Music for the chapter: Stellar - Ashes
The Shinkyo Wilds stretched endlessly in every direction, its towering trees dense with mist and Aether-rich life. The scent of moss, damp soil, and electric energy hung thick in the air. Instructor Mayu led the group through winding paths with the surety of someone who'd fought and survived here more times than she could count.
"Keep up. Eyes sharp," she said, her voice as clipped and strong as her footfalls. Her half-plate Aether armor shimmered with protective runes, and a pale scar ran from jaw to collarbone, marking her as a veteran. "Now listen closely. You've awakened a bead. That means you're a Jewelmaster. For life. Doesn't matter if you keep advancing or not, your path has already begun."
Aullie walked with Shinku at his side, the cat's form small but ever-watchful. Haru, Sora, and Aki moved around him in a loose formation, comfortable and alert.
"Some of you may think meditating is enough to climb," Mayu continued. "It's not. You want to grow stronger? You need to cultivate Aether, and nothing cultivates faster than battle. One minute of combat can be worth hours of meditation. That's why those who fight the most tend to grow the fastest."
She raised her wrist. Five beads shimmered into view. "To track your progress, summon your beads. If you're close to the next level, you'll see an outline beside the last one. It'll start faint. The more you grow, the more solid it becomes."
Students murmured, many raising their wrists to check.
Aullie waited until no one was looking. He summoned his Void bead, the dark-violet orb pulsing faintly beneath his skin. And just beside it, a shimmering, translucent outline. He was closer than he realized.
He didn't say a word.
Later that afternoon, Aullie and Sora were paired for a scouting perimeter run. The late sun filtered through the canopy above them, casting everything in warm, golden patches. Their footsteps were muffled by fallen leaves.
"Can you believe we're actually doing this?" Sora pushed a low branch out of her way, her dark hair catching the light.
Aullie glanced over at her. "I know, right? Feels like we've been training forever, but now..." He shook his head. "This is just the start of everything."
Sora paused mid-step and turned to face him. She had to tilt her head back slightly to meet his eyes. "You know what though? All that training, all those late nights—I wouldn't change any of it."
A grin spread across Aullie's face. He reached for her hands and started walking backward, tugging her along.
"Same here. And I'm glad it's you I'm doing this with."
He stumbled slightly over a root, laughing. "Aki and Haru included. But don't tell them I said that, they'd never let me hear the end of it."
Sora looked down, a small smile playing at her lips. When she looked back up, her eyes were a little brighter. "That... that really means a lot to me. I feel the same way."
Aullie coughed and looked away. "Well in other news, I have to say, it feels different out here. Like, it's watching us."
"It is." She pointed up. A shape moved high in the trees, sleek, silver-feathered, with wings that shimmered like an ocean in sunlight.
Aullie narrowed his eyes. "Space-type. That shimmer, it's bending the air."
The bird didn't attack. It perched, head tilting, intelligent eyes watching them.
"It's beautiful," Sora murmured. "Almost like it's waiting."
She stepped forward carefully, calming her Aether. Her posture was open, not threatening. She made no attempt to chase it or summon it.
Aullie glanced at her. "You're not trying to bind it?"
"No. If it wants to come to me, it will."
There was a long moment where the forest seemed to still. The space cardinal, a sleek bird with shimmering silver feathers that reflected the light, cocked its head.
Sora lifted her hand slowly. "You feel it too, don't you? Like we've already met."
The cardinal let out a sharp whistle. It circled once, vanished in a flicker of warped space, and reappeared inches above her wrist. Then, with a burst of starlight, it disappeared into her bead. Her wrist glowed with silver light.
Aullie stared, impressed. "That was... graceful."
Sora turned to him, cheeks tinged with a subtle pink. "It felt right; Like I wasn't asking. Just... offering."
Their eyes held for a second longer than normal. Aullie didn't look away.
They slowly started walking to the camp to regroup, but taking their time, just enjoying eachothers company.
Back at camp, Sora described the bond. "It gave me three options. A speed ability that lets me cut through space and move a short distance almost instantly, while short range it's perfect for avoiding hits. Next a binding skill that freezes targets in place for a moment, and last a wing swipe that slices through space itself like a blade."
"Which did you choose?" Aki asked.
"The speed and the binding," Sora said. "Mobility and control."
"No new bead?" Haru asked.
"Beads only come from leveling, that's jewel master 101 Haru" she explained while giving him the side eye
Haru coughed into his fist "I knew that..."
Later, the group stumbled upon a rocky clearing. A massive badger-like creature loomed near a spring, tusks glowing red with fire, fur laced with the earthy sheen of stone. A dual-affinity beast. Fire and earth.
"That thing's a bruiser," Aki muttered, eyes gleaming.
"Level 3," Mayu confirmed. "Be cautious."
"I got this," Aki grinned.
She moved in quickly, fists already glowing with flame as she engaged. The beast growled, its molten tusks blazing as it countered. Aki landed a blow on its shoulder but didn't anticipate the beast's footing, it twisted faster than she expected, using its lower body strength and weight to slam her off-balance.
The swipe came fast.
Aki stumbled back, nearly colliding with a jagged rock formation behind her.
Before she could recover, Haru darted in.
He planted himself between her and the badger. His stance was low and rock solid. The beast roared and charged but Haru didn't budge.
A tusk grazed his side, cutting fabric and skin, but he kept steady and stepped forward to show he won't let it get past him.
The beast froze mid-charge. Its molten eyes locked with Haru's. There was a beat of silence that passed like thunder.
They stared into eachother eyes, the beast then looked at Aki for a second, then back at Haru, eyes narrowed as if in understanding.
Then the creature dropped its head and snorted.
A pulse flickered through Haru's bead, deep brown, laced with red fire.
Bonded.
Aki blinked. "Wait! You bonded it?"
Haru turned, ignoring her question, eyes almost frantic. "Are you okay?!"
She looked away quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bruised ego. Thanks…idiot."
She punched his shoulder, light, but it lingered and then stormed off with her cheeks burning.
Haru stood there for a moment eying her as she walked away, rubbing his arm and smiling softly.
That night, the fire crackled and their group sat quietly around it. Sora painted her fingernails. Aki tossed pebbles at Haru's boots. Aullie fed Shinku small treats from his space ring.
"Two bonds in one day," Haru said. "Not bad."
"I was hoping for it to be three," Aki muttered, her pride still smarting.
"You'll get yours," Sora told her. "Maybe something stronger is waiting."
Mayu added, "Not all bonds are won in battle. Some require timing, patience, presence. Which are things you lacked today, reflect on your mistakes and improve upon them later so you'll be the one getting the bond."
Aullie stared into the fire.
"You're still waiting," Sora said, eyes catching his again.
"Yeah. I'll know when it's the right one."
Shinku curled closer. "You're getting sentimental again. Want me to write you a haiku?"
Aullie hid a smirk and tossed him another treat.
Suddenly strange growls echoed from the woods.
Mayu stood immediately "No one leaves camp. Stay alert." She left to start checking the perimeter
A short time later the growls faded, but not the tension.
Time passed, Aullie rolled around in his sleeping bag unable to sleep, so he decided to get up and walk alone near the camp. The moonlight filtered through the trees like falling silk.
He wandered farther than he intended.
A soft rustle.
A black shape moved through the shadows.
A foxlike beast emerged from the brush. Sleek. Lithe. Its fur shimmered with hues darker than night. One glowing red circle pulsed faintly on its chest.
They stared at one another.
It didn't growl. Didn't lunge.
Just watched.
Aullie didn't move.
"Hey buddy, you're a calm one aren't you?"
The beast haughtily flicked its tail, sniffed, then it turned and vanished. "Not everything in this forest wants to be tamed," Shinku said.
Aullie smirked. "Good. I'm not looking for easy."
The test wasn't over.
Not yet.