Bondless

In a world where bonding with a powerful beast is the key to success and survival, Aren Valen has always been seen as an outcast. Unlike most children, Aren couldn’t bond with a beast by the age of twelve, the typical age for such bonds. At fifteen, when the expectation to tame a beast is all but a memory, Aren ventures into the dangerous, beast-infested forest—ready to risk it all. There, he encounters a small, mysterious, and seemingly weak creature with silver fur—Sharu. Unlike any beast he has ever heard of, Sharu forms a bond with Aren, marking the beginning of an unlikely partnership. Upon returning home, Aren is met with a range of reactions from his family. His father, Gareth Valen, the cold and stern head of the family, finally seems to accept him, albeit with reservations. His sister, Lina, is delighted, wanting to pet Sharu as though it were a normal creature, while his brother, Cale, remains distant, focusing on his own success with his powerful beast. Yet, the elders remain unimpressed, declaring Sharu an unknown beast with uncertain potential. Determined to prove his worth, Aren embarks on a new journey by enrolling in a prestigious academy for beast tamers. The academy, however, is not just a school—it’s a battleground where the strong rise and the weak fall. No entrance exams are required at first, but after a month, a competition will determine each student’s strength. Here, Aren must navigate new alliances and rivalries, forming friendships with students like Aric Sunflare, the optimistic boy with a playful fire salamander; Liora Frostwind, the noble, aloof ice beast tamer; Dorian Thorne, the ambitious commoner; and Lyra Stormcloud, a mysterious girl with a shadowy bird-like beast. As Aren trains and grows stronger, his bond with Sharu deepens, leading him toward the ultimate goal—proving his place in a world where only the strongest survive. But Aren’s journey isn’t just about strength; it’s about discovering his true potential, uncovering Sharu’s mysterious origins, and navigating the complexities of his family, the academy, and the dangerous world that awaits him.