Arie sat quietly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Durga walked over, gently placing her hand on Arie's head.
**Durga:**
"Arie, show me your Beast Spirit and weapon form."
Arie nodded and summoned her Granth. A radiant **Light Dragon** emerged, majestic and divine, glowing with overwhelming aura. Twin swords appeared in her hands—their hilts shaped like ancient celestial dragons.
Durga's eyes widened in shock.
**Durga:**
"Child… this is no ordinary Granth. It's the legendary Granth of **Kal Bhag**, the first being to ever become a Beast Knight. These are the **Divine Dragon Swords**—said to have once sealed the Monster God himself."
She paused, trembling slightly.
**Durga (softly):**
"This Granth disappeared ages ago. Wars were fought over it. Even emperors failed to awaken it. And now… it has chosen you. Your fate is extraordinary."
**Arie:**
"But… why me?"
**Durga:**
"I don't know how it came to you, but it resonates with your spirit. You possess both beast affinity and spiritual energy. If you work hard, you can walk both paths—a **dual cultivator**, rare and revered."
She stepped back, her eyes growing somber.
**Durga:**
"As for your mother… she may still be alive. She wasn't killed, but taken—by a rogue knight. We don't yet know who. But once Rudra's grandfather returns, we will uncover the truth."
Arie trembled as childhood memories flashed—her mother's kind smile… then the vision of her bloodstained home. Her hands clenched into fists.
**Arie:**
"I'll find out the truth. I will save her."
---
## 🌄 Mission Invitation
Suddenly, **Kin** approached the group.
**Kin:**
"Naran, Arie... I've been called to join a mission with the Inner Academy team. They requested three freshman students to come along. You two are free. It could be a great start for your Beast Knight path. Plus, you'll earn **medicoins** as reward and gain battle experience before the freshman tournament."
**Naran:**
"What about the third student? Should we ask Rudra?"
**Kin:**
"Rudra? He won't come. He always refuses."
**Arie:**
"Why is he always so rude?"
Durga gave a sad smile.
**Durga:**
"He's not rude. He's just broken... Three years ago, he was a cheerful seven-year-old boy. But then tragedy struck—and no one was there for him. His parents were too busy defending the empire to even visit him for two years."
She looked away, eyes filled with sorrow.
**Durga (whispers):**
"If you had seen what I saw that day… You'd understand. He was lying there—bleeding out, barely breathing. That sight still haunts me."
Gator Yan frowned.
**Gator Yan:**
"We had no choice back then. The empire was in crisis. We had to prioritize—"
**Durga (angrily):**
"Spare me. If you saw your child like I saw mine... your soul would break."
She turned away, tears streaming down her face.
**Supra Yan:**
"Mother in law" what happened exactly? Tell us—"
**Durga:**
"Ask his grandfather when he returns."
With that, she vanished, her presence fading into the wind.
Gator yan looked at kin
**Kin:**
"I don't know the full story either...
Anyway, arie and naran if you're interested, meet me tomorrow morning at the Academy gates."
As Kin left, **Supra Yan** handed two **Spiritual Granths** to Arie.
**Supra Yan:**
"Study these tonight. They'll help you on tomorrow's mission."
---
## 🌙 Midnight Practice
That night, Rudra was alone on the training ground.
He gripped his spear tightly, slashing through the air. With every swing, his elemental energy—**lightning and fire**—surged and crackled. Each strike was focused and sharp, forming waves of elemental force.
Above, two students observed from the rooftop.
**Mo:**
"Moro… come look at this."
**Moro:**
"That's Rudra, right? I heard he's got dual elements. But… he's just practicing."
**Mo:**
"Look again. He's using his elements mid-slash. And they're... controlled. Really controlled."
**Moro (watching):**
"Wait... that's not normal. Those slashes are packed with real Beast Knight-level energy."
On the ground, Rudra channeled both elements into his spear and performed a **horizontal slash**.
**BOOM!**
A nearby boulder shattered.
Both Mo and Moro were stunned.
**Moro:**
"That power… It's incredible."
**Mo:**
"Yeah. He's not even using formal techniques, but his control is insane..."
**Rudra (calmly):**
"Thanks for the compliment."
They jumped. Neither of them had sensed him approaching.
**Mo:**
"You—!? When did you—"
**Rudra:**
"I'm Rudra, Freshmen Academy student."
**Mo (grinning):**
"I'm Mo. This is my sister, Moro. We're Inner Academy students. We've got a mission tomorrow. There's already one Outer and two Freshmen in the squad."
**Moro:**
"We saw you practicing. Honestly, you're stronger than most outer students."
**Mo:**
"You interested in joining us? It's a **hunting mission**."
Rudra paused briefly,
then nodded.
**Rudra:**
"I'm in. What time?"
**Moro:**
"Tomorrow morning. Get ready. We're gonna make some noise."
---
✅ *To Be Continued...*