In the quiet of early dawn, Little Life opened his eyes from deep meditation. The spirit garden surrounding the dormitories shimmered faintly under the mist. Dew clung to each leaf like liquid pearls. His heart was calm, but his mind buzzed with thoughts of the stolen scroll.
Beside him, Shuiyin's soft voice broke the silence. "You're going to investigate, aren't you?"
"Yes," Little Life replied. "I'm certain the Pavilion holds more secrets than it shows. The stolen scroll is just the start."
"You won't be able to enter openly," Shuiyin warned. "The Pavilion is protected by the Fire Pelt Elders, and after last night, they've surely reinforced the array."
"I won't go through the front."
Shuiyin's tail flicked. "Then we'll need help. And maybe… a distraction."
---
At breakfast, Little Life joined his team: Zhuben and Lin'er. The three of them sat under the red spirit tree, eating roasted spirit beast meat and steamed buns.
"I heard someone broke into the Pavilion last night," Zhuben said, stuffing his mouth. "Stupid thief. The whole academy's crawling with elders now."
Lin'er narrowed her eyes. "Stupid or very skilled. You don't steal from the Pavilion unless you know exactly what you're doing."
Little Life sipped tea, then asked, "Have either of you heard of the Red Fang?"
Both paused.
Zhuben frowned. "Rumors only. They're a rogue group that uses beast techniques and sells forbidden knowledge. Dangerous people."
Lin'er nodded. "They show up in different continents. Fire, Earth, even Sky. They steal and vanish without a trace."
"Then I believe they're the ones behind last night's theft," Little Life said softly.
Zhuben almost dropped his bun. "Wait. You're serious?"
"Yes. And I plan to stop them."
Lin'er leaned forward. "Why?"
"Because the scroll they stole might connect to something I'm looking for," he said. "And because they'll come back for more."
She studied him quietly, then asked, "How can we help?"
Little Life blinked in surprise. "You'd help me?"
Zhuben grunted. "You saved our lives in that forest test. I don't forget debts."
Lin'er nodded. "I trust my instincts. Yours burn with purpose."
Little Life smiled faintly. "Then we'll need a plan."
---
Later that evening, under the cover of twilight, the three met in a forgotten storage room near the west wall of the academy.
Shuiyin projected a map onto the dusty floor using its internal memory. "Here's the Pavilion. Main entrance, sealed. Guard posts here, here, and here. However—"
It swam in the air and pointed with its tail.
"There's a hidden waste tunnel under the northern cliff. It was used centuries ago by beast elders during war to evacuate scrolls in secret."
"How do you know this?" Zhuben asked.
"I have memory fragments from an old friend," Shuiyin replied vaguely.
Little Life didn't question further. He trusted Shuiyin's knowledge.
Lin'er paced in thought. "If we take that tunnel, we'll bypass most of the defenses. But there will still be traps inside."
"I can disarm the traps with light runes," Little Life said. "But we'll need to move fast."
Zhuben cracked his knuckles. "What about a distraction?"
"I'll handle that," Lin'er said. "I'll start a false fire near the southern dormitories using bird essence. That should pull half the patrols."
"Then we move at midnight," Little Life confirmed.
---
That night, the moon floated high, cloaked in thin clouds.
Lin'er lit a thin incense and sent a small bird-shaped flame spirit flying toward the southern part of the academy. Within minutes, shouts echoed across the walls as elders rushed toward the glowing sky.
Meanwhile, near the northern cliff, Little Life and Zhuben pushed aside vines and found an ancient stone slab half-buried in earth.
Shuiyin whispered, "There. The tunnel entrance."
With combined strength, they lifted the slab. Cold air poured out.
They descended carefully. The tunnel smelled of dust and forgotten history. Strange symbols lined the walls—some glowing faintly as if warning intruders.
"Watch your steps," Little Life whispered, his light aura spreading in a thin circle around them. "These are beast guardian runes. Old ones."
Deeper they went until they reached an underground chamber with three stone doors.
Shuiyin hovered. "Middle one. That leads directly under the Pavilion's third floor."
Little Life placed a hand on the door. A light rune flared under his palm, and the door groaned open.
Beyond lay darkness—thick, warm, and breathing.
---
Inside the secret chamber of the Pavilion, scrolls floated in the air on glowing shelves. Runes danced around them like fireflies. Everything pulsed with an ancient rhythm.
"Stay close," Little Life warned.
Zhuben gaped. "This place… it's older than the academy!"
Little Life's gaze moved swiftly from scroll to scroll. He stopped in front of a cracked shelf and read the golden title:
"Essence of Bone: Foundation of the Undying Root."
His eyes widened. "This… it's what I need!"
He reached out—but as soon as his fingers touched the scroll, a heavy hum echoed through the chamber.
A formation lit up on the floor.
"Someone triggered a silent alarm!" Shuiyin warned.
"Grab the scroll! We're leaving!" Zhuben shouted.
Little Life tucked the scroll into his robe, then ran toward the tunnel.
But as they turned back, a figure in red blocked their path.
Tall, robed in crimson scales, and masked in silver—it was a Red Fang agent.
"Thieves among thieves," the figure said coldly. "Hand over the scroll."
Zhuben growled. "We don't have time for this."
He charged. The agent lifted a finger. A red blade shot out, slashing across Zhuben's side. The boar beastman grunted and staggered.
Little Life raised both hands. "Shuiyin, cover him."
The fish turned into a stream of light, forming a shield in front of Zhuben.
Then Little Life stepped forward. "You want the scroll? You'll have to take it from me."
The Red Fang agent laughed. "A little light rat playing hero?"
He flicked his wrist, sending five blood thorns flying.
Little Life's new beast aura surged. His horns flashed faintly. Light erupted in six beams, slicing through the thorns.
The agent frowned. "Horns… you're not just a human, are you?"
Little Life didn't answer. He drew on his inner beast power and whispered: "Radiant Fang—Second Form!"
His palm burst with beast light, forming a short lance of glowing power. He dashed forward.
The two clashed once, twice, thrice—each impact sending sparks and shadows dancing.
Suddenly, a screech echoed above. Lin'er dove from the ceiling, feathers glowing, talons extended.
She struck the agent's shoulder and threw him off balance.
"Now!" she shouted.
Little Life flung a pulse of golden light that exploded in the agent's face. In the moment of blindness, the three escaped through the tunnel.
---
Back at the dorm, they sealed the entrance with rocks and vines. Zhuben lay on the ground, groaning as Lin'er wrapped his wound.
"You're lucky," she said. "If that blade had gone deeper—"
"I've got thick skin," he grumbled.
Shuiyin floated beside Little Life, examining the scroll.
"It's genuine. Inside is a complete guide on rebuilding bone structure from soul fragments."
Little Life breathed out. "That's one of the three keys. Now we just need the Soul Herb."
"And the Essence of Heart," Shuiyin reminded.
Lin'er looked up. "You never said what this is all for."
Little Life paused, then answered softly, "I have a sister… lost in time. Her body shattered, her soul broken. I'm gathering everything I need to bring her back."
Silence followed.
Zhuben sat up. "Then we'll help."
Lin'er nodded. "We're a team."
Little Life looked at them—beastfolk who had once been strangers.
And now, loyal companions in a dangerous journey.
---[To Be Continued]---