One month had passed, and now it was time for the Beast Study Division's year-end exam.
The academy's training grounds had been transformed into a sprawling wild arena, filled with dense undergrowth, jagged rock formations, and carefully designed habitats. Towering enclosures lined the perimeter, each one holding a different beast that students would face. The task was simple in theory but brutal in execution:
Each student must tame a beast.
They could do so through subjugation, persuasion, or forming a natural bond. However, killing the creature was strictly forbidden—this was a test of control and understanding, not destruction.
The students stood in tense anticipation, watching as Vaelis Thornbloom, the division's head, strode to the front. Her Ilvaar features—sharp feline eyes, pointed ears, and effortless grace—gave her an almost predatory presence. Beside her, Velka, her massive dire-wolf, sat with calm authority, observing the students just as keenly as her master.
Vaelis swept her gaze across the group. "You know the rules. Each of you will be given a different beast to face alone. If you are thrown out of bounds, forced to retreat, or fail to establish control by the time limit, you are disqualified."
She nodded to the assistant handlers, who stood by the beast enclosures.
"When your name is called, step forward."
The first few students faced their challenges:
Jorin struggled against a razorclaw lynx, barely managing to keep up with its erratic movements before finally earning its reluctant acceptance. Serra was assigned a feathered wyvern hatchling but failed to calm it, getting knocked out of bounds by a wing swipe. Disqualified.Brann faced a stone-backed lizard, attempting to force control, only to be flung across the arena by its powerful tail. Disqualified.
The tension grew with each trial. Some passed, others failed, but none of the challenges were easy.
Then—
"Jhaeros Ilvaarin."
A hush fell over the students.
Jhaeros stepped forward, his sharp golden eyes unreadable. Unlike the others, he did not seem nervous.
He had trained for this moment his entire life.
Jhaeros's Challenge
As Jhaeros stepped through the iron gate, the heavy doors sealed behind him with a loud clang.
His opponent awaited him in the clearing—a Shadowfang Panther.
Sleek, black as the void, and nearly invisible in the dim light, the panther's eyes gleamed with predatory focus. Its form shimmered, an indication of its natural stealth abilities, allowing it to vanish and reappear at will.
A beast built for ambush and assassination.
Jhaeros smiled slightly. This was his kind of challenge.
The panther melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight.
The test had begun.
A Silent Battle
Jhaeros closed his eyes, shutting out distractions. He did not need sight.
He focused on his other senses.
The whisper of shifting grass. The faintest change in air pressure. The soft intake of breath.
Left.
He moved just in time, sidestepping the panther's lightning-fast lunge. Its claws slashed at empty air as it landed soundlessly, already vanishing again.
Jhaeros didn't react aggressively. He didn't chase.
He simply waited.
The panther circled him, testing him, waiting for an opening.
Jhaeros remained still, letting the beast come to him.
Another attack.
He dodged again, but this time, as the panther passed, he reached out—and brushed its fur.
A small, fleeting touch. But it was enough.
The panther stopped, turning to face him fully for the first time.
Jhaeros met its gaze, not as a threat, but as an equal.
"You know I can match you," he murmured. "You won't win by hiding."
The panther's tail flicked.
A low growl.
But no more vanishing.
It was acknowledging him now.
Jhaeros took a slow step forward.
The panther did not retreat.
Another step.
The distance between them shrank.
Then—Jhaeros knelt.
He lowered himself to the panther's level, extending a hand—not to dominate, not to subdue, but to offer trust.
For a long moment, the panther simply stared at him.
Then, slowly, it moved closer—pressing its forehead against his palm.
The bond was made.
From the observation area, Vaelis watched with narrowed eyes. Then, she nodded.
"Pass."
Aftermath
As Jhaeros walked out of the arena, Velka growled softly in approval. Vaelis gave him a knowing look.
"You never intended to fight it, did you?"
Jhaeros smirked. "A predator recognizes another predator. I just needed it to see me."
Vaelis chuckled. "Good answer."
From the stands, Kalem crossed his arms, watching with an approving nod.
Nara grinned. "You two are way too alike."
Jhaeros gave Kalem a knowing glance. "It's not my fault he finally learned to appreciate subtlety."
Kalem smirked but said nothing.
Tomorrow, it would be Elementalism Division's turn.