Kelvin, Lyra and Darius sat huddled around a scarred oak table in the library with their beasts resting nearby—Xerion's obsidian scales shimmered faintly outside the window, Avian Salaris perched on a high ledge and Rhoam sprawled across the floor, his iron-like plates clinked with each slow breath.
Kelvin leaned back in his chair with his gauntlet warm against his wrist, its sigil thrummed as he reviewed a scroll on soulstream legacy from Master Veyne's collection.
The victory in the Eternal Vault had been a triumph of heritage, but the Inner Sanctum's gaze was a constant pressure, demanding they refine their bonds with every heartbeat.
His mind drifted to his own progress, a quiet ache of uncertainty beneath his resolve. Back in when he first checked his awakened bond, his stats had been raw, unpolished:
Tamer Rank: Novice (Unranked)
Beast Rank: SSS-Class (Mythic-Class) - Xerion, The End-Tyrant
Bond Strength: Harmonized Bond (Moderate Stability)
