Chapter 9: Whispers in the Ivory Tower
The grand gates of Aflety Magic Academy opened wide.
Evan, now a fully admitted student, stepped into the hallowed halls of knowledge—where magic flowed through the walls, ancient beast murals stared from the ceiling, and the whispers of legends past echoed in each corridor.
He wore the black and silver uniform of the Rochel family, his family crest stitched proudly on his chest. Nex, now the size of a coiled wyvern, slithered across his shoulders—drawing wide-eyed stares from first-years and upperclassmen alike.
Even among nobles, Evan stood out.
Not just for his name…
But for the Divine Beast by his side.
Aflety's dorms were separated by division: Combat, Taming, Elemental Theory, and Support. Evan was placed in Division One – Elite Beast Tamers, where only 5% of applicants made it in.
He was handed a scroll upon entry.
First Semester Overview
Month 1: Orientation, team formations, and class evaluations.
Month 2: Beast Bond Trials and elemental affinity testing.
Month 3: The Underground Elemental Labyrinth Exam.
Special Note: Observation by academy elders and royal officials.
Evan's gaze narrowed.
"Observation…?"
Part 2 – Rivals and Reunion
At the orientation courtyard, students formed small groups, mingling under the statue of the First Beast King. Some already had entourages.
Gareth Ironfang stood near the flame pillar, surrounded by muscle-bound beast tamers. He was laughing—loud and proud—but his eyes kept drifting toward Evan.
Silva Elowen leaned beneath a tree, scribbling in a worn leather book while her Spirit Fox glowed faintly in the grass.
Cassia Belvane, daughter of the archduke, arrived late. Her white-gold hair shimmered as she gracefully descended from a light-tethered griffin. Her beast—a crystal-eyed falcon—hovered above her, silent as judgment.
And then came Lilith.
All eyes turned.
She stepped from a moonlit carriage drawn by spectral bats. Dressed in elegant black with blood-red embroidery, she radiated confidence and grace. And danger.
Lilith ignored everyone—except Evan.
She glided to his side, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Room next to yours," she said softly. "By coincidence, of course."
Evan sighed.
Part 3 – Unseen Threads
That evening, while others celebrated, a secret gathering was taking place beneath the academy.
The Black Nest—a cell of masked individuals—met within a chamber of moving shadows.
One knelt before a dark mirror, from which a robed figure with a porcelain mask spoke.
"Evan Rochel has entered the academy."
The kneeling figure hissed. "And the Basilisk?"
"Growing too quickly. Accelerated bonding. Divine resistance."
"Shall we act now?"
"No. Let him grow. Let the world believe in him. And then—shatter him."
The mirror flickered.
"But plant the eyes. Corrupt the lesser. We need chaos to bloom before the serpent ascends."
Part 4 – A Letter from the Past
That night, Evan returned to his dorm.
As he closed the door behind him, a letter lay on his desk—sealed with wax. The insignia was not from Aflety… nor his family.
He broke it open.
Inside, only a few words were scrawled:
"The gods are watching. The Black Nest is already inside. And the Serpent King must never awaken its third eye."
— A Friend Who Remembers
Evan froze.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Nex coiled protectively around him.
"Another piece of the puzzle," he muttered.
Outside, thunder rumbled. The wind shifted. And far above the academy… a watcher in the sky faded from view.
…..,
Aflety Morning: The Core of the Academy
The lecture bell chimed through the soaring stone towers of Aflety, signaling the beginning of the academic cycle. It resonated like a heartbeat across the sprawling sky bridge that connected the elemental towers to the central academy complex.
Evan stepped into his first lecture hall.
It was no ordinary room—it was built in the Auralith Spire, where sound and memory magic intertwined. The seats were floating tiers of carved crystal, and illusionary notes drifted above each desk. At the center stood the professor, surrounded by beast sigils and ancient scrolls bound in flame-thread.
"Welcome," said a deep voice, "to Advanced Theoretical Taming and Combat Synergy."
The professor wore long obsidian robes and a face partially veiled by spell-stitched cloth. His eyes were sharp—far too sharp for someone supposedly human.
"My name," he continued, "is Professor Ashven Nocturne. I will be your guide through the beast arts, the blood bonds, and the elemental codes that govern the ancient harmony."
Evan stiffened.
Something about the man's presence stirred Nex.
The Basilisk shifted on his wrist, his eyes flickering blue and black.
This man wasn't normal.
Synergy Drill: Rival Clashes
Aflety did not waste time.
By the second bell, students were already ordered to the Sky Arena, where spell-anchored platforms floated over the courtyard gardens. One wrong step could send you tumbling into water, wind, or worse—professors who refused to heal foolish injuries.
"Today's exercise is simple," Ashven said. "Demonstrate bond synergy with your beast. Not just orders—flow."
The first pair:
Silva Elowen vs Cassia Belvane.
Silva's Spirit Fox vanished like mist, reappearing through thorny sigils to trap Cassia's falcon mid-dive.
Cassia responded with sheer light pressure, binding Silva's beast in radiant chains.
An elegant match—but no winner.
Next came:
Gareth Ironfang vs Lilith Laistrygones.
The arena trembled.
Gareth unleashed his flame bear, a creature of molten earth and roaring fire. But Lilith met it head-on. Her Crimson Veil didn't fight directly—it danced around it, draining life through cursed mists and precise shadow strikes.
Lilith won. With ease.
Gareth looked stunned. Embarrassed. Furious.
Then—
"Evan Rochel. Step forward."
Serpent's Grace
Evan stood in the center, eyes cool.
Opposite him: Veyon Draxis, a powerful first-year from a draconic noble house. His beast was a silver-scaled wind serpent named Tyrielle, swift and fierce.
Ashven raised a brow.
"This will be… interesting."
"Begin."
Tyrielle struck first, moving like lightning, her scales splitting air as she twisted in a corkscrew assault. Veyon grinned confidently—he had speed, flight, and precision.
But then Nex appeared.
Not with a roar. Not with a strike.
With silence.
He flowed like ink across the air, not flying but gliding on coils of shadow. When Tyrielle lashed her tail, Nex vanished—reappearing above her head with his fangs exposed and water-imbued venom glowing at the tip.
The arena shuddered.
Veyon panicked, calling Tyrielle back into a barrier of wind.
Evan didn't pursue. He simply watched, calm, silent. In complete control.
Ashven finally spoke.
"…Excellent. Sit down."
The class was quiet.
For the first time, the students realized—
Evan Rochel wasn't just strong. He was dangerous.
Eyes in the Shadows
Later that evening, Ashven returned to his private quarters. The walls of his room were covered in sigils from multiple planes—old gods, forbidden beasts, multiverse tears.
He removed his veil.
His eyes were pure silver. His tongue was forked.
And behind him appeared a shadow.
"You observed him?"
Ashven nodded slowly. "He's far ahead of where he should be. That Basilisk isn't just growing—it's remembering."
The voice from the shadows hissed. "And the boy?"
Ashven turned to the window. Below, Evan stood under a tree, reading alone, Nex resting calmly beside him.
"…He's still holding back. Something inside him fears becoming what he was meant to be."
Evan's Thoughts
Evan flipped the mysterious letter again that night. He read the words over and over.
"The Serpent King must never awaken its third eye…"
He didn't know what that meant.
But the way Nex's eyes gleamed in the dark…
The way his dreams were filled with scales, stars, and dying gods…
He had a feeling—
His beast wasn't the only one with a secret.
….,
The early morning dew clung to the grass in the inner courtyard of Aflety Academy. A coliseum-like open space, its center was a massive circular field—half-earth, half-water—with enchanted barriers spiraling overhead.
Students lined up with their beasts beside them. This was not a duel.
It was a bonding assessment.
Professor Ryne, a grizzled beast tamer with claw marks on his neck and a whistle carved from Leviathan bone, addressed them.
"Combat is flashy. Control is refined. But bonding—bonding is sacred. We'll test your synergy without speech, magic, or command. Only instinct."
Many students stiffened.
Evan didn't.
He placed a single finger on Nex's head.
The Basilisk hissed once, low and deep.
The two moved in tandem across the field.
Through a field of obstacles, illusions, and elemental disruptions, most beasts hesitated. Some resisted.
Not Nex.
He flowed like water beside Evan, navigating with perfect coordination. They weren't master and pet.
They were halves of a larger whole.
Cassia, watching from the stands, whispered to Silva, "He doesn't just control that beast. He understands it."
Silva nodded slowly. "And it understands him."
Rival Tensions and Quiet Conversations
After the exercise, Evan walked alone toward the fountain garden, a quiet place where sound spells muffled idle chatter. Nex slithered across his shoulder, resting near the back of Evan's neck, ever-watchful.
Lilith found him there, as always.
"You're not subtle, you know," she said, sitting beside him without waiting for permission. "Every teacher is watching you. Half the students either fear you or want to challenge you."
Evan said nothing.
She leaned closer. "And the rest? They want to own you. You're the brightest flame here—and flames attract moths."
Evan glanced at her.
"I don't burn easily."
She smiled. "No. But you do smolder. And that's what worries me."
Then, softer—"You had another dream last night, didn't you?"
He didn't answer. She didn't push.
Instead, she offered a small vial of dark red liquid.
"Blood-infused elixir. Not mine. But it'll help keep your connection with Nex stable. The higher his affinity climbs, the more he'll crave energy."
He accepted it. Quietly.
"…Thanks."
Lilith smiled faintly, surprised.
The Beast Vault Incident
That evening, the academy's inner halls began glowing with golden lines—pathways that only active students could follow. Professor Ashven led Division One through the twisting corridors toward the Beast Vault, an ancient chamber beneath the academy used to store sealed beast cores, elemental relics, and artifacts too dangerous for regular handling.
"Today," he announced, "you will each choose a temporary relic to attune with for the upcoming Trial Run. Your bond compatibility with relics will shape your potential rank."
The vault opened.
Inside, an ancient pulse filled the air. Beasts stirred within their contracts. Nex raised his head sharply.
Evan's eyes narrowed.
Something… called to him.
Among the rows of relics—fire-etched collars, wind charms, beast-tongue flutes—one stood alone at the far back.
A sphere.
Dark obsidian. Cracked, faintly glowing. Wrapped in serpent-shaped runes.
No one else approached it.
But Nex did. Eagerly.
A professor moved to intercept—"That relic is unregistered, it's not—!"
But the moment Evan's hand touched the orb—
Everything froze.
Time stilled. Shadows thickened.
And Evan stood once more in the dream-place:
A throne of bones, a sky of red lightning, and a monstrous serpent coiled around a shattered world.
Its voice boomed:
"The Third Eye is sealed. The blood has not yet boiled.
But the path to Domination begins with truth.
Remember. Or be remembered only as prey."
Evan gasped and dropped the relic.
The lights returned.
Ashven was watching closely.
"…Interesting," the professor murmured. "The vault has recognized him."
Ending Scene – A Letter from Home
That night, Evan returned to his dorm, exhausted. A letter awaited him on his bed.
This one bore the Rochel family seal.
It read:
"Evan. A scholar from the Holy Elven Empire has arrived at Aflety. He carries a message from the Emperor.
Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment. You represent our bloodline now.
Remember your place.
— Your Mother."
Evan stared at it for a long time.
Then folded it. Tucked it away.
Nex coiled beside him, protectively.
He wasn't just a student anymore.
He was a threat. A symbol. A target.
And the shadows were moving closer.
...,
A crimson dawn broke across the Aflety campus the next day, and with it came a hush that lingered even among the most competitive students.
Professor Ashven summoned all first-year students to the Grand Spire Hall.
Today was no ordinary lecture.
He stood before the ornate obsidian board, where golden symbols floated in the air—words written in ancient beast-script.
"The First Semester Assignment," he said calmly, "is a Trial Run in the Simulated Wilderness Labyrinth beneath the academy. You'll be grouped into temporary teams of five. Your objective—survive, adapt, and bring back a rare core. Every action you take will be observed and scored."
A murmur passed through the hall.
Ashven raised a hand. "The labyrinth changes daily. Beasts roam freely within. Some…are not tameable. Some are not from this continent."
Students shifted nervously.
"You will enter in three days. Prepare your teams. Choose wisely. Favor or failure will follow you long after this test ends."
His gaze lingered on Evan.
For a heartbeat too long.
Rival Divisions Stir
Later that afternoon, tension reached its peak in the training courtyard.
Gareth Ironfang—furious over losing to Lilith—confronted Silva, who had recently started sparring with Evan in secret.
"You think because you're from the Elowen bloodline, you can hide behind the Rochel heir and snub the rest of us?" Gareth growled.
Silva's expression stayed calm. "I don't hide, Gareth. I observe. You should try it."
Cassia stepped in between them, sighing. "Must every confrontation turn into a dominance display? This is Aflety, not the Beastborn Wastes."
"Tell that to your golden boy," Gareth hissed, glaring in Evan's direction.
Evan, standing nearby, didn't rise to the bait. Nex, however, did.
The Basilisk's tongue flicked out once, and Gareth flinched as shadows moved behind him—not Evan's, but his own beast's, recoiling instinctively.
For the first time, fear won over bravado.
Gareth stepped back.
And for the first time, the students realized—
Evan didn't need to attack to win.
Midnight Intrusion – The Vault Breach
That night, the academy's internal wards trembled.
The Beast Vault—sealed and sacred—was breached.
Wardens and professors rushed down the ancient stairs, only to find—
The serpent relic. Gone.
What remained was a smear of blackened crystal, melted sigil-circles, and a faint outline in the stone: a cloak. A mark. A black feather.
Ashven was the first to recognize it.
"…The Black Nest," he muttered. "Already?"
Above, in the viewing chamber, a masked figure watched silently.
Shade Cardinal, leader of the Black Nest.
"The Serpent Child has touched the gate," he murmured to the void. "The clock moves faster now."
Beside him, a lesser member knelt.
"Shall we act, my lord?"
"No," Shade Cardinal replied. "Not yet. Let him grow. Let them all shine."
He turned, and shadows curled like wings behind his back.
"Then we pluck them down, one star at a time."
Evan's Dream – The Eye Opens
That night, Evan's dream returned.
Not pain. Not fear.
Just truth.
He stood before a wall of mirrors—each one reflecting a different version of himself.
One wore a crown made of beast horns.
One was covered in blackened scales.
One bled from his eyes, whispering:
"You cannot run from what you were."
A hand touched his shoulder.
Nex, larger, glowing with otherworldly markings, said without speaking:
"When the third eye opens, the world will remember us."
Final Scene – Unspoken Bonds
At dawn, Lilith found Evan on the tower balcony. Again.
This time, she didn't speak.
She simply handed him a wrapped parcel: a beast-forged cloak woven from Moonwolf silk. Protection.
Evan nodded.
No words. No resistance.
Lilith smiled faintly. "That's the first gift you've accepted."
He didn't look at her.
But he didn't reject it, either.
And for Lilith, that was enough.
[End of Chapter 9]