Standing between them was a towering figure—a massive dragon beastkin with deep crimson scales and piercing golden eyes. His long robes barely concealed the sheer power radiating from his body.
"I see we have eager young warriors," he said, his voice like rolling thunder. "But if you wish to fight, do so under the Academy's laws—not like wild cubs in the dirt."
Pete gulped. This guy was on another level.
Leo, rubbing his jaw, muttered, "Tch… who's this old lizard?"
The beastkin around them gasped. Some even took a step back.
The dragon-man slowly turned his head toward Leo. The air grew heavy.
"I… am Headmaster Drakoris," he said, his voice calm yet terrifying. "And you… are very, very lucky that I am in a good mood today."
Leo stiffened immediately. "O-Of course, Headmaster! My apologies!"
Drakoris turned to the rest of the students. "Now that I have your attention—all students, to the Grand Hall. Assembly begins now."
With a mere wave of his clawed hand, a gust of wind swept through the courtyard, pushing everyone toward the academy doors. Pete barely had time to breathe before he found himself being ushered inside.
Gregor chuckled beside him. "Well, Pete, welcome to Skyfang Academy. You're off to an explosive start."
Pete raised an eyebrow as he caught Gregor whispering to a girl in the crowd. She was tall, with silver fur covering her arms and wolf-like ears twitching slightly. Her piercing blue eyes flicked toward Pete for a brief moment before she turned away, unimpressed.
Gregor smirked. "Ah, Pete, meet Alya. She's—"
Before he could finish, Alya shot him a glare. "I can introduce myself, shadow boy."
Pete folded his arms. "Oh? So you're already chatting up girls on my first day, huh?"
Gregor chuckled. "Come on, little bro. You're acting like I'm the one who just got challenged to a fight half-dressed."
Alya huffed. "I don't have time for flirting," she said, turning to Pete. "You're the human who got called out by Leo, right?"
Pete sighed. "Yeah, that's me."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Try not to die too quickly." Then, without another word, she walked ahead, disappearing into the crowd.
Pete blinked. "What was that supposed to mean?"
Gregor laughed. "Oh, she likes you. In a 'you might not survive here' kind of way."
Pete shook his head as they entered the massive Grand Hall, where hundreds of beastkin were gathering. The headmaster stood at the front, waiting.
Something told Pete this was just the beginning of a very, very long day.
Pete froze as Gregor's words finally registered. He looked down—his belt buckle was undone. His trousers, barely hanging onto his waist, were one wrong move away from disaster.
And yes. Every falcon beastkin in the hall was staring right at him. Their sharp eyes, trained for spotting the tiniest details from miles away, had zeroed in on his wardrobe malfunction. Some tilted their heads like confused birds, others whispered and chuckled among themselves.
Pete's face burned. "Oh, come on—really?!"
Gregor smirked, barely holding in his laughter. "Told you to check before rushing into the portal, little bro."
Before Pete could fix it, a deep throat-clearing echoed through the Grand Hall. Headmaster Drakoris stood at the podium, eyes glowing with authority.
"Now that everyone is… properly dressed," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone, "let us begin."
Pete quickly fastened his belt and sank into his seat, hoping to avoid any more embarrassment.
But something told him… this was far from the last time he'd end up being the center of attention at Skyfang Academy.
"Now, you were all called here for a very important reason," Headmaster Drakoris continued, his deep voice silencing the murmurs in the hall. His golden eyes swept across the gathered students.
"As you know, Skyfang Academy has stood for centuries as the pinnacle of combat and wisdom among the beastkin. But for the first time in history, we welcome non-beast students."
A ripple of whispers ran through the crowd. Some beastkin looked unimpressed, others curious. A few, like Leo, openly scoffed.
Drakoris raised a clawed hand, and silence fell once more. "This is not simply an experiment. It is a necessity. A great danger looms beyond our lands—one that does not care for the blood in your veins or the strength in your bones. Only together can we hope to survive it."
Pete sat up straighter. A great danger?
Drakoris's gaze turned sharp. "You were not chosen randomly. Each of you—beastkin and non-beast alike—was selected because you possess something rare. A strength, a potential, an ability that may tip the balance in the coming storm."
He paused, letting his words sink in. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a massive stone pillar erupted from the floor behind him. Symbols and runes glowed along its surface, shifting like living fire.
"Thus, your first trial begins now," Drakoris declared. "Step forward, place your hand upon the Pillar of Awakening, and reveal your true power."
A stunned silence filled the room.
Pete swallowed hard. True power? What if… what if he didn't have any?
Then, before anyone could move, a familiar voice cut through the air—Leo Carpforbid, grinning as he cracked his knuckles.
"I'll go first."
The hall filled with a mix of laughter and murmurs at the Headmaster's last remark. Pete groaned internally. He was never living this down.
Drakoris smirked slightly but continued. "Now, as I was saying, this academy stands as a testament to peace. Beastkin have long been scattered across different realms, divided by ancient wars. But the time for division is over."
His expression darkened. "The Dark Beings have returned. They are not mere myths or bedtime stories. They are real, and they threaten all realms. Your history lessons and field training will reveal the depths of their cruelty. But make no mistake—this is not just a lesson in the past. This is a preparation for war."
Silence fell over the hall. The weight of his words sank in.
Then, Leo stepped forward, flexing his claws. "Enough talk. Let's get to the fun part."
He placed his massive hand on the Pillar of Awakening. The runes began to glow, pulsing with energy. The air crackled with power as the pillar reacted.
Suddenly—BOOM! A burst of wind exploded from the stone, shaking the room. Some students stumbled back. The glow intensified, revealing Leo's hidden power.
His body shimmered with golden lightning, his feathers bristling as raw energy surged through him. His muscles expanded slightly, and his claws extended, crackling with the same golden energy.
Leo grinned. "Looks like I didn't disappoint."
The beastkin cheered, some clapping, others howling in approval.
Drakoris nodded, impressed. "A powerful awakening. Well done."
Then his gaze shifted—to Pete.
"You. Human." His deep voice echoed across the hall.
Pete stiffened. Oh, crap.
"Step forward."
All eyes turned to him. Whispers spread through the crowd.
Pete took a shaky breath and forced his feet to move. His heart pounded. What if the pillar did nothing? What if he wasn't special?
He reached out—his fingers inches from the glowing stone.
Pete let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Not him—Gregor.
His older brother stepped forward with a cocky smirk. "Don't look so relieved, little bro. You'll have your turn."
Gregor placed his hand on the pillar. Instantly, the air grew cold.
WHOOOOSH!
Darkness exploded from the stone, swallowing the entire Grand Hall in a swirling cocoon of shadows. Gasps filled the air as even the glowing torches lining the walls were snuffed out.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then—two glowing violet eyes emerged from the darkness.
Gregor stepped forward, his entire body surrounded by pulsing black energy. His shadow stretched unnaturally, writhing like a living entity. The darkness bent to his will, forming blade-like tendrils that hovered around him.
The beastkin stared in awe. Even Drakoris raised an eyebrow.
"Impressive," the Headmaster rumbled. "A true master of the shadows… even at such a young age."
Leo clicked his tongue. "Tch. Another shadow freak."
Gregor simply smirked, snapping his fingers. The darkness vanished in an instant, as if it had never been there. He turned to Pete. "Well? Think you can top that?"
Pete gulped. Now it was his turn.
The Headmaster's golden eyes locked onto him. "Now, human. Step forward."
The hall fell silent once more as Pete approached the pillar, his hand trembling as he reached for it.
Pete froze mid-step. Wait, what?
The Headmaster's golden eyes narrowed. "Gregor, stand by. If something goes wrong… you may be the only one who can stop him."
A wave of whispers rippled through the hall. Beastkin students shot each other confused or intrigued looks.
Pete turned to Gregor, who was no longer smirking. His expression had turned serious.
"Uh… is there something I should know?" Pete asked, suddenly feeling very nervous.
Gregor crossed his arms. "Just put your hand on the pillar, Pete."
Pete swallowed hard. Why was everyone acting like he was some kind of danger? He wasn't like Gregor—he didn't have shadow powers or beast-like strength. He was just… Pete.
But now, doubt gnawed at him.
What if they knew something he didn't?
The pillar pulsed with energy, waiting.
Pete took a deep breath, ignoring the stares, the whispers, the pressure.
He placed his hand on the stone.
For a moment—nothing happened.
Then—
CRACK!
The entire pillar shattered.
A shockwave of pure, uncontrolled energy erupted from the ruins, blasting through the Grand Hall. The walls groaned under the force, torches exploded, and a howling wind tore through the academy.
Pete's mind went blank.
He was floating. Suspended in endless light and shadow, fire and ice, earth and air.
Then, a voice—not his own—whispered into his mind.
"You have finally awakened… my vessel."
Pete barely had time to process what had just happened before Gregor's shadow tendrils wrapped around him, locking down the wild energy that had just exploded from his body.
Gregor sighed. "Hey, dumbass. Like hell I'm cleaning up your mess again."
With a snap of his fingers, the swirling chaos around Pete vanished, swallowed whole by Gregor's shadows. The Grand Hall, once on the verge of destruction, settled into an unnatural silence.
Drakoris raised a clawed hand, and with a single flick of his wrist, the shattered pillar instantly restored itself, as if nothing had ever happened.
The beastkin students slowly began to murmur. Some looked at Pete with awe, others with fear
"Hey, fairy, it's your turn," Leo called out, smirking as he nudged a small, winged girl forward. She huffed and crossed her arms but didn't argue.
Meanwhile, Gregor sighed, grabbing Pete by the collar. "Alright, idiot. Let's get you cleaned up before you pass out or something."
Pete groaned, still dazed. "Wh-what… was that?"
Gregor dragged him toward the exit. "That? That was you almost wrecking the school in five seconds."
Pete blinked. "…Oh."
"Yeah. 'Oh.' Now shut up and let's go."
As Gregor led him to the restroom, Pete's mind raced.
That voice… the power inside him…
What the hell had just awakened?
As Pete splashed cold water on his face in the restroom, his mind was still spinning. His body still tingled with leftover energy from the explosion at the pillar.
Gregor leaned against the sink, arms crossed. "You good now, or do I need to smack you back to normal?"
Pete exhaled. "I think I'm good. Just… what the hell was that?"
Before Gregor could answer, the door slammed open.
In rushed Thera, a small, silver-winged fairy, her translucent wings fluttering anxiously. Alya followed close behind, her sharp blue eyes locked onto Pete like he was a puzzle she couldn't solve.
"You!" Thera pointed dramatically at Pete. "What… what exactly are you?"
Pete blinked. "Uh. A human?"
Thera huffed. "Don't play dumb! I just saw the evaluation. The Pillar of Awakening shattered. That doesn't happen. Ever. Even the headmaster seemed surprised!"
Gregor shrugged. "Yeah, well, Pete here has always been a bit of a walking disaster."
Alya ignored Gregor, stepping forward. "That power… I've never seen anything like it. Not in beastkin, not in fae, not even in dragons. Whatever is inside you… it's not normal."
Pete swallowed. He knew that much already.
Thera flitted closer, eyes narrowed. "Something awakened inside you. Something big. And I think… I think I know where to start figuring out what it is."
Pete met her gaze. "…Where?"
She took a deep breath. "We need to go to the Archives of the Lost."
Gregor groaned. "Oh, great. A library quest. Just what I wanted."
Pete, though? He had a feeling this was just the beginning.
Alya smirked, crossing her arms. "So, you two are a light and shadow combo, huh?"
Gregor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Pete's the unpredictable light cannon, and I'm the one who has to clean up his mess with my shadows."
Pete frowned. "I don't even know what my power is yet."
Alya's smirk widened. "Exactly why this is interesting." She turned to Thera. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Thera grinned, her silver wings fluttering. "Oh, absolutely. We just found a living mystery."
Gregor groaned. "Great. Pete's a guinea pig now."
Alya tilted her head. "More like a research partner."
Thera added, "…And maybe a guinea pig."
Pete sighed. "I feel very unsafe right now."
Alya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, don't worry. It'll be fun."
Gregor nudged Pete. "You definitely should be worried."
Pete groaned. "Yeah. I figured."
But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Alya and Thera might be the key to unlocking whatever the hell just awakened inside him. N