Aston glanced at the clock on his phone.

12:45 PM.

He finished the last bite of his roll and quietly began clearing his tray. Gray, already alert and back on his feet, trotted beside him while Mirage perched on Aston's shoulder.

Genevieve let out a stretched yawn and stood up. "Applied Battle Tactics for me. If our instructor breathes fire, I won't even be surprised."

Seria smirked softly. "World History. Hopefully not just another lecture marathon."

The three paused at a branching walkway in the courtyard.

Genevieve gave a lazy wave. "Let's survive the rest of the day, yeah?"

"See you Wednesday, Gen. And you, Aston," Seria added with a nod.

Aston simply lifted a hand in farewell.

Then, he turned toward the South Dome—the building reserved for classes involving beast interaction and environmental sensitivity. The structure itself was broad and domes with stained crystal windows arranged like a mosaic of beasts across its curved ceiling. It shimmered faintly as he approached.

Inside, it was bright—warm sunlight filtered through enchantments in the ceiling, and wide space was divided into zones: soft grassy terrain, loose sand patches, raised platforms, shallow pools and open stone rings.

Dozens of students were already gathering, spirit beasts padding beside them, flying overhead, or curling protectively near their feet.

Aston took a seat near a modest moss-lined platform and let Gray hop into his lap, while Mirage perched above on a branch structure shaped like a natural roost.

Then the instructor entered.

He didn't walk—he strode with dramatic flair, long brown curls bouncing slightly, his sky-blue robe swishing behind him, and a wide, earnest grin on his face. Small embroidered beasts danced along his sleeve hems as if animated by his energy.

Trailing behind him was a brilliantly plumed monkey-like spirit beast with long rainbow fur and intelligent eyes. It climbed up a perch beside the podium and immediately began mimicking a sleepy student's slouched posture.

"Ahh, yes, this one's ready for enlightenment!" the professor said, clapping his hands once.

Laughter echoed lightly through the room.

"I am Professor Levi Ralden, your instructor for Beast Communication and Emotional Resonance. And this," he gestured with a flourish, "is Bomo—who may, in fact, be more emotionally attuned than I am. Tragic."

The monkey bowed with exaggerated grace. Someone actually clapped.

Professor Levi continued, voice smooth but expressive, "Now, if you're here hoping to command your spirit beast with authority and discipline—wrong class. That's Battle Tactics."

He paused.

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"This class is about trust. Clarity. Vulnerability."

The air seemed to still slightly.

"Spirit beasts don't just obey—they interpret. They don't hear what you say... they feel what you mean. If your command and your spirit don't align, they'll know. And they'll hesitate."

"Professor," a student in grey robes raised a hand. "Didn't we already cover some of this in FOU-101? The synchronization stuff?"

Professor Levi stopped mid-step, then turned with a faint grin.

"A fair question," he said, raising a finger. "Yes—there may be overlaps. Both FOU-101 and this course deal with how you relate to your spirit beast."

He tapped the side of his head.

"But FOU-101—Spirit Bond Synchronization Techniques—is about coordination. It's tactical. It's about aligning your timing, sharing perception, moving as one in the heat of battle."

Then he tapped his chest.

"This class—Beast Communication and Emotional Resonance—is about connection. About trust. About instinct. It's not how well your beast moves with you... it's how deeply it understands you."

He let the words linger for a moment, then chuckled.

"In simple terms: FOU-101 teaches you to fight well with your beast. FOU-103 teaches you to live well with them. Ignore one, and the other will eventually fall apart."

The student nodded, a little flushed.

Professor Levi gestured wide with both hands. "Now—no more confusion. Let's begin."

He clapped again. "So! First exercise. No sparring—yet. I want each of you to sit across from your beast and issue three emotions: confidence, confusion, and fear. Not with words. Not with gestures. With your presence."

Students began repositioning. Aston shifted onto the moss and let Gray settle opposite him, his tiny body rising and falling in calm breath. Mirage fluttered down beside him and stood still, unblinking.

Aston drew in a breath.

He let himself project a firm sense of will: Come. Gray responded instantly, stepping forward with a twitch of his tail.

Then he paused, deliberately clouding his thoughts—half-commanding, unsure. Gray blinked and tilted his head, unmoving.

Finally, Aston summoned fear—not terror, but a flicker of hesitance in his core.

Mirage shifted but didn't move.

Professor Levi walked slowly among the circles, Bomo mimicking various students.

Then he paused behind Aston.

Levi's smile faded, just slightly.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Your 'confidence' was strong. Your 'confusion' was clear. But your 'fear'…"

Aston remained still.

"…was about you. Not them."

He didn't elaborate. He simply smiled again, gave a brief nod, and moved on.

The session continued, filled with murmurs of awe, frustration, and quiet discovery.

At the end of the lesson, Professor Levi called everyone back to the central circle.

"Good. Very good. You all felt something—even if it was just resistance. That's step one."

He tapped his spirit tablet. "For homework, you'll log two things: One emotion your beast experiences regularly… and one you hide from them."

Groans echoed lightly.

"Emotions are part of bonding. Don't cheat yourself," Professor Levi said with a smirk. "Dismissed."

As Aston stood and packed his things, Gray hopped back onto his shoulder. Mirage circled once and returned to his shoulder.

He didn't speak aloud

.

But Gray… was staring at him.

Not like a kitten.

Not like a beast awaiting instruction.

But like something aware. Attuned.

You saw that, didn't you…

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