CHAPTER 60: THE DRIVE OF PURPOSE

In the evening the three friends went to their dormitory to rest and but their minds were alive with purpose. Kelvin shared his expanded vision for the Paragon Tide.

"We can make this a legacy where tamers help other tamers, year after year and this can continue even after we are gone from Sanctum."

Lyra’s mission was to push her bond with Salaris beyond her expectations, her ambition was a quiet pulse that mirrored Kelvin and Darius’s drive. Though they were separated by dormitory but their purpose was united, a shared quest for growth through influence.

The next morning unfolded with the Sanctum’s relentless pulse were tamers move through the corridors with their beasts moving along side with them.

Kelvin, Lyra and Darius moved together with their bonds a steady anchor, Xerion’s fiery aura released a fierce glow as he prowled around Kelvin with restrained power.

As paragons of the Inner Sanctum, their relics from the Echoes of Triumph were a quiet testament to their legacy but their focus was inward which was a self-driven quest to grow through purpose and influence.

The Paragon Tide which was their mentorship initiative, had increased into a movement, its sessions were drawing tamers from first-years to third-years which was inspired by Kelvin’s leadership, Lyra’s precision and Darius’s infectious energy.

Kelvin’s Adept Rank 3, with a 66% synchronizing ratio and a very high stability bond with Xerion, the Level 8 Legendary End-Tyrant was a foundation he sought to solidify and his mission to uplift others was a crest of purpose that lifted his spirit and deepened his bond.

The day began with Master Torren’s combat seminar in the Obsidian Yard. Torren, with his commanding presence, drilled them on strategic Convergences while he laid emphasis on maintaining foresight in chaotic scenarios.

Kelvin’s soullight blade synchronized seamlessly with Xerion’s flames while carving through a training construct with a precision that seemed to bend the air which earned him Torren’s rare praise.

"Your foresight is growing, Kelvin," Torren said. "The Paragon Tide is sharpening your instincts." Kelvin’s combat grades were among the top-tier and his practical skills elevated by Eryndor’s scars and the weight of mentoring others, each session with the Paragon Tide refined his ability to lead under pressure.

Lyra’s shadow runes flowed with Salaris’s strikes as her talons sliced through the constructs with surgical accuracy which earned her Master Torren’s approval . "Your strategy is a model, Lyra," he said, and urged her to share her tactics with others.

Her combat performance was flawless, her strategic mind was a quiet strength, but she pushed her shadow cloak rune’s group application which she sketched a final design in her notes to enable seamless stealth for multiple beasts.

Darius’s soulstone blasts increased Rhoam’s armored charges and their synergy toppled constructs with earth-shaking power and his grades climbed as his focus deepened.

"You are a force, Darius," Torren noted, his approval fueled Darius’s grin. His once-reckless style was now tempered which was a testament to the Paragon Tide’s influence and Torren’s rigorous drills.

Torren lingered by Kelvin after class and talked to Kelvin. "The Paragon Tide is a legacy, Kelvin," he said. "You are building something that will last even after you are gone so keep it sharp."

His interest were sparked by Kelvin’s mentorship and his triumph in Eryndor which fueled Kelvin’s resolve to make the Tide a permanent fixture in the Sanctum.

The words were a crest but a challenge Kelvin carried as he left the yard, his gauntlet thrummed with purpose.

In the corridor, Kelvin spotted Riven, the first-year with the Level 2 Ashen Sparrow, practicing a smoky veil, his bond with Ashen faltered under pressure.

Riven’s confidence had grown but consistency eluded him. Kelvin approached him with his gauntlet glowing faintly as he offered a smile. "Hey, Riven. Veil is wobbling? What’s up?"

Riven nodded, with his voice steady but tensed, he said. "Ashen is holding up, but it fades when I push too hard. I want to be ready for the next seminar but I am stuck." His hands fidgeted, and Ashen’s feathers puffed up with a faint wisp of smoke curling from them.

Kelvin smiled and sai."Pressure is just a test, Riven. You are trying to force the veil, let Ashen’s smoky aura flow freely, then anchor it with your will. It is like guiding a flame, not forcing it."

He went ahead and demonstrated it with Xerion, conjuring a flame pulse that flickered steadily as a visual guide for Ashen’s smoky aura.

Kelvin placed a hand on Riven’s shoulder and his gauntlet’s warmth was a quiet reassurance as Xerion’s fire pulsed in his soul as a silent encouragement.

Riven took a deep breath and reached for his bond with Ashen. Kelvin watched while he felt Xerion’s approval ripple through their bond as a steady anchor.

Slowly, Riven’s breathing was steadied and Ashen’s veil was stabilized and its smoky tendrils glowed with a faint spark.

Riven’s eyes lit up and a smile broke through his tension. "It held! I didn’t push too hard and it worked!" His voice was bright as his confidence surged.

Kelvin clapped his hands with a smile. "That is it, Riven. You have got the spark but you have to keep it steady, and Ashen will soar."

Riven’s smile was bold and genuine which was a victory Kelvin carried like a crest and his bond with Xerion surged, his synchronizing ratio ticked upward to 67%.

Teaching Riven to trust his bond was a tide that lifted Kelvin’s own spirit and a self-driven mission that deepened his purpose.

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After the drill with Riven, Kelvin meet with Darius and Lyra under a tree where the had a heart to heart talk before retiring to the dormitory.

Lyra headed to the female dormitory to test her shadow cloak rune’s group application with her roommates.

Their courtyard is always filled with beasts and laughter each time they are gathered, her roommates’ flame lynx and wind sprite darted through a spar and Lyra cloaked them in a seamless shadow veil.