Soren woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the dorm door.
Not politely.
Not gently.
More like someone trying to break in.
He jolted upright, clutching the fox like a teddy bear. "Kael?! Aldric?! Lira?! Someone's dying!"
Kael opened the door.
No one was dying.
It was worse.
Commander Arcturus stood in the hallway.
Soren squeaked and immediately tried to hide under his blanket.
Kael dragged him out by the ankle. "Get up."
"I don't want to!"
"You don't have a choice."
Arcturus stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a thundercloud. "Get dressed. All of you. The Inner Division evaluation begins in one hour."
Soren's soul left his body. "ONE HOUR?!"
Aldric groaned from his bed. "Why so early."
Lira was already dressed, frost‑wolf sitting elegantly beside her. "We should have expected this."
Soren clutched the fox tighter. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Arcturus's gaze landed on Soren. "Vale."
Soren squeaked. "Yes?"
"Your fox's evolution has drawn attention."
Soren blinked. "Attention from who?"
Arcturus didn't answer.
He simply turned and left.
Soren stared at the door. "That's not ominous at all."
Kael tossed him his uniform. "Get ready."
"I'm not ready."
"Try."
"I can't."
"You can."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
They walked across the academy grounds toward the Inner Division hall — a towering structure of white stone and silver runes. Students whispered as they passed.
"That's him."
"The fox kid."
"He beat a Titan Construct."
"He screamed the whole time."
"He fainted afterward."
"He's still alive somehow."
Soren covered his face. "I want to go home."
Aldric smirked. "Too late."
Lira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ignore them."
Kael nodded. "Focus."
Soren whimpered. "I'm trying."
The fox nuzzled his cheek.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I'm trying harder."
Inside the hall, the atmosphere changed instantly.
The air was colder.
Sharper.
Heavier.
Rows of elite students stood in formation, their beasts beside them — larger, stronger, more refined than anything Soren had seen in the Outer Division.
A massive armored bear.
A floating crystal serpent.
A winged panther with silver feathers.
A wolf made of pure lightning.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
A figure stepped forward.
Instructor Seraphine.
Her phoenix perched on her arm, feathers glowing like embers.
"Welcome," she said, voice echoing through the hall. "You have been invited to the Inner Division evaluation. Only those who demonstrate exceptional potential will be accepted."
Soren raised his hand. "Can I not demonstrate anything?"
Kael pushed his hand down.
Seraphine continued, "This evaluation will test your control, your instincts, and your bond."
Soren whispered, "I have panic. Does that count?"
Aldric muttered, "Barely."
Seraphine's gaze swept the room.
Then landed on Soren.
He froze.
"Vale," she said. "Step forward."
Soren squeaked. "Why me?!"
Kael nudged him. "Go."
"I don't want to!"
"Go."
Soren stumbled forward, fox perched on his shoulder like a glowing ornament.
Seraphine studied him. "Your performance in the Trials was… unconventional."
Soren nodded rapidly. "I'm sorry."
"It was not a complaint."
Soren blinked. "It wasn't?"
"No."
The phoenix tilted its head, studying the fox.
The fox chirped.
The phoenix chirped back.
Soren whispered, "They're talking. They're talking about me. I'm scared."
Seraphine raised a hand.
A circle of runes lit up beneath Soren's feet.
He screamed. "WHAT DID I DO?!"
"Calm yourself," Seraphine said. "This is a compatibility test."
"I'M NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANYTHING!"
The fox hopped down and sat in the center of the circle.
The runes brightened.
A soft hum filled the air.
Seraphine's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting."
Soren panicked. "Interesting good or interesting bad?!"
"Interesting rare."
Soren fainted.
Again.
Kael sighed. "He'll be fine."
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Pathetic."
Lira smiled softly. "Expected."
The fox hopped onto Soren's chest and chirped.
Seraphine nodded. "When he wakes, inform him that he passed the first stage."
Kael blinked. "Already?"
"Yes."
Aldric frowned. "Why?"
Seraphine looked at the fox.
"Because his bond is unlike anything we've seen in years."
The fox chirped proudly.
Soren groaned from the floor. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped louder.
And the Inner Division watched the boy who fainted his way into passing the first stage.