Renjiro and Elaria reached the lakeside moments later, their steps light with urgency. Elaria's gaze locked on the Unicorn Leader, its form now nearly lost in the swelling light. "Your Majesty, is it breaking through?" she asked, her voice bright with hope.
He nodded, his eyes fixed on the radiant beast. "It must have drink too much Water from spring. The magic's been building inside it—now it has no choice but to breakthrough."
Elaria's face glowed, her smile as warm as the sun. "It's already a peak ninth-circle beast. One more step, and it'll be the Tenth circle!"
Renjiro watched the light intensify, the Unicorn Leader's silhouette just visible within. It was more than a creature to him—it was his mount, his companion through countless battles.
A Tenth circle beast at his side would shift the balance of power in ways their enemies couldn't imagine.
"A mount like that," he murmured, a faint grin tugging at his lips, "now that's a future worth fighting for."
….
