CHAPTER 38: NEED FOR BALANCE

The reprimand which Lyra received for sleeping over in the male dormitory had burdened her so much and kept her away from her clique at night, but it only deepened their commitment to the Sanctum’s discipline.

The Obsidian Division was a crucible, and the trio’s triumphs in the Proving Grounds had raised the stakes and respect for them. The Inner Sanctum’s shadow loomed larger and its next challenge was a whisper in the air, urging them to push harder.

Kelvin woke up before dawn to glance through his book, the dorm was quiet safe for the soft clink of Rhoam’s armored plates as the panther shifted in sleep and the faint hum of Xerion’s breathing, the End-Tyrant’s obsidian scales which was reflecting the pre-dawn glow.

Kelvin’s gauntlet, etched with Xerion’s sigil as it pulsed faintly on his wrist as a constant reminder of their bond’s strength.

He sat on his cot, reviewing his notes from Master Sylva’s seminar on beast synergy, his mind raced to connect the concepts to their battles in the Veil and Crucible.

The Sanctum demanded mastery in every facet—knowledge, skill, and heart—and Kelvin felt the weight of it, but it fueled and encouraged him.

Darius woke up, yawning as he tossed his soulstone into the air and catched it with a lazy grin as he asked Kelvin. "Up already? You are worse than Torren, man, please allow me to sleep."

Kelvin smirked, tossing his quill at Darius, who dodged it and startled Rhoam awake. The panther growled with his plates clinking.

"We are only permitted to sleep when we are legends," Kelvin said. "We have got Veyne’s lecture on soulstream resonance at sunrise, then Caelum’s rune practical, please no slacking is needed."

Darius groaned but swung his legs off the cot. "Fine, but if Veyne’s serpent hisses at me again, I will blam you for it."

A soft tap at the window signaled them of Lyra’s arrival—not in person, but through a note which is delivered by Avian Salaris, her sleek raptor glided in with a scroll tied to her talon.

Kelvin caught it, reading aloud: Meet me in the library before Veyne’s lecture. Got a lead on soulstream resonance from Sylva’s texts. Please don’t be late. Salaris chirped while her moonlight feathers shimmered before she then took flight back to Lyra’s dormitory.

Kelvin’s eyes lit up. "She is already digging. Please let’s move on with the speed and not slow down."

-------

The library was a place of knowledge, it’s air carries the scent of aged parchment and wild magic, a reminder of the Sanctum’s ancient legacy.

Lyra sat at a corner table with her silver hair catching the glow of a runic lamp, her amulet was pulsing as she went over a weathered scroll. Salaris perched nearby with her talons clicking softly as she scanned the room with predatory eyes.

"You are late," Lyra said without looking up, her tone was teasing but focused. "This scroll details on soulstream resonance in multi-beast scenarios. It could give us an edge in Torren’s next drill."

Kelvin slid into a chair, Xerion’s presence was a warm pulse in his soul. "What is it was your findings? Let’s hear it?"

Lyra pushed the scroll toward him. "What I found out is about balancing multiple bonds under pressure—like synchronizing our Convergences in a fight. If we master this, we could amplify our attacks together."

Darius, making a noise down with a yawn, took the scroll from Kelvin. "This sounds complicated. Can’t we just blow stuff up with soulstones?"

Lyra shot him a questioning look, but her lips was like she smiled. "Not everything is about explosions, Darius. Precision matters."

Rhoam growled softly, nudging Darius, who grinned. "Yeah, yeah, I will read it later but let’s get to Veyne’s before her serpent eats us."

-------

Master Veyne’s lecture hall was a circular chamber, the air was thick with ozone, and students sat with their beasts, from a flamehawk to a stonebear, their eyes locked on Veyne as she began the lecture.

"Soulstream resonance is the heartbeat of your bond," she said with her serpent weaving threads of light. "Today, you will learn to stabilize it under duress."

Kelvin took furious notes, linking Veyne’s words to Lyra’s scroll. His gauntlet thrummed while amplifying his focus as he visualized syncing Xerion’s fire with Salaris’s shadow and Rhoam’s strength.

Lyra’s notes were meticulously taken with her amulet glowing as she sketched resonance patterns. Darius, surprisingly was very attentive as he jotted down every key points, Rhoam’s steady presence was keeping him grounded.

The lecture ended with a practical: stabilizing a mock soulstream rift which was projected by Veyne’s serpent.

Kelvin’s gauntlet guided his resonance pulse, synchronizing perfectly with Xerion’s fire. Lyra’s amulet enhanced her control, her pulse was flawless.

Darius’s pulse wavered, but Rhoam’s nudge steadied him, earning a passable result. Veyne’s nod was curt but approving. "Resonance is your anchor in chaos. Master it, or it will master you."

-------

Later in the morning they went to the Runic Workshop, where Master Caelum’s forge-like chamber rang with the hum of carving styluses. The air was hot, thick with the tang of molten soulstones.

Caelum’s stern voice cut through the heat as he guided them through crafting runes of synergy which was designed to link multiple bonds in combat. "A single tamer is strong," he said, "but a unit is unstoppable."

Kelvin etched a synergy rune into a soulstone with his gauntlet steadying his hand as he channeled Xerion’s fire.

The stone glowed, accepting the rune, and he felt a surge of pride as Xerion’s approval rippled through their bond.

Lyra carved a shadow rune, her amulet was amplifying her precision, while Darius, focused for once and produced a clean strength rune for Rhoam. Caelum’s rare praise—a grunt which felt like a triumph.

As they left the workshop, Lyra’s eyes gleamed. "If we combine these runes with resonance, we could sync our Convergences like never before."

Kelvin nodded, his mind racing fast. "Let’s test it in Torren’s drill this afternoon."

-----

The Obsidian Yard was a storm of motion by noon, the air was alive with the clash of claws and the flare of soulstream energy.

Clang..... Clang....clang ... Clang..... Clang

Master Torren stood with his obsidian tortoise, his voice was like gravel as he announced the day’s challenge: a team-based Convergence drill against runic constructs mimicking a beast horde.

"Your bonds must work as one," he said. "Show me synergy, or you will taste defeat."

The trio paired up, their beasts were ready. Xerion’s wings flared up while Salaris took flight, and Rhoam’s plates clinked as he prowled.

The constructs emerged—stone wolves, flame serpents, and shadow raptors, their movements were swift and coordinated.

Kelvin signaled, and they attacked as a unit. His gauntlet blazed, channeling a soullight blade as Xerion’s flames engulfed a wolf. Lyra’s shadow runes bound a serpent, Salaris’s talons stroke its core.

Darius hurled a soulstone, its explosion staggered a raptor, and Rhoam’s claws finished it.

Their synergy rune, etched that morning and it amplified their Convergences, their soul streams was intertwining in a blazing symphony.

Kelvin felt Xerion’s fire merge with Salaris’s shadow and Rhoam’s strength, their strikes were devastated the constructs.

A wolf grazed Kelvin’s arm, drawing blood, but his bond dulled the pain, and he pressed on, his blade shattered the core of the beast.

Lyra’s amulet pulsed, her runes pinned a serpent as Salaris tore through the serpent. Darius’s soulstone misfired, but Rhoam’s charge compensated, crushing a raptor.

Torren’s nod was grudging but clear. "This is better but your synergy is raw, try to refine it."

The trio panted with their beasts bloodied but unbowed. Kelvin wiped sweat from his brow, feeling the rush of their unity. "We ae getting there," he said, catching Lyra’s eye.

She nodded, her breath heavy. "One step closer."

------

Later in the evening they went for Master Sylva’s seminar in the greenhouse-like hall, its walls draped with glowing moss.

Sylva’s vine-serpent wove through the vines as she lectured on beast empathy, the art of understanding a beast’s emotions to strengthen your bond with your beast.

"Your beast is not a tool," she said with her voice sharp. "It is your partner. Feel its heart, or your bond will falter and fail you."

Kelvin listened intently, his notes linking Sylva’s words to Xerion’s fiery passion. He visualized calming the End-Tyrant’s rage in battle while channeling it into precision.

Lyra’s diagrams mapped Salaris’s instincts with her amulet glowing as she worked. Darius who was chastened by his earlier misfire was focused taking his notes surprisingly detailed as Rhoam’s steady presence anchored him.

The seminar ended with a practical: sensing a beast’s emotional state through the soulstream. Kelvin dove into his bond, feeling Xerion’s fire which was fierce but loyal.

Lyra’s bond with Salaris was a steady shadow with her empathy flawless. Darius struggled with his connection to Rhoam’s strength wavering, but the panther’s nudge guided him to success.

-----

As night fell, the trio gathered in the library, this time respecting Lyra’s dormitory rules. The air was quiet, the relics—fang, shard, orb, and new soulstones were glowing on the table.

Kelvin leaned against a shelf, feeling Xerion’s warmth outside. "The Sanctum is really pushing us to our limits," he said, with a low voice. "But it’s making us stronger."

Lyra nodded, stroking Salaris’s feathers. "Every lecture, every drill is building us into something more."

Darius grinned, tossing a soulstone. "Yeah, and we are gonna own the Inner Sanctum."

Rhoam growled, Salaris chirped, and Xerion’s fire pulsed in Kelvin’s soul. The Sanctum’s trials is looming, but their bonds, sharpened by discipline were ready to blaze.