Chapter 2: The Divine Beast's Bond
The manor's skies were split with storm clouds by morning.
A serpent's awakening—especially one like that—was no small event in the Feral Lands.
Evan stood in the middle of the ruined ceremonial hall, surrounded by noble elders, beast scholars, and trembling officials. The shattered pedestal where the egg once sat lay in pieces. Black mist still clung to the air like ghostly ash.
Nex curled behind him, silent and still, eyes half-lidded like a predator at rest. Yet every movement from the others was made with terrified caution—none dared step closer.
A court mage in crimson robes muttered as he circled Evan from a distance, runes glowing on his staff.
"No mistake," the mage finally said, voice tight. "The bond is sealed. The Basilisk is not just Divine. Its mana signature contains echoes… of something far older."
Duke Leonis stood tall beside his son, arms crossed. His expression betrayed nothing. But Evan could feel the way the air around his father tensed.
"A reincarnated Basilisk… one that speaks in tongues no scholar has heard in centuries," whispered a white-bearded elder. "And it chose him."
Evan tuned them out. His focus remained inward.
Since the bond, his thoughts weren't entirely his own. In the back of his mind, Nex coiled like a second soul—quiet, watchful, ancient.
You hear me clearly now, Master.
Do not fear the voices. We are one.
You carry more than you know.
I didn't ask to carry anything, Evan thought.
But he didn't say it aloud.
He stood there, composed, face unreadable—like the noble child they believed him to be. Yet inside, the memories of a different life simmered. A life that ended in betrayal and cold silence. One where trust was a weakness, and power came too late.
Now, he had a second chance. And this time… he had power first.
Hours Later – The Ritual Grounds Beneath House Rochel
In the depths of the ancestral crypt beneath the mansion, a silver pool of enchanted water glowed.
Evan stood shirtless at the edge, the Basilisk's sigil gleaming on his back like burning ink. His father stood nearby, alongside two beast masters bearing tomes and seals.
"It's tradition," Duke Leonis said. "The moment a beast awakens, the bond must be sanctified. This is your legacy, Evan. Don't shame it."
Evan stepped into the pool. The moment his feet touched the water, the runes flared, and mana surged.
From the shadows, Nex emerged again, slithering into the circle.
"By the laws of the Taming Pact," one of the beast masters chanted, "let the soul-link be sealed. Let the bond between man and beast become truth."
The air rippled.
Evan felt it again—that rush of overwhelming connection. The taste of ancient storms. The bite of venom. The weight of a thousand forgotten kings.
Who are you really? he asked in thought.
Nex did not lie.
I am the Serpent of the Black Abyss. Child of the First Depth. They sealed me because I remembered what others feared. I remember the gods who bled. I remember the name Sepntis.
Evan's heart skipped.
Sepntis…? The name struck something deep in his soul. As if it wasn't the first time he'd heard it.
But before he could probe further, the ritual surged to completion.
A shockwave burst from the circle, knocking back even the seasoned beast masters. Light shot skyward from the sigil on Evan's back, carving a spiral into the chamber ceiling.
And the bond—already real—was now absolute.
Later That Night – Evan's Chambers
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Rain tapped against the windows.
Evan sat alone in his room, a thick cloak draped over his shoulders. Nex coiled in the shadows by the fireplace, his glowing eyes half-lidded.
"You said others would come," Evan murmured. "False gods. Betrayers."
They watched even as I hatched. Their agents walk in silk and shadow.
Evan's brows drew together.
He turned toward his desk where a sealed letter lay.
A letter bearing the silver crest of the Aflety Magic Academy.
It had arrived just hours after the ritual. Signed by Lord Gawain himself—the greatest beast tamer in the Empire.
To Evan Rochel, Heir of House Serpent,
Your awakening has shaken the balance of this land.
Aflety awaits your arrival. Come before the moon turns twice.
Some beasts are meant to be chained. Others, to be crowned.
Let us see what you are.
Evan stared at the words, pulse steady.
This world was moving faster than his last ever had. Powers stirred before he'd even taken his first steps.
But this time, he wouldn't wait to be used. Not again.
"I'll go," he said to himself. "And I'll rise. Higher than all of them."
In the shadows, Nex hissed in approval.
Let them come, Master. Let them see. Let them kneel.
[End of Chapter 2]