The sun blazed fiercely over Surajgarh, its rays casting long shadows over the training grounds of the Flame Crest Division. Dust hung in the air like a shimmering fog, the scent of burning incense mixing with the metallic tang of sweat and iron. In the distance, the mountain ranges that bordered the empire were visible, their peaks piercing the sky, untouched by time.
Aryan wiped the sweat from his brow and readjusted the strap on his armor. His chest heaved, his breath ragged, but he couldn't stop now—not when the final trial was nearly in reach. The Trial of the Bond was a sacred test for all Beastbinders, and this year, the Flame Crest had picked him to participate. It was a rare honor—a chance to prove he was worthy of being called a true Beastbinder.
He'd trained his whole life for this moment, but doubts gnawed at him.
Am I truly ready?
Across the training grounds, other cadets stood in lines, beasts at their sides, waiting for the next round of the trial to begin. Some had massive creatures—horned rhinos, serpentine dragons, even phoenixes. Their power radiated, and the air seemed to hum with their energy. Aryan, on the other hand, had no such majestic beast by his side. His only companion was a wild, untamed Vanara spirit beast—known for its speed, strength, and uncontrollable nature.
The Vanara, a monkey-like creature with gleaming golden fur and sharp, intelligent eyes, stood beside him, its muscles tensed. It wasn't bound by the usual mantras. It was wild, free, and fiercely independent. Their bond wasn't the typical one of trust. No. This creature had chosen Aryan, not out of loyalty, but out of raw, chaotic need.
The bond was unstable, Aryan thought grimly, but it was a bond nonetheless.
The sound of a horn blared through the grounds, and the cadets snapped to attention. Their instructor, Commander Suraj, stood at the front of the field, his eyes cold and calculating. He was a veteran Beastbinder, one of the few who had ever survived the infamous Unbinding Wars, where the Unbinders sought to break the very foundation of Beastbinding.
"Cadets," Commander Suraj's voice boomed, "this is it—the final trial. You will face your greatest test yet. The Empire's future depends on warriors like you. Beastbinders who can stand tall in the face of war, and—most importantly—keep their beasts under control."
Aryan's heart thudded in his chest. He knew what that meant. This wasn't just about passing an exam; it was about proving himself worthy of rank in the Flame Crest Division. It was about becoming a protector of the Empire, about stepping into a role that could change his life—and possibly the world.
"Begin," the Commander ordered.
In an instant, the air seemed to crackle with power. The cadets shouted commands to their beasts, and the creatures surged forward. Aryan didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, chanting the binding mantra in his mind as he called to his Vanara.
The beast crouched low, its eyes flashing with untamed fury. Aryan reached out with his spirit, feeling the turbulent energy within the creature. He had to steady it—calm it—but it resisted. The bond was rough, like trying to hold a raging storm in his hands.
"Focus," Aryan muttered to himself. "Focus, and feel the flow."
The Vanara snarled, twisting and darting through the air. Its speed was overwhelming, a blur of motion as it leaped from one end of the training grounds to the other. Aryan staggered but held on, channeling every ounce of his willpower into the bond.
"Hold! Just hold!"
The ground beneath them trembled as the Vanara landed in front of him, its claws tearing into the earth. Aryan's mind burned with the effort to control the beast, to keep it from lashing out at the other cadets. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his heart raced. The beast wasn't listening—it never did.
But then, something changed.
For the briefest moment, Aryan felt a shift—a quiet pulse, a whisper in the back of his mind. The Vanara's chaotic energy calmed, just enough for him to gain control.
This is it. Aryan pushed forward, his voice firm as he completed the final part of the mantra.
"By the Flame's Breath, I bind you, spirit of fire and fury. We are one!"
A surge of power coursed through him as the Vanara's wild nature was briefly tempered. The creature's golden eyes softened, and it crouched, still as stone. Aryan breathed out a sigh of relief, the bond stabilizing for the first time.
But it wasn't over yet. The Vanara's energy still crackled, like a wire pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment.
"Well done, cadet," Commander Suraj's voice cut through the air, sharp and approving. "You've passed the first trial, but this is only the beginning. You still have a long road ahead. But today, you've shown promise."
Aryan lowered his head, exhaustion sinking into his bones. But it was worth it. He had made it.
And the war? The chaos? It was coming.
He could feel it in his bones. The time for peace was ending, and soon, the Beastbinders would be needed more than ever.