Morning sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows of the academy's medical wing, casting multicolored patterns across the white floor. Rylan and his friends burst into the room, their boots echoing against the tiles as they approached the sealed healing chamber.
Inside, the boy they had rescued from the Dark Forest lay motionless, hooked to glowing mana vines that pulsed with soft energy. His vitals were steady—but he hadn't moved an inch since the night he had opened his glowing red eyes.
Blaze pressed a hand against the glass. "Still no change?"
Joy shook her head. "It's like he's here, but not really. He's trapped… somewhere else."
Grace turned to the attending medic. "Isn't there anything else you can do?"
"We've stabilized him, but his condition is beyond anything our healers can treat," the medic replied. "There may be one way, though. You'll need to speak to the Headmaster."
The group ascended the spiraling tower and stood before Headmaster Veylor, who gazed at them through narrowed eyes beneath his broad, rune-etched hat.
"There is a spell," Veylor admitted, his voice grave. "A very old one. But to cast it, we require something powerful. Four things, actually. The petals of the seasons."
Rant gasped. "Wait… seasonal petals?!"
Frost's eyes widened. "You mean the ones guarded by the Mystic Beasts?!"
Rylan and Blaze exchanged confused glances. They had heard legends, sure, but never anything this specific.
"What are they?" Rylan asked.
Riley stepped forward, her tone serious. "The seasonal petals were once used in ancient times to cure any illness or curse. But centuries ago, a mad wizard tried to use them to grant himself immortality. Two of the world's greatest heroes stopped him—but to prevent further misuse, they sealed each petal away in distant corners of the world."
"These places," she continued, "were once dry wastelands. But the magic of the petals transformed them—one into an eternal spring meadow, another into a rainy autumn swamp, a blazing desert that pulses with summer heat, and a frozen winter range."
Grace added, "To protect the petals, the heroes left behind their own Soulbound beasts. The guardians evolved, becoming the Mystic Beasts. Some say they're more powerful than even our highest-ranked professors."
James folded his arms. "And you want us to face them?"
"We have to," Rylan said. "But not alone. We split into pairs. Cover more ground, faster retrieval. Once one pair succeeds, we can regroup and help the others."
Blaze nodded. "Yeah. If one of us makes it through, we bring back a petal and double up to support the rest."
Rant looked around. "So… who's with who?"
They gathered in a circle and quickly settled the pairs: Rylan and Blaze would tackle the Snow Realm. Grace and Riley would head into the Autumn Swamp. Joy and James would journey to the Spring Meadow. Frost and Rant would brave the Summer Desert.
Headmaster Veylor stepped forward, holding out a pouch filled with four small crystal tokens. "These will attune you to the petals' aura. Hold them tight. And remember—these beasts are ancient, and they will not go down easily."
The friends exchanged nods. Their mission had begun.
Pair 1: Rylan & Blaze – The Frozen Heights
Snow crunched beneath their boots as Rylan and Blaze dismounted their Soulbounds. The world around them was a sea of white—icy cliffs, howling winds, and jagged peaks coated in frost. Their fire-affinity beasts radiated heat, melting paths through the frozen drifts.
The Kyra Compass pulsed rapidly. They were close.
Then, rising from behind a glacier, a creature of ice and elegance emerged. Twelve feet tall, with armor-like scales and crystalline wings, the Snow Mystic roared.
Rylan's hand flared with magic. "Ready?!"
Blaze grinned. "Let's melt this thing."
Their Soulbounds surged forward, flames lighting up the snow like a second sunrise. The Mystic Beast screeched, summoning hailstorms and freezing winds. Then—just as Rylan prepared his final strike—a blinding flash of white swallowed the battlefield.
Pair 2: Grace & Riley – The Autumn Swamp
Golden leaves drifted through the air as the two girls waded through murky waters. The air was damp and thick with fog. Ghostly vines wrapped around tree trunks, and unseen birds called through the mist.
The Autumn Mystic revealed itself not with a roar, but a hum—a low, haunting melody that echoed through the swamp. It rose from the bog, cloaked in mist and leaf-like feathers that shimmered with enchantment.
"Don't let it sing," Grace warned.
Their beasts surged ahead, freezing vines and clearing the fog with gusts of wind. The Mystic retaliated, sending waves of falling leaves that cut like blades.
"Now!" Riley shouted, hurling a frost spear.
Just before the strike landed, the Mystic spun—and a blinding, copper-colored flash illuminated the swamp.
Pair 3: Joy & James – The Spring Meadow
Endless fields of blooming flowers greeted the pair. The scent of fresh petals mixed with magical pollen that danced on the wind. A serene beauty blanketed the land—but it didn't last.
From a bed of glowing lilies, the Spring Mystic emerged, towering and elegant. Its form shifted between light and shadow, constantly changing. Joy's shadow beast growled low, ready to strike.
"Hold it still," James muttered. "If I can get a clean shot from its shadow, we can—"
The Mystic surged forward with unnatural speed. Their beasts leapt into action, tackling it to the ground. Just as James raised his spell, sunlight intensified overhead—so blinding that it erased every shadow.
A flash erupted—this time black instead of white.
And then... another.
Pair 4: Frost & Rant – The Blazing Oasis
The desert air was heavy with heat. Cracked earth stretched beneath their feet, interrupted only by a single massive oasis in the distance.
From beneath the sand, the Summer Mystic rose. Its mane was fire, its limbs lava, its eyes twin suns. The beast snarled, steam hissing from its skin.
"Rant!" Frost yelled. "Water blast—full force!"
Their water Soulbounds surged, launching geysers into the sky. Mist clouded the battlefield, steam exploding with every strike.
Then the Mystic retaliated.
A firestorm engulfed the oasis—and at its center, a flash of pure, golden flame erupted.
Back at the Academy
The infirmary was quiet—almost too quiet. The boy still lay motionless, though the mana vines had begun to pulse faster.
Mr. Will and Headmaster Veylor stood behind the crystal wall, eyes narrowed.
"Each pair has engaged," Mr. Will murmured.
Veylor frowned. "Let us hope they survive. If even one petal is lost—"
He didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he turned his gaze to the boy.
Beneath closed lids, his glowing red eyes twitched.
His fingers curled slightly, as if gripping something unseen.
Then, without warning, the temperature in the room dropped.
A single whisper echoed in the air, from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"They've found them…"
From deep in the Dark Forest, a black spire pulsed with energy. At its peak, a cloaked figure stood with arms raised toward the storm-filled sky.
"The petals awaken... so shall the Vessel."