, gesturing toward the guildhall doors. It wasn't a request.
Ryn hesitated but obeyed, clutching the fox tightly as he stepped into the towering stone building. The hall was dimly lit, its walls lined with banners displaying the symbols of high-ranking tamers. The air was thick with the scent of parchment and iron, and the faint hum of the Bonding Obelisk still reverberated from the arena outside.
Varek led Ryn to a small chamber near the back of the hall. It was sparsely furnished—just a table, two chairs, and a single glowing crystal orb that cast a pale light over the room. The guild master took a seat and gestured for Ryn to do the same.
Ryn remained standing.
Varek sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You understand the situation, don't you?" he began, his tone calm but heavy. "This was your final evaluation. The village has no resources to waste on a tamer who cannot contribute."
"I bonded," Ryn said quietly, his grip tightening on the fox. "That should count for something."
"What you bonded with," Varek said, gesturing to the fox, "is little more than an ornamental beast. Spirit foxes are beautiful, yes, but they lack combat potential. They're barely worth the effort to tame."
The fox let out a faint chirp, as if protesting the insult. Ryn stroked its fur, his jaw clenching. "You don't know that," he said. "She—he—whatever it is, has potential."
Varek raised an eyebrow. "You sound awfully confident for someone with no formal training. Have you already forgotten your past failures?"
Ryn flinched but held his ground. "No," he said through gritted teeth. "But I'm not giving up. I'll train her—train us—and we'll prove everyone wrong."
Varek studied him in silence for a moment, then sighed again, rubbing his temples. "I can't stop you from leaving the village," he said finally. "But understand this: without the guild's support, you'll be on your own. No resources, no shelter, and no second chances. If you fail out there, it's on your head."
"I don't need your support," Ryn snapped.
The guild master's eyes narrowed. "That attitude won't keep you alive, boy. The Wildlands are unforgiving, and so are the beasts that roam them. A weak bond like yours won't last a week."
"We'll see," Ryn shot back, turning toward the door.
"Wait," Varek said, his voice sharp. Ryn froze, glancing over his shoulder.
The guild master gestured to the glowing orb on the table. "Let me see it," he said. "Your bond. Place your hand on the Codex crystal."
Ryn hesitated, but curiosity got the better of him. He stepped forward, shifting the fox to one arm as he placed his free hand on the smooth surface of the crystal.
The orb flared to life, its glow intensifying as streams of light twisted and coiled around Ryn's hand. Images began to form in the air—his name, his status as a Bronze-ranked tamer, and the details of his bond.
Tamer: Ryn Altair
Beast: Spirit Fox
Status: Stable Bond
Evolution Path: ERROR
Varek's eyes widened slightly at the final line. "Error?" he murmured. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Ryn admitted, his voice shaking slightly. "The bond felt… different. Stronger."
The fox chirped again, its glow intensifying as if responding to the crystal. The light around Ryn's hand pulsed, and for a brief moment, something else appeared—a flicker of foreign text that neither of them could fully read.
Varek stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "You need to leave," he said, his tone suddenly urgent.
"What?" Ryn frowned. "Why?"
"I don't know what that was," Varek said, his expression grim. "But whatever it is, it's not normal. If the guild sees this… they'll come after you."
Ryn's blood ran cold. "Come after me? For what?"
"For disrupting the Codex," Varek said, his voice low. "That bond of yours—whatever it is—it's not natural. And the guild doesn't tolerate anomalies."
The fox let out a soft growl, pressing itself closer to Ryn's chest.
"You said I was on my own," Ryn said, his voice hardening. "Fine. I'll leave. But don't think for a second that I'm running."
He turned and walked out of the room, the spirit fox perched on his shoulder, its faint glow lighting the dark corridor ahead.