The morning air was unusually quiet.
Karl stood at the balcony just outside his dorm, looking out over Veyhelm as the sunlight spilled across its layered districts. The city's brilliance couldn't calm what churned inside him.
Even though Raiven hadn't spoken since yesterday's incident, Karl could still feel him. Silent, watching. Like a sentry in the shadows.
But Raiven wasn't the only one.
Something else stirred in his chest now — heavier, more ancient. A weight that didn't watch from beside him… but within.
"You heard it too," Karl thought.
"That roar… it came from me."
"Not from you," Raiven answered, his voice calm. "But through you."
Karl exhaled slowly.
Today wouldn't be quiet.
Far beneath the Academy towers, behind arcanized doors no student knew existed, instructors and veiled observers reviewed a flickering glyph projection.
In it: Karl's summoning. The double-circle flare. The red flash. The dragon's pulse.
Instructor Renia stood with her arms folded as the recording played back in loops. Her jaw tightened every time the inner ring changed color.
"This isn't a wild manifestation. It's structured. Intentional."
From the shadows, a woman in veiled robes — a Seer — stepped forward.
"The dragon inside him is not sleeping. It's waiting. And when it rises, it will not do so quietly."
A long silence followed.
Then a man's voice, one of the higher directors:
"Prepare for soul evaluation. We need to know exactly what he's carrying… before it decides to wake up on its own."
Meanwhile, Karl headed to the top-tier arena with Kael and Nyra beside him. The floating platform shimmered under the morning sun, its outer barrier humming with protective glyphs.
Today's class: Multi-Racial Combat Formations.
A monthly mixed-race combat trial where students were shuffled into unpredictable teams — and observed under pressure.
Kael nudged Karl with an elbow.
"You alright? You look like you're already preparing your funeral speech."
Karl smirked faintly.
"I just don't want to catch fire again."
Nyra twirled a dagger between her fingers.
"Then don't burn the floor. We kind of like walking on it."
They laughed.
Then the air shifted.
And everyone turned.
She entered like silence made manifest.
A figure in silver-trimmed robes stepped onto the field — tall, poised, and seemingly untouched by the chatter around her.
Her name lit up on the glyph board overhead:
Aeris Valea
Whispers swept through the class.
"That's her?"
"The heir of House Valea."
"Syltharien royalty."
"Her Soulbind's said to be older than most kingdoms."
Her hair shimmered like moonlight caught in motion, cascading down her back in silken waves. Her eyes — luminous gold — scanned the students, her expression unreadable.
Then her gaze found Karl.
And didn't leave.
Not for a breath. Not for a heartbeat.
Just one look.
But he felt it — not like scrutiny… like recognition.
Instructor Masek clapped his hands together, breaking the tension.
"Alright, stars and seeds — form your groups. You'll be randomly assigned by the Circle."
The arena glyphs began shifting, pairing students in real-time.
Karl saw his name.
Then Kael. Nyra.
And beside it—
Aeris Valea.
Kael let out a soft gasp.
"Oh no. We got the moon princess."
Nyra folded her arms.
"Play nice. Or she might accidentally bury you in vines."
Aeris joined their team without greeting.
She simply stood at Karl's left side, her gaze flicking across the formation ring.
"I don't waste time with pleasantries," she said calmly. "Just follow orders, and no one gets scorched."
Kael blinked.
"Nice to meet you too."
Karl didn't say anything.
But Raiven stirred at his side.
"She's more than she seems."
"You know her?"
"I know her Soulbind."
Instructor Masek began the round.
"Each group must disable their assigned illusion construct using their Soulbinds and cooperation. The illusions are aggressive. I recommend not dying."
Then the arena glyphs ignited.
Before the battle started, Aeris raised her hand.
Her Soulbind arrived not with a shimmer…
But a descent.
A glowing stag stepped through the air, its hooves never touching stone. Its antlers arched like branches kissed by starlight, and its form pulsed with life-magic and wisdom.
It was beautiful.
And then — it spoke.
"So this is the one chosen by the Veil."
Kael's jaw dropped.
"It… it talks?"
Nyra blinked.
"Okay, show-off mode activated."
Karl remained still.
Then Raiven's shadow rippled beside him — sharp, silent, graceful. Two glowing eyes opened.
"Thalorien," Raiven said. "Still clinging to your vines?"
"And you're still hiding in shadows," the stag replied. "We never did finish our last debate."
"You lost," Raiven growled.
Aeris arched an eyebrow.
"Seems our Soulbinds have history."
Karl met her gaze.
"Seems like we inherited it."
The trial began.
Kael surged forward, lightning-imbued fists smashing against the first illusion beast. Nyra vanished into smoke, daggers flying toward pressure points.
Aeris summoned radiant arrows with a flick of her fingers, launching them with impossible speed and precision.
And Karl…
Karl held his position.
He called Raiven, sent him forward to strike from the shadows, cloaking Kael from an incoming beam.
The synergy between them was flawless.
Until—
The dragon stirred.
Karl felt it.
A heat that didn't belong to frost. A pressure that didn't obey his thoughts.
The mark on his chest flared, and so did the glyph under his feet.
The cold he summoned turned into plasma — red, violent, crackling.
The floor fractured beneath his boots.
Raiven growled, stepping in front of him.
"Suppress it. Now."
Karl gasped, trying to reel it back — but the glyphs turned crimson.
A second glyph ring appeared below him.
A growl echoed — not from Raiven.
From within.
The dragon was awakening.
Students backed up. Masek raised a shield dome. The stag moved to protect Aeris, his antlers glowing with radiant runes.
Karl clenched his jaw.
"Not now…"
He gripped his wrist, channeling mana into suppression — and the mark dimmed. The fire died. The glyph faded.
But not before everyone saw it.
Not before they heard the second roar.
When the smoke cleared, Karl stood panting.
Kael stared at him.
"Dude… what was that?"
Nyra's voice was quieter.
"It wasn't Raiven."
Aeris stepped closer.
Her eyes weren't fearful.
They were… curious.
"There's a second beast," she said. "You're bonded to something else."
Karl didn't answer.
Raiven materialized beside him, his fur rippling like a storm.
"The dragon's hunger grows. We need to prepare… or he'll burn through you."
Karl closed his eyes.
"Then let's prepare."