Beasts of Anomaly

The forest was alive with sound as the group made their way back to camp, the faint hum of the crystalline trees blending with the distant calls of beasts in the Wild. Azhaan walked beside the Shadow Stalker, his mind replaying the events of the Wisp Serpent trial. He could still feel the flicker of understanding they'd shared during the hunt—a connection that felt deeper than he'd expected.

Kaela broke the silence first, her voice calm but carrying a note of approval. "You did well back there. Most rookies would have panicked."

Azhaan glanced at her, brushing a stray branch out of his way. "I was panicking. I just didn't have time to act like it."

Kaela smirked. "Fair enough. But you trusted your instincts—and your beast. That's what matters."

Alira, who was leading the group, turned her head slightly. "Don't let it get to your head, rookie. The Wild tested you, and you passed. Barely. But you've still got a long way to go."

Azhaan frowned, his earlier confidence dimming. "You really know how to motivate people, don't you?"

Alira chuckled, her plant-like companion weaving around her feet. "You're not here for motivation. You're here to survive."

The Shadow Stalker let out a low growl, and Azhaan glanced down at it. Its glowing red eyes were fixed on Alira, as if it didn't appreciate her tone.

"Easy," Azhaan said softly, placing a hand on the beast's dark fur.

They reached the edge of the camp just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in shades of violet and gold. The fire Kaela had lit earlier still crackled in the center of the clearing, and the sight of it filled Azhaan with a surprising sense of comfort.

As they settled around the fire, Alira crouched beside her pack and pulled out a small leather-bound journal. She flipped through its pages, muttering to herself before finally looking up. "Alright, let's get down to business."

"Business?" Azhaan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alira nodded. "You're not just some random tamer with a strange bond, Azhaan. Whatever's going on with you—and that mark on your arm—it's tied to something bigger. If we're going to figure it out, we need to start piecing together the clues."

Azhaan sighed, leaning back against a fallen log. "Fine. Where do we start?"

"With what we know," Alira said, tapping the journal with her finger. "You bonded with a Shadow Stalker—something that's supposed to be impossible. You've got a mark on your arm that glows every time you use your bond, and you've already been attacked by a group of cloaked tamers who seem to know more about you than you do."

"Don't forget the part where I nearly got eaten by a vine monster," Azhaan added dryly.

Alira grinned. "Right. Can't forget that."

Kaela's expression grew serious. "We need to figure out who those attackers were. If they're part of a faction or guild, we need to know their motives—and how far they're willing to go."

Alira nodded. "And to do that, we'll need to dig deeper into the history of the bond system."

Azhaan frowned. "What does the bond system have to do with them attacking me?"

Alira leaned forward, her voice lowering slightly. "Because the bond system isn't just a tool for tamers. It's a living network, a connection that ties every tamer and beast in Aetheris together. And like any network, it has its secrets."

Azhaan's stomach twisted. "Secrets like what?"

"Like how it was created," Alira said. "And who—or what—is really controlling it."

Kaela shifted uncomfortably, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "There are a lot of rumors about the bond system's origins. Most tamers don't question it—they just accept it as part of life. But some people… some people think it's more than that. That it's alive."

"Alive?" Azhaan repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alira's gaze was intense. "And if your bond is tied directly to the system, that means you're not just a tamer, Azhaan. You're something else entirely."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Azhaan stared at the glowing mark on his arm, his mind racing. He'd spent his entire life as an ordinary college student, and now he was being told he might be connected to the very foundation of this strange, magical world.

"How do we figure out what's going on?" he asked finally.

Alira smirked. "We start with the people who don't want you to know the truth. If those cloaked tamers came after you once, they'll come after you again. And next time, we'll be ready for them."

Later that night, as the others slept, Azhaan sat by the fire, staring into the flames. The Shadow Stalker lay nearby, its body blending seamlessly into the shadows.

"You know more than you let on, don't you?" Azhaan said quietly, glancing at the beast.

The Shadow Stalker lifted its head, its glowing red eyes meeting his.

Azhaan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what's happening to me, or why I'm here. But whatever this bond is… I'll figure it out. I just need you to stick with me."

The Shadow Stalker let out a soft growl, its gaze unwavering. For a moment, Azhaan thought he felt the bond between them pulse—a silent agreement, a promise unspoken.

As the fire crackled and the forest hummed around them, Azhaan couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The shadows of Aetheris were deep, and somewhere within them, the answers he sought were waiting.

He just had to survive long enough to find them.