Morning sunlight filtered through the mountain forest.
Lyra awoke to the sound of birds singing.
For a brief moment, she wondered if the glowing book from the previous night had been a dream.
Then she saw it.
The old leather-bound Codex rested quietly on the wooden table.
Its cover shimmered faintly.
The silver fox she had rescued the day before bounded happily around the cottage, its injured leg completely healed.
"You healed fast," Lyra laughed.
The fox rubbed its head against her hand before darting outside.
The elderly man watched from the doorway.
"It chose to stay."
Lyra looked surprised.
"I thought wild beasts always returned to the forest."
"They do."
"Unless they decide someone is worth following."
The Codex slowly opened by itself.
Golden letters appeared across the first page.
First Trial
Earn your first true Beast Bond.
Conditions:
No force.
No fear.
No commands.
Only trust.
Reward:
Unknown.
Lyra frowned.
"That's it?"
The old man chuckled.
"If the Codex gave easy answers, every king would own one."
Before she could ask another question...
A loud horn echoed from the nearby village.
Smoke rose above the trees.
Villagers began shouting.
"Wolves!"
"A beast attack!"
Lyra immediately ran toward the sound.
The silver fox raced beside her.
At the edge of the village, panic had erupted.
A massive black wolf stood in the square.
Its fur was covered in deep wounds.
An iron trap clung tightly to one of its legs.
The frightened animal snarled as villagers surrounded it with spears.
"It's dangerous!"
"Kill it before it attacks!"
Lyra looked into the wolf's eyes.
She saw no hatred.
Only pain.
She stepped forward.
"No!"
The villagers stared at her.
"It isn't hunting us."
"It's terrified."
An old hunter shook his head.
"If you go closer, you'll die."
Ignoring the warnings, Lyra slowly knelt several metres away.
She remembered the old wooden whistle.
Gently, she lifted it to her lips.
A soft, familiar melody floated through the air.
The black wolf stopped growling.
Its ears twitched.
The villagers lowered their weapons in confusion.
Slowly...
The wolf limped toward Lyra.
Every step was filled with pain.
When it finally reached her, it lowered its head.
Without fear, Lyra carefully opened the iron trap.
Blood stained her hands.
"It's all right," she whispered.
"You're safe now."
The wolf gently licked her hand.
A warm golden light surrounded them.
The Codex glowed brightly.
Beast Bond Formed
Species:
Shadow Wolf
Name:
Umbra
Rank:
Rare
Bond Quality:
Perfect
Reason:
Trust freely given.
The golden light spread through the village.
The wolf's wounds healed before everyone's eyes.
The villagers fell silent.
The old hunter slowly lowered his spear.
"We nearly killed a creature that only needed help..."
High above the clouds...
Pyron watched through a curtain of golden flames.
He smiled proudly.
"The next Beast Sovereign has taken her first step."
Far away, beneath the World Root, the remaining Guardians opened their eyes one by one.
A new journey had truly begun.