The fire crackled softly, its warmth barely reaching the cool walls of the shallow cave. Ryn sat with his back against the rocky surface, his head tipped forward as exhaustion finally began to pull him under. The Spirit Fox lay curled near the cave entrance, its glowing tail casting faint, shimmering light that danced in rhythm with the bond between them.
Ryn's eyelids drooped, his thoughts drifting. The weight of the day—two battles, endless walking, and the crushing uncertainty of survival—settled on his chest.
And then the bond pulsed.
In his dreams, Ryn was standing in an endless void. The world around him was black, but it wasn't empty. He felt the presence of the Spirit Fox, even though he couldn't see it.
A light flickered in the distance—a faint, glowing blue flame. It pulsed in time with the bond, drawing him closer.
Ryn…
The voice was faint, echoing in his mind. It wasn't his voice. It wasn't even a voice, exactly, but he understood it nonetheless.
The flame shifted, growing brighter. Shapes began to form around it—beasts. Dozens of them, their outlines blurry but unmistakable. Wolves, serpents, birds, and more, each glowing faintly like embers in the dark.
And then, one by one, the beasts began to change. Their bodies twisted, glowing brighter as they grew larger and more powerful. Some sprouted wings, others grew claws or horns. Their forms blurred, becoming something more, something primal.
Evolution.
The Spirit Fox's presence flared beside him, and he turned to see it standing at his side. Its glow had intensified, its body larger and its features sharper. Its tail split into two, each one burning like a comet's trail.
We grow together…
The bond pulsed again, and the vision shattered.
Ryn's eyes snapped open.
The fire had burned down to embers, and the cave was silent except for the faint rustle of wind outside. The Spirit Fox was still curled up near the entrance, its glow steady and calm.
Ryn sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. The dream lingered in his mind, vivid and impossible to ignore. The beasts, the blue flame, the fox's evolution—it wasn't just a dream. It couldn't be.
He glanced at the fox, watching its tail sway slightly in its sleep. The bond pulsed faintly, and for a moment, he thought he felt the faintest echo of the words he'd heard in the void.
We grow together.
Ryn exhaled slowly, his hands curling into fists. If the dream was a message, then it wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about progress—about unlocking the potential of their bond and understanding what it truly meant.
He stood, careful not to disturb the fox, and moved to the cave entrance. The stars were still bright in the sky, but the faintest hint of dawn was beginning to creep over the horizon.
"We need to train," he muttered, his voice firm.
The Spirit Fox stirred, its glowing eyes blinking open. It chirped softly, stretching before trotting over to him.
"Good timing," Ryn said, crouching to scratch behind its ears. "Let's figure out what you can really do."
By the time the sun had fully risen, Ryn and the Spirit Fox were back in the open plains outside the cave. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of grass and earth.
"Alright," Ryn said, rolling his shoulders. "Radiant Step. Let's see if it works when you're not in a fight."
The fox chirped, its glowing tail swishing as it crouched slightly.
Ryn stepped back, giving it space. "Go ahead. Try moving to… there." He pointed to a flat rock a few feet away.
The Spirit Fox tilted its head, then focused on the spot he had indicated. Its fur brightened slightly, and the air around it shimmered faintly.
In a flash, the fox disappeared, reappearing an instant later on the rock. The faint ripple of light that marked its movement hung in the air for a split second before fading.
Ryn let out a low whistle. "That's incredible."
The fox chirped proudly, its tail flicking.
"Alright, now let's try something harder," Ryn said, pointing to a larger rock further away. "Can you do it again? That's got to be, what, fifteen feet?"
The fox crouched again, its body tensing. Its glow brightened as it focused, and then—
It vanished, reappearing on the larger rock in a blur of light.
Ryn's grin widened. "You're a natural."
The fox leapt down from the rock, bounding over to him with a series of excited chirps. Ryn knelt to meet it, ruffling its fur.
"Alright," he said, his voice thoughtful. "Radiant Step is great for dodging, but we need to figure out how to use it offensively. If you can get behind a target, or—"
He froze mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing.
The Spirit Fox stiffened, its glow dimming as it crouched low to the ground.
Something was wrong.
The bond pulsed faintly, a warning that sent a chill down Ryn's spine. He stood slowly, scanning the area around them. The plains were quiet, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze, but the air felt… off.
And then he saw it.
In the distance, at the edge of the plains where the grass gave way to a dense forest, a dark shape moved. It was massive, its hulking form barely visible against the shadows of the trees.
Ryn's breath caught in his throat. Whatever it was, it was watching them.
The Spirit Fox growled softly, its fur bristling as it pressed closer to his leg.
"We're not ready for this," Ryn whispered, gripping his knife tightly.
The shape shifted, stepping partially into the light. For a brief moment, Ryn caught a glimpse of glowing red eyes and twisted, jagged features. The corruption clung to it like smoke, swirling faintly around its massive body.
A Calamity Beast.
Ryn's heart pounded in his chest. He had heard of Calamity Beasts before—legendary creatures twisted by the Abyssal Rift's influence. They were rare, powerful, and nearly impossible to defeat without a team of high-ranking tamers.
And it was staring right at them.
The Spirit Fox let out a low, warning chirp, its body tensed and ready to move.
Ryn swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay calm. "We need to go," he said quietly. "Now."
The Calamity Beast didn't move, but its red eyes burned like twin embers, following their every step as Ryn and the fox backed away slowly.
When they were far enough, Ryn turned and ran, the Spirit Fox darting alongside him. His mind raced as they put distance between themselves and the forest.
Whatever that thing was, it was a reminder that the Wildlands were far deadlier than he had imagined.
But it was also a reminder of what they were up against.
"We'll be back," Ryn muttered under his breath, his determination solidifying like iron. "But not yet."
The Spirit Fox chirped in agreement, its glowing tail flicking as they disappeared into the horizon.