CHAPTER 59: THE TIDE OF CONFIDENCE

In the female dorm, Lyra sat on her bunk with her journal open as she refined her shadow cloak rune, its layers were now adaptable for group stealth.

Her roommates shared stories of their beasts. Lyra’s mission was to push her bond with Salaris beyond expectations and her ambition was a quiet pulse mirroring Kelvin and Darius’s drive. Though, they are separated by dorms but their purpose was united, a shared quest for growth through influence.

The next morning, Kelvin woke up with a renewed energy, his bond with Xerion was a fiery anchor. Kelvin and Darius meet with Lyra in the corridor and Kelvin shared his plan to formalize the Paragon Crew, with regular sessions and a roster of tamers.

Lyra nodded and answered. "I am in. Salaris and I can mentor shadow bonds and there is a second-year with a Voidstalker who needs help." Darius grinned and his enthusiasm was infectious. "Rhoam and I will rally the brawlers. Let’s make the Sanctum feel us."

Their third session took place in the Obsidian Yard, the group expanded to include a second-year tamer, Soren, with a Level 5 Voidstalker.

Kelvin guided them through adaptive Convergences, his patience drew out their confidence. Lia’s hare glowed brighter, Tor’s fox sparked bolder, and Riven’s sparrow wove a defensive veil with a spark, earning cheers.

Lyra helped Soren sync with his Voidstalker’s shadow instincts, while Darius pushed Kael and Mira to refine their strikes. The session ended with progress and laughter, the Paragon Crew a growing flame.

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Master Sylva’s intuition seminar followed their drill, where Kelvin’s anticipation with Xerion earned high marks, Sylva’s approval was a spark for his confidence.

"Your mentorship is deepening your bond, Kelvin," she said, with a warm gaze. Lyra’s intuition was flawless and her grades increased while Darius improved with his bond consistently. Sylva’s interest in the Paragon Crew grew and her encouragement was a boost.

After the Sylva’s class they went for Master Veyne’s soulstream seminar. Veyne lectured on emotional resonance, urging tamers to channel their confidence into their bonds, a skill that amplified Convergences under pressure.

Kelvin dove into his bond with Xerion and felt a fierce certainty which is tempered by a hunger to inspire and a fire that mirrored his work with the Paragon Crew.

His resonance pulse was a vibrant flare of flame and soullight which rippled through the chamber and earned Veyne’s nod.

"Your mentorship is building your confidence excellently, Kelvin," she said. "It is shaping your bond into something rare." Kelvin’s grades in soulstream theory were among the top ones, his analytical skills improved by teaching others, the memory of Lia’s fragile smile and Riven’s growing trust which anchored his focus.

Lyra’s resonance pulse with Salaris was flawless, a shadow-twisted pulse that flowed like a silent current, earning Veyne’s praise. "Your control is a beacon, Lyra," Veyne noted as she urged her to mentor more tamers.

Lyra’s academic performance shone as her theoretical mastery was unmatched but she pushed her shadow cloak rune’s versatility and sketched a variant in her notes to adapt it for group stealth, a self-driven challenge that deepened her bond.

Darius’s pulse became steadied and Rhoam’s earth-shaking energy synchronized better, his grades climbed as his confidence grew.

"You are finding your center, Darius," Veyne said with a firm. His once-erratic resonance was stabilized and fueled by his work with the Paragon Crew and Veyne’s sharp guidance.

Veyne lingered by Kelvin’s desk after class, her gaze was a probing one. "The Paragon Crew is stirring the Sanctum, Kelvin," she said. "You are shaping tamers’ futures so don’t underestimate that power."

Her interest which was sparked by Kelvin’s influence and his triumph in Eryndor, fueled his resolve to expand the group, a mission that resonated with his bond with Xerion, now pulsing stronger than ever. He nodded with his gauntlet thrumming with purpose, Veyne’s words were a tide that lifted his ambition.

In the corridor, Kelvin spotted Tor, the first-year tamer with the Level 3 Emberfox struggling with a resonance pulse and his bond faltered after a failed attempt in class.

Tor’s eyes were downcasted and his confidence shattered while his fox’s sparks were dim and erratic. Kelvin approached with his gauntlet glowing faintly as he offered a smile. "Hey, Tor. What is going on? Ember is looking a bit off."

Tor sighed as frustration laced his face. "Ember is too wild. I tried synchronizing in class, but she flared out and I lost control. I am falling behind, Kelvin." His hands clenched, and Ember’s tail flicked with a faint spark fizzling out which was a reflection of his doubt.

Kelvin nodded, as he said. "Ember is wild because she trusts you to guide her. It is not about control but it is about synchronizing. Try this: let her sparks flow freely, then channel them into a small pulse, do it like you are guiding a river, not damming it."

He demonstrated with Xerion and conjured a flame pulse that flickered in the air, steady and controlled and it is a visual guide for Ember’s fiery aura. Kelvin placed a hand on Tor’s shoulder, his gauntlet’s warmth a quiet reassurance, Xerion’s fire pulsed in his soul as a silent encouragement.

Tor hesitated with his breath uneven, but he followed Kelvin’s lead, reaching for his bond with Ember. Kelvin watched and felt Xerion’s approval ripple through their bond which was a steady anchor.

Slowly, Tor’s breathing was steadied and Ember’s sparks flared brighter, forming a controlled pulse that lit the corridor. Tor’s eyes widened which was a grin that broke through his frustration.

"I did it! She is synchronizing and she trusts me!" His voice cracked while his confidence surged like a tide.

Kelvin clapped his shoulder with his grin wide. "That is it, Tor. You have got the fire, now keep it burning. Ember is ready to soar with you."

Tor’s smile was bold and genuine and it was a victory Kelvin carried like a spark, his bond with Xerion surged and his synchronizing ratio ticked upward to 65%. The act of teaching and of rebuilding another tamer’s confidence, was a tide that lifted his own spirit, a self-driven mission that deepened his purpose.

After that Kelvin headed to the dormitory. Kelvin and Darius trained in the male dormitory’s courtyard. Kelvin worked with Xerion on a flame barrier as he seek precision over raw power, his movements were fluid despite the memory of Eryndor’s scars.

Xerion’s fire responded with a shimmering wall that held firm against a training construct, drew nods from nearby tamers. Darius and Rhoam practiced as a soulstone charged tackle and their bond tightened as Rhoam’s plates absorbed the blast with their synergy a dance of strength and trust.

Over lunch in the common room, Kelvin shared his plan to formalize the Paragon Crew, his voice was alive with conviction. "We are making a difference with Riven, Lia, Tor, even Soren. Let’s make it official: weekly sessions, a roster, maybe a space in the yard. We can reach second-years, even third-years who’ve lost their spark."

Darius leaned back and said. "Let’s call it the Paragon Tide and sweep the Sanctum with it." Kelvin laughed with the name resonating, and their resolve were solidified, a mission to build a lasting community and their bonds were strengthened through the act of dreaming big.

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The afternoon brought Master Sylva’s beast intuition seminar. Sylva guided them through predicting their beasts’ actions which was a skill that required trust and foresight.

Kelvin dove into his bond with Xerion, sensing a fierce drive to lead a fire that pushed him to refine his instincts. His anticipation was sharp which earned Sylva’s praise. "You are reading Xerion like a true partner."

Lyra’s anticipation with Salaris was flawless, her shadow instincts aligned seamlessly which earned her Master Sylva’s approval.

Darius improved in his strength, his bond with Rhoam became steadier as he anticipated the panther’s blunt charges with his effort earning a passing grade and a boost to his confidence.

After class, Kelvin led a Paragon Crew session in the Obsidian Yard, the group expanding to include Riven, Lia, Tor, Kael, Mira, and Soren. Kelvin guided them through adaptive Convergences, "Your bond is your strength not just your beast’s power. Feel their instinct, and let it guide you." He demonstrated with Xerion.

Lyra worked with Soren, helping his Voidstalker synchronize its shadow instincts into a stealth strike, while Darius pushed Kael and Mira to refine their defensive and offensive Convergences.

Riven’s Ashen Sparrow wove a smoky veil, Lia’s Glimmerhare glowed protectively, and Tor’s Emberfox sparked tactically with their confidence a tide.

The day closed with Kelvin lying awake with Xerion’s fire a steady warmth in his soul. He traced his gauntlet and felt his bond at 66% synchronization which was a testament to his journey.

Tor’s grin, Veyne’s words, and Sylva’s praise lingered in his mind as a constellation of moments which was fueled by his resolve. The Sanctum was a crucible, but Kelvin’s mission was building the Paragon Tide, refining his bond, and forging his influence.

The next morning, Kelvin woke with renewed energy, his bond with Xerion was a fiery anchor. He met Lyra and Darius in the corridor with their beasts at their sides, and shared his plan to secure a dedicated space for the Paragon Tide, perhaps a corner of the Obsidian Yard.

Lyra nodded, her voice firm. "I’m in. Salaris and I can mentor shadow bonds and there is a third-year tamer with a Night Serpent who is struggling." Darius grinned, his enthusiasm was infectious. "Rhoam and I will bring the noise so let’s make the Sanctum feel the tide."