Kael woke up to the smell of antiseptic, soft sheets, and the unmistakable sensation of something heavy pressing against his ribs.
For a moment, he thought he was dead.
Then he tried to breathe—and pain reminded him otherwise.
"Hhh—!"
"Don't move."
The voice was calm, feminine, and close. Kael cracked one eye open. White ceiling. Soft light crystals embedded overhead. The Academy's medical wing.
A familiar face leaned into view.
Luna Dravaryn.
She was seated beside his bed, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Her dark hair was tied back loosely, a few strands falling around her face. She looked… less untouchable than usual. Less like a legend. More like a person.
"You fractured two ribs," she said. "And burned your hands. Mild internal bruising. You're lucky."
Kael swallowed. "I hate it when people say that."
Her lips twitched. "You should be dead. That's what they mean."
"…Ah. Fair."
He tried to sit up. Pain flared instantly.
"Don't," she said again, more firmly this time. "Healers already yelled at you once."
Kael blinked. "Once?"
She nodded toward the corner of the room.
That's when he noticed Cassian.
Cassian Greycliff was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, expression dark. His armor was gone, replaced by simple academy robes, but the tension radiating off him was unmistakable.
"You're awake," Cassian said. "Good."
Kael frowned. "You sound disappointed."
Cassian ignored that. "Do you have any idea what you did?"
Kael stared at the ceiling. "…Survived?"
Cassian exhaled sharply. "You stood in front of a dragon."
"Correction," Kael said weakly. "I stood behind my summon."
Luna snorted despite herself.
Cassian glared at both of them.
"The entire Academy saw it," Cassian continued. "Professors. Observers. External monitors. Even the city council's scouts."
Kael slowly turned his head. "That sounds… expensive."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "That's what you're worried about?"
"I grew up poor," Kael replied. "Habit."
Before either of them could respond, the door slid open with a soft chime.
Nyx Velorien entered without a sound.
She wore black as always, long coat draped loosely over her shoulders, her spider-beast nowhere in sight. Her pale eyes settled on Kael with clinical interest.
"So," she said quietly. "You lived."
Kael sighed. "I feel like that's becoming my thing."
Nyx stepped closer, studying him like a specimen. "Your summon."
Kael stiffened. "What about it?"
"Where is it?"
As if summoned by the question, something soft and warm shifted on Kael's chest.
The Proto-Form.
It had flattened itself comfortably across his torso like an oversized, gray cat, faint scales glimmering beneath the light. It gurgled contentedly, completely unconcerned.
Luna stared.
Cassian blinked.
Nyx smiled.
"…Fascinating."
Kael carefully lifted one hand and poked it. "You've got some nerve, you know that?"
The Proto-Form wobbled happily.
Nyx tilted her head. "It hasn't been confiscated."
Kael stiffened again. "Confiscated?"
Luna shook her head. "They tried. It refused to move."
Cassian added, "And it nearly crushed a healer's arm when they pushed."
Kael froze. "…It what?"
The System chimed softly in his mind.
[Proto-Form loyalty confirmed.]
[Protective instinct increased.]
[Synchronization rate stabilized at 12%.]
Kael swallowed.
Nyx's eyes narrowed slightly. "It responds to you, not commands. That's rare."
Luna glanced at Kael. "So is surviving dragon fire with an F-Rank beast."
Kael laughed awkwardly. "I keep hearing that."
The door opened again. This time, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Professor Halden entered.
Tall, broad-shouldered, silver hair pulled back neatly, eyes sharp enough to cut. One of the Academy's highest-ranking beastmasters—and one of the few who had ever stood against a dragon and lived.
The room went silent.
Halden's gaze locked onto Kael.
"…Ashborne."
Kael's heart pounded.
"Yes, sir?"
Halden approached slowly, boots clicking softly against the floor. He stopped at the bedside, looking down at the Proto-Form with open interest.
"You know," Halden said, "in thirty years of teaching, I've seen prodigies, geniuses, monsters… and fools."
Kael winced. "I feel like I fall into at least two of those."
Halden's mouth twitched. "You stood when everyone else ran."
"I didn't think running would help."
Halden hummed. "You didn't scream. You didn't beg. You didn't try to command something you couldn't control."
Kael swallowed. "I just… asked it to survive."
Halden straightened.
"That," he said, "is why you're still alive."
The System stirred again.
[High-ranking entity acknowledgment detected.]
[Hidden condition fulfilled: 'Tamer's Resolve'.]
Kael's breath hitched.
Halden turned to the others. "Leave us."
Cassian hesitated. Luna glanced at Kael, then stood.
Nyx lingered for half a second longer than necessary, her gaze unreadable—then followed.
The door closed.
Silence.
Halden pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.
"A dragon doesn't appear by accident," he said. "Not that close to the Academy."
Kael frowned. "So… it was intentional?"
"Or provoked," Halden replied. "Either way, your summon reacted to it."
Kael looked down at the Proto-Form. "Is that bad?"
Halden considered. "It's dangerous."
Kael smiled faintly. "That tracks."
Halden's gaze sharpened. "Your beast is not F-Rank."
Kael's heart skipped. "But the System—"
"Labels," Halden interrupted, "are conveniences. Not truths."
The System chimed again, almost defensively.
[Proto-Form classification: F-Rank.]
[Note: Rank does not reflect evolutionary ceiling.]
Kael stared.
"…Evolutionary ceiling?"
Halden leaned forward. "Most beasts have limits. Fixed paths. Wolves become dire wolves. Eagles become storm eagles. Their peaks are known."
He gestured subtly toward the Proto-Form.
"That thing," he said, "has no visible ceiling."
Kael's throat went dry.
"…Is that why the dragon noticed it?"
Halden nodded once. "Dragons recognize potential. Especially potential that threatens them."
Kael laughed softly, disbelief mixing with fear. "I'm not threatening anything."
Halden met his gaze. "Not yet."
The words hung heavy.
Halden stood. "You will be under observation. Your training schedule will change."
Kael blinked. "Change how?"
Halden smiled thinly. "Harder."
Kael groaned. "I just survived a dragon."
"And you'll need to survive worse," Halden replied.
He turned to leave, then paused.
"Oh," he added casually. "Your parents have been notified."
Kael's heart slammed. "WHAT?"
Halden smirked and left.
Kael stared at the door in horror.
"…I'm dead," he whispered. "Not from a dragon. From my mother."
The Proto-Form gurgled sympathetically.
The System chimed one last time.
[Rest recommended.]
[Evolution threshold: 78%.]
[Warning: next evolution may be irreversible.]
Kael closed his eyes, exhaustion finally pulling him under.
Irreversible.
Somewhere deep inside, fear twisted—but it was drowned out by something stronger.
Excitement.
And far above the Academy, unseen and unheard, something ancient shifted in its sleep.
Something had noticed.