Beasts of Anomaly

Azhaan awoke the next morning feeling as if he'd been trampled by one of those turtle-like creatures he'd seen in Ashenfield. Every muscle ached, his arms felt like lead, and the faint bruises from Kaela's training session the previous day were already starting to bloom across his skin.

Groaning, he sat up and glanced around the small room. Kaela was already up, leaning against the window with Lirian perched on her shoulder, the dragon's wings folded neatly. The Shadow Stalker lay curled up at the foot of his bed, its glowing red eyes tracking his every movement.

"You sleep like the dead," Kaela remarked without turning.

"Thanks for the compliment," Azhaan muttered, stretching his sore limbs. "I'm guessing I don't get the day off?"

Kaela smirked and finally turned to face him. "Not if you want to survive. You've got a lot to learn, and if those cloaked attackers show up again, you'll need to be ready."

Azhaan groaned but forced himself to stand. "What's on the agenda today? More bruises?"

Kaela chuckled. "Not today. You're going to learn what it actually means to be a tamer."

Azhaan raised an eyebrow. "I thought taming just meant bonding with beasts. Isn't that what I did with the Shadow Stalker?"

"It's more than that," Kaela said, her expression turning serious. "Taming is about trust, partnership, and understanding your beast. You don't just bond with them—you fight with them, grow with them, and rely on them in ways most people can't understand."

Azhaan glanced at the Shadow Stalker, which was now sitting upright, watching him intently. "So… what? I just talk to it and hope it listens?"

Kaela shook her head. "It's not that simple. You need to learn its strengths and weaknesses, understand its behavior, and figure out how to work as a team. The bond mark on your arm ties you together, but it's up to you to make that connection work."

Azhaan looked down at the mark, tracing the glowing lines with his fingers. It pulsed faintly, as if responding to his touch. "Alright," he said. "Where do we start?"

Kaela's smile returned, a little too mischievous for Azhaan's liking. "Follow me."

They left the safety of the small inn and ventured into the outskirts of Ashenfield. The cobblestone streets gave way to dirt paths, and the air grew quieter as the noise of the bustling town faded into the background.

Kaela led Azhaan to a clearing on the edge of the Verdantwilds, the massive forest that loomed in the distance. The towering crystalline trees sparkled in the sunlight, their branches swaying gently as if alive.

"This," Kaela said, gesturing to the clearing, "is where you're going to learn how to work with your beast."

Azhaan frowned. "What exactly does that mean?"

Kaela pointed to a cluster of wooden targets set up at the edge of the clearing. "We're going to test its abilities. You need to know what it can do in a controlled environment before you take it into a real fight."

The Shadow Stalker padded forward, its movements sleek and predatory. Azhaan followed hesitantly, unsure of how to begin. "So… what now?"

Kaela crossed her arms. "Give it a command. Start simple—tell it to attack one of the targets."

Azhaan glanced at the Shadow Stalker. "Uh… attack that target?" he said awkwardly, pointing to the nearest wooden figure.

The Shadow Stalker tilted its head, its glowing eyes narrowing. For a moment, Azhaan thought it wasn't going to listen, but then it sprang into action. Moving like a shadow in the wind, it darted across the clearing and slammed into the target, shattering it with a single swipe of its claws.

Azhaan blinked. "Well. That worked."

"Not bad," Kaela said, nodding. "But you're going to need more than brute force. Try giving it a more specific command—something that uses its abilities."

Azhaan frowned, thinking back to the way the Shadow Stalker had phased through the air during the fight at the inn. "Can you… disappear and attack from behind?"

The Shadow Stalker let out a low growl, and before Azhaan could react, it vanished into the shadows. A moment later, it reappeared behind another target, striking it with precision and sending splinters flying.

"Impressive," Kaela said, her tone approving. "It's fast, agile, and can use shadows to its advantage. That's a huge asset in battle. But you'll need to learn to think on your feet—every situation is different, and you won't always have time to plan."

Azhaan nodded, a small spark of confidence igniting in his chest. For the first time, he felt like he might actually be able to do this.

The training continued for hours, with Kaela pushing Azhaan to try different commands and tactics. The Shadow Stalker adapted quickly, its movements fluid and precise. By the time the sun began to set, Azhaan was exhausted but exhilarated.

"You're starting to get the hang of it," Kaela said as they packed up. "But don't get cocky. This was just the basics. Real fights are messy, unpredictable, and a lot more dangerous."

Azhaan wiped the sweat from his brow, grinning despite himself. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Kaela rolled her eyes but smiled. "Come on. Let's head back before it gets dark. The Verdantwilds aren't a place you want to be after sunset."

As they walked back toward town, Azhaan couldn't help but glance at the Shadow Stalker. The bond between them felt stronger now, like a thread tying them together. It wasn't just a beast—it was his partner.

But even as he felt that connection grow, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. The cloaked attackers, the mysterious mark, and the voice that had spoken to him during the bond… there were too many questions and not enough answers.

For now, though, Azhaan pushed those thoughts aside. He had survived his first day as a tamer, and for the first time since arriving in Aetheris, he felt like he was starting to belong.