Rylan and Blaze started running—they didn't know what they were running from, but it looked and felt dangerous. The air behind them was heavy, pulsing with an invisible force that tugged at their very souls. Blaze didn't hesitate; with a flick of his wrist, he summoned his two dragons—one white, one black—their massive wings tearing through the fog of whatever realm they were in.
"Get on!" Blaze yelled.
Rylan leapt onto the black dragon as Blaze mounted the white. But the creature behind them was faster. It caught up in seconds and slashed across the backs of both dragons, knocking the boys into a spiral.
Before they could hit the ground, they jolted awake.
Sweat dripped from their foreheads as they stared at the ceiling, both breathing hard. They looked at each other, too shocked to say anything—but deep down, they knew. They'd had the same dream. And something… something was coming.
They tried to sleep again, managing only a few more restless hours before the sun spilled through the window.
Blaze stretched. "I had a weird dream yesterday."
Rylan raised an eyebrow, already pulling his blanket off. "You mean the one where you tried to save me from that thing with your dragons... but failed?"
Blaze frowned. "Yeah, but you didn't have to say it like that. I did try, y'know."
Rylan chuckled. "Let's talk about this later. Right now, we gotta go to school."
Blaze shot up. "Oh yeah, right! We still have to check out our new creatures and beasts!"
The academy halls buzzed with energy that morning. Students hurried through wide archways lined with dragon-tooth columns, voices echoing under massive crystalline ceilings. Word had spread about the re-exam, and the new rankings were the talk of the school.
Rylan and Blaze joined their friends at breakfast in the academy cafeteria. Everyone was buzzing with excitement over their updated ranks.
James leaned over. "You guys heard? Today we get our second summons!"
Joy grinned. "I can't wait! I hope I get something huge this time."
Mr. Will's voice rang through a magical announcement rune embedded in the wall: "All students, please report to the Arena of Echoes. It is time for your second summoning trials."
The Arena of Echoes was vast. Runes were etched into every surface, resonating with the raw pulse of summoning magic. Students formed lines in front of summoning circles, each with a glowing orb hovering above it.
Mr. Will explained the process: "Place your hand on the orb, speak the summoning phrase, and offer a drop of your blood. Your second bonded creature will respond. Remember, this summon will be more attuned to your soul than the first."
One by one, students stepped forward. Creatures of all shapes and elements appeared—some fierce, others elegant.
Then Rylan stepped forward.
He placed his hand on the orb and whispered: "Summon of mine, may the gods bless me with you."
A cut across his palm sent a drop of blood into the circle.
The moment it touched the stone, the arena darkened. The orb turned black, then gleamed gold, then pulsed between both colors. The wind howled, and from within the circle… something began to emerge.
A beast with serpentine wings of obsidian and silver, eyes of flickering purple flame, and scales that shimmered between darkness and light. It floated for a moment, then gently lowered to Rylan's side.
The crowd was silent.
Mr. Will stepped forward cautiously. "That… that's not just a summon." He knelt beside it. "This is an Ancient Soulbound. They haven't been seen in thousands of years."
"What's that?" Rylan asked, feeling the bond surge through his chest.
"It means this creature isn't just bonded to your magic," Mr. Will explained. "It's bonded to your soul. You are its heir."
Gasps rippled through the arena. Whispers of "Soulbound Heir" began to spread.
Just then, Blaze stepped up to summon his second creature. As he did, both his dragons appeared beside him without being summoned, roaring into the air.
His second creature didn't emerge from the circle.
It fell from the sky.
A phoenix-like bird with scales of black fire and feathers of white lightning crash-landed in front of him, then stood calmly, watching Blaze with glowing red eyes.
Mr. Will looked at both boys. "This… this isn't supposed to be possible. Two Soulbound bonds. And two creatures with Ancient Energy…"
A portal tore open in the sky above the arena.
A hooded figure emerged from it, floating above the crowd. Its voice was warped, echoing with layers of sound.
"So… the heirs have awakened."
The figure raised a finger, and every rune in the arena shattered.
The staff rushed forward to protect the students, but Mr. Will stood firm, raising a golden staff and shouting, "Everyone, evacuate the arena! Now!"
The figure smirked, then disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
The students, terrified and confused, scattered.
Later that evening, in their dorm room, Rylan sat on his bed, holding the crystal given to him by the summoning orb. Blaze stood by the window, still watching the sky.
Rylan broke the silence. "You think that thing from our dream was real?"
Blaze didn't look away. "I don't think it was a dream."
Rylan looked down at the crystal as it shimmered in both light and shadow.
Whatever was coming… they had only just begun to understand it.
Then the crystal flickered—and for a heartbeat, it showed a symbol neither of them recognized: a sigil shaped like twin dragons, their tails knotted in infinity.
The light went out.
And they new something dark was arising