The words remained in Kael’s mind long after class ended.
Instinct Bleed.
He had never heard the term before.
That alone wasn’t unusual.
There were still thousands of things about this world he didn’t understand.
What bothered him was the reaction from within his soul.
D-Rex had gone silent.
Mosasaurus had withdrawn into the depths.
Quetzalcoatlus had folded its wings.
And the Queen…
The Queen had stopped smiling.
That was rare.
Kael noticed rare things.
— “You’re doing it again.” Aria’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Kael looked up.
The four of them were walking across the Academic Courtyard.
Students moved around them in every direction as afternoon classes ended.
“Doing what?” “Thinking so hard that you stop noticing where you’re walking.” Rex nodded.
“You nearly walked into that tree.” Kael glanced sideways.
A large tree stood less than a meter away.
“…I saw it.” Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Of course.” “I did.” “Naturally.” Rex patted Kael’s shoulder.
“There’s no shame in losing a battle against nature.” “I haven’t lost anything.” “The tree disagrees.” Kael decided continuing the conversation would only make things worse.
— Aria adjusted the books beneath her arm.
“You were interested in the lecture.” “I was.” “Compatibility?” “All of it.” She nodded.
“So was I.” Her expression brightened almost immediately.
“The synchronization model Professor Mire used was simplified, but my grandfather has several older texts that describe Beastification as a layered interaction between soul structure and physical adaptation.” Rex stared at her.
“I understood five words.” Adrian looked toward him.
“That’s better than expected.” “Why is everyone attacking me today?” “Because you make it easy.” Aria covered her smile.
Kael listened carefully.
“Layered interaction?” “According to older scholars.” She nodded.
“The body doesn’t simply transform all at once.
Even during Partial Beastification, there are tiny changes happening throughout the rest of the body.” Kael became more interested.
“For example?” “If someone transforms their eyes for night vision, their brain must also process the additional information.” She gestured toward her head.
“If someone transforms an arm into something much stronger, their spine and shoulders must compensate for the force.” “Otherwise…” Rex made an exploding gesture with his hands.
“Bad things.” Aria sighed.
“That is an extremely crude explanation.” “But accurate?” “…Technically.” Rex smiled proudly.
“Scholar.” — Adrian looked toward Kael.
“Are you worried about tomorrow?” Kael kept his expression neutral.
“Why would I be?” “Instinct Bleed.” There it was again.
Rex groaned.
“That name sounds terrible.” “It does,” Aria admitted.
“You’ve never heard of it?” Kael asked.
Adrian shook his head.
“Only the term.” “My father mentioned it once.” “What did he say?” “That inexperienced Beastifiers sometimes mistake instinct for intention.” Kael’s attention sharpened.
“That’s all?” “He said the Academy would explain it better.” Naturally.
Parents seemed to enjoy saying that.
— They reached the main gate.
Their paths separated there.
Rex headed toward the western district.
Aria toward the north.
Adrian’s family carriage waited across the street.
Kael’s home lay farther toward the central district.
“Tomorrow,” Rex said dramatically, “we discover whether our Beasts secretly want to murder everyone.” Aria stared at him.
“That is almost certainly not what Instinct Bleed means.” “Almost?” “Goodbye, Rex.” “That wasn’t reassuring!” Kael left them arguing behind him.
— The walk home gave him time to think.
Too much time.
The city was peaceful.
Merchants closed afternoon stalls.
Children played beside fountains.
Workers returned home.
Nothing felt dangerous.
Yet inside Kael’s soul…
Four beings waited.
Not separate creatures, according to today’s lesson.
Part of him.
That raised questions he had carefully avoided.
D-Rex’s aggression.
Mosasaurus’ patience.
Quetzalcoatlus’ hunger for freedom.
The Queen’s cold intelligence.
Were those their instincts?
Or his?
Perhaps there wasn’t a difference.
He didn’t particularly like that possibility.
— Noah met him at the door.
“How was school?” Kael stepped inside.
“I learned how to fall.” Noah’s eyes widened.
“I already know how!” Lyra’s voice came from the living room.
“He’s exceptionally talented.” Noah nodded proudly.
“I fall all the time.” Kael removed his shoes.
“Then you’re ahead of the Royal Division.” “I KNEW IT!” Lyra appeared around the corner.
“Please don’t encourage him.” — Dinner was simple that evening.
Marcus asked about combat training.
Elara asked about his instructors.
Noah asked whether the Academy had dragons.
Lyra asked whether anyone had embarrassed themselves.
“Rex,” Kael answered.
“Obviously.” “You’ve never met him.” “I don’t need to.” Marcus laughed.
Kael considered asking about Instinct Bleed.
Then decided against it.
Not because he distrusted Marcus.
Because the question might lead to others.
Questions about Kael’s own reactions.
About the unusual sensations in his right arm.
About what he experienced inside his soul.
He wasn’t ready for that.
Not yet.
— Later, Kael returned to the backyard.
The practice sword rested in his hand.
Moonlight stretched across the training yard.
He moved through Marcus’ drills.
Forward step.
Guard.
Turn.
Retreat.
Again.
His body was tired from the Academy.
That made the exercise useful.
Gareth’s words returned to him.
Your Beast only makes your mistakes larger.
Kael shifted.
Struck.
Recovered.
Again.
Nothing unusual.
He stopped.
Looked toward the house.
Everyone was inside.
Good.
Kael placed the sword down.
Then raised his right hand.
“Partial Beastification.” The change came instantly.
Black scales spread across his fingers.
His nails lengthened slightly.
His pupils narrowed.
Golden.
The transformation felt almost effortless now.
Too effortless.
Kael flexed his hand.
Strength surged through the limb.
He reached toward the wooden training post.
Stopped before touching it.
The Queen had disguised D-Rex as a Shadow Drake.
Which meant even his visible transformation needed to remain believable.
He couldn’t afford to test his real strength carelessly.
“Why did you react?” Silence.
Kael closed his scaled hand.
“I’m asking all of you.” D-Rex finally answered.
“Because instinct is strength.” “That doesn’t explain anything.” “It explains enough.” “No.” Mosasaurus’ voice rose slowly from the darkness.
“Instinct is older than thought.” Kael waited.
The massive creature continued.
“Thought hesitates.” “Instinct acts.” Quetzalcoatlus spread its wings.
“Instinct remembers what the mind never learned.” Kael frowned.
“That’s still vague.” Finally…
The Queen spoke.
“Because you are not ready for the full answer.” Kael’s expression hardened.
“I don’t like that sentence.” “I know.” “You use it often.” “Because it remains useful.” — Kael withdrew the Beastification.
The scales vanished.
His human hand returned.
“If Instinct Bleed is dangerous, I need to understand it.” “You will.” “Tomorrow?” The Queen smiled again.
Barely.
“You will understand what humans believe it to be.” Kael stared into the darkness of his inner world.
“And what do you believe?” Her eyes seemed almost luminous.
“That instinct is neither enemy nor ally.” “It is truth without language.” Then she fell silent.
Kael waited.
Nothing more came.
“…You enjoy being difficult.” “Immensely.” At least she was smiling again.
That was somehow reassuring.
— The following morning, the Royal Division entered the Hall of Beast Studies considerably quieter than usual.
Professor Selene Mire was already waiting.
Behind her, the crystal screen displayed two images.
A human silhouette.
And a wolf.
This time…
They overlapped.
Not peacefully.
The wolf’s outline appeared to be pushing through the human form.
Rex sat beside Kael.
“I don’t like the picture.” Aria placed her notebook on the desk.
“It’s only a diagram.” “The diagram doesn’t like me either.” Adrian sat on Kael’s other side.
“You survived falling.” “Physically.” Professor Selene tapped the podium.
The room fell silent.
“Yesterday we discussed synchronization.” She looked across the lecture hall.
“Today we discuss what happens when synchronization becomes unbalanced.” The words appeared.
INSTINCT BLEED No one laughed.
— “First…” Selene raised one finger.
“Instinct Bleed is normal.” Several students visibly relaxed.
“Every Beastifier experiences it.” Rex whispered: “That’s somehow worse.” Selene continued.
“Your Beast Soul influences more than your physical form.” “It also influences reflexes.” “Preferences.” “Perception.” “Emotional responses.” The screen changed.
A series of examples appeared.
Predatory Beasts — increased response to rapid movement Prey Beasts — heightened caution toward sudden threats Avian Beasts — increased spatial awareness Aquatic Beasts — altered comfort around water Territorial Beasts — stronger reactions to intrusion Kael read each carefully.
Quetzalcoatlus stirred at the mention of spatial awareness.
Mosasaurus reacted to water.
D-Rex…
Territory.
Of course.
— Selene continued.
“These influences are typically minor.” “A student with a Wolf Beast Soul may become more sensitive to scent.” “A Hawk Beastifier may dislike enclosed spaces.” “A Burrowing Beastifier may find underground environments unusually comfortable.” She smiled.
“One former student with a Winter Bear Beast Soul slept fourteen hours a day during Frost Season.” The room laughed.
Rex raised his hand.
“Could that happen with Stone Bears?” “No.” Rex lowered his hand sadly.
— “But Instinct Bleed becomes dangerous when the Beastifier stops distinguishing impulse from decision.” Selene’s tone became more serious.
The screen displayed a simple sentence.
FEELING IS NOT COMMAND.
“If your Beast Soul reacts aggressively…” “You are not required to attack.” “If it fears something…” “You are not required to run.” “If it desires something…” “You are not required to take it.” Kael stared at the words.
That sounded obvious.
Yet human beings on Earth had failed the same lesson without Beast Souls.
Anger wasn’t permission.
Fear wasn’t truth.
Desire wasn’t justification.
Perhaps Beastification merely made an old human problem more visible.
— A student raised his hand.
“What happens if someone loses control?” Selene did not soften the answer.
“They can hurt people.” The hall became quiet.
“Severe cases may involve temporary loss of judgment during transformation.” “Especially during Half Beastification and Complete Beastification.” The screen showed the transformation path.
Human Partial Beastification Half Beastification Complete Beastification The latter stages glowed brighter.
“The deeper your transformation…” “…the stronger the instinctive influence becomes.” Adrian raised his hand.
“Does higher compatibility make it worse?” “Usually the opposite.” Selene nodded.
“Strong synchronization tends to improve control.” “Instinct Bleed is most dangerous when physical transformation advances faster than mental adaptation.” Kael absorbed that carefully.
That explained why the Academy focused so heavily on fundamentals.
They weren’t delaying power.
They were preparing students to survive it.
— Aria raised her hand.
“Can instincts ever be useful?” Selene smiled.
“Constantly.” The screen changed again.
A bird avoiding an incoming arrow.
A feline Beastifier reacting to movement outside their vision.
A serpent detecting vibrations through the floor.
“Instinct is one reason Beastifiers can perform actions they were never consciously taught.” “Your Beast Soul carries natural responses.” “Balance.” “Hunting.” “Movement.” “Survival.” Kael remembered Quetzalcoatlus’ words.
Instinct remembers what the mind never learned.
The Queen had known exactly what Selene would say.
Probably more.
— “Your goal is not to suppress instinct.” Selene continued.
“Suppression creates its own problems.” “Your goal is integration.” A new sentence appeared.
NOTICE.
UNDERSTAND.
CHOOSE.
“Notice the impulse.” “Understand where it comes from.” “Then choose your action.” Kael read the words again.
Notice.
Understand.
Choose.
Simple.
Difficult.
Useful.
— Professor Selene walked toward the front row.
“Let’s try something.” The room immediately became wary.
She smiled.
“Relax.” “No one is transforming.” That helped slightly.
She touched one of the floating crystals.
A small red ball appeared above her palm.
“Predatory Beast Souls often respond strongly to quick movement.” She tossed the ball suddenly across the room.
Several heads snapped toward it.
A boy near the front half-rose from his seat before catching himself.
Laughter spread around him.
His face reddened.
Selene smiled.
“Exactly.” The boy sat down.
“My Beast Soul is a Marsh Lynx.” “And your body responded before conscious thought.” She pointed toward him.
“Was that dangerous?” “No.” “Was it instinct?” “Yes.” “Did instinct control you?” He shook his head.
“No.” “Good.” — Another demonstration followed.
A sudden metallic sound.
Several prey-type Beastifiers flinched more strongly than others.
Then a bright object moving overhead.
Avian Beastifiers tracked it almost automatically.
Rex laughed until Selene placed a plate of roasted meat beneath a cloth.
His head turned before the cloth was removed.
The entire class exploded.
Rex looked betrayed.
“That’s unfair.” Selene lifted the cloth.
“Stone Bears possess an excellent sense of smell.” Rex stared at the meat.
“Can I have it?” “No.” “Then this lesson is cruel.” — Even Kael laughed.
Then Selene activated another crystal.
A deep sound vibrated through the room.
Low.
Heavy.
Almost like distant footsteps.
Kael’s smile disappeared.
Something inside him moved.
D-Rex.
Not thought.
Not speech.
Instinct.
His spine straightened.
His breathing slowed.
His eyes immediately searched for the source.
Not fear.
Challenge.
A powerful, ancient certainty surged through him.
Something large is near.
Measure it.
Decide whether it belongs.
Kael caught the impulse instantly.
Notice.
Understand.
Choose.
He remained seated.
The sensation passed.
No one seemed to notice.
Except…
Adrian glanced sideways.
Only briefly.
Kael looked back.
Adrian said nothing.
Neither did Kael.
— Selene deactivated the sound.
“Excellent.” She addressed the class.
“That response will become easier to recognize with practice.” Kael’s heartbeat remained calm.
But inside his soul, D-Rex stood tall.
“Challenge.” “It was a crystal.” “Poor challenge.” “That wasn’t the point.” “Then humans waste excellent sounds.” Kael ignored him.
— Professor Selene returned to the podium.
“Your assignment is simple.” Groans appeared immediately.
“Nothing written.” The groans vanished.
“For the next seven days…” “…observe yourselves.” She pointed toward the three words still displayed behind her.
NOTICE.
UNDERSTAND.
CHOOSE.
“When you experience an unusually strong reaction…” “Don’t immediately suppress it.” “Ask why.” “Was it yours?” “Was it influenced by your Beast Soul?” “Was it both?” She paused.
“There is no perfect answer.” “Self-awareness is the exercise.” The bell rang.
Students began closing notebooks.
Selene raised one final finger.
“And before anyone experiments by deliberately provoking their Beast instincts…” Her eyes settled directly on several enthusiastic-looking students.
“…don’t.” Rex slowly lowered his hand.
Adrian stared at him.
“You were going to ask.” “I was curious.” “That’s how tables get broken.” “Why does everyone remember the table?” — The four walked out into the courtyard.
Aria was already writing something.
Rex leaned toward her notebook.
“What are you doing?” “Recording my reactions.” “You already found one?” “Yes.” “What?” She closed the notebook.
“Annoyance.” Rex frowned.
“From your Moon Owl?” Aria looked directly at him.
“No.” Kael laughed.
Adrian did too.
Rex took several seconds to understand.
“That was cruel.” — As they headed toward their next class, Kael looked down at his hand.
Notice.
Understand.
Choose.
Perhaps Instinct Bleed wasn’t the danger he’d imagined.
At least not yet.
But there was one problem Professor Selene’s lesson hadn’t addressed.
Every student here possessed one Beast Soul.
Kael possessed four.
Four sets of instincts.
Four different natures.
Land.
Sea.
Sky.
Death.
And somewhere beneath all of them…
His own human mind.
Ethan Cole.
Kael Draven.
He wasn’t certain where one ended and another began.
Perhaps that was the real lesson waiting for him.
Not learning how to silence the creatures within.
But learning which impulses belonged to them…
And which had always belonged to him.
«End of Chapter 23»