The heavy doors at the end of the hall swung open with a slow, resonant creak. From the chamber beyond, a faint, warm glow spilled out, mingling with the soft azure beastfire flickering along the walls.
One by one, groups of teenagers stepped out, clutching small eggs shimmering with potential—their new bonds already beginning to form. Excitement and quiet awe rippled through the crowd as the first hopefuls exited.
Leon, Layla, and Jacob arrived just as the last group entered, slipping quietly to the end of the waiting line. Though they were on time, the earlier arrivals had claimed the first picks.
Leon watched the others around them as time slipped forward—the sun overhead shifting in the stained-glass windows, casting shifting patterns across the chamber floor.
Layla's fingers twitched with impatience. "Looks like we're next, but all the good ones might be gone."
Jacob shrugged with a sly grin. "Maybe. Or maybe the real challenge is picking the one that chooses you."
Leon took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. "We have to stay sharp. Every egg here holds a future."
The line crept forward, the trio edging closer to the open doorway.
With most eggs already claimed, the final call rang out—"Next group, step forward."
The three exchanged determined glances and stepped into the chamber.
The vast circular room was bathed in soft gold and violet light. At its center, dozens of pedestals held eggs of every hue and pattern—some glowing faintly, others pulsing softly, alive with quiet energy.
Though many eggs had already been claimed, the room still held a wealth of possibilities.
Layla's voice was barely a whisper. "It's beautiful… and waiting."
Jacob smirked. "Time to find our partners."
Leon felt the familiar tug in his chest—the silent call of destiny.
It was their moment to choose.
The trio moved slowly among the pedestals, eyes scanning the array of eggs shimmering softly under the chamber's golden-violet light. Each egg seemed to pulse with its own unique rhythm—some steady and calm, others flickering like distant stars.
Layla's gaze flickered from one egg to another, her fingers twitching but hesitant. "It's harder than I thought… they all seem so different, like each has a story."
Jacob crouched by a pedestal that held a sleek, dark-blue egg, almost hidden among the others. "I'm telling you, it's about feeling it. Not just looking."
Voices quieted as the weight of decision pressed on everyone. A bell chimed softly from somewhere above, its clear tone marking the approach of noon.
Jacob glanced at the clock etched near the ceiling. "Time's running out. We better decide."
Layla exhaled sharply but smiled, her eyes locking onto a pale, feathered egg resting on a pedestal gently tucked beside a stained-glass column.
Leon felt a pulse beneath his palm as he hovered over an egg mottled with earth tones—warm and steady. The faintest vibration thrummed between them.
The moment was thick with possibility.
Layla drifted toward the edge of the chamber, her steps slowing as her gaze locked onto a pedestal half-shadowed by one of the stained-glass columns. Resting atop it was an egg unlike the others—smaller, almost delicate, with a soft ivory shell threaded with pale silver lines that shimmered faintly, like sunlight on morning frost.
Tiny, down-like feathers clung to parts of its surface, and when she stepped closer, the egg gave off a faint warmth. Not hot—gentle, comforting. Like the breeze before a sunrise.
She leaned in slightly, her breath catching.
"It feels... light," she whispered, "but not fragile. Like it's meant for the sky."
The egg pulsed once, faintly, as if responding to her voice.
Layla's eyes widened. "Are you… listening?"
She glanced back at the others, her heart skipping a beat. Then she turned her attention back to the egg, her fingertips hovering just above its shell.
"I think this one's waiting for me."
Meanwhile, Jacob circled a cluster of eggs near the center—larger, more vibrant, and clearly brimming with power. But none of them called to him.
Until he saw it.
Nestled low behind a cluster of pedestals sat a rough, deep-amber-colored egg with streaks of crimson and charcoal winding around its surface like battle scars. Unlike the others, it didn't glow gently—it radiated a low, smoldering heat, like coals waiting to erupt into flame.
Jacob crouched in front of it, his brow furrowed.
"This one…" he murmured, reaching out. The shell beneath his fingers was warm, almost alive. It didn't shimmer or pulse—it thrummed, like a heartbeat buried under stone.
A flicker of flame flashed across the shell the moment his hand drew close—just for a second—and then vanished.
Jacob's lips curled into a grin. "Not pretty. Not flashy. But definitely a fighter."
He glanced at Leon and Layla and smirked to himself. "Yeah… you'll do."
Leon let the others drift ahead as he slowed his steps, the hush of the egg chamber settling over his shoulders like a blanket. The grand hall behind them had faded into silence, and now only the soft hum of enchantments echoed faintly through the stone walls.
He passed rows of pedestals, each holding a unique egg—some glowing faintly, some twitching with quiet life—but none of them spoke to him.
Until one did.
There, near the far end of the chamber, tucked behind a forgotten cracked pillar, rested a lone egg.
It didn't gleam or shimmer like the others. Its shell was a deep gray, almost dull, etched with faint veins of mossy green and gold. It looked like a stone egg forgotten by time. But the moment he saw it, something stirred inside him—a quiet, steady thrum in his chest. Like a heartbeat that wasn't his.
He stepped closer, each footfall strangely weightless.
A whisper brushed the edge of his awareness. Not words. Not a voice. Just… presence. Familiar, and vast.
He knelt beside the pedestal and reached out, his fingers hovering just above the cool, rough surface of the egg.
You're not calling loudly, he thought. But I hear you.
The air around the egg didn't spark or flare. It simply accepted him—welcomed him with a quiet certainty, like a hand extended through time.
Leon's breath caught in his throat. "You've been waiting for me…"
And deep in his soul, he felt it again.
Yes.
The chamber had already quieted, leaving only the hush of reverence as the trio stood apart, each cradling their chosen egg with care.
Layla held hers close, its faint, radiant light pulsing like a heartbeat against her chest. She hadn't stopped smiling since the moment she touched it—her excitement now tempered by wonder.
Jacob stood with his usual confident grin, though it was softer now. His egg shimmered with embers beneath its shell, and he glanced at it with something more than pride—maybe awe.
Leon's hands were steady as he held the slate-gray egg against his chest. It didn't glow. It didn't pulse. But it felt right. A quiet warmth had bloomed in his heart the moment he picked it up, like he had completed a puzzle he hadn't known was missing a piece.
A soft chime rang out above them—resonant and ceremonial.
The chamber doors opened again, and the trio stepped forward, their chosen eggs held securely in their arms.
Waiting outside stood the president of the Beastmaster Association and the city lord. Behind them, the hall now echoed with silence—everyone watching as the three stepped into the light of noon, their silhouettes casting long shadows across the ceremonial floor.
The president gave a solemn nod, his voice carrying clearly across the hall. "With the choosing of your first beasts, the contract begins—not yet in blood or battle, but in intention. You have taken the first step not as students, but as true aspirants of the path."
He raised a hand, voice growing firmer. "As you were taught in your academies, the hatching process begins with connection—but it must take place in your own space, in your own time. These eggs have resonated with you. Take them home, focus your spirit, and let the bond form naturally. Do not rush it. Do not fear it. This moment marks the beginning of your path."
The city lord stepped forward, his tone proud and commanding. "These beasts are not tools. They are partners—mirrors of your heart, your strength, and your flaws. Treat them with respect, and they will raise you higher than any sword or spell ever could."
The president spread his arms, his silver robes catching the wind. "From this moment onward, you are marked by fate. Walk your path with courage… and become the light that will defend this kingdom."
The clock tower chimed again.
The ceremony was over.
But the journey had just begun.
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