Participant Number One stepped onto the central platform with trembling legs.
She looked no older than Kael, though fear made her seem younger.
Her fingers clutched the sides of her white ceremonial uniform, and her eyes remained fixed on the Awakening Pillar standing beneath the enormous crystal.
The Hall had returned to normal.
The ancient runes moved quietly across the walls.
The suspended Awakening Crystal once again contained countless points of light, like stars trapped beneath glass.
There was no sign that it had reacted to Kael earlier.
No proof that something inside it had looked back at him.
But the unease remained.
Deep within his soul, the Four Sovereigns had become watchful.
The examiner approached the girl.
“State your name.” She swallowed.
“Emily Hart.” “Place your hand upon the Awakening Pillar.” Emily took a slow breath and pressed her palm against the crystal.
For two seconds, nothing happened.
Then silver light flowed from the pillar and surrounded her body.
Emily cried out as her feet rose slightly from the platform.
Glowing lines traveled beneath her skin, gathering around her heart before spreading through her limbs.
Her body began to change.
Small silver antlers grew from her forehead.
Her ears lengthened and shifted upward.
Soft pale fur appeared along her arms, while her legs became more slender and powerful.
Flowers bloomed across the surface of the platform wherever her feet touched it.
She had not completed a full transformation.
The Awakening Ceremony only triggered a brief instinctive partial Beastification, enough for the crystal to identify the awakened species and elemental affinity.
Words appeared across the holographic display.
«BEAST SOUL: SILVERLEAF DEER CLASSIFICATION: RARE ELEMENTAL AFFINITY: NATURE INITIAL COMPATIBILITY: 73%» The silver light faded.
Emily slowly returned to her human form.
The antlers dissolved into particles.
The fur withdrew beneath her skin.
Applause filled the Hall.
Emily’s family rose from their seats, shouting her name.
Tears gathered in the girl’s eyes as she stared at the results.
“A Rare-ranked Beast Soul,” one participant whispered.
“With a Nature affinity,” another replied.
“She could become a healer.” The examiner smiled.
“Your awakening is complete.
Report to the stabilization chamber before attempting another transformation.” Emily bowed repeatedly before leaving the platform.
Kael watched her go.
The happiness on her face was real.
For one moment, he forgot the danger hidden inside his own soul.
Awakening was not only about armies, nobles, or strength.
For many people, it was the first chance to build a better future.
“Participant Number Two.” The ceremony continued.
One by one, teenagers stepped forward and discovered the beasts they could become.
A boy awakened an Ironback Boar.
During his instinctive Beastification, his shoulders expanded, coarse fur covered his back, and two short tusks emerged from his mouth.
A nervous girl awakened a Blue-Eyed Owl.
Her pupils widened until they nearly filled her eyes, while soft feathers appeared around her temples and forearms.
Another participant awakened a Common-ranked Field Mouse.
His transformation was minor.
His ears became rounder, his senses sharpened, and a thin tail grew behind him before disappearing when the ceremony ended.
The applause for him was noticeably quieter.
Kael saw the boy lower his head.
His parents still cheered.
Loudly.
That made Kael smile.
Headmaster Graves had said that a Beast Soul did not determine a person’s worth, but the world did not always agree.
Beastification influenced almost every part of life on Eryndor.
Education.
Employment.
Military service.
Marriage.
Social standing.
Even where a person was permitted to live.
A Common-ranked Beast Soul did not make someone useless, but it placed limits upon their future before they had even taken their first step.
Kael understood that kind of world.
Earth had used money, family names, and social class.
Eryndor used Beast Souls.
Different tools.
The same judgment.
The Queen stirred within him.
You understand.
I understand that the world is imperfect.
Weakness invites suffering.
Sometimes.
Always.
Kael did not respond.
The ceremony moved quickly.
Each participant required only a few minutes.
The pillar stimulated the newly awakened Beast Core, caused a brief partial transformation, and measured the connection between the human body and the Beast Soul.
Most awakenings were Common or Rare.
Elite-ranked Beast Souls appeared occasionally, earning louder cheers.
The first Royal-ranked awakening occurred at Participant Number Eighty-Three.
A tall girl with short silver hair walked onto the platform without the slightest sign of nervousness.
“State your name.” “Aria West.” Whispers spread through the Hall.
“The West family?” “The technology company?” “I heard her mother created the first portable Beast Core stabilizer.” Aria ignored them.
She placed her hand against the Awakening Pillar.
Violet lightning erupted around her body.
Metallic plates formed over her shoulders and arms.
Her fingers lengthened into silver claws, while two flexible tails grew from the base of her spine.
Her eyes narrowed into the pupils of a predator.
The transformation looked feline, but the metallic armor made it seem almost mechanical.
The display updated.
«BEAST SOUL: ARCANE STEEL LYNX CLASSIFICATION: ROYAL ELEMENTAL AFFINITY: METAL AND LIGHTNING INITIAL COMPATIBILITY: 89%» The Hall exploded with applause.
Even Headmaster Graves leaned forward.
“Dual elemental affinity.” “And nearly ninety percent compatibility.” “She’ll enter the Royal Class.” Aria slowly returned to human form.
Unlike Emily, she did not cry or celebrate.
She examined her hands as the last metallic scales disappeared, her expression filled with concentration rather than joy.
Interesting, Kael thought.
Most people saw their Beast Soul as destiny.
Aria appeared to see a problem waiting to be understood.
As she left the platform, her gaze moved across the waiting participants.
For one brief moment, she looked directly at Kael.
She paused.
Then continued walking.
Kael frowned.
Had she sensed something?
No.
That should have been impossible.
The Sovereigns remained hidden inside him, and the Queen was buried even deeper.
Still, Kael remembered the sharpness in Aria’s eyes.
He decided not to underestimate her.
“Participant Number One Hundred and Twelve.” A broad-shouldered boy named Rex Hollow stepped onto the platform.
The moment he touched the pillar, gray energy spread across his body.
His arms expanded until they were nearly twice their original size.
Stone-like armor covered his chest, shoulders, and fists.
His face grew heavier, and dark fur appeared along his neck.
«BEAST SOUL: STONEHIDE GORILLA CLASSIFICATION: ELITE ELEMENTAL AFFINITY: EARTH INITIAL COMPATIBILITY: 87%» Rex looked down at his transformed arms.
Then he grinned.
Instead of waiting for the energy to fade naturally, he flexed.
Both sleeves exploded.
The medical staff shouted at him.
Rex stared at his ruined ceremonial uniform.
“Worth it.” The audience laughed.
Even Kael did.
There was something refreshingly honest about the boy.
He awakened a powerful transformation and immediately used it to destroy his clothing.
No political calculation.
No speech.
Just enthusiasm and terrible judgment.
“Participant Number One Hundred and Forty-Six.” A thin boy with messy brown hair walked onto the platform.
He looked so nervous that he nearly tripped.
“State your name.” “L-Liam Frost.” The examiner waited.
Liam stared back.
“Your hand,” she reminded him.
“Oh.
Right.” Several people laughed.
Liam’s face turned red as he placed his palm against the pillar.
At first, only a faint blue light appeared.
Then the temperature inside the Hall dropped.
Frost spread across the platform.
Liam’s body grew taller and broader.
White fur covered his arms and shoulders.
His ears sharpened, his nails became claws, and six short horns emerged from his forehead in a crown-like pattern.
Freezing mist escaped his mouth with every breath.
The air around him cracked.
«BEAST SOUL: SIX-HORNED WINTER WARG CLASSIFICATION: ROYAL ELEMENTAL AFFINITY: ICE BLOODLINE VARIATION DETECTED INITIAL COMPATIBILITY: 92%» The Hall went silent for half a second.
Then the applause became deafening.
“Bloodline variation?” “That means his Beast Form can evolve!” “Ninety-two percent compatibility!” “Who is that boy?” Liam stared at his transformed hands in disbelief.
The examiner congratulated him, but he appeared unable to hear her.
As the partial Beastification faded, two medical assistants guided him away.
He passed close to Kael.
“Mom is going to faint,” Liam whispered to himself.
Kael smiled.
He had a feeling they would meet again.
The Queen hissed quietly.
Too trusting.
He has done nothing.
Neither had the hospital receptionist.
Kael’s expression hardened.
That was not the same.
To the Queen, perhaps it was.
The ceremony continued.
Hours passed.
Food and water were distributed to those still waiting.
Families moved in and out of the audience section while recording drones circled above the platform.
Because Eryndor’s days lasted thirty-six hours, ceremonies of this length were considered normal.
Kael considered them cruel.
No event needed to last this long.
By Participant Number Three Hundred, the atmosphere had changed.
The early excitement had become nervous pressure.
Those still waiting had watched hundreds of people receive their futures.
Some whispered prayers.
Some paced.
One boy vomited into a ceremonial flowerpot.
Adrian Vale remained perfectly composed.
He stood near the front of the remaining group, occasionally glancing toward the private balcony occupied by House Vale.
Kael followed his gaze.
A middle-aged man wearing silver armor sat there.
A red cape covered one shoulder, and a golden badge marked him as a royal officer.
Adrian’s father, most likely.
The man did not smile.
He watched his son the way a merchant might inspect an investment.
Kael knew that expression.
He had seen it on adults visiting Saint Marrow’s.
What can this child provide me?
For the first time, Kael felt a small amount of sympathy for Adrian.
Not enough to like him.
But enough to understand him.
“Participant Number Three Hundred and Eighty-Nine.” Adrian straightened.
His companions immediately moved aside.
He walked onto the platform with his chin raised.
The whispers began before he reached the pillar.
“That’s Adrian Vale.” “His grandfather could transform into a Crimson Griffin.” “His father has a Firemane Lion Beast Soul.” “House Vale hasn’t produced a Common-ranked Beast Form in six generations.” The examiner regarded him seriously.
“State your name.” “Adrian Vale, heir of House Vale.” The announcement was unnecessary, but Adrian delivered it as though the Hall had been waiting for it.
He placed his hand against the pillar.
Red light burst outward.
His body expanded.
Dark red fur covered his chest and shoulders, while a flaming mane formed around his neck.
Golden armor-like scales appeared across his arms, and two curved horns grew from his forehead.
Adrian opened his mouth.
A roar shook the chamber.
Heat rolled across the Hall, forcing the examiners to activate protective barriers.
«BEAST SOUL: CROWNED INFERNO LION CLASSIFICATION: ROYAL ELEMENTAL AFFINITY: FIRE INHERITED BLOODLINE: HOUSE VALE INITIAL COMPATIBILITY: 94%» The audience erupted.
House Vale’s balcony remained restrained, but Kael saw Adrian’s father nod once.
Approval.
Nothing more.
Adrian stared at his transformed arms.
For the first time since Kael had met him, the arrogance disappeared.
He looked relieved.
Deeply relieved.
Kael understood.
Adrian had not been confident.
He had been terrified of failing.
When the transformation faded, Adrian turned toward the waiting participants.
His gaze found Kael.
He smiled.
It was not friendly.
The meaning was clear.
Beat that.
Kael almost laughed.
He had no desire to compete with him.
The beings inside his soul felt differently.
D-Rex opened one golden eye.
A lion calls itself crowned?
Mosasaurus moved beneath black water.
A cub roaring inside walls built by others.
Quetzalcoatlus shifted within the storm.
It has never seen a true sky.
Kael rubbed his temple.
Please remain quiet.
D-Rex growled.
Let me answer its challenge.
Absolutely not.
One claw.
No.
Half a claw.
No.
The Queen laughed behind her chains.
Children.
For once, Kael agreed with her.
Adrian left the platform.
The ceremony continued.
Seven hundred participants became seven hundred and twenty.
Then seven hundred and fifty.
Kael’s heartbeat remained steady, but his palms had begun to sweat.
He took Noah’s wooden car from his pocket and turned it between his fingers.
One wheel was slightly larger than the others.
Just like Milo’s.
Noah had made it unintentionally.
Or perhaps fate possessed a cruel sense of humor.
Kael looked toward his family.
Noah stood on his chair, waving both arms.
Lyra tried to pull him down.
Elara watched Kael with a soft smile, though worry remained visible in her eyes.
Marcus gave him a single nod.
You are a Draven.
Kael closed his hand around the toy.
The Queen’s voice entered his mind.
We can still leave.
No.
The crystal is already watching.
Then we hide.
Can you hide all of you?
A pause followed.
The Queen rarely hesitated.
I can hide what the world is not prepared to understand.
“And what will it see?” Kael asked silently.
What it expects.
The other three Sovereigns became restless.
D-Rex hated concealment.
Mosasaurus disliked surrendering control.
Quetzalcoatlus despised confinement.
But none of them objected.
Not this time.
“Participant Number Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six.” The boy ahead of Kael awakened a Rare-ranked Bronze Shell Turtle.
During the brief transformation, bronze plates covered his back and forearms before withdrawing again.
Polite applause followed.
Then the examiner checked the final number.
The Awakening Crystal pulsed.
Softly.
The runes surrounding it changed direction.
Most people did not notice.
Headmaster Graves did.
The old man’s eyes narrowed.
Kael placed Noah’s wooden car back in his pocket.
The three Sovereigns rose within his soul.
D-Rex planted its feet upon ancient earth.
Mosasaurus opened its jaws beneath a violent sea.
Quetzalcoatlus spread its wings across endless clouds.
Behind them, the Queen pulled once against her chains.
The examiner raised her voice.
“Participant Number Seven Hundred and Seventy-Seven.” Kael stepped forward.
“Kael Draven.” For one instant, Noah’s voice rose from the audience.
“YOU CAN DO IT, BIG BROTHER!” Kael smiled.
Then he walked toward the pillar.
With each step, the humming inside the Hall grew louder.
The lights flickered.
Headmaster Graves slowly rose from his seat.
The examiner looked toward the crystal in confusion.
Kael reached the center of the platform.
The pillar stood before him.
Clear.
Silent.
Waiting.
“Place your hand upon the Awakening Pillar.” Kael lifted his arm.
Deep within his soul, the Queen whispered one final warning.
Do not resist me.
Kael’s fingers touched the crystal.
Every light in New Haven went dark.
And inside his soul, four Beast Forms opened their eyes.
«End of Chapter 5»