Alden held the invitation in his hands, feeling the weight of it.
The Grand Beast Trials.
It wasn't just some local tournament. It was an event where only the strongest beast tamers competed—a battlefield where legends were made.
And somehow, he'd been invited.
Shadowfang let out a low growl from beside him, ears twitching as if sensing something off.
Lyra watched him with her usual smirk, but there was something else in her gaze—something unreadable.
"What's the catch?" Alden asked, flipping the letter between his fingers.
Lyra's smirk widened. "What makes you think there's a catch?"
"Because there's always a catch."
She chuckled. "Smart. But no, there's no trick. You earned this, Alden. Your duel with me put you on the map, and your reputation is growing."
Alden sighed. "Right. And that means people are either gonna want to fight me, recruit me, or kill me."
Lyra's eyes glinted. "Precisely."
Alden groaned. "Great."
Lyra tapped a finger on the table. "The Trials begin in three weeks. We'll need to travel to Astraea, the capital."
Alden frowned. "That's nearly two hundred miles from here."
"Which is why we leave in three days."
Alden raised an eyebrow. "We?"
Lyra smirked. "Of course. I'll be participating as well."
Alden blinked. "Wait. You're competing too?"
Lyra leaned forward slightly. "Did you think you were the only rising star?"
Alden exhaled. "Well, that makes things interesting."
Lyra's smirk never faded. "Indeed."
Preparations and an Unwanted Visit
The next few days passed in a blur.
Alden spent his time training relentlessly, sparring with guild members, and refining his bond with his beasts.
Shadowfang had grown even faster, his strikes becoming a blur of black lightning. Bloodfang, meanwhile, had unlocked an advanced hunting skill, allowing him to move unseen even in broad daylight.
But Alden knew it still wasn't enough.
The Grand Beast Trials would be filled with monsters in human form—tamers who had spent years mastering their craft.
And he was still just a rookie.
On the final night before their departure, Alden sat outside the inn, lost in thought.
Then, a voice cut through the silence.
"Well, well. If it isn't the little prodigy."
Alden turned, his eyes narrowing.
A tall, lean man stood before him, his long silver hair gleaming under the moonlight. He wore a dark, high-collared coat, and at his side prowled a massive black panther with glowing red eyes.
Alden frowned. "And you are…?"
The man smirked. "Name's Kael Vaughn. You'll want to remember it."
Alden scoffed. "You one of the competitors?"
Kael's smirk deepened. "Not just a competitor. A favorite to win."
Shadowfang let out a deep growl, his fur bristling.
Kael's panther did the same, muscles coiling beneath its sleek black fur.
For a moment, neither man moved.
Then Kael chuckled. "Relax, kid. I didn't come to fight."
Alden crossed his arms. "Then what do you want?"
Kael tilted his head. "To see if you're worth my time."
Alden's brow twitched. "And?"
Kael gave a lazy smirk. "You might be. If you survive."
With that, he turned and vanished into the night, his panther melting into the shadows.
Alden exhaled, rubbing his temples.
"Fantastic," he muttered. "Another pain in the ass."
Shadowfang let out a low, agreeing grunt.
The Grand Beast Trials were already shaping up to be one hell of a battlefield.
A Journey Begins
Three days later, Alden, Lyra, and a handful of other competitors set out for Astraea.
The journey would take two weeks, passing through forests, mountains, and beast-infested territories.
Alden rode atop Shadowfang, while Lyra sat gracefully on the back of a snow-white griffin named Celeste.
Their group consisted of about twelve tamers, each with their own beasts.
Some were chatty, others were cold and focused. But every single one of them radiated strength.
Alden quickly realized this wasn't a friendly trip.
It was a preliminary battlefield.
Every night at camp, tamers would spar, testing each other's skills.
Alden found himself facing off against warriors with beasts ranging from lava lizards to storm falcons.
And then there was Lyra.
During one sparring session, she summoned her second beast—a Midnight Serpent.
The obsidian-scaled creature slithered through the air, its glowing golden eyes locking onto Alden.
He barely managed to dodge its strikes, his heart pounding.
Lyra watched with amusement. "Nervous?"
Alden exhaled. "No. Just... thinking."
Lyra arched an eyebrow. "About?"
Alden smirked. "How I'm gonna beat you."
Lyra chuckled. "I'd love to see you try."
The Midnight Serpent hissed, and Alden knew—
Their rivalry had only just begun.
Blood in the Forest
On the ninth night of their journey, the group set up camp in a dense forest.
The night was eerily quiet—too quiet.
Shadowfang growled, his ears flicking. Bloodfang stood rigid, his fur bristling.
Something was wrong.
Then—a scream.
Alden shot to his feet as a figure crashed into the camp—covered in blood.
"Ambush!" the man gasped. "They—"
A black claw burst through his chest, silencing him.
Alden's eyes widened.
A massive, shadowy beast loomed behind the fallen tamer, its crimson eyes burning with unnatural hatred.
More figures emerged from the trees—hooded figures, their faces obscured.
Lyra cursed. "Damn it. I knew something felt off."
Alden clenched his fists.
This wasn't just a random attack.
Someone was targeting them.
A figure stepped forward, his golden eyes gleaming beneath a black mask.
"Greetings, competitors," the man said smoothly. "We're here to deliver a message."
Alden's jaw tightened. "And what message is that?"
The man's smile widened.
"That none of you will make it to Astraea alive."
The dark beasts lunged.
And the battle for survival began.