The next morning, I returned to the Beast Tamer Faculty with my egg in hand, excitement and a slight edge of nervousness simmering beneath the surface. Today was the day we'd perform the bonding ritual, a ceremony to officially connect with our spirit beasts.
The chamber was quieter than it had been the previous day. Only the students who had successfully chosen an egg remained, each of us with our spirit beast egg cradled carefully in our arms. My fingers traced the ridges on the shell of my egg, feeling the heat pulsing within. I couldn't quite explain the bond between us, but I could sense it growing stronger with every passing moment.
Professor Talin walked us through the steps of the ritual, explaining the importance of synchronization with our spirit beast's energy. "Close your eyes," he instructed, his voice calm yet firm, "and focus on the energy within your egg. Imagine a thread connecting you to it, a line of light that binds your spirit with that of your beast."
I did as he instructed, inhaling deeply and closing my eyes. I focused on the energy I had felt so intensely yesterday, imagining it as a crimson thread that wove itself into my very soul. The egg seemed to pulse in response, a steady rhythm that matched the beat of my heart. As I reached out with my mind, I felt a presence reaching back, instinctively strong and fierce yet surprisingly gentle.
The bond solidified, and for a brief moment, I felt as though I was looking through two sets of eyes: my own and something else's. A rush of heat flooded my senses, and a faint image flickered in my mind—a majestic bird with feathers as red as flames, its eyes gleaming with wisdom and strength. The vision vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving me breathless.
When I opened my eyes, the crimson glow from my egg had faded, replaced by a steady warmth that I could feel radiating from within. I had bonded with my spirit beast.
"Congratulations," Professor Talin said, his tone a mixture of respect and wonder. "It appears you've connected with a rather… unique creature."
I glanced down at the egg, cradling it carefully. No one knew its true nature, but a part of me was certain that this was no ordinary spirit beast. Something in the depths of my memory hinted at the tales I had read—the legendary beasts, the guardians of old. The prophecy's words echoed faintly, and I felt a shiver of anticipation. Could this egg be connected to the prophecy?
As we filed out of the chamber, I exchanged glances with my roommates. They had each bonded with their own spirit beasts—Aerin with a sleek silver-furred fox, Mira with a vibrant jade-green serpent, and Caius with a striking onyx-scaled panther. We shared a silent acknowledgment, a new level of camaraderie forged by this shared experience.
Walking back to the dorm, the four of us shared our experiences, each story filled with wonder, excitement, and a hint of trepidation. We were now officially bonded with our spirit beasts, creatures that would grow with us, lend us their strength, and perhaps even reveal parts of ourselves we had yet to uncover.
As I held my egg, I felt the warmth of the bond radiate through me. Though the true nature of my spirit beast was still a mystery, I felt certain that it held secrets of its own, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. The journey ahead was uncertain, but I felt a surge of excitement. With my new friends by my side and my spirit beast within reach, even while I was celebrating with my friends the vision in the back of my mind was the image I'd seen during the ritual, the image of the legendary Vermilion Bird.