Nyx refused breakfast.
Kael stared at the untouched bowl.
Then at Nyx.
Then back at the bowl.
Something was terribly wrong.
“Eat.” Nyx remained curled beside the wall.
The bowl contained fresh Razorhorn meat, one of the few things Kael had discovered Nyx genuinely enjoyed.
Normally, placing it within smelling distance was enough to make the creature abandon whatever it was doing.
Today?
Nothing.
Kael crouched.
“Nyx.” A sleepy irritation brushed against their Soul Pact.
Kael relaxed slightly.
At least the bond felt normal.
He touched Nyx’s exoskeleton.
Warm.
Not feverish.
The black armor had changed during the last three days.
Its body hadn’t grown noticeably since the wilderness assessment, but the exoskeleton was becoming thicker.
The gray ridges inherited from the Stoneback Direwolf were no longer sitting awkwardly over the black plates.
They were merging with them.
Becoming part of a single structure.
“What are you doing?” Nyx raised its elongated head.
One emotion crossed the bond.
Change.
Kael frowned.
“What kind of change?” Nyx stood.
Then vanished into the Beast Space.
Kael immediately followed.
The Pocket World appeared.
The cavern had expanded again.
Black organic structures now covered significant portions of the walls.
They weren’t random anymore.
Curving ridges connected tunnels.
Small channels carried water through the stone.
Nyx didn’t stop.
It moved deeper.
Toward the chamber.
Kael followed.
The mysterious organic room had changed.
The shallow depression in its center was deeper now.
Nyx curled inside it.
“You’re sleeping?” Irritation.
“Fine.” Kael sat nearby.
Nyx closed its mouth.
Within minutes, its presence became quiet.
Not gone.
Resting.
Kael didn’t like it.
The last time his companion had undergone a mysterious biological process, he’d buried its body afterward.
“You’re not doing that again.” No response.
Kael eventually had to leave for the academy.
Unfortunately, Beast Evolution class made his concern worse.
Instructor Mira Vale drew four words across the board.
GROWTH.
MATURATION.
MUTATION.
EVOLUTION.
“Anyone?” Several hands rose.
Mira pointed.
A student answered.
“Growth means getting stronger.” “Too vague.” Another tried.
“Evolution means becoming another species.” “Closer.” Mira turned toward the board.
“Growth is physical development.
A newborn Flame Hound becoming an adult Flame Hound is growth.” She pointed toward the second word.
“Maturation is different.” A diagram appeared.
“Some abilities exist naturally within a beast’s bloodline but remain inaccessible until its body reaches the correct developmental stage.” Kael straightened.
“Maturation doesn’t create those abilities.
It unlocks what was already there.” His thoughts immediately went to Nyx.
Mira continued.
“Mutation changes an existing biological characteristic.
Sometimes beneficial.
Sometimes harmful.” Then the final word.
“Evolution fundamentally changes a beast’s biological state.
Depending on the evolutionary route, this can create an entirely different species.” Kael frowned.
Facehugger.
Nyx.
He had assumed evolution.
But maybe he’d been wrong.
The Facehugger hadn’t evolved.
It had reproduced through another stage of its own life cycle.
And Nyx…
Was still developing.
Kael suddenly realized something uncomfortable.
He hadn’t witnessed Nyx’s true evolution at all.
Finn leaned closer.
“Why are you smiling?” Kael hadn’t realized he was.
“No reason.” “That’s the face you make before something dangerous happens.” “Pay attention.” Mira changed the board.
“Potential classifications.” Ten words appeared.
Common.
Uncommon.
Rare.
Elite.
Lord.
King.
Emperor.
Sovereign.
Mythic.
Primordial.
“Potential is not current strength.” She emphasized the statement.
“A newborn King-potential beast can be killed by an experienced Common beast.” Several students looked surprised.
“Potential represents the heights a beast may naturally reach under favorable development.
Nothing more.” Finn raised his hand.
“Could a Rare beast eventually become Sovereign potential?” “Through evolution?” “Yes.” “Potentially.” Finn immediately grabbed Thunder.
The tiger cub had been sleeping beside his chair.
“Did you hear that?” Thunder opened one eye.
“We’re going to rule the world.” Kael sighed.
“That’s not what she said.” “Don’t crush his dreams.” Thunder licked Finn’s chin.
“See?
He agrees.” Mira ignored them with impressive professionalism.
“Combat rank is separate.” Another list appeared.
Awakened.
Iron.
Bronze.
Silver.
Gold.
Platinum.
Diamond.
Master.
Grandmaster.
Monarch.
“Most of you are currently Awakened.” Her gaze sharpened.
“Do not confuse potential with accomplishment.” Kael liked that.
Potential meant possibility.
Nothing more.
After class came practical testing.
Finn went first.
Thunder placed one paw against the potential crystal.
Light appeared.
Common.
Uncommon.
Then— RARE.
Finn screamed.
“YES!” Everyone turned.
Finn picked Thunder up.
“My son is a genius!” Thunder looked confused.
Kael laughed.
Damian’s Thunder Griffon tested Elite.
Lucian’s Bloodsteel Mantis also tested Elite.
Neither result surprised anyone.
Then Kael’s name was called.
Nyx had returned from the Pocket World reluctantly.
It still seemed tired.
Mira studied it.
“Has its morphology changed again?” “Slightly.” “Interesting.” Kael guided Nyx toward the crystal.
“Touch.” Nyx sniffed it.
Then placed one claw against the surface.
Light spread.
COMMON.
Then— UNCOMMON.
RARE.
ELITE.
The crystal flickered.
LORD.
Kael stopped breathing.
The light changed again.
Symbols blurred.
Then— CRACK.
Everyone jumped.
A fracture split the crystal.
The machine buzzed.
Letters appeared.
UNKNOWN.
Then: BIOLOGICAL PROFILE INCOMPATIBLE.
Silence.
Finn slowly raised his hand.
“…Does Kael owe the academy a crystal?” “Finn.” “I’m just asking.” Mira stared at Nyx.
Not frightened.
Fascinated.
“Extraordinary.” Kael immediately became wary.
“I’d like to perform advanced testing.” “No.” The answer came faster than intended.
Mira looked at him.
Kael softened his tone.
“Sorry.” He touched Nyx.
“It doesn’t like strangers performing invasive examinations.” Nyx hissed quietly.
Mira watched them.
Then nodded.
“Fair.” Kael blinked.
“That’s it?” “A Beast Master’s first responsibility is their beast.” She wrote something on her clipboard.
“If you change your mind, tell me.” Kael relaxed.
Not everyone curious about Nyx was an enemy.
That afternoon, Instructor Hale gathered the first-years.
A ranking board appeared.
1.
Damian Cross.
2.
Lucian Veyr.
3.
Kael Ashborne.
Finn was still twenty-third.
He seemed unusually proud of that.
“Beginning today, the First-Year Ladder is active.” Hale explained the rules.
Students could challenge anyone up to five positions above them.
Victories exchanged rankings.
Higher rankings meant better training facilities, resource allowances and priority for academy expeditions.
Kael looked toward Damian.
Damian was already looking at him.
A faint smile appeared.
Kael smiled back.
Then— “Kael Ashborne.” Someone stepped forward.
A broad-shouldered boy carrying a heavy training staff.
Ronan Kest.
Beside him stood a Graniteback Gorilla.
The beast was enormous.
Even crouched, it reached Kael’s shoulder.
Gray stone armor covered its arms and chest.
“I’m seventh.” Kael nodded.
“I know.” “I want third.” No insult.
No arrogance.
Simple challenge.
Kael liked that.
“Then take it.” Finn leaned toward him.
“Could you occasionally choose peace?” “No.” “I feared that.” The challenge happened that afternoon.
Ronan chose the open arena.
No trees.
No structures.
Almost no shadows.
Finn stared.
“That’s bad.” “Yes.” “You look happy.” Kael rotated his spear.
“Because it’s bad.” Finn frowned.
“You’re becoming weird.” The bell rang.
Ronan moved first.
So did his Gorilla.
Fast.
Far faster than something that size should have been.
Nyx dodged.
A massive fist struck the ground.
BOOM.
Stone cracked.
Kael’s expression changed.
Direct confrontation was impossible.
Move.
Nyx circled.
Ronan charged Kael.
Their weapons collided.
Kael’s arms went numb.
Strength difference.
Significant.
He retreated.
The Gorilla attacked Nyx.
Nyx couldn’t disappear.
No shadows.
No cover.
So Kael changed the plan.
Don’t hide.
Nyx turned toward him.
Hunt with me.
Kael attacked Ronan.
Ronan blocked.
Nyx struck the Gorilla’s knee.
The Gorilla turned.
Kael changed direction.
Nyx retreated.
Ronan attacked.
Kael blocked.
Nyx moved again.
Kael.
Nyx.
Kael.
Nyx.
Two directions.
Two threats.
Ronan realized it.
“Smart.” He changed strategy.
The Gorilla stopped chasing Nyx.
It turned.
Toward Kael.
Kael’s eyes widened.
The beast charged.
Too fast.
Kael tried moving.
Ronan blocked his escape.
The Gorilla raised one enormous fist.
Then Nyx jumped.
“NYX!” BOOM.
The fist struck.
Nyx slammed into the arena floor.
Kael felt pain explode through their bond.
Something inside him went cold.
The Gorilla stepped back.
Nyx lay inside a shallow crater.
Gray-black armor had cracked across its back.
Then its tail moved.
Kael breathed.
Nyx stood.
Slowly.
The cracks were already closing.
Ronan stared.
Even the Gorilla hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Kael looked at Ronan.
His stance had opened.
Kael moved.
Not toward the Gorilla.
Toward the Beast Master.
Ronan reacted.
Too late.
Kael’s spear shaft hooked behind his ankle.
Kael turned his hips exactly as Rowan had drilled into him a hundred times.
He pulled.
Ronan’s own momentum finished the movement.
The larger boy stumbled.
One foot crossed the boundary.
Then the other.
Silence.
Instructor Hale raised his hand.
“Winner.” He looked toward Kael.
“Kael Ashborne.” Kael exhaled.
Nyx immediately approached.
Kael crouched.
“You alright?” Annoyance.
Then pride.
Kael laughed.
“Good.” Ronan returned.
For a moment, Kael wondered whether he was angry.
Instead Ronan extended his hand.
“I thought you were hiding behind that beast.” Kael took it.
Ronan looked toward Nyx.
“Turns out your beast was hiding behind you.” Kael smiled.
“Sometimes.” Later, Lucian was challenged.
His match lasted less than three minutes.
The Bloodsteel Mantis was struck once.
Kael noticed something others apparently didn’t.
Lucian could have prevented it.
He didn’t.
The hit created an opening.
The Mantis took the blow.
Lucian counterattacked.
Victory.
Applause filled the arena.
Kael remained silent.
Lucian looked toward him.
Their eyes met.
Lucian smiled.
Kael didn’t.
That evening, Nyx refused dinner again.
Kael knew immediately.
“Now?” Nyx disappeared.
Kael followed.
The Pocket World felt different.
Nyx entered the organic chamber.
It curled in the center.
Black resin began spreading from the walls.
Kael’s heart jumped.
“No.” Nyx looked toward him.
“You’re not dying again.” Irritation struck their bond.
Kael stopped.
Then laughed.
“Fine.” Nyx lowered its head.
Three emotions came.
Safe.
Change.
Wait.
Kael sat outside the chamber.
“Alright.” The resin slowly enclosed Nyx.
Not completely.
Enough to create a protective shell.
Kael could still feel the bond.
Strong.
Steady.
This time…
He wasn’t afraid.
Well.
Not much.
Hours passed.
Eventually Kael walked beneath the Infinite World Tree.
The second leaf had changed.
The translucent egg beneath it was becoming solid.
Inside the prehistoric world, rain poured.
Creatures moved between enormous trees.
Kael saw long-necked giants in the distance.
Smaller predators darted through vegetation.
Then everything became quiet.
Trees moved.
Something enormous approached.
White-gray scales appeared.
A long arm.
Clawed fingers.
Then a massive head emerged.
Kael stared.
The creature was unlike anything he’d seen.
Huge.
Reptilian.
Scarred.
Intelligent golden eyes studied the jungle.
A predator built from nightmares.
Then it disappeared.
Kael looked toward the forming egg.
“So that’s what you are?” No answer.
The egg pulsed.
Behind him— CRACK.
Kael spun.
The sound had come from Nyx’s chamber.
A fracture appeared across the hardened resin.
At the same moment…
The Jurassic egg pulsed again.
Thump.
Kael felt Nyx.
Thump.
He felt something from the second leaf.
Two heartbeats.
One familiar.
One unknown.
One companion changing.
Another waiting.
Kael stood between the two leaves of the Infinite World Tree.
Slowly…
He smiled.
“Alright.” Another crack spread across Nyx’s chamber.
“Let’s see what comes next.”