City R — Federation Beast Registry Center
The portal let us out at the base of a sleek obsidian tower, its mirrored surface catching the morning sun like a blade in a sheath. Floating banners along the side pulsed with soft light—Federation blue, with the Beast Registry insignia etched in silver: a pair of outstretched wings cradling a soul core.
City R's Federation Beast Registry Center looked less like a government building and more like a weaponized skyscraper.
Cool. Efficient. Unmistakably Federation.
I adjusted the strap on my bag, straightened my collar, and smoothed my posture with practiced discipline.
Lufei trotted beside me, graceful as ever in her containment harness. Maxius rode my shoulder like a war-ready feathered general. Mystic hovered high above, circling in the airspace like a glowing moon whale. Her presence earned more than a few stares.
We stepped through the front archway. The temperature dropped immediately—clean, sterile air. White paneling lined with glowing conduits. Security drones floated silently above. Holo-guides zipped by with polite directional arrows.
At the front desk, a human receptionist blinked up from her terminal. Her hair shimmered with programmable nanodye, changing color in time with her blinking.
"Registration or update?" she asked, voice calm but clipped.
"Registration," I said, handing over the sealed results slip from the Federation Awakening Office. "First time. Beastmaster and Beast Healer."
The receptionist opened the envelope and whistled under her breath.
"And… you said you have three beasts?"
"Two soul beasts with me—Maxius and Lufei." I motioned to them. "The third's outside. She's too large to enter the building."
The receptionist leaned to the side and squinted out the window. Mystic passed overhead with a majestic rumble that trembled the glass.
"I… see." She tapped a few commands, then nodded toward the lift. "Testing room three. Proceed when ready. We'll run full registry data scans. That includes beast classification, species info, affinity rating, star class, and imprint tie. Your personal retest is also required so we can embed your license with verified soul-link data."
I nodded. "Understood."
Very military. Very Federation. I liked it.
⸻
Testing Room Three
The room was bright and spacious, with containment fields active around the testing pads. Several uniformed staff waited with tablets and scanners.
I stood centered. Maxius and Lufei moved to the marked platforms. They were calm. Focused. Professionals—like me.
"First, we'll begin with the Phantom Eagle," one staffer said. "Name?"
"Maxius."
The tech nodded. "Species: Phantom Eagle. Type: Wind/Phantom. Classification: Aerial Beast, High Intelligence Tier. Soul tie confirmed. Strong combat presence. Star rank… scanning now."
The scanner pulsed across Maxius in a lattice of blue light.
"Five-star class confirmed," the technician said. "Soul resonance exceptionally stable. Intelligence markers border mythic threshold. Unique tactical traits—high-speed dive, mirage strike, bonded telepathy."
Maxius gave a satisfied skraww.
"Next, the Emerald Spirit Deer."
"Lufei," I said. "Support class."
"Species: Emerald Spirit Deer. Type: Nature/Spirit. Classification: Support Beast, Medium Intelligence Tier. Soul tie confirmed."
They scanned her. Lufei stood with quiet grace, ears twitching as she watched the data stream.
"Four-star class. Rare-tier soul deer—high empathy link, rapid spiritual regeneration, aura bloom ability detected. Strong healing-type soul signature."
Lufei flicked her tail politely, like she approved of the summary.
"Both soul beasts verified. Registry tags will be embedded into your license," the tech confirmed. "Next—Beastmaster retest."
I stepped onto the center platform.
"Please begin awakening sequence," the staffer said.
I took a deep breath, lowered into stance, and let my soul core flare. The room shimmered.
Energy surged from my chest—dual threads unraveling. One ran sharp and stormy, the other soft and crystalline. A third, deeper pulse echoed behind them—Mystic's hum from far above.
Scanners flared.
"Dual core path awakening. Confirmed: soul functions and elemental caller professions—Rune Master, Beastmaster, and Beast Healer. Rank and star class… scanning now…"
Beads of light floated around me. I held steady.
"Six-star confirmed."
One of the technicians actually let out a low whistle.
"Excellent control. Rare talent. Soul imprint stable across three bonded entities. One non-soul link, but significant mythical aura overlap."
That was Mystic.
"Updating license now," the receptionist announced over comms. "Applicant Fan Yumei. Age seven. Federation ID verified. Professions: Rune Master, Beastmaster, Beast Healer. Class rank: Six Star. Status: Recognized High-Potential Talent."
⸻
Outside, the auxiliary scan tower had extended upward to Mystic's altitude. Several technicians in hover rigs floated around her gently, scanning from a distance.
"She's registering now," the staffer confirmed. "Link recognized. No soul-bound tether, but high imprint resonance."
A moment later, Mystic's scan appeared on the main screen inside the registry room.
Beast Designation: Unclassified Mythical Entity
Tag Name: Mystic
Species: Golden Thunder Cloud Whale (Presumed)
Origin: Unknown. Aura suggests Pre-Federation era.
Bond Status: Non-soul tethered. Imprint compatible with Federation Beast Registry.
Size Class: Celestial-Class (outdoor restriction required)
Behavioral Pattern: Cooperative. Mildly mischievous. Protective tendencies.
Elemental Affinities: Lightning, Wind, Aether. Secondary: Dreamplane signatures.
Danger Rating: B+ in calm state. A– under provocation.
Registry Notes: Visual concealment not recommended. Maintain high-visibility protocols. Symbolically significant aura—potential cultural resonance. Subject to Mythical Beast Observation Guidelines.
The room went quiet.
A senior registrar stepped in to re-check the scan herself. "She's not just a high-tier beast… this is a relic-class entity. She's something out of the old legends."
"Why is she with a seven-year-old?" one tech whispered.
The senior registrar raised an eyebrow. "Because the seven-year-old was chosen. And clearly returned the favor."
Mystic let out a distant, amused chime of thunder.
⸻
The final scans flickered out as Mystic slowly floated down from the auxiliary tower. Her body shimmered like storm-washed silk, casting shadows across the plaza. A few wind-swept leaves spiraled around her.
Inside, the Federation badge printer chimed—three tags dropping into the receptionist's hand.
"Registration complete," she said, snapping them into their holders. "All entities officially logged."
She handed me my license first: black-framed, circuit-edged, with a six-point Federation crest in gold.
Name: Fan Yumei
Age: 7
Class Professions: Beastmaster, Beast Healer, Rune Master
Core Awakening: Dual-core path
Star Rank: ★★★★★★ (Six-Star Talent)
Status: Federation Licensed
Registry ID: ACTIVE
Bonus Reward: 25,000 FC – Federation Recognition Grant
"Spend it wisely," she added, raising a brow.
Two assistants hovered near the door, whispering, then approaching.
"Miss Fan?" one asked nervously. "Would it be… inappropriate to ask for a picture with your cloud whale?"
Mystic hummed curiously above us, circling once like she was already posing.
I folded my arms and gave a nod. "You can ask her directly. She doesn't mind photos—but don't touch her unless she says it's okay."
The second assistant gave a small bow—deeply formal for someone holding a camera. "Understood."
A small queue formed. Mystic twirled slightly, shimmering in and out of her cloudform, leaving light bursts in her wake. Lufei proudly nuzzled one worker's elbow. Maxius photobombed three shots with perfect aerial dives.
I didn't smile, but I didn't stop them. It wasn't ego. It was protocol. Letting people learn how to interact with beasts respectfully—that was the whole point of registering them.
The license card materialized in a soft ring of light—a shimmering black-blue chip with my face, title, and gold Federation seal.
"We're also authorized to issue a reward," the receptionist added. "Twenty-five thousand Federation coins, as encouragement from the Registry to support your growth and recognize rare aptitude."
I accepted the chip and the currency packet without flinching.
"Thank you."
If I had known this earlier, I could've saved so much money and trouble.
A sudden ache hit my chest, and I instinctively patted it, trying to calm myself.
But in my head, I was screaming:
I can use this to fix up the house!
25,000 Federation coins—this was huge. Enough to start building our own slice of paradise.
It meant I could finally get proper clothes, training resources, and pet feed. The supplies in my bracelet were almost gone, and I couldn't afford to replace them. Master Sun, being a Refiner, could make his own beast feed, but I wasn't that lucky.
People went to Refiners all the time for custom diet plans—what your beast eats can affect how it evolves. The wrong intake could cause a mutation… or turn your beast into something else entirely.
One of the staffers stepped forward. "We also encourage new talents to consider taking sanctioned contracts with the Federation Guild. They regularly offer Beastmaster and Beast Healer jobs—soul stabilization, wild zone cleanup, transport escorts. High demand. Steady pay. And a good way to build your resume."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said.
Maxius rustled his wings. Lufei gave a small huff of approval.
Outside the window, Mystic spiraled slowly in the air—massive, glowing, and patiently waiting.
I glanced down at my new ID. It shimmered slightly in my hand. Solid. Real. Official.
This wasn't just a license.
It was proof.
I was ready.
And the Federation knew it.
⸻
When the crowd thinned, two senior staffers approached me—one in Federation blue, the other in Guild gray.
"Fan Yumei," the taller one began, "we've reviewed your results. Impressive isn't a strong enough word."
"Thank you, sir," I said, standing straight.
He handed me a second folder, thinner, stamped with the Federation Guild sigil.
"You now qualify for Guild access. Take this to the City R Federation Guild Branch. You can register as a solo adventurer, or form a team."
"Mission boards post daily," the other added. "There's high demand for Beastmasters—but even more for Beast Healers. Most squads won't leave the city walls without one."
I tucked the folder away.
"Be smart. Stay aware," said the blue-clad man. "And don't let anyone mistake your age for inexperience."
I met his gaze. "They'll learn quickly."
Both men smiled.
The gray-robed one hesitated, then said lower: "Just be careful, Fan Yumei. You've got the kind of potential that gets attention. Not all of it good."
I gave a sharp nod. "Acknowledged."
He clapped my shoulder once. "Then may the wind favor your steps. And may your beasts always hear your call."
Mystic rumbled softly overhead, like she was sealing the moment.