Chapter 40– The War Council of Beasts
Scene One: Summoned by the Crown
Aflety Academy was barely standing, but the world no longer waited.
Three days after the attack, Evan was summoned—not by the headmaster, not by the academy board—but by Imperial decree.
The Emperor himself had called for a gathering:
"The War Council of Beasts shall convene. All future tamers of divine-class shall attend."
Lilith stood beside him as the sky chariot arrived—a sleek vessel of obsidian and gold, bearing the imperial crest: a wyvern coiled around a sun.
"You're being pulled into something huge," she whispered.
Evan didn't reply.
Because he already knew.
The war had begun. He wasn't just a student anymore.
He was a weapon.
Scene Two: The Gathering of Legends
The council was held at Fort Altherion, a sky fortress anchored to the spine of the world—built into the edge of the floating continent, surrounded by winds that only divine beasts could pass through.
Evan stepped into a chamber filled with monsters, monarchs, and myth.
There were only thirteen seats.
But more than thirteen were watching.
A high elf queen with a phoenix perched on her shoulder.
A dwarven beast-caller who rode a thunderbear into the chamber.
A beastman warlord flanked by twin sabertooths.
And in the center—
The Emperor.
Clad in simple robes, wearing no crown—only the binding ring of the First Beast Pact on his left hand.
He looked at Evan.
"Come forward, heir of Rochel. Tamer of Nex."
Evan stepped into the circle.
The Emperor raised his voice.
"The Black Nest has awakened more than corruption. They've broken ancient seals. One of the God Beasts—the Ash-Caller of Veylra—was stolen, twisted."
Gasps. Even Lilith's eyes widened.
"Only two possibilities exist. Either they've found a way to enslave God Beasts, or…"
He looked at Evan.
"…a God Beast allowed itself to be taken."
Scene Three: A Divided Council
Chaos erupted in the chamber.
The beastman warlord snarled. "You mean to tell us a God Beast defected?!"
The elven queen narrowed her eyes. "Impossible. Unless… it remembered something from the Old Age."
The Emperor raised a hand, silencing them all.
"We must prepare for a breach. The Divine Lineages must train successors. The children of the pacts must be made ready."
His gaze fell on Evan again.
"Starting with this one."
Murmurs.
One of the councilors stood—an older man with a red cloak and a blade-scar across his jaw.
"He's just a boy. And yet his beast holds dominion already. Are you telling us this child is fit to stand among us?"
Evan stepped forward before the Emperor could answer.
"I didn't ask to stand here," he said. "But I won't step back, either. I've seen the Nest. I've fought their beasts. If they're corrupting legends, then let me be the legend that answers."
Silence.
Then a slow, rumbling laugh from the thunderbear rider.
"Well said, boy."
Scene Four: Secrets Under Stone
After the council disbanded, Evan was led deeper into Fort Altherion by an old advisor named Mern—blind, but guided by a wyrmling made of light.
He brought Evan to a sealed vault.
"Your father once stood here," Mern said. "Before he made his pact."
Evan stared at the door. A carving was etched into the stone.
A basilisk. But not Nex.
Older. Wilder.
"Your beast," Mern whispered, "is not the first of its kind."
He handed Evan a sealed scroll.
"This… was left by the last Basilisk Heir. A prophecy that one day, the child of earth and storm would challenge the false god."
Evan took the scroll—and felt something stir inside Nex.
A memory not his own.
Scene Five: New Tides, Old Gods
As Evan returned to Aflety, a new message awaited him.
From someone unexpected:
The Prince of the Holy Elven Empire.
"I saw the fire over Aflety. And I saw the one who walked through it untouched."
Attached was a single line.
[End of chapter 40]