CHAPTER 125: LOOMING MISSION 2

Kelvin’s scars tingled, but his movements were slow and his bond with Xerion was a steady pulse that kept him grounded.

Salaris outmaneuvered a griffon, its wings were broad but slow compared to her darting speed, Lyra’s shadow runes binding its talons in a coiling net and the raptor’s screeches echoed as she struck, while her talons were rendere in the air, earning gasps from the onlookers.

Lyra’s thigh scar ached her faintly but her focus was sharp, while her bond with Salaris was unyielding.

Rhoam overpowered a bear-beast, its bulk was formidable but no match for the panther’s iron-plated charge, Darius’s soulstone blasts shattered its defenses, while the crowd erupted as the bear retreated and its tamer bowed in defeat.

Darius’s shoulder scar tingled, but his grin was sharp and his bond with Rhoam was a rock against Ironholt’s ghosts.

The spars tested their recovery, pushed their limits without and injury, their victories earned respect for them and their beasts’ honor runes gleamed with pride, which was a testament to their triumph in the Rift.

Social interactions were deepened as the trio’s bonded with their classmates in the Sanctum’s common rooms, where rune-lit hearths cast a warm glow over tables strewn with rune tablets and beast-taming scrolls.

Kelvin recounted the Primordial Rift’s altar, when Xerion’s flames pierced the Sovereign’s core, his voice was steady but thick with emotion as students listened, their eyes were wide with awe, some people were scribbling notes, while others were asking questions about his fire lance technique.

He shared stories of the Shattered Peaks, the Verdant Hollow, and the Abyss Core, each tale was a thread in the tapestry of their victory, his scars were a map of their journey.

Lyra spoke of Salaris’s talon strikes, her shadow cages were pinning riftprimals under Veyra’s gaze, her green eyes were fierce but softened by camaraderie and her sister’s memory was eased by the laughter and shared stories.

She described weaving shadows in the Iron Fens, with her gauntlet flaring despite her wounds, the students leaned closer and their admiration was palpable.

Darius, tossed his soulstone, described Rhoam’s charges, the panther crushed titans and riftprimals, his grin was sharp as he bantered, the flames of Ironholt faded in the warmth of friendship, his tales of the Abyssal Caldera was drawing gasps.

The interactions were a balm to their lingering trauma, the students’ admiration was a reminder of their impact, while their beasts rested nearby as Xerion coiled in a corner, Salaris perched on a beam, Rhoam sprawled by the hearth, their bonds were a quiet strength that anchored the trio.

The trio visited the Sanctum’s beast pens, a sprawling network of rune-etched enclosures where beasts roamed, their scales, feathers, and plates gleamed under the care of tamers, the air was filled with the scent of beast feed and polished leather.

Kelvin Fed the Xerion with wyrm essence, the serpent’s scales flared as he devoured it, his hiss was soft as Kelvin stroked his coils and their bond was deepened through quiet moments, the serpent’s warmth was easing the weight of Valebreach’s memories.

Lyra groomed Salaris, brushed her feathers with a rune-etched comb, the raptor’s screeches was softened as she preened, their connection was a shield against her sister’s ghost, her talons gleamed in the pen’s light.

Darius polished Rhoam’s plates with a cloth infused with ironholt ore, the panther’s growl was low as he leaned into the touch, their bond was a steady anchor against Ironholt’s ruins, his plates were shining despite their scars.

The pens was filled with the roars and cries of other beasts such as; griffons, drakes, and wolves. They were a reminder of the Sanctum’s strength, the trio’s scars was also a testament to their role in its survival, their Veilbane Medals gleamed as they worked.

The Great Hall was a rune-lit chamber with towering arches and glowing sigils, was packed with students as Master Elara announced the long vacation, her voice was very audible and her robes were shimmering with high runes, their intricate patterns were catching the light.

The hall buzzed with anticipation, the students’ beasts such as; griffons with broad wings, wyrms with gleaming scales, and panthers with iron plates were resting at their sides, their eyes were gleaming with curiosity, their presence was a quiet strength.

Elara stood at a rune-etched podium, her silver hair gleamed under the sigils’ light, her presence was commanding yet warm.

"The Veil has ended, thanks to the Tide’s Crest," she said, gesturing to Kelvin, Lyra, and Darius, their Veilbane Medals was catching the light, which was drawing murmurs of awe from the crowd.

"But the Sanctum’s work continues. For the long vacation, each of you will undertake a mission in your hometown or a nearby town, to rebuild our influence, to strengthen the bonds between tamers and beasts, to ensure the Veil’s shadow never returns."

The students erupted in cheers, their voices were thundering off the hall’s walls, the runes flared brighter with their energy, the atmosphere was electric with purpose.

The trio sat together, their beasts were close, expecting a joint mission, their unity was a flame forged in the Rift’s molten chaos.

But Elara’s gaze turned solemn as she called their names, her voice cutting through the hall’s din.

"Kelvin, you will travel to Valebreach to investigate a rogue beast disrupting the mines, a threat tied to the region’s fire essence, its flames are endangering the town’s livelihood."

Kelvin’s heart sank, memories of his father’s death in those mines surfaced, a cold weight in his chest, Xerion’s hiss was sharp beside him, the serpent’s scales flared with unease.

"Lyra, you will journey to Duskfall to secure a shadow rune cache, guarded by rogue tamers who defy the Sanctum’s authority, their motives are shrouded in shadow."

Lyra’s eyes widened, her sister’s memory was a heavy weight, her gauntlet was flickering as Salaris’s screech echoed, a quiet protest against the emotional trial ahead.

"Darius, you will hunt a rift remnant in Ironholt’s ruins, a lingering threat from the Veil’s collapse, destabilizing the region with its spectral presence."