CHAPTER 3

Kevin's room was filled with people, all gathered around the small, white creature nestled near him. The creature, which resembled a baby chick, seemed to be the center of everyone's attention. Rayan stood quietly at the back, observing the scene with curiosity. Kevin, standing protectively beside the creature, seemed proud yet cautious, ensuring no one got too close.

As the crowd began to thin out, Rayan approached Kevin for a more private conversation.

"How are you feeling, my friend?" Rayan asked softly, careful not to disturb the creature.

Kevin smiled but looked thoughtful. "It feels... strange. Like there's this invisible thread connecting us. I can feel its emotions. It was scared earlier—too many people around."

Rayan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Wow, you're the first to hatch an egg. That’s incredible. Have you thought of a name yet?"

Kevin nodded, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "Yeah, I’ve named it Mistwings."

Rayan chuckled, amused. The name seemed a little playful, but as he looked at the small, fluffy creature, he couldn't help but agree that it suited. "Mistwings, huh? I need to train harder if I ever want to get a cute little one like yours."

As Rayan left Kevin’s room, Kevin turned back to Mistwings, gently stroking the tiny creature as he tried to strengthen the bond between them.

Rayan returned to his own room, a growing sense of frustration and disappointment gnawing at him. Everyone else seemed to be moving forward—hatching their creatures, mastering their Prana. But he, Rayan, was stuck. He still couldn’t manifest Prana, the mystical life force that defined every Neru warrior. No matter how hard he trained or meditated, the power eluded him. Deep down, he wondered if he even belonged in this academy.

He couldn’t shake the memory of a recent encounter from his mind.

One evening, after dinner, Rayan had been heading back to his room when a group of graduated seniors cornered him in the hallway. Their faces were twisted with sneers, clearly intent on making him uncomfortable.

"We heard you still can’t manifest Prana," one of them said, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Yeah, and nobody even knows where you’re from. Not even the elders," another added.

"You belong to the outside world, with the monsters. You’re just like the outcasts. You’ll never survive here. This place belongs to us, not some defective engineered clone," the tallest one spat, his eyes full of disdain.

Rayan felt the sting of their words, a cold weight settling in his chest. It was true—he was different. He didn’t come from a tribe, didn’t have the same background as the others. But before things could escalate further, Adrian, stepped in, dispersing the group with a stern look.

"Ignore them," Adrian said, placing a hand on Rayan’s shoulder as he led him away. "But be careful, Rayan. The elders are watching you closely."

Rayan hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why? Is it because...?"

Adrian stopped and looked at him gravely. "Yes. It’s because you don’t belong to any tribe. In all of Neru’s history, only one other student has ever been like you. He, too, didn’t belong, and though he was accepted here, he eventually chose a Nightclaw and was cast out. That decision led to chaos. It took years for Neru to recover, and the law now forbids casting someone out simply for not being from a tribe. That’s why you were allowed to stay. But… if they find any reason to, they won’t hesitate to throw you out."

The weight of Adrian's words hung heavy in the air. Rayan could barely respond as Adrian continued walking with him toward his room.

"You should focus on mastering martial arts. There are a few here who can’t manifest Prana, but they excel in combat. It’s a rare path, but it’s one you can take. Prana might not be your way."

Those words had stayed with him. Since that day, Rayan had worked relentlessly on his martial arts skills. He trained alongside Kevin, who always seemed to have the upper hand due to his connection with Prana, but slowly, Rayan began to bridge the gap. His movements became sharper, his reflexes quicker. He noticed how Prana enhanced the strength and agility of others, but it only made him push himself harder. He was determined to reach their level through sheer will.

Despite his struggles, Rayan wasn’t alone. Over time, he found himself surrounded by friends—Kevin, Mia, Harper, and Liam. They welcomed him into their circle, and even though some of their classmates were still wary or hostile, Rayan found solace in the bonds he was forming.

One day, during a break in training, Rayan asked Kevin a question that had been bothering him. "What happens if we can’t graduate from this academy?"

Kevin’s expression turned serious. "If you fail to graduate, you’re branded a Nomard for life. Nomards are treated like workers, sometimes even slaves. They have no status, no respect. They’re considered lower than animals."

Rayan was shocked. "But there are so many students here. How does graduation work?"

Kevin sighed. "The process is simple. You need to hatch your monster and strengthen your bond with it until you reach Champion level. But not everyone can do it. Some fail and end up repeating the year, sometimes multiple times."

Rayan swallowed hard, his heart sinking. Without a beast, he would always be an outsider in the eyes of the Neru people.

Days passed, and the eggs began to hatch one by one. The academy was alive with excitement as students bonded with their creatures. Some received walking monsters, others got snake-like creatures. Each was unique, and the variety amazed Rayan.

"How are these monsters chosen?" Rayan asked Adrian one afternoon during training.

Adrian explained, "There are four types of monsters. People believe they descend from the ancient god-beasts. Each Neru warrior is linked to one of these ancient beasts, and their connection forms the creature that reflects their soul."

Rayan listened carefully, intrigued. "So, what types are there?"

"Each type corresponds to one of the four elements—Water, Air, Fire, and Land," Adrian said. "For example, the Darkthorn Clan always has water monsters. They’re descendants of the water god, Thalmyros, and have the ability to manipulate water."

Rayan nodded, realizing how much the bond with a beast defined one’s abilities. Though he still hadn’t manifested Prana, he threw himself even more into his martial arts training.

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Kevin and the others began bringing their beasts to training, and Rayan watched as the small creatures responded to their masters’ commands. He marveled at how seamlessly the beasts and their owners worked together.

The turning point for Rayan came when he, Kevin, Mia, and Liam were given a rare day off from their training. Deciding to explore, they ventured out into the lands of Neru. It was Rayan’s first real look at the landscape since joining the academy. He had only seen small glimpses before, mostly from the back of a Seraphine, the winged creature that had brought him to the academy.

The landscape was breathtaking—endless forests, mountains that touched the sky, and rivers that sparkled like crystals. For a moment, Rayan felt at peace, lost in the beauty of it all.

However, their peaceful outing was interrupted when they encountered a group of bullies from earlier. One of them, who had tormented Rayan before, had his legs propped on a chair, sneering at Mia as she ate an ice cream. He taunted her and questioned why they still kept Rayan around. Before Kevin could intervene, Rayan, his frustration bubbling over, stepped forward and picked a fight. Kevin and the others quickly pulled him back, but not before a few blows were exchanged.

Later that day, back at the academy, an announcement was made: every month, there would be a Collection event, where students could compete to gather Prana and improve their rank. Only the top four students from each group would be chosen, and the competition was fierce. Winning a place meant not only increased Prana but the chance to explore the world beyond the academy.

Rayan wasn’t initially interested, knowing that without Prana, there was little point in gathering more. But Kevin, driven by a dream to see the world beyond the academy’s walls, convinced him to take part. Kevin had always wanted to explore, inspired by the stories from his family, who had once been warriors.

But it wasn’t just adventure—there were dangers too. Beyond the academy’s walls lurked real monsters, far more dangerous than the ones they trained with. While Champions would be there to protect them, the risks were still high. Many students never returned from the Collection expeditions.

Adrian, recognizing Rayan’s determination despite his lack of Prana, took him aside one day and offered him something special. "This is a Prana-possessed stick. It’s used by those who can’t manifest Prana on their own. With it, you’ll be able to wield Prana during combat."

Rayan’s eyes widened as he held the stick. He could feel the power pulsing within it, a faint glow emanating from the weapon. Adrian guided him through its use, showing him how to summon the energy and channel it through the stick. They sparred briefly, and though Rayan knew Adrian wasn’t fighting seriously, he felt a surge of confidence. For the first time, he had a weapon that leveled the playing field.

As the days passed, the academy buzzed with anticipation. Students trained hard, preparing for the upcoming competition. Rayan, too, worked late into the night alongside Kevin, pushing himself beyond his limits. With Adrian’s help, Rayan learned to wield the Prana stick effectively, surprising even Kevin during their sparring matches.

The arena buzzed with energy as the day of the competition finally arrived. The students of the academy gathered, tension and excitement mixing in the air. Each warrior was fighting for one of the top four coveted spots, and no one was willing to hold back. The roar of the crowd echoed across the grounds, but Rayan focused only on the task ahead.

He had fought his way through the earlier rounds, his martial prowess compensating for his lack of Prana. Kevin and Mia had progressed with relative ease, their Prana-fueled abilities giving them a clear edge. Liam had struggled but managed to advance as well. Now, it was Rayan’s turn once again—and this time, his opponent was Mia.

The arena grew quiet as Rayan stepped forward to face his friend. Despite their friendship, both of them knew there was no room for mercy here. Victory meant the chance to explore the world beyond the academy, to gain rank and respect. Failure... well, failure meant another year of training and uncertainty. Rayan could feel his pulse quicken, but he forced himself to focus.

Mia stood across from him, her eyes narrowed but a smile playing at the edges of her lips. She raised her hand, summoning a weapon—a long, sleek staff made of shimmering water, nearly identical in shape to Rayan's Prana stick.

"Ready?" Mia asked, her tone playful but her stance serious.

Rayan nodded, gripping his Prana stick tightly. "Always."

With a sudden burst of movement, they lunged at each other, staffs clashing with a sharp crack that reverberated through the arena. The impact sent a shockwave up Rayan's arms, but he held his ground, using his superior martial arts skills to strike at Mia’s defenses. He spun his staff in a wide arc, aiming for her side, but Mia parried with fluid precision, her water weapon swirling like a living thing.

They exchanged blows with increasing speed, their weapons clashing in rapid succession. Rayan advanced, pushing Mia back, his movements a blur of calculated strikes and agile dodges. He feinted left, then pivoted right, swinging his staff low at her legs. Mia leapt back just in time, the tip of his weapon grazing the ground where she had been standing.

For a moment, Rayan had the upper hand. His footwork was faster, his strikes sharper. He pressed the advantage, spinning his staff with a quick flourish before bringing it down toward Mia’s shoulder. She blocked, but the force of the blow sent her stumbling.

The crowd murmured in surprise—Rayan, the one without Prana, was dominating the fight.

But Mia wasn’t finished yet. She regained her footing, her eyes narrowing in focus. In an instant, the air around her changed. With a swift motion, she raised her staff high, and Rayan felt a sudden chill.

Before he could react, Mia slammed her weapon into the ground. From beneath her, jagged spikes of water shot up, glistening and sharp as ice. Rayan jumped back, but not fast enough—one of the spikes pierced his leg, sending a sharp pain radiating through his body.

He gasped, stumbling as his leg buckled. The cold from the water spike seeped into his skin, numbing the muscles and making it hard to stand. His vision blurred for a second, but he tightened his grip on the Prana stick, refusing to let the pain overwhelm him.

Mia took advantage of the opening. With a fierce yell, she swung her staff in a wide arc, aiming for his side. Rayan barely had time to raise his stick in defense. The impact sent a jolt through his arms, but he managed to block the blow. Still, the force of it knocked him backward, and he struggled to maintain his balance.

Rayan gritted his teeth and tried to rise to his feet, but the spike in his leg made movement sluggish. He had to act quickly before Mia delivered the finishing blow. Gathering all the strength he had left, he swung his staff at her with a desperate, powerful strike aimed at her midsection.

Mia twisted out of the way with surprising speed, her water-like movements almost graceful as she dodged his attack. As Rayan’s momentum carried him forward, Mia struck—her staff came down with precision, hitting his already weakened leg and knocking him off balance.

Rayan fell to the ground hard, his breath knocked out of him. He tried to rise, but before he could, Mia spun and delivered a sharp kick to his face. The world blurred as he hit the ground again, stars dancing in his vision.

For a moment, everything seemed to go silent. Rayan lay on the arena floor, his body aching, his pride wounded. He could hear the crowd roaring, but the sound felt distant, like it was coming from another world. He blinked up at the sky, the realization dawning on him—he had lost.

As Mia raised her staff in victory, the crowd erupted in cheers. She turned to Rayan, her face filled with both triumph and concern. For a brief second, their eyes met, and she seemed to hesitate, but the victory was hers, and she knew it.

Rayan remained on the ground, defeated in more ways than one. His body throbbed with pain, but worse than the physical ache was the realization that his chance to see the outside world was slipping away. He had come so close, only to be brought down in the end.

Mia offered him a hand, but Rayan didn’t take it immediately. He pushed himself up, wobbling on his injured leg. The spike of pain shot through him again, but he forced himself to stand. His pride wouldn't let him stay down, not in front of the crowd, not in front of his friends.

"Good fight," Mia said softly, her tone now filled with respect.

Rayan gave her a small nod, though inside he was still reeling from the loss. "You too."

But this wasn’t the end. Just as the adrenaline began to settle and the crowd's excitement started to fade, Adrian stepped forward with an unexpected announcement.

"The final battle will take place tomorrow," Adrian's voice echoed through the arena, capturing everyone’s attention. His sharp gaze landed on Rayan and Kevin. "It will be between Rayan and Kevin."

Rayan blinked in surprise, his heart still pounding from the previous fight. He hadn’t expected another round, especially not against Kevin, who was ranked first in the academy. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as the students processed the announcement. This battle, it seemed, was necessary because Rayan had impressively fought his way to the 5th position, and Kevin still held the top spot.

Kevin, standing tall and calm, locked eyes with Rayan from across the arena. There was a hint of something unreadable in his gaze—determination mixed with a silent challenge. The air between them felt electric, thick with anticipation and unspoken rivalry.