CHAPTER 55: DEEPER SEARCH

The relics from the Echoes of Triumph-the Glory Warden’s crest, the Keeper of Resolve’s stone, and the Sovereign of Triumph’s runic crystal. They all rested in their packs which was a quiet testament to their status as paragons of the Inner Sanctum.

Yet the weight of their title ignited a deeper hunger, not for external trials or missions, but for self-discovery, a burning drive to refine their bonds and grow beyond the Sanctum’s expectations.

For Kelvin, his recent rise to Adept Rank 3 with a 58% sync ratio and a very high stability bond with Xerion, the Level 8 Legendary End-Tyrant was a hard-won milestone but the gap between his potential and his reality gnawed at him, a quiet ache to bridge through purpose and action.

After rest their rest from yesterday’s trials, their day began in Master Caelum’s runic seminar class. Caelum, a grizzled tamer, leaned over Kelvin’s workbench and inspected his latest creation, a resonance sigil which is designed to amplify Xerion’s fiery soulstream.

"Your precision is sharper, Kelvin," Caelum said. "Your mission at Eryndor’s has left its mark-you are etching with a steadiness I haven’t seen before."

Kelvin nodded with his gauntlet thrumming as he carved the final stroke and the rune pulsed with a soft, fiery glow. His academic performance had surged since the mission in Eryndor, a reflection of his sharpened resolve and the real-world stakes that had forged him.

The victory over the Abyssal Ravager with the grateful faces of the villagers and the pain of his wounds had anchored him, giving his studies a new depth.

Lyra at a nearby bench, carved a shadow rune for Salaris, her amulet was glowing faintly as she worked with meticulous care.

Caelum paused by her desk with narrowed eyes as he studied her intricate design. "Elegant work, Lyra, but don’t play it safe. Push the complexity because you have got the mind to handle it."

Lyra’s focus didn’t waver, but a faint smile curved her lips, her confidence was increased by the challenge. Her grades in runic theory were stellar, her analytical mind thrived though she sought to deepen her practical application which was driven by a quiet ambition to innovate beyond the textbook.

Darius was typically restless but surprised Caelum with a strength rune for Rhoam and its bold lines were clean and deliberate.

"That is not bad, Darius," Caelum grunted with a rare note of respect in his tone. "You are finally thinking before you leap."

Darius grinned, tossing a soulstone lightly in his hand. "I had to keep up with these two, right? I Can’t let them hog the spotlight." His grades, once erratic due to his impulsive nature, were stabilizing. Caelum’s approval lingered in the air with a spark that fueled Darius’s drive to prove himself.

As the seminar ended, Kelvin stayed behind, discussing rune variants with Caelum, who seemed increasingly interested in his progress.

"You are not just a tamer, Kelvin," Caelum said. "You are a leader. The Sanctum needs tamers who inspire others and don’t shy away from that role." The words struck deep and a spark was ignited in Kelvin’s mind as he rejoined Lyra and Darius for their next class, his gauntlet thrummed with a quiet sense of purpose.

Master Sylva’s beast empathy seminar took place in an open-air courtyard where vines pulsed with faint soulstream energy, their glow casted a dappled patterns on the ground.

Sylva guided them through sensing their beasts’ emotions under simulated stress. Kelvin closed his eyes and dove into his bond with Xerion, feeling a fierce loyalty that is tempered by a restless hunger for growth, a fire that mirrored his own.

"You are synchronizing deeper, Kelvin," Sylva noted and encouraged him. "Your bond is alive with purpose-Eryndor’s taught you to listen." Kelvin’s chest swelled, his empathy skills earned him high marks, a testament to the mission that had forced him to face not just a rogue beast, but the weight of others that lives.

Lyra excelled, her bond with Salaris was a steady shadow, her empathy was precise. Sylva praised her strength, urging her to mentor younger tamers, a suggestion that sparked a thoughtful look in Lyra’s eyes.

Her academic performance in empathy was flawless, her ability to read Salaris’s subtle instincts was a model for others.

Darius struggled initially but Rhoam’s blunt emotions overwhelmed his focus, but Sylva’s patient guidance helped him to find balance, his effort earned a passing grade and a boost to his confidence.

"You’re getting there, Darius," Sylva said with a firm nod. "Always trust Rhoam’s heart, it is as steady as his plates."

As the seminar ended, Kelvin noticed a first-year tamer named Riven, he lingered by the vines with his Level 2 Ashen Sparrow that is a small bird with smoky feathers and nervous eyes which perched on his shoulder.

Riven’s shoulders collapsed heavily with his gaze fixed on the ground with his confidence visibly frayed like a worn thread.

Kelvin approached him with his gauntlet glowing faintly as he offered a smile. "Hey, Riven, are you okay? You look like you are re carrying a storm."

Riven stuttered with his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I can’t get Ash to trust me. He is scared all the time, and I am failing empathy. Everyone else is so far ahead." His hands trembled, and Ashen’s feathers puffed up, a faint wisp of smoke curling from them.

Kelvin bent over to Riven’s level, his tone gentle but firm, as he said. "I was shaky with Xerion at first, too. His flames felt like they had burn me out, but it’s not about forcing trust, it’s about listening.

Try this: close your eyes, feel Ashen’s heartbeat through your bond and let him know that you are there, just you and him." He placed a hand on Riven’s shoulder, his gauntlet’s warmth was a quiet reassurance.

Riven hesitated with his breath uneven but he followed Kelvin’s lead, closing his eyes and reached for his bond. Kelvin watched, feeling Xerion’s pulse as a fire in his soul which was a silent encouragement.

Slowly, Riven’s breathing was steadied, and Ashen’s feathers softened, a faint spark of soulstream an energy passing between them.

Riven’s eyes snapped open, wide with awe. "I... I felt him. He’s not scared anymore but he is calm."

Kelvin grinned and clapped Riven’s shoulder. "That is it, Riven. You are building trust so keep at it and Ash will soar with you."

Riven’s smile was small but genuine that was a victory Kelvin carried like a ember in his chest, a self-identified mission to uplift others which fueled his own growth. His bond with Xerion thrummed, his sync ratio ticking upward to 59%, a subtle but tangible step forward.

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The trio parted for lunch, Lyra heading to the female dormitory to eat with her roommates, a lively group of tamers who filled the air with laughter and the clink of plates.