CHAPTER 56: DEEPER SEARCH 2

Her dorm was a cozy space, its walls are adorned with runic tapestries and glowing orbs that cast a soft light over her bunk, where she kept her journals and rune sketches.

Over a meal of spiced bread and herb-roasted meat, her roommates teased her about her relentless study habits, but their warmth grounded her.

Lyra savored the moment when her thoughts drifted to her bond with Salaris. Her self-driven mission was to master a multi-layered shadow rune, a complex sigil to enhance Salaris’s stealth and agility, a challenge that will stretch her creativity and deepen her bond.

She scribbled ideas in her journal, her ambition was a quiet fire burning brighter with each stroke.

Kelvin and Darius ate in the male dormitory’s common room, a rowdy space where tamers traded stories and tossed soulstones in friendly wagers.

Their shared room was cramped with training gear, runic sketches, and the faint scent of scorched leather, was a haven of chaos and camaraderie. Kelvin meditated with Xerion, sitting on the floor, feeling their bond pulse like a heartbeat, Xerion’s fire was a warm anchor.

Darius sparred with Rhoam in the corner, their playful tussle was Rhoam’s plates clashing against Darius’s soulstone which charged punches and sharpened their synchronization.

While in the dormitory Kelvin’s thoughts returned to Riven’s fragile smile which sparked up a plan to mentor struggling tamers, a mission to grow through service.

After lunch, they reunited for Master Torren’s combat seminar in the Obsidian Yard. Torren drilled them on adaptive Convergences, emphasizing flexibility in battle.

Kelvin’s soullight blade danced with Xerion’s flames, weaving a spiral of light and fire that cut through the training construct with precision which earned him Master Torren’s rare praise.

"You are thinking like an Adept, Kelvin," Torren said with a firm voice. "Your instincts are sharper now but you need to keep pushing."

Kelvin’s combat grades were among the highest, his practical skills honed by the scars of Eryndor, where he had faced life and death with an unyielding resolve.

Lyra’s shadow runes flowed seamlessly with Salaris’s strikes, her talons sliced through constructs with surgical accuracy which earned her Master Torren’s nod.

Her combat performance was flawless, her strategic mind was a quiet strength, though she sought to push her runes’ versatility which was a self-driven challenge.

Darius’s soulstone blasts bolstered Rhoam’s armored charges with their synergy toppling constructs with raw power, his grades climbed as his focus deepened. "You are finding balance, Darius," Torren noted, his approval was a spark for Darius’s confidence.

As the seminar ended, Kelvin lingered in the yard and spotted Riven where he was practicing alone, his Ashen Sparrow was faltering at mid-flight, its smoky veil were dissipated under pressure.

Kelvin approached him with his gauntlet glowing as he offered guidance. "You are close, Riven. Let Ash’s aura flow naturally, then anchor it with your focus."

He demonstrated with Xerion, weaving a small flame veil, the fire was steady and controlled. Riven followed with his veil stabilized, Ashen’s feathers glowed with a faint spark.

By nightfall, Riven’s confidence had grown, his bond was stronger, and Kelvin felt his own bond with Xerion surge, his synchronizing ratio reached 60%, a quiet milestone born of teaching.

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The evening brought the trio to their respective dormitory, their minds were alive with purpose. In the male dormitory, Kelvin and Darius lay down in their room.

Kelvin shared his plan to mentor more tamers, his voice was steady with conviction. "Riven is just for a start. There are others out there, struggling like I did with Xerion’s fire. We can help them find their strength."

Darius grinned and said. "Count me in, man. Rhoam has got enough swagger to inspire a whole class, let’s do this." Their resolve was solidified, a self-driven mission to uplift others, a path to growth through service that resonated with their bonds.

In the female dorm, Lyra sat on her bunk, she opened her journal as she refined her shadow rune, the glow of her amulet casted soft shadows. Her roommates were around the room and they shared stories of their beasts.

Lyra’s thoughts turned to her own mission, to push her bond with Salaris beyond the Sanctum’s expectations, to create a rune that would redefine her shadow Convergence.

She sketched a new layer, her ambition was a quiet pulse which mirrored Kelvin and Darius’s drive. Though separated by dorms, the trio’s purpose was united, a shared quest for growth through discovery and influence.

The day closed with Kelvin lying awake in his bunk, Xerion’s fire a steady warmth in his soul. He traced his gauntlet, feeling the pulse of his bond which is now at 60% sync, a testament to his journey from Novice to Adept.

Riven’s smile, Caelum’s words, and Torren’s praise lingered in his mind, a constellation of moments that fueled his resolve. The Sanctum was a crucible, but Kelvin’s mission was mentoring others, refining his bond, and forging his purpose.

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The next morning, Kelvin and Darius met with Lyra in the corridor, her beast was at her side and they shared their plan for a mentorship group, starting with Riven and expanding to others.

Lyra’s eyes lit up, with a firm voice, she said. "I am in, Salaris and I can help with shadow bonds—there’s a first-year with a Mistwisp who we can use for guidance."

Their first session took place in the Obsidian Yard, a small group of first-years gathering under Kelvin’s lead. Riven was there, his Ashen Sparrow perched confidently, alongside Lia, a shy girl with a Level 2 Glimmerhare, and Tor, a bold boy with a Level 3 Emberfox.

Kelvin guided them through basic Convergences, his voice was steady but warm, drawing on his own struggles to connect. "Your beast is not just for power—it’s a partner. Feel their pulse, trust their instinct, and let your bond grow." He demonstrated it with Xerion, weaving a flame pulse that lit the air, inspiring gasps from the group.

Lyra worked with Lia, helping her Glimmerhare glow defensively, while Darius coached Tor by guiding his Emberfox’s sparks into a controlled burst.

Riven’s smoky veil held firm, his confidence soared. The session ended with cheers, the first-years’ bonds were stronger, their eyes alight with purpose. Kelvin felt his bond with Xerion pulse, his sync ratio ticking to 61%, a quiet triumph born of shared growth.

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Master Veyne’s soulstream seminar followed, where Kelvin’s resonance pulse with Xerion earned high marks, Veyne’s approval was a spark for his confidence. "Your mentorship is shaping you, Kelvin," she said. "You’re becoming a pillar."

Lyra’s shadow pulse was flawless, her grades soared, while Darius’s pulse steadied, his performance improved. Veyne’s interest in the trio grew, their influence was a ripple in the Sanctum.

Midday saw Lyra in the female dorm, chatting with her roommates to test her shadow rune, her bond with Salaris deepened with each strike.

Kelvin and Darius trained in the male dorm’s courtyard, their bonds tightened through playful spars. The evening brought another mentorship session, the group grew as more first-years joined, their bonds were flourishing under the trio’s guidance.