CHAPTER 45: GAVRIC’S CHALLENGE

The next morning, in the library’s depths, Kelvin dove into a book on courage resonance, its pages detailed on how to channel a beast’s fearless instincts into unyielding Convergences.

His gauntlet pulsed, amplifying his focus as he linked the concepts to Xerion’s fiery resolve.

Lyra’s scroll explored loyalty runes. Darius who his usual bravado was tempered by the trial’s gravity, he studied soulstone amplifiers.

As midmorning approached, they headed to Master Sylva’s lecture hall. Sylva’s vine-serpent wove through the vines as she lectured on beast loyalty, the art of fostering unwavering trust between a tamer and it’s beast. "Loyalty is the bedrock of your bond," she said, with a sharp voice. "Without it, your Convergence will crumble under pressure."

Kelvin took notes, linking Sylva’s words to Xerion’s unyielding devotion, his gauntlet thrummed as he visualized channeling it in battle.

Lyra’s diagrams which she drew during the class mapped Salaris’s instincts, her amulet glowed as she worked, her focus was unshaken by the looming trial.

Darius with his discipline sharpened, took detailed notes, Rhoam’s steady presence anchored him as he connected the lecture to their synergy.

The lecture ended with a practical: sensing a beast’s loyalty through the soulstream under simulated duress. Kelvin dove into his bond, feeling Xerion’s fire which was fierce, loyal, unbreakable.

Lyra’s bond with Salaris was a steady shadow, her loyalty was flawless. Darius’s connection to Rhoam’s strength wavered briefly, but the panther’s nudge guided him to success, earning a rare nod from Sylva.

As they left the lecture hall, the trio headed toward the Obsidian Yard for a drill, but there was a commotion near the training grounds which stopped them.

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A crowd of students had gathered with their murmurs very tense, and the air crackled with soulstream energy.

Kelvin pushed through, Lyra and Darius were close behind, and saw the source of the disturbance: a hulking student named Gavric, a senior in the Obsidian Division was looming over a younger tamer, a wiry boy named Toren.

Gavric’s beast was a Level 7 Iron Fang Behemoth-a massive, bear-like creature with steel-plated fur and claws like scythes which towered over Toren’s beast, a Level 3 Ember. fox, a small, agile creature with fiery fur and glowing eyes, trembling under the behemoth’s shadow.

Gavric’s voice was a sneer which was loud enough for the crowd to hear. "You think your pathetic fox can train here, Toren? This yard is for real tamers, not weaklings with low-tier beasts."

The Iron Fang Behemoth growled, its claws raked the ground, sending sparks flying as the Emberfox cowered, its tail tucked.

Toren’s face was pale, but he stood his ground with his voice shaking. "I... I have a right to train here. The Sanctum doesn’t rank us by beast level."

Gavric laughed with his behemoth stepping closer, its breath was hot on Toren’s face. "Rights? Strength is all that matters. Step aside, or my behemoth will crush your little fox."The crowd murmured, some jeering, others shifting uncomfortably, but none intervened.

Kelvin’s blood boiled, his gauntlet flaring as Xerion’s growl surged in his soul. He stepped forward with his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Back off, Gavric. The Sanctum’s about bonds, not bullying."

Gavric turned, his sneer widened as he sized up Kelvin. "Well, if it isn’t the Inner Sanctum’s golden boy. You think your fancy dragon makes you untouchable?

This doesn’t concern you."Kelvin’s eyes narrowed, Xerion stepped into view, his obsidian wings flaring, a Legendary End-Tyrant whose presence dwarfed the behemoth. "It does now. Toren’s got as much right to train as you. If you want to prove strength, face me, not a first-year."

Lyra and Darius flanked Kelvin, Salaris glided above with her talons sharp, and Rhoam’s plates glowing as he growled. Gavric’s confidence faltered, his behemoth shifted uneasily, but he spat, "You are outnumbered in spirit, Kelvin. My behemoth is a Level 7 apex, thou your dragon is strong, but you are soft."

Kelvin’s gauntlet blazed as his bond with Xerion surged. "Try me."The crowd parted, forming a loose circle as Gavric signaled his behemoth. The Ironfang charged with its claws slashing, but Kelvin and Xerion moved as one, their Convergence was a spiral of flame and soullight.

Kelvin’s gauntlet formed a blade that parried the claws, while Xerion’s flames engulfed the behemoth and forced it back.

The beast roared with its steel fur singeing, but Gavric pushed it forward, his own runes flared. Lyra wove shadow runes, her amulet glowed and binded the behemoth’s legs to slow its charge, while Salaris’s talons struck its eyes, drawing a bellow of pain.

Darius hurled a soulstone, its explosion staggered the beast, and Rhoam’s armored claws raked its flank, cracking a plate. The behemoth faltered, its soulstream wavered under the trio’s unified assault.

Gavric’s face twisted in fury, but before he could retaliate, Master Torren’s voice boomed, his obsidian lion loomed behind him. "Enough!" The lion’s roar shook the yard, and the crowd froze. Torren’s eyes bored into Gavric. "The Sanctum values strength, but not tyranny. You have disgraced your bond. Report to Master Veyne for discipline."

Gavric glared but lowered his head, recalling his behemoth and stalking off. Torren turned to Kelvin, his nod was grudging. "Well handled, but don’t let heroics distract you from training."

Toren approached with his Emberfox nuzzling his leg, its eyes were bright with gratitude. "Thank you," he said to Kelvin. "I... I didn’t know that anyone would stand up for me."

Kelvin clapped his shoulder as Xerion’s fire softened in his soul. "The Sanctum is about bonds, not ranks. Keep training. Your fox has heart."Toren nodded with a spark of determination in his eyes, and the crowd dispersed, murmuring about Kelvin’s stand.

Lyra smiled with her amulet glowing faintly. "That was the right kind of courage. The Crucible will need it."Darius grinned, tossing a soulstone. "Yeah, and we looked awesome doing it. Let’s hit the drill."

The Obsidian Yard was alive with motion as the trio resumed their training. Master Torren oversaw the session, his lion’s mane flared as he barked orders. "Convergence relays! Synchronize your bonds against a horde of constructs!"The constructs materialized, which are stone wolves, flame serpents, and shadow ravens, their movements were relentless.

Kelvin, Lyra, and Darius fought as one, their synergy runes amplified their Convergences. Kelvin’s gauntlet blazed, his soullight blade sliced through a wolf as Xerion’s flames cleared the path.

Lyra’s shadow runes bound a serpent and Salaris’s talons stroked its core. Darius’s soulstone detonated, staggering a raven, and Rhoam’s claws tore through its wings.

A wolf’s claw grazed Kelvin’s arm, a sharp jolt, but his bond with Xerion dulled the pain. Lyra’s amulet pulsed and healed a nick on Salaris’s wing, while Darius took a hit from a serpent’s tail, his breath ragged but his bond with Rhoam was unyielding.

Their combined assault reduced the horde to rubble, and Torren’s nod was grudging but clear. "Your synergy is tightening. Keep refining."