Soren woke up on a bench in the Inner Division hall with the fox sitting on his chest like a smug paperweight.
He groaned. "Did I faint again."
Kael, sitting beside him, nodded. "Yes."
Aldric added, "Pathetic."
Lira smiled gently. "Expected."
Soren covered his face. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
Before he could fully recover, Instructor Seraphine's voice echoed through the hall.
"Candidates. Step forward for the second evaluation."
Soren sat bolt upright. "SECOND?! Already?!"
Kael pulled him to his feet. "Come on."
"I'm not ready!"
"You never are."
"I CAN'T DO THIS!"
"You can."
Soren whimpered. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped onto his shoulder, tails brushing his cheek like a tiny therapist.
They joined the other candidates in a semicircle around Seraphine. The phoenix perched on her arm glowed brighter than usual, casting warm light across the hall.
Seraphine surveyed them with calm intensity. "The second evaluation is not physical. It is not combat. It is not a test of strength."
Soren exhaled in relief.
Seraphine continued, "It is a test of communication."
Soren inhaled that relief back in so fast he choked.
"Communication?" he squeaked. "With who? With what? Why?"
Seraphine ignored him. "Each of you will step into the circle and demonstrate your ability to command, direct, and synchronize with your beast under pressure."
Soren's soul left his body. "NO. NO PRESSURE. I DON'T DO PRESSURE."
Aldric smirked. "You barely do consciousness."
Kael nudged him forward. "You'll be fine."
"I WON'T."
Lira whispered, "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox chirped.
Seraphine gestured to the glowing circle in the center of the hall. "First candidate: Aldric."
Aldric stepped forward confidently, lion cub at his side, mane flickering with golden fire.
Soren whispered, "Why does he get to go first."
Kael replied, "Because he volunteered."
"WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT."
Aldric entered the circle.
The runes lit up.
A shimmering illusion formed around him — a battlefield scenario with shifting obstacles and phantom beasts.
Seraphine said, "Direct your beast."
Aldric didn't hesitate.
"Leo — left flank. Burn the vines. Jump. Dodge. Strike."
The lion cub moved like a miniature sun, flames swirling around it as it obeyed every command instantly.
The illusion dissolved.
Seraphine nodded. "Pass."
Aldric smirked at Soren on his way back. "Try not to cry."
Soren glared weakly. "I make no promises."
"Next: Lira."
Lira stepped into the circle, frost‑wolf gliding beside her.
The illusion formed — a frozen landscape with shifting ice pillars.
"Wolf — freeze the ground. Circle. Guard. Shatter."
The frost‑wolf moved with elegant precision, ice blooming beneath its paws.
"Pass," Seraphine said.
Lira returned quietly, offering Soren a reassuring nod.
He did not feel reassured.
"Next: Kael."
Kael entered the circle, spear in hand, his beast — a storm‑winged kestrel — perched on his arm.
The illusion became a stormy cliffside.
"Kestrel — updraft. Dive. Mark target. Disrupt."
Lightning crackled as the kestrel obeyed flawlessly.
"Pass," Seraphine said.
Kael returned to the group.
Soren stared at him. "You're all too good at this."
Kael shrugged. "Practice."
"I practice panicking."
"You're very good at it."
Soren groaned. "That's not comforting."
The fox chirped.
Seraphine looked up. "Next: Soren Vale."
Soren screamed internally.
Externally, he squeaked.
Kael nudged him. "Go."
"I don't want to."
"You have to."
"I CAN'T."
"You can."
Soren stumbled into the circle, fox perched on his shoulder like a glowing ornament.
The runes lit up.
The illusion formed.
And Soren froze.
It wasn't a battlefield.
It wasn't a storm.
It wasn't a frozen wasteland.
It was a forest.
The Trial forest.
The Mistwraith's forest.
Soren's breath hitched. "No. No no no. Not this."
Seraphine's voice echoed. "Direct your beast."
"I— I can't—"
The fox hopped down.
Stood in front of him.
Looked up at him.
Its two tails glowed softly.
Soren swallowed hard. "Buddy… I don't know what to do."
The fox chirped.
Soren inhaled.
Exhaled.
"Okay," he whispered. "Okay. Let's try."
He pointed shakily. "Um… light. Do the light thing."
The fox's tails glowed.
A burst of light illuminated the illusion.
Soren blinked. "Okay. Good. Uh… dodge?"
The fox flickered.
"Left?"
The fox flickered left.
"Right?"
The fox flickered right.
Soren's voice steadied. "Forward."
The fox darted forward.
"Back."
The fox returned to his feet.
Soren's heart pounded — but not from fear this time.
"Okay," he whispered. "Okay. Let's do something real."
He pointed at the illusionary shadow creeping between the trees.
"Buddy… flare."
The fox's tails crossed.
Light erupted.
The illusion shattered.
Silence.
Seraphine stared at him.
The phoenix stared at him.
The entire hall stared at him.
Soren stared back. "Did I… did I do it?"
Seraphine nodded slowly. "Pass."
Soren collapsed to his knees. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped onto his shoulder and chirped proudly.
Kael helped him up. "You did well."
Lira smiled. "Very well."
Aldric muttered, "Barely."
Soren ignored him. "I'm alive. That's enough."
Seraphine raised her voice. "Prepare yourselves. The third evaluation begins tomorrow."
Soren screamed. "THERE'S A THIRD?!"
The fox chirped.
And the Inner Division watched the boy who panicked his way through a communication test.