The next morning began with rain.
Not a storm.
Just a soft, steady drizzle that blanketed New Haven beneath silver skies.
Kael stood by his bedroom window, watching raindrops race down the glass.
The city looked calmer in the rain.
The floating lanterns glowed brighter.
Steam drifted from rooftops.
People hurried beneath wide umbrellas while mechanical delivery birds zipped overhead, seemingly unaffected by the weather.
Behind him, Noah burst through the door without knocking.
“Big Brother!” Kael didn’t even turn around.
“You should really start knocking.” “I did.” “No.” “I knocked with my foot.” “…That’s called kicking the door.” “Oh.” Noah thought about it.
“I’ll improve.” Breakfast was quieter than usual.
Marcus had already left for work.
Although retired from the Defense Corps, he now trained young guards in the city’s security division.
Elara placed fresh bread onto the table.
“He’ll be home before dinner.” Lyra yawned.
“I still think Dad enjoys training more than relaxing.” “He does,” Elara admitted.
“He says retirement is just another word for getting rusty.” Kael could believe that.
Marcus wasn’t the type of man who enjoyed sitting still.
After breakfast, Elara looked toward Kael.
“You have plans today?” “Not really.” She smiled.
“Good.” Kael immediately became suspicious.
“Why?” “I need help shopping.” Noah raised both hands.
“I volunteer Big Brother!” “You can’t volunteer someone else.” “I just did.” The central market was even busier than it had been two days earlier.
Students filled nearly every street.
Some carried Academy acceptance letters.
Others compared equipment lists.
Parents argued over prices while shopkeepers happily welcomed the flood of customers.
Kael noticed something interesting.
Groups had already begun forming.
Students naturally gathered with those who possessed Beast Souls similar to their own.
Bird Beastifiers.
Wolf Beastifiers.
Reptile Beastifiers.
Even before entering the Academy…
Cliques were already forming.
Humans really didn’t change between worlds.
As Elara negotiated the price of cooking herbs with a merchant, Kael wandered toward a nearby bookstore.
The sign above the entrance read: Griffin’s Feather Books Inside, the scent of old paper immediately reminded him of libraries from Earth.
Rows of books stretched from floor to ceiling.
History.
Biology.
Engineering.
Monster Ecology.
Beastification Theory.
His eyes stopped on one shelf.
The Great Beasts of Eryndor He reached for it.
“So you like reading too.” Kael turned.
A girl stood on the opposite side of the shelf.
Long chestnut hair framed a calm face, and kind amber eyes studied the same book he had reached for.
She wore simple clothes with the crest of a small noble house stitched onto her sleeve.
Kael recognized her immediately.
Aria.
She had awakened the Moonlight Stag.
Unlike Adrian, she hadn’t drawn attention to herself during the Awakening Ceremony.
She had quietly accepted her results and congratulated others before leaving.
“I’m Kael.” “I know.” She smiled politely.
“The entire city knows who you are.” “…Right.” “The Shadow Drake.” “Apparently.” A small laugh escaped her.
“It must be exhausting.” Kael blinked.
“What?” “Everyone staring.” He hadn’t expected someone to notice that.
“…A little.” “I figured.” There was no pity in her voice.
Only understanding.
She picked up the book.
“I’ve already read this one.” “You have?” She nodded.
“It’s mostly illustrations.” “Not very accurate.” Kael looked surprised.
“You’ve studied monsters?” “My grandfather was a researcher.” She smiled fondly.
“I grew up surrounded by books.” Kael looked around the store.
“I can see the appeal.” For a moment, neither spoke.
It wasn’t awkward.
It was…
Comfortable.
A loud voice suddenly shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
“There you are!” Both turned toward the entrance.
Rex.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
The same energetic boy who had awakened the Ironback Gorilla.
He waved enthusiastically as though greeting lifelong friends.
“I knew I’d find Academy students here!” Aria sighed softly.
“How?” “I asked three people.” “You asked strangers?” “They looked helpful.” Kael wasn’t sure whether to admire that confidence or fear it.
Rex grinned.
“Buying books?” “Looking,” Aria corrected.
“Great!” He grabbed a random title.
“One Hundred Recipes Using Monster Meat.” He blinked.
“…Wrong section.” Kael couldn’t help smiling.
Within minutes, the three found themselves walking through the market together.
Mostly because Rex naturally inserted himself into every conversation.
“I can’t wait for Academy.” “I heard Royal Division students get their own training grounds.” “I also heard the cafeteria serves roasted Sky Boar.” Aria glanced at him.
“You’re more excited about food than education.” “I’m excited about both.” “You mentioned food first.” “Because priorities matter.” Kael found the exchange strangely entertaining.
Earth had taught him that friendships often began without anyone noticing.
Perhaps…
This was one of those moments.
As they crossed the town square, a crowd had gathered around a public display.
A large crystal screen floated above a fountain.
The Kingdom News Network.
A woman in a blue uniform smiled professionally.
“…Registration Day for New Haven Beast Academy begins in eighteen days.” Images of previous Academy classes appeared behind her.
Students sparred.
Professors lectured.
Teams explored forests alongside instructors.
“The Academy continues to produce some of the kingdom’s finest Beastifiers.” Rex folded his arms proudly.
“That’s going to be us.” Aria smiled.
“I hope so.” Kael remained quiet.
His goals were different.
He didn’t want fame.
Or recognition.
He wanted enough strength that no one could ever take his family away from him again.
The Queen observed silently.
A simple wish.
“The hardest kind.” The afternoon passed quickly.
Eventually, Elara found Kael again.
“There you are.” She noticed Aria and Rex.
“Friends?” The three teenagers looked at one another.
Then Rex answered first.
“I think so.” Aria nodded.
“I’d like that.” Kael smiled faintly.
“…Yeah.” Elara’s eyes softened.
She said nothing.
She didn’t need to.
On the walk home, Kael carried several bags of groceries while Noah proudly carried a loaf of bread much too large for him.
“I helped.” “You did.” “I carried important supplies.” “You carried bread.” “Bread is important.” Kael couldn’t argue with that.
That evening, after dinner, Kael climbed onto the roof.
The rain had stopped.
The clouds had drifted away, revealing both moons once again.
The city sparkled beneath them.
Inside his soul, Quetzalcoatlus gazed across endless skies.
“You are changing.” Kael leaned back against the roof tiles.
“I know.” “You no longer stand alone.” He thought about Adrian.
About Aria.
About Rex.
About Marcus patiently correcting his stance during training.
About Noah’s endless chatter.
About Lyra’s teasing.
About Elara’s quiet smiles.
Without realizing it…
His world had slowly filled with people again.
The Queen watched from her throne.
“Do not mistake attachment for weakness.” Kael looked toward the stars.
“I won’t.” Because he had learned something in both lives.
Being alone made surviving easier.
But having people worth protecting…
Made living worthwhile.
Far below, the bells of New Haven chimed across the peaceful night.
In eighteen days…
The gates of New Haven Beast Academy would open.
And Kael Draven’s true journey would begin.
End of Chapter 11