Alden sat on the rooftop of the inn, staring at the moonlit city. The duel with Lyra had left him restless, his mind still replaying the battle. She was fast, skilled, and tactical. More importantly—she was dangerous.
Shadowfang lay beside him, his tail flicking lazily. Bloodfang was curled up near the edge of the roof, eyes half-closed but still alert.
"She's gonna be trouble, isn't she?" Alden muttered, rubbing Shadowfang's ears.
The wolf let out a low chuff, as if saying, You think?
Alden exhaled.
It wasn't just Lyra's strength that unsettled him—it was the feeling that she was testing him.
And for what?
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from below.
"Hey, rookie!"
Alden glanced down. A familiar figure stood in the alleyway—Garrick, the burly, red-haired swordsman from the guild.
"What do you want?" Alden called back.
Garrick smirked. "You made a name for yourself today, huh? First taming a Bloodfang, then going toe-to-toe with Lady Lyra?"
Alden shrugged. "What can I say? I'm just that amazing."
Garrick barked out a laugh. "Cocky bastard."
He leaned against the wall. "Anyway, I figured I'd give you a heads-up. Some of the higher-ups in the guild are taking notice of you. Not all of them are happy."
Alden raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?"
Garrick folded his arms. "Because you're shaking things up. A no-name tamer walks in, pulls off a feat that should be impossible, and then has the guts to duel one of the most powerful beast tamers in the city? That makes people nervous."
Alden smirked. "Well, that's their problem."
Garrick sighed. "Maybe. Just watch your back, kid."
Alden leaned back against the roof. "Appreciate the warning."
Garrick gave a lazy wave and walked off into the night.
Watch my back, huh?
Alden had a feeling that was good advice.
A Stirring in the Shadows
Elsewhere, deep within the underground chambers of the city, a group of hooded figures gathered.
Torches flickered, casting eerie shadows along the stone walls. The air was thick with whispers and dark intent.
At the center of the gathering, a man in a gold-trimmed cloak stood before an ancient, rune-carved altar. His face was hidden by a black mask, but his golden eyes gleamed through the darkness.
"The boy grows stronger," he murmured.
A murmur rippled through the assembled figures.
"He is not yet ready," another figure spoke. "But soon… he will be."
The masked man traced a finger along the altar's surface, where a serpent-like emblem was etched in crimson.
"Prepare the trials," he ordered. "Let us see if Alden Draven is truly worthy of the abyss."
The torches flickered violently—and then, all at once, the chamber fell into darkness.
Morning Light and New Challenges
Alden awoke to the scent of fresh bread and the sound of bustling streets below.
The city was alive with energy, merchants calling out their wares, adventurers gearing up for the day's quests, and guild members exchanging battle stories.
Stretching, he glanced at the two wolves sprawled beside his bed. Shadowfang was still asleep, tail twitching in some dream battle. Bloodfang was awake, watching him with piercing yellow eyes.
Alden chuckled. "You're always up before me, huh?"
The Bloodfang just flicked an ear.
After a quick wash-up, Alden headed downstairs to the inn's dining hall.
As he grabbed some food, a familiar voice called out.
"Well, look who's up early."
Alden turned to see Lyra, sitting gracefully at a corner table, sipping her morning tea.
He blinked. "You again?"
She smirked. "Don't sound so excited."
Alden slid into the seat across from her. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Lyra set down her teacup. "I make it a habit to keep an eye on interesting people."
Alden raised an eyebrow. "So I'm interesting now?"
Lyra's eyes glinted. "You were always interesting, Alden. But now… you're intriguing."
He studied her for a moment. "And what does Lady Lyra want with a lowly rookie like me?"
Lyra leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. "I want to see how far you'll go."
Alden narrowed his eyes. "That so?"
She smiled. "Tell me—what's your goal?"
Alden paused.
That was a damn good question.
What was his goal?
Sure, he wanted to grow stronger, prove himself—but was that all?
Lyra tilted her head. "You don't have an answer, do you?"
Alden exhaled. "I just take things one step at a time."
Lyra nodded, as if she expected that answer. "Well then, Alden Draven, allow me to give you a new step."
She reached into her cloak and pulled out a sealed letter.
Alden frowned. "What's this?"
Lyra's smirk returned. "An invitation."
"To what?"
"To the Grand Beast Trials."
Alden blinked. "The what now?"
Lyra's expression was amused. "The Grand Beast Trials. A competition where the strongest beast tamers in the kingdom gather to test their skills. Only the best are invited."
Alden stared at the letter.
This… this was huge.
Lyra rested her chin on her hand. "What do you say, Alden? Ready to prove yourself on the grand stage?"
Alden smirked, feeling excitement bubbling within him.
"Oh, you know me, Lyra." He took the letter, flipping it between his fingers.
"I never back down from a challenge."
Elsewhere…
Deep in the underground chamber, the masked figure watched the enchanted mirror, where Alden accepted the invitation.
A slow, chilling smile spread beneath the mask.
"The trials will be the perfect test," the figure murmured.
The golden eyes gleamed with dark amusement.
"And soon… the true game will begin."
The torches flared—then, darkness consumed the room.