Morning sunlight streamed through the wooden shutters as Little Life stirred from his dreamless sleep. The room at the academy's temporary dormitory was small—just a wooden bed, a spirit lamp, and a window that faced the inner courtyard—but it felt more comfortable than anywhere he'd slept in days. He stretched, adjusted his robes, and looked toward the fish resting on the desk near the window.
Shuiyin's tail flicked slowly, catching the golden light. "You slept well," it said without turning.
"Better than expected," he replied, rubbing his temples. "My body's adapting to the beast blood… but my soul feels heavy."
"You've started to merge more with your light and beast elements. That can shake your inner balance."
Little Life nodded thoughtfully. "I'll need to meditate later."
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," he called.
A boy with rabbit ears peeked in. "Newcomer, the head teacher is calling all recruits. Come to the main yard."
Little Life thanked him and followed. Shuiyin floated behind quietly, its fins shimmering like soft silk.
---
The main yard of Fire Pelt Academy bustled with activity. Rows of students stood in neat lines while instructors in dark-red robes inspected them. At the front stood an older lion beastman with a mane of silver and eyes like twin embers.
"I am Headmaster Huolu," the elder began, voice like rolling thunder. "You've all joined this academy under one condition: you prove your worth."
The crowd fell silent.
"In a few days," he continued, "we will host the Minor Flame Trials. Top three will receive permanent Beast Tokens, rare spirit arts, and a chance to enter the inner region of the Beast Scholar Pavilion."
Excitement and tension rose among the students. Some grinned with pride. Others clenched their fists.
Little Life's eyes narrowed. "They want to test us again so soon?"
"It's how beast society works," Shuiyin whispered. "Strength first. Everything else later."
The headmaster raised a hand. "Until then, you will train in groups of three. Randomly assigned. You will eat together, train together, bleed together."
Groans echoed from the crowd, but no one dared argue.
Soon, the instructors began reading out team names. When Little Life's name was called, he stepped forward. "Xiao Sheng—Group 11."
He turned to see his partners.
One was a tall boar beastman with tusks and heavy arms. "Name's Zhuben," he said with a snort. "I fight with raw strength."
The other was a quiet girl with feathered robes and sharp, birdlike eyes. "Lin'er. Falcon blood. I specialize in aerial movement and spirit detection."
Little Life bowed slightly. "Xiao Sheng. Support and light cultivation."
Zhuben grunted. "Let's survive, then."
---
Their group was sent to the South Training Ground, a forest area filled with illusions and traps. The instructors gave a simple task: "Find the hidden jade token before sunset. Work as a team."
They moved quickly into the trees. Lin'er flew above to scout, Zhuben pushed through thick brush, and Little Life walked calmly in the middle, his light aura gently pulsing to warn of danger.
"Something's wrong," Lin'er called from above. "Too quiet."
A moment later, a roar shook the air, and a massive illusory ape burst from behind a tree.
"Scatter!" Zhuben roared, charging forward.
Lin'er flew in a circle to distract the ape while Little Life raised his hands. He summoned his beast-powered light and cast a net of glowing threads. The net latched onto the ape's limbs and slowed it down.
Zhuben landed a crushing blow to its chest, making it vanish in smoke.
"Nicely done," Lin'er said, landing nearby.
"We move," Little Life said, breathing steadily. "I sensed a ripple of energy to the east. The token may be hidden there."
As they continued, they passed through several trials: swarms of shadow wasps, a gravity-altered valley, and even a short illusion of drowning in darkness. But by working together, they endured.
Finally, they reached a broken shrine with jade light leaking through the cracks.
"There," Lin'er whispered, pointing.
Inside, a trap spell guarded the token.
Little Life stepped forward, kneeling before the shrine. He whispered a silent chant, placing both hands on the ground. His light flowed like water, seeping into the cracks of the trap. Slowly, the glow faded, and the token rose into the air.
He caught it.
"Well done," Zhuben said. "That light of yours is tricky."
"It's more than light," Lin'er added quietly. "You're hiding something."
Little Life looked at her calmly. "We all have secrets. But I won't betray this team."
Lin'er held his gaze, then nodded. "Fair."
---
That night, the trio returned to the academy. Their token earned them a place in the top five for the day's task. Headmaster Huolu gave a nod of approval.
"Rest well. The next trial will not be so kind."
After dinner, Little Life sat outside the dorm, watching the stars.
Shuiyin floated beside him, silent for a long while.
"You held back," the fish said.
"Yes. I'm not ready to reveal everything. Not in front of them."
"You might need to soon. That girl with falcon blood—her senses are sharp."
He nodded. "I'll prepare."
A pause.
"Do you miss them?" Shuiyin asked gently.
"My brothers?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Every moment. But this journey… I chose it."
Shuiyin circled him once. "You've changed since we met. There's more steel in you now."
"Maybe," he said. "But I need more than steel. I need truth."
---
The next morning, Little Life visited the academy's inner garden to meditate. The place was quiet, filled with spirit flowers and low-floating clouds.
As he sat down, he heard a soft voice behind him. "You meditate with light?"
It was Lin'er.
He opened one eye. "Yes."
She knelt a few feet away. "You're different from most. I've met many light cultivators. But yours is… thicker. Heavier."
"It's mixed," he admitted. "Blessings, healing, and something else."
"Holy Light?" she asked quietly.
He paused. "Possibly."
She looked away. "The Poison Fang Clan once hurt someone I loved. They used cursed light to control her soul. Ever since then, I've studied light and its opposites."
"That's why you sense things others don't," he said.
She nodded. "I trust you… but if you fall to darkness, I'll stop you."
He smiled faintly. "Deal."
---
Later that day, an emergency alarm rang through the academy. Students rushed to the courtyard.
A beastman elder stood at the front, face grim.
"There was a theft last night at the Beast Scholar Pavilion. A sacred record was stolen."
Gasps rang out.
"A red-robed figure was seen leaving the east wall."
Little Life felt his heart race.
"Red robe…" Shuiyin whispered. "That's not random."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a group called Red Fang. Spirit hunters. They steal sacred texts to sell them to humans or devils."
Little Life's jaw clenched. "Will they shut down the Pavilion now?"
"Maybe. Or worse, increase patrols."
---
That night, Little Life sat alone on the academy roof, thinking. Shuiyin floated beside him, scales dull.
"We need to act before it's too late," the fish said.
"I know. I need access to that Pavilion. There are scrolls that might help me rebuild her body… or find the soul herb."
"Then we'll find a way in."
He closed his eyes. "And if we must steal a scroll back from the thieves… we'll do it our way."
The stars shimmered overhead, each one like a quiet dream waiting to be touched.
Tomorrow would bring more tests.
But for now, Little Life planned.
Not just for survival…
But for destiny.
--[To Be Continued]---