Kalon Bloodborn POV

We approached a grand building, its architecture echoing the elegance of the Citadel, with intricately designed walls and a dome-shaped roof that soared above us like a guardian sentinel. A myriad of beasts moved restlessly within a wired enclosure, their shapes shifting and writhing in a dance of wild energy.

Stepping inside, I felt the comforting warmth envelop me, a stark contrast to the chill outside. It was as if the building itself breathed a sigh of relief from the cold, a common feature that hinted at hidden magic at play.

Inside, vast enclosed fields stretched out before us, each housing magical beasts I had only glimpsed in the pages of dusty tomes. One group displayed bipedal legs, their miniature arms flailing as they moved, slit-like eyes glinting with mischief and razor-sharp teeth bared in primal curiosity. Another beast lumbered forward, its armored body adorned with formidable tusks, a living fortress of muscle and strength. Then there were the creatures resembling mountain trolls, large and brutish, a sight that made it clear they were far from native to Stygia.

The instructor, observing my wide-eyed wonder, chuckled softly. “These beasts aren’t common to Stygia. We gather them for research purposes, a means to help young Lamians like you hone your magic. The more native creatures dwell deeper within.”

He spoke at length about the perils of taming a beast, offering various pointers to guide my hand. We ventured deeper into the building until we finally arrived at a vast expanse teeming with blood wyrms.

A thrill coursed through me, anticipation crackling in the air as I realized that soon, I would claim a beast of my own. The instructor signaled to the guards, who dutifully opened the imposing gate. I stepped forward, the instructor shadowing my movements, while Damon and Ariadne lingered a good distance behind us.

As I walked, baby blood wyrms slithered toward me with cautious curiosity. I reached out tentatively, but they recoiled, their small forms slipping away. Attracting a potential companion would require more than just a hand; it demanded a spark of magic, a connection woven from desire and intention.

Drawing on the ambient blood mana around me, I envisioned a tree in my mind, its branches stretching wide and strong. I began to manipulate the mana, rearranging its essence until the tree burst into a vibrant array of colors, each hue alive with energy.

The instructor’s face lit up with astonishment. “Intricate mana manipulation at such a young age. Quite a sight to behold,” he remarked, his eyes wide with appreciation.

A blood wyrm glided toward me, its ebony scales gleaming like polished obsidian under the ambient light, while prickly tufts of hair crowned its head like a regal mane. Climbing atop the tree I had mimicked, I accessed the magic flowing through it, an extension of my will.

Two more wyrms approached cautiously, their curious eyes fixated on my creation. Instantly, the first blood wrym reacted, as it hissed a warning to the newcomers. A tense exchange unfolded, a silent standoff of dominance and intent, until the two wyrms retreated, their defeat evident in their slinking forms.

The prickly-haired wyrm ventured closer, drawn by the magic lingering I have conjured. I extended a hand, and it grasped my fingers delicately, as if testing the waters of our connection. With a thought, the blood-sculpted tree dissolved, its essence flowing back into my body.

The wyrm regarded me with what seemed to be disbelief, hissing softly and displaying its fangs in an adorably fierce manner. The display was more charming than menacing, and I chuckled at its antics. To affirm my control, I entwined it with blood thorns, a gentle reminder of my dominance, then released it.

“Congratulations on acquiring a blood wyrm! Though I must remind you, exerting force isn’t always the way to go,” the instructor said, a note of caution in his tone.

“I merely asserted my dominance,” I replied, a smirk creeping unto my face. “I can’t have my beast brandishing its fangs at me. It accepted me the moment it took a liking to my magic.”

“Well said. Finding a beast is the easy part. Now, you’d have to train it.” he said, leading us toward the gate.

As we walked, I caught a glimpse of Ariadne, who wore an endearing grin—an expression I hadn’t seen before. It was both irritating and amusing, knowing how we often butted heads over the smallest matters.

“Congratulations on acquiring your beast, Kalon! Have you thought of a name yet?”

“A name?” I echoed, feeling expectant gazes upon me. I quickly sifted through my thoughts, but no inspiration struck.

“Seriously? You haven’t even considered a name? How clueless can one be?” Ariadne huffed, her impatience bubbling over as she reached for my newly acquired wyrm. It responded by baring its fangs, the sharp display making her withdraw her hand in fright.

Once we left the beast enclosure, we decided to relax at a spot not far from the citadel—a hill that offered a breathtaking view of Stygia. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the blood river meandered through the landscape, splitting into three branches that framed the citadel like the petals of a blooming flower. The sight was a mesmerizing reminder of the beauty that was Stygia.

Beasts—both prey and predator—converged at each tributary, drawn to the blood mana-rich streams that flowed like lifeblood through the landscape. The scene was astonishing; there was no sign of aggression among them as they gathered to replenish themselves against the biting winter cold.

“At this point, I’ve got nothing in your defense, Kalon,” Ariadne remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice, as she observed the playful antics of Kaa and Frigid. The sight of the little wyrm being effortlessly tossed around by the much larger frost bear was amusing, knowing that a single bite from Kaa would be potent enough to poison one of this size.

“You two!” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Ugh, I’ll come up with a name soon.” I glanced down at the little wyrm, now nestled comfortably over my belly.

“Asra,” I declared, watching as the blood wyrm looked up at me in confusion, its expressive eyes betraying its bewilderment. It would take time, even for a magical beast, to grasp its new name. My friends nodded in agreement, their faces lighting up with approval for the name I had chosen.

Having settled the matter of my blood wyrm’s name, Damon took it upon himself to explain the principles of flight. What seemed like an awe-inspiring feat to me appeared almost simple in his description.

As he placed a hand against my back, I focused my energy, channeling blood mana into that area. A soft pulse resonated against my spine, and I jerked forward unexpectedly, caught off guard by the sensation. In that moment, the mana-woven fabric dissolved, giving way to flesh that sprouted from my back—a thin layer of skin morphing into the majestic form of a black wing, complete with a sharp claw.

Before I could fully appreciate the transformation, Ariadne seized the opportunity, gripping me tightly from behind as we launched into the sky. The sudden rush of ascent stole the breath from my lungs, and I caught a glimpse of Damon’s expression—a mix of surprise and concern.

“Damn you! You both wish to see me dead! Put me down!” His words were laced with feigned outrage, but the mischievous grin on his face hinted at his excitement. I knew well what would come next, and a thrill of regret washed over me as I realized I had opened the floodgates for her antics.

“As you wish.” Ariadne's grip released, and I plummeted. A desperate instinct kicking in. I lunged toward her, attempting to bind blood mana around me for support, but her ice magic quickly froze my efforts in place.

Instinctively, I flapped my wings, which now felt like an extension of myself. For a fleeting moment, I found my balance in the sky, a thrill coursing through me as I soared. But that brief respite shattered as a rush of wind pressure swept over me, challenging my newfound control.

I screamed, spiraling downwards through the open air, the ground rushing up to meet me. Just as panic began to set in, Ariadne swooped in, catching me mid-fall. The cycle continued, a dizzying dance of exhilaration and fear, as I grappled with my own limitations.