I stood frozen, staring at the black crystal pendant hanging in front of me.
The Moonshadow Circle was offering me power. A chance to learn beast-taming techniques that my academy apparently feared.
Was this a trap? Or was it a golden opportunity?
Argonax chirped softly on my shoulder, his tiny claws gripping my shirt. He wasn't growling or panicking, but I could feel his unease.
I glanced at the robed figures. Their faces were hidden, but their presence was undeniable. These were powerful tamers—far beyond the level of students at the academy.
The first man—the leader, probably—spoke again. "You hesitate. That's good. A true tamer does not act without thought."
I exhaled slowly. "And if I say no?"
He smiled, his teeth flashing in the moonlight. "Then you walk away. No harm, no foul. But you will never know what you could have learned."
A test. That's what this was.
I had two choices. Walk away, stay safe, and continue learning at the academy. Or step forward, grab the pendant, and dive into the unknown.
…Yeah. Like I was ever gonna pick the boring option.
I reached out—
The moment my fingers touched the pendant, a shockwave of energy surged through me. The air around me crackled, and for a split second, my vision warped.
I saw… something.
A massive, shadowy beast chained in darkness. Glowing golden eyes staring straight at me.
Then—it was gone.
I stumbled back, gasping.
The leader chuckled. "It seems you are worthy."
"Worthy of what?" I managed, still feeling the lingering energy in my bones.
"The truth," the woman with silver eyes said. "About beast taming. About what your academy refuses to teach."
I frowned. "You keep saying that. What exactly does my academy hide?"
She stepped closer. "Tell me, what is the foundation of beast taming?"
I blinked. "Uh… forming bonds with beasts?"
She shook her head. "That is what they tell you. But the old ways taught something different. Something greater."
I hesitated. "Which is…?"
She smiled. "Not controlling beasts—becoming one with them."
A chill ran down my spine. "What?"
The leader stepped forward. "Synchronization is only the first step. A true beast tamer does not just command their beast—they share their power. Their instincts. Their strength."
I swallowed hard. "You're talking about… fusion?"
He nodded. "In a way. But it is not as simple as merging with a beast. It is about accepting their essence into your soul. If done correctly, you and your beast will become something… more."
That sounded insane.
And yet—
Something inside me stirred.
A memory.
Back in the training arena, when Argonax had acted on his own. That moment of perfect synchronization. Had that been… the first step?
I glanced at Argonax. He was watching me carefully, his tiny wings twitching.
The woman smiled. "You feel it, don't you? The connection. The pull."
I bit my lip. "…Maybe."
The leader nodded. "Then let us teach you."
I hesitated. "What's the catch?"
His eyes gleamed. "Once you take this path, there is no turning back."
I stared at him. At the pendant still pulsing in my palm. At the mysterious group offering me knowledge my academy would never give me.
I took a deep breath.
And then—
I clenched the pendant in my fist.
"I'm in."
The air around me shifted.
The robed figures nodded in approval.
"Then let your true training begin," the leader said. "From this night forward, you are no longer just a student of the academy. You are a disciple of the Moonshadow Circle."
A thrill of excitement—and fear—rushed through me.
I had no idea what I had just gotten myself into.
But one thing was certain.
This was only the beginning.