Morning sunlight spilled across the sprawling Vale Estate.
Unlike most homes in New Haven, the estate resembled a small fortress.
White stone walls surrounded carefully maintained gardens.
Training grounds stretched across the eastern courtyard.
Servants moved with practiced efficiency.
Everything reflected centuries of wealth and discipline.
Everything…
Except Adrian.
He was currently lying flat on his back in the center of the training yard.
Sweating.
Breathing heavily.
“I surrender.” A wooden practice sword landed beside his head.
Lord Cedric Vale looked down at his son.
“You’ve said that three times.” “I meant it all three times.” “You’ll say it a fourth.” Adrian sighed dramatically.
“I probably will.” — Cedric offered his son a hand.
Adrian accepted it and stood.
His father wasn’t an especially large man.
Nor did he possess an intimidating appearance.
Gray streaks had begun appearing in his dark hair, and the wrinkles around his eyes suggested he smiled more often than most nobles.
But appearances meant very little.
Lord Cedric Vale was one of the kingdom’s most respected Beastifiers.
Not because of overwhelming strength.
Because of flawless judgment.
“The Academy begins soon.” Adrian nodded.
“I know.” “And?” “And…
I should train.” Cedric smiled.
“Correct.” — The two walked slowly toward the edge of the training grounds.
Servants placed chilled water and towels on a nearby table before quietly excusing themselves.
Cedric took a sip.
“What do you think of Kael Draven?” Adrian had expected that question.
“He isn’t what I expected.” “In what way?” “I thought he would be…” He searched for the right word.
“…desperate.” Cedric raised an eyebrow.
“Because he awakened a Common Beast Soul?” Adrian nodded.
“Instead…” “He seems calm.” “He doesn’t try to prove himself.” “He doesn’t complain.” Cedric looked pleased.
“And what does that tell you?” Adrian frowned.
“I don’t know.” “It tells you confidence wears many faces.” — Cedric looked toward the distant skyline of New Haven.
“When I was your age…” “I believed noble blood made people superior.” Adrian looked surprised.
“You?” Cedric laughed quietly.
“I was unbearable.” “I find that difficult to imagine.” “You shouldn’t.” He smiled.
“My father reminded me of an important lesson.” Cedric looked directly at Adrian.
“A title opens doors.” “It does not earn respect.” — Silence settled between them.
Adrian thought about Kael.
The boy had never once mentioned his Rank.
Never defended himself.
Never sought sympathy.
He simply…
Accepted reality.
Then moved forward.
“I apologized.” Cedric nodded.
“Good.” “I judged him unfairly.” “Better.” Adrian hesitated.
“I think…” Cedric waited patiently.
“…I want to compete with him.” A smile slowly spread across his father’s face.
“There.” “That’s the son I hoped to raise.” — Far across the city…
Another family was having a very different morning.
— “NO!” Rex’s voice echoed through the house.
“I refuse!” His mother crossed her arms.
“You absolutely will.” “I won’t!” “You will.” “I won’t!” His younger sister calmly continued eating breakfast.
“They’ve been doing this for ten minutes.” Their father sighed.
“Twelve.” Rex pointed dramatically toward the dining table.
“I am a future Royal Division student!” His mother nodded.
“You are.” “I possess an Ironback Gorilla Beast Soul!” “You do.” “I have awakened!” “You certainly have.” Rex took a deep breath.
“So why…” He held up a broom.
“…am I cleaning the house?” His mother smiled sweetly.
“Because dust doesn’t care about your Rank.” His little sister burst into laughter.
— Twenty minutes later…
Rex aggressively swept the floor.
“I’ll defeat every monster.” Sweep.
“I’ll become famous.” Sweep.
“But apparently…” Sweep.
“…I can’t defeat dirt.” His father walked past.
“You missed a spot.” “…I know.” — Across New Haven…
Aria sat quietly inside a sunlit library.
Unlike the bustling city outside, the room was silent except for the turning of pages.
Books covered every wall.
Some looked centuries old.
Others contained handwritten notes tucked between their pages.
An elderly man adjusted his glasses.
“So.” Aria looked up.
Her grandfather smiled warmly.
“You’ve made friends.” She blinked.
“How did you know?” “You smiled while reading.” “…Is that unusual?” “For you?” He chuckled.
“Very.” — He closed the book in front of him.
“Tell me about them.” Aria thought for a moment.
“Rex is loud.” “I imagined.” “Adrian seems proud.” “A noble.” “But…” She smiled softly.
“He tries.” Her grandfather nodded.
“And Kael?” She became quiet.
“I don’t understand him.” “No?” “He listens more than he speaks.” “He notices everything.” “But…” She searched for the words.
“He feels older.” The old scholar didn’t answer immediately.
Instead…
He simply nodded.
“Some people grow quickly.” — That afternoon…
Kael continued training alone in the Draven backyard.
Marcus had left for work.
So today’s lesson became repetition.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The wooden sword moved through the air.
His stance gradually became smoother.
His breathing steadier.
Footwork.
Balance.
Timing.
Nothing flashy.
Just fundamentals.
Noah sat nearby with his own tiny wooden sword.
Whenever Kael swung once…
Noah copied him.
Usually incorrectly.
“Hah!” The little boy nearly spun himself into a bush.
Kael lowered his sword.
“You crossed your feet.” “I meant to.” “You definitely didn’t.” “I definitely didn’t.” — Lyra watched from the porch.
“You know…” Kael looked over.
“You’re becoming more like Dad.” “How?” “You correct people without realizing it.” Kael blinked.
“I do?” “You just did.” He thought about it.
“…That’s unfortunate.” Lyra laughed.
“I think it’s nice.” — As evening approached, Marcus returned home carrying a long wooden case.
Kael immediately noticed it.
“What’s that?” Marcus placed it gently on the table.
“A gift.” “For me?” “You start Academy in a few weeks.” “I figured you deserved your own training weapon.” Kael slowly opened the case.
Inside rested a beautifully crafted wooden practice sword.
Unlike ordinary training blades…
Its balance felt perfect.
Its grip fit naturally in his hand.
It wasn’t decorative.
It was meant to be used.
Marcus smiled.
“My father gave me one before I entered the Academy.” “I’ve kept it for twenty years.” Kael looked up.
“You want me to use yours?” “I want you to make your own memories with it.” For several moments…
Kael couldn’t speak.
Ethan Cole had never received something passed down through generations.
He had never belonged to a family long enough for traditions.
Now…
Someone was entrusting him with one.
“Thank you.” The words were quiet.
But genuine.
Marcus simply nodded.
“I know you’ll take care of it.” — That night…
Kael rested the practice sword beside his bed.
The room was silent.
Moonlight drifted through the open window.
Inside his soul…
The Queen watched him.
“You’ve accepted them.” Kael looked toward the ceiling.
“I have.” “You know what that means.” He did.
Loving people meant fearing their loss.
He understood that better than anyone.
Even so…
He wouldn’t trade this life.
Not anymore.
Outside, New Haven settled into another peaceful night.
Across the city, four future classmates ended their day beneath the same twin moons.
None of them realized…
That in only a few weeks, their lives would become forever intertwined.
«End of Chapter 12»