The halls of the Beast Tamer Faculty buzzed with excitement and nervous chatter, this was because although beast tamers had to study beast tamering every student had a chance to get a spirit beast. First-year students filled the chamber, each glancing around with a mixture of anticipation and unease as they took in the rows of spirit beast eggs arranged before them. Professor Talin, a grizzled man with a scar running across his cheek, stood at the front, overseeing the selection process with an intense, watchful gaze.
"Remember," Professor Talin intoned, his voice resonating through the chamber, "this choice is not about picking the strongest or the rarest egg. It's about finding the spirit beast that calls to you. If an egg resonates, approach it slowly. It will let you know if a bond is possible."
I joined the rest of the students, trying to absorb his words. The vast array of eggs glowed softly in various shades, each holding a unique life force. Some pulsed with warmth, others with an icy chill, and still others with barely contained energy. I let my eyes roam, wondering which one, if any, would resonate with me.
One by one, students approached an egg and carefully placed a hand over it, hoping to feel a connection. Some walked away empty-handed, while others found their match almost immediately. I kept to the back, watching their choices and observing the reactions of the eggs. I could feel my nervousness growing, a gnawing worry that perhaps, just like with the power stone, I'd end up with nothing.
But then, as I wandered closer to the far side of the chamber, a faint glow caught my attention. Unlike the other eggs, this one radiated a subtle, deep crimson light, almost like embers hidden beneath ash. There was something ancient about its energy, something that called to me in a way I couldn't quite explain. It was as if it knew me—perhaps even better than I knew myself.
I hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment, before stepping forward. Professor Talin's gaze flickered in my direction, but he said nothing, his expression carefully neutral.
My heart raced as I extended my hand toward the egg, and the instant my fingers brushed its surface, a surge of warmth pulsed through my palm, traveling up my arm and into my very core. The egg responded, glowing brighter, bathing my hand in a crimson light that quickly enveloped the surrounding area. I felt a presence—strong, powerful, and undeniably old—reach out and latch onto my spirit. This was no ordinary egg; it held a spirit that was watching me just as closely as I was watching it.
The other students stopped to watch, their faces a mix of awe and apprehension. The intensity of the glow, the power radiating from the egg… it was unlike anything I'd ever felt. But I couldn't tear myself away. I knew, deep down, that this was the spirit beast meant for me.
Professor Talin finally broke the silence. "It seems you've made your choice, Sky," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "That egg is... rather unique."
I looked up, still caught in the glow's warmth, and nodded. The egg pulsed once more in response, sealing the bond between us. Even though none of us could identify the beast within it, I sensed that this bond was the beginning of something far greater than I could yet understand.