The early morning forest was serene, the faint light of the rising sun filtering through the canopy, casting golden streaks onto the forest floor. The campfire crackled softly, its embers glowing faintly in the cool air. The kids were stirring from their bedrolls, rubbing their eyes and stretching as the forest slowly came to life with the faint sounds of birds chirping in the distance.
Darnell stood near the campfire, his rugged features softened by the golden glow. He stretched his arms above his head before clapping his hands lightly, catching the attention of the sleepy children. "Alright, everyone, it's time to start packing up. We'll need to move soon, but I'll be catching a couple of hours of sleep while you all get things sorted. You've earned the right to be in charge of breaking camp."
Ox grunted, his voice groggy as he rolled out of his blanket. "Do we have to do all the work?"
Sparks smirked, brushing her fiery hair out of her face. "You can carry the heavy stuff, big guy. That's your job."
Darnell chuckled, shaking his head as he crouched by the fire. "Before you start, though, I've got something to show you." His tone carried a note of intrigue, instantly grabbing the kids' attention. He reached into a small pouch on his belt and pulled out a stone the size of an apple. Its surface was glossy and black, like polished obsidian, but it pulsed with a faint, inner light, as if something alive was trapped within.
The kids gathered around him in an instant, their sleepiness forgotten. Cross leaned in closer, his sharp amber eyes locked onto the stone. "What is that?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe.
Darnell held the stone up, letting the firelight play across its surface. "This," he began, "is a beast core. When a beast dies, it leaves behind this—its core. It's the last remnants of its life, solidified into a single object. Some beasts, especially those with an element, use these cores to grow stronger. They absorb the energy inside to level up and, in rare cases, even gain new skills if the core matches their own element."
The kids' jaws practically hit the ground. Sparks's coppery eyes lit up as she reached out, hesitating just short of touching the core. "It… it's alive, kind of," she whispered, mesmerized. "How does it work?"
Darnell grinned. "It's not exactly alive anymore, but it's got life energy in it—what's left of the beast. The strongest beasts out there are ones that've used cores like this to keep getting stronger. That's why Apex beasts and mature beasts are so dangerous. You never know what skills they've picked up over time."
Zara tilted her head, her golden eyes wide with curiosity. "But what about the beasts that don't eat other beasts? You know, like ones that eat grass or leaves. How do they get stronger if they don't… use cores?"
Darnell paused, his brow furrowing as he looked at Zara. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly caught off guard by the question. "Huh… you know, I've never actually thought about that," he admitted. "I mean, this is what's written in the books we get from the capital. And, sure, there are adventurers with beast companions who know more about this kind of thing, but I've never really had the chance—or the thought, honestly—to ask them."
The kids exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of intrigue and skepticism. Sparks raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying we don't actually know for sure if this works?"
Darnell shrugged, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "Not firsthand, no. But there's one way to find out."
All eyes turned to the shadow panther's core, still pulsing faintly in Darnell's hand. Sparks crossed her arms. "Why don't we watch it happen? Nyx should try using it. He was part of the fight."
Zara frowned slightly, glancing at Luna, who chirped softly from her perch on Zara's shoulder. "What about Luna? She's the older one. Shouldn't she try it first?"
Before anyone could respond, Alistair stepped forward, his green eyes calm but sharp. "You're right, Zara," he said, his voice steady. "But think about it. The shadow panther was defeated by Cross, Darnell, and Nyx. Luna helped, but not as much as the others. And those claw marks on the panther's back? They're from Nyx. He was vital in taking it down."
Darnell's eyes widened slightly as he watched Alistair speak. There was something magnetic about the boy's tone, a quiet authority that made even Darnell want to listen and agree. The way the other kids nodded without hesitation only reinforced the feeling. It was a rare, natural kind of leadership that left Darnell momentarily stunned. He had to shake his head as if clearing away a fog of understanding and agreement. "Kid's got a point," he muttered to himself, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Zara hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Nyx should have it."
Cross crouched beside Nyx, running a hand along the sleek feathers on the beast's shoulders. "You ready, buddy?" he asked softly.
Nyx tilted his head, his piercing golden eyes locking onto the core. He let out a low rumble, a sound that somehow conveyed understanding. Cross gently held the core out to him, his heart pounding in anticipation.
The camp grew silent, the kids holding their breath as they watched. Nyx stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful. He leaned down, his tongue flicking out to touch the core. The moment his tongue made contact, the core began to glow brighter, its light pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat.
Then, in a stunning display, the core began to dematerialize, its black, glassy surface dissolving into streams of light. The glowing energy flowed into Nyx's mouth and nostrils, disappearing into his body as he stood completely still, his wings slightly extended. The light continued to pour into him until the core was completely gone.
Nyx's body shimmered faintly, his bronze-amber wings glowing softly as the energy settled within him. He let out a deep, resonant growl that echoed through the clearing, his form radiating newfound strength. His golden eyes glowed brighter for a moment before returning to their usual intensity.
The kids erupted into excited chatter.
"Did you see that?" Sparks exclaimed, her hands waving animatedly. "It was like the core just… melted into him!"
"That was incredible," Zara said softly, her eyes fixed on Nyx. Luna chirped in agreement, her glow brightening slightly as she watched.
Ox grinned, punching the air. "Nyx looks even cooler now! I bet he's way stronger, too."
Alistair smiled faintly, his gaze thoughtful. "It's definitely something to remember. If cores can do that…"
Cross crouched beside Nyx, his hand resting on the beast's shoulder. "How do you feel, buddy?"
Nyx rumbled softly, his wings folding neatly against his sides. His gaze was calm but sharp, as if he were ready to take on anything.
Darnell crossed his arms, his expression impressed. "Well, that answers one question, at least. Beasts really can use cores. Nyx just proved it."
Sparks smirked. "So, what's the plan? We keep an eye out for more cores and power up our beast partners?"
"Maybe," Darnell said with a chuckle. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. For now, stay sharp and keep alert. We'll start moving again after I grab a quick rest. Got it?"
The kids nodded, their excitement simmering down as they began packing up the camp. Nyx stretched his wings briefly before settling beside Cross, his presence a quiet reminder of the battle they had just won and the bond they were forging.
As Darnell lay down to catch some sleep, he couldn't help but glance at Alistair, a small smile playing on his lips. "That kid," he muttered under his breath, "he's going to be something else someday."
The camp settled into a quiet buzz of activity, the kids preparing for the next leg of their journey.
The camp bustled with quiet activity as the kids finished packing their belongings. Cross, with Nyx sitting beside him, carefully stowed his gear into his pack before glancing at the sleek, winged feline. The events of the morning still replayed in his mind—the sight of the core dissolving into Nyx, the faint glow that had pulsed through his companion.
Curiosity gnawed at him. What had changed? He tightened the last strap on his pack, then paused, his sharp amber eyes flicking toward the faint shimmer of his status icon in the corner of his vision. He focused on it, the familiar ding echoing softly in his head as his status page materialized before him.
---
Cross's Status
Name: Cross
Race: Half-Elf
Class: None (Unawakened)
Level: 1
XP: 0/100
Attributes:
Strength: 13
Agility: 16
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 10
Partner: Nyx (Noctarae)
Level: 2
---
Nyx's Status
Name: Nyx
Species: Noctarae
Rank: Newborn
Level: 2 (0/220 XP)
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 21
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 9
Unallocated Attributes: 3
Abilities:
1. Talon Strike: Executes a swift dive attack with its talons, dealing precise, high-damage strikes to a single target.
2. Eagle's Eye: Enhances Cross's ranged accuracy and ability to detect enemies, improving his sharpshooting performance.
---
Cross blinked, his eyebrows furrowing. His eyes locked onto the new line: Unallocated Attributes: 3. He glanced at Nyx, who was lazily stretching his wings before curling up again, seemingly unbothered by whatever was going on.
"Unallocated attributes?" Cross muttered under his breath. His curiosity only grew as he stared at the glowing screen. Finally, he turned toward Zara and Sparks, who were finishing up their own packing nearby.
"Hey, Zara, Sparks—come here a sec," Cross called, his tone piqued with interest.
The two girls exchanged a glance before walking over. Sparks dusted off her hands, her coppery eyes glinting with curiosity. "What's up, Cross?"
Cross pointed at the glowing status screen in front of him. "Look at this. Nyx leveled up after eating the core, but now it says he has unallocated attributes. What does that mean?"
Zara leaned in, her golden eyes scanning the screen intently. She tilted her head, her brow furrowed in thought. "I've never seen anything like that before," she admitted, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity.
Sparks crossed her arms, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Well, obviously it means you get to assign those points to his attributes. Maybe it's like when adventurers assign points to their stats after leveling up."
Cross blinked, the gears turning in his head. "You think so?"
Sparks shrugged. "Why not? It's worth a shot, right? Just pick an attribute and see what happens."
Zara frowned slightly. "What if it doesn't work? Or worse, what if it hurts him?"
"Come on, Zara," Sparks said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like he's going to blow up. Look at him—he's fine. Besides, we're not doing anything to him; we're just clicking buttons."
Cross hesitated, glancing at Nyx. The Noctarae's golden eyes flicked up at him, calm and steady, as if sensing Cross's indecision. Finally, Cross exhaled and nodded. "Alright. Let's try it."
He focused on the status screen, selecting Nyx's highest attribute—Agility: 11. With a mental command, he assigned one point to the attribute. The moment he did, Nyx's eyes glimmered faintly, a golden light briefly flashing before fading.
"That was… subtle," Cross muttered. "Let's try another."
He added the second point to Agility, watching as Nyx's eyes flickered with light again. Still, the beast barely moved, his posture relaxed and unbothered.
Finally, Cross allocated the third and final point. The faint glimmer returned to Nyx's eyes, but beyond that, there was no visible change.
The three of them stared at Nyx expectantly, waiting for something—anything—to happen. Sparks tapped her chin, a frown creeping across her face. "Well… that was anticlimactic."
Zara sighed softly. "Maybe it's not something we can see right away. It might just make him better at what he already does."
Cross slumped slightly, his shoulders dropping in mild disappointment. "I guess so," he said, his tone subdued. He reached out, running a hand along Nyx's sleek feathers. "Well, at least he's stronger now. Thanks for helping me figure it out."
Sparks shrugged. "Anytime. Just don't expect fireworks every time you level him up."
Zara nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's still something to keep an eye on. If this is how beasts grow, we'll need to learn more as we go."
"Yeah," Cross said, managing a faint smile. "You're right. Thanks, guys."
The three of them returned to packing their gear, the buzz of excitement from earlier settling into quiet determination. Nyx stretched his wings briefly before settling beside Cross, his presence steady and reassuring despite the lack of dramatic results.
By the time everyone was packed and ready, Darnell stirred from his spot by the fire. He stretched with a loud yawn, shaking off the last remnants of sleep as he stood. His sharp eyes scanned the group, noting their neatly packed bags and prepared gear. A grin spread across his face, his energy fully restored.
"Alright, kids!" he bellowed, his voice booming through the clearing. "Formation time! Let's get moving!"
The kids jumped into action, falling into their designated positions with practiced ease. Ox and Alistair took the rear, their youthful enthusiasm tempered by a sense of responsibility. Cross walked slightly ahead of the group, with Nyx padding silently by his side. Sparks and Zara stayed near the middle, Luna perched comfortably on Zara's shoulder, her soft glow adding a touch of light to the dim morning.
Darnell led the way, his shield strapped to his back and his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. He glanced back at the group, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. "Stay sharp and keep your wits about you," he called. "We've got a lot of ground to cover, and I don't plan on carrying anyone if you get tired."
The kids chuckled, their spirits high as they followed Darnell into the forest. The trees closed in around them, their shadows stretching long and dark in the early morning light. With their new knowledge and determination.