CHAPTER 65: THE CREST OF FIRE

A pulse that Kelvin felt in his veins as he moved through the crowded corridors was Xerion’s fiery aura that casted a fierce glow at his side. Lyra and Darius matched his stride with their beasts—Avian Salaris and Rhoam.

As paragons of the Inner Sanctum, their relics from the Echoes of Triumph were a quiet testament, but their focus was on the Tide’s Crest which is now a growing beacon of mentorship.

Kelvin’s Adept Rank 3, with a 70% synchronizing ratio and a very high stability bond with Xerion, the Level 8 Legendary End-Tyrant, was a foundation he sought to refine, but the Crest’s expansion brought fresh challenges.

Rorik, a senior tamer with a Level 7 Storm Eagle, had openly questioned the Crest’s legitimacy, and Master Caelum’s latest runic task loomed like a crucible which tested Kelvin’s persistence and resolve.

The day began with Master Caelum’s runic seminar. Master Caelum stood before a glowing runic forge with his Level 9 Iron Wyrm that coiled in the corner with its scales glinting like polished steel.

The seminar focused on dual-resonance runes, sigils that combined two soulstream elements for amplified effect. Caelum’s voice was loud enough, cutting through the hall.

"These runes demands precision, fire and soullight, shadow and wind. If you fail to balance them they will collapse. You will craft one today, synchronizing it with your beast’s aura."

Kelvin sat at his workbench with his gauntlet thrumming as he sketched a fire-soullight rune for Xerion and its lines were meant to amplify his flames with radiant stability.

He carved the sigil into a soulstone, his chisel was steady, but when he channeled Xerion’s aura, the rune flared chaotically, its glow fractured before collapsing into ash.

Kelvin’s stomach sank while his confidence was shaken as Caelum paused by his bench with his eyes narrow. "you had too much fire with not enough soullight," Caelum said.

"You were forcing it, Kelvin. Runes don’t bend to impatience." Kelvin nodded with his jaw tight, but the failure stung was a reminder of the Crest’s mounting pressures.

Lyra, at a nearby bench, carved a shadow-wind rune for Salaris and its intricate lines glowed with a soft, breezy aura. She channeled Salaris’s shadow instincts, the rune stabilizing flawlessly and earned Caelum’s rare praise.

"Elegant work, Lyra. You are setting a standard." Her runic grades soared and her shadow veil rune which was designed to boost Salaris’s defense is a testament to her precision.

Darius’s earth-soullight rune for Rhoam wavered initially and its lines were too bold, but he adjusted, synchronizing Rhoam’s steady aura which earning him a nod from Master Caelum. "This is better, Darius," Caelum said. "Keep refining."

Master Caelum went round and checked every other person’s work in the room, he commended some while others were corrected where they got it wrong.

As the seminar ended people were moving out, Kelvin approached Master Caelum. His gauntlet glowed faintly while Xerion’s fire was a restless pulse.

"Master Caelum, I need help," he said. "My rune keeps failing. I am not balancing Xerion’s fire right, and... the Crest is facing pushback. I need to get this right."

Master Caelum responded to Kelvin and said. "Runes test your soul, Kelvin. My first dual rune crumbled for weeks, nearly broke my bond with Forgoth.

I learned precision through failure so study Xerion’s aura, not just his power. Meet me after classes; we will refine your technique."

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The next class was Master Veyne’s class, where he lectured on emotional resonance, urging tamers to align their deepest feelings with their beasts’.

"Your soulstream is a mirror," she said with a clear voice. "Today, you will craft a resonance pulse under emotional strain, using a construct to simulate doubt."

Kelvin paired with Taryn, the second-year with a Level 4 Frostboar, whose nervous energy mirrored Kelvin’s own doubts about the Crest. The construct was a crystalline orb pulsing with a disorienting hum which radiated doubt, making Xerion’s flames flicker restlessly.

Kelvin closed his eyes and dove into his bond, feeling Xerion’s fierce loyalty which was tempered by a hunger to overcome chaos.

He channeled a flame pulse which steadied his emotions and countered the construct’s hum. The orb dimmed, and Veyne’s nod was warm. "You are growing, Kelvin. Your bond is a pillar." His soulstream grades remained top-tier, but Rorik’s challenge loomed in his mind.

Lyra’s shadow pulse was flawless, a silent current that neutralized the construct which earned Veyne’s praise. "Your focus is unyielding, Lyra," she said.

Darius’s pulse wavered while Rhoam’s earth-shaking energy clashed with the construct’s doubt, but he steadied and earned a passing grade. "You are finding your center, Darius," Veyne noted and her approval was a spark.

In the corridor after class, Kelvin spotted Rorik where he leaned against a pillar, his Storm Eagle perched above with its lightning eyes sharp.

Riven and Lia stood nearby watching and whispered to themselves, the Crest’s unity is fraying. Kelvin approached, his gauntlet glowing. "Rorik," he said with a firm voice. "You called the Crest a stunt so say your piece now."

Rorik’s smirk was cold. "It is a kid’s club, Kelvin. Third-years don’t need your mentoring—we have fought real Veilspawn. Prove it’s worth my time, or I will pull others out." His words stung, sparking murmurs from Riven and Lia, the rift is widening.

Kelvin’s chest tightened, but Xerion’s fire flared which was a blazing anchor. "Meet us at the Crest session tonight," he said with his eyes locked on Rorik’s.

"We will duel runes, not fists. If I win, you join us." Rorik’s eyes narrowed, but he agreed to the challenge set. Kelvin’s resolve hardened and his bond with Xerion pulsed with determination.

---

After Master Veyne’s class, Lyra headed to the female dormitory to test her shadow veil rune with her roommates, their courtyard were alive with beasts and laughter.

Her bunk were lined up with journals as usual which glowed under an orb as she cloaked Salaris in a defensive shadow, the rune’s stability earned the cheers of her roommate.

"You are a genius, Lyra," her roommate Mara said as she smiled. Master Sylva’s praise from a prior seminar where her veil rune shone echoed again in her mind, her grades soared as her bond with Salaris deepened.

Kelvin and Darius trained in the male dormitory’s courtyard, a space of sparring and soulstone bets. Their room were cluttered with gear and scorched leather which was a chaotic haven.

Darius worked with Rhoam on a soulstone barrier, absorbing a construct’s strike with his control sharper. Kelvin practiced his failed rune as he sketched fire-soullight lines, seeking balance, but the sigil crumbled again, frustration gnawing at him.

Over lunch in the common room, Kelvin shared his plan, his voice tense. "Rorik is challenging the Crest’s heart. I need to nail this rune for the duel, and Caelum will be helping later. Tonight is a night of make-or-break."

Darius leaned back, tossing a soulstone. "We got you, man. Rhoam and I will keep the Crest hyped—Rorik is got no shot." Their resolve solidified, a shared mission to defend the Crest.

---

The afternoon brought Master Torren’s combat seminar in the Obsidian Yard. Torren drilled them on tactical Convergences making emphasis on foresight. Kelvin’s soullight blade synchronized with Xerion’s flames and sliced a construct with precision, but his mind was on the rune.

Torren paused with a piercing gaze. "Focus, Kelvin. A leader’s mind is their weapon." Kelvin nodded, his combat grades were high but his resolve were tested.

Lyra’s shadow runes flowed with Salaris’s strikes, her talons carving constructs with accuracy, earned earned Master Torren’s nod. "Your strategy is sharp, Lyra," he said.

Darius’s soulstone blasts bolstered Rhoam’s charges, toppling constructs and his grades increased. "You are a force, Darius," Torren noted with his approval a spark.

After class, Kelvin met Caelum in the runic forge, Forgoth’s scales glinted nearby. Caelum guided him through Xerion’s aura and instructed him to balance fire’s intensity with soullight’s clarity.

Kelvin carved a new rune with his chisel steady, channeling Xerion’s fire with deliberate calm. The sigil glowed, its resonance where stable at this time, which was a quiet triumph.

"You have got it, Kelvin," Caelum said. "Failure is the crucible so use it." Kelvin’s bond surged, his runic mastery grew.

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The evening brought the Tide’s Crest to the Obsidian Yard. Rorik stood with his Stormeagle, his smirk were sharp, while Riven, Lia, and others watched, the rift palpable.

Kelvin stepped forward with his gauntlet glowing while holding his rune. "Rorik, is a runic duel so the first person to synchronize a stable Convergence wins. Let’s show the Crest’s heart."

Rorik carved a lightning-wind rune, its lines crackled synchronizing with his Stormeagle’s aura. The Convergence flared as a bolt of wind and lightning that stroke a construct, earning gasps.

Kelvin’s heart raced, but Xerion’s fire pulsed, steadying him. He channeled his fire-soullight rune, syncing Xerion’s flames with radiant clarity, unleashing a spiral of flame and light that shattered the construct. The yard fell silent, then erupted in cheers, Rorik’s smirk faded.