Companion Wars

The massive line stretched through the grand hall of Incubation, Creation, and Development — the ICE. A pompous name for a place where you were forced to leave and retrieve your companion animal during the academic periods. However, today was an exception: transport collars were being distributed free of charge to those who couldn't afford to buy them. Tyrin wasn't at the end of the line, but he was definitely far from being one of the first.

"I'm probably going to spend the entire day in this damn line," he thought, disheartened.

"Ty! I knew I'd find you here!" exclaimed a familiar voice.

"Cassandra? What are you doing here?" he replied, surprised.

"I knew I'd run into you, so I decided to drop by. You're annoying, but I'm willing to spend the whole day by your side."

"Well, I don't think you're going to enjoy waiting with me. This is going to take forever."

"Don't worry, I brought something to keep us entertained. Look at this!"

Cassandra pulled something out of her pocket that looked like a robotic bird and launched it into the air.

"I bet you've never seen a companion battle before. The intersystem championship started this week. Let's watch it together."

It wasn't just Tyrin who was surprised. Most of the people in line seemed just as impressed as he was. It was rare to see robotic birds like that, which broadcast live transmissions. Besides being extremely expensive, only nobles or wealthy citizens could afford them.

"Okay... but what exactly is this battle?" Tyrin asked, still confused.

"Hmm... It's impressive how smart you are about some things and completely clueless about others," Cassandra teased. "In the universe, few things get as much attention as companion battles. And today, we're going to watch a fight between two noble Betas houses. While neither is famous for having particularly noteworthy companions, it's still going to be fascinating to watch."

On the projected screen, an enormous coliseum appeared. On one side, a giant deer about six meters tall, with immense, sharp antlers. On the other, a bear that was slightly smaller but looked powerful and muscular.

"If I had to bet, I'd say the bear has a significant advantage. I know much about that giant deer, but the Ursidae family is famous for the insane resilience of their companions. From the size of that bear, the Astra controlling it must have fought in plenty of battles before," Cassandra remarked.

Tyrin couldn't imagine anything so grand. The most impressive creature he'd ever seen was Yank's Wolf, but even that seemed insignificant compared to those two titans fighting as if their lives depended on it.

"Look, Ty, it's starting!" Cassandra said excitedly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the seventy-seventh battle for the district control of Gargantua 35!" announced a booming voice. "Today, in the quarter-finals, we have the leader of the Ursidae family, Dimitry!"

A deafening wave of cheers and applause erupted from the audience. Tyrin could barely hear his own thoughts, but something in the announcement piqued his curiosity.

"Cass, what's this prize they're talking about?" he asked.

"You really don't know anything, do you? Hold on, let them finish the introductions, and I'll explain."

"And on the other side of the arena," the announcer continued, "the champions of last year and many years before, the legendary Timorensei!"

The crowd's reaction was unexpected: only a few clapped, while a wave of boos and angry shouts filled the stadium.

"You know they increased the cost of keeping companions in District 35 last year, right?" Cassandra explained. "Basically, they made it impossible for any commoner to stay safe here."

Tyrin remembered something he had read in The Book of Gargantua, Volume 1. The reason companions didn't die endlessly was because of the protected districts, led by nobles and their powerful beasts. However, there were at least a hundred registered districts on that planet, and moving from one to another was nearly impossible. A planet the size of a medium star made such moves equivalent to centuries-long journeys. Staying in the starting district was almost a sentence, especially when the leaders had the freedom to impose exorbitant fees.

"I hope the Timorensei lose. They're the biggest bastards I know," Cassandra grumbled.

As she complained, the fight began. The bear seemed incredibly strong and heavy, while the deer was agile and graceful. However, after a few exchanges of blows, it became clear that the deer's antlers weren't just for show — they pierced the thick layer of fat on the bear's belly.

"This fight seems a bit one-sided, doesn't it?" Tyrin commented.

"Relax. Bears from the Ursidae family get stronger when injured. In a moment... oh!" Cassandra stopped talking as the bear landed a violent swipe to the deer's face, dislocating its jaw with a devastating impact.

"This fight is already over. Look at that Beast's face," Tyrin stated confidently.

"Calm down, Ty. Now you'll understand why those bastards have ruled the district for almost ten years."

Tyrin witnessed something surreal: the deer, after letting out a terrifying cry, began regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye. The bear, sensing the danger, lunged forward again, attempting to bite and stop that absurd recovery.

However, with an intense glow, a golden crown appeared above the deer's head. Just as the bear was preparing to throw its full weight at its opponent, a blast of incandescent light shot out from the crown, piercing the bear's belly from side to side. The bear let out a cry of pain that echoed through the coliseum before collapsing, unable to continue.

"And the winner is... the Timorensei! Let's give them a big round of applause!" the announcer declared with rehearsed enthusiasm.

As the audience clapped and cheered, Tyrin couldn't tear his eyes away from the brutal scene. The bear, covered in blood, lay lifeless on the ground while an elderly, weathered-looking man ran toward the fallen creature, chanting words Tyrin couldn't understand.

"The Elder of the Ursidae family is brave," Cassandra remarked with a hint of admiration, which quickly turned into disdain. "He's probably going to sacrifice all his vitality to save the companion. I hate those damn deer. Did you know they're one of the few species in the universe capable of using solar and healing magic? It's way too overpowered!"

"But what happens now? What's next?" Tyrin asked.

"Not much. They'll probably keep winning. Ty, I sincerely hope your companion doesn't get sent to District 34. At least for the next battles, you can bet on the winners. That's a sure thing," Cassandra explained, watching as the crowd began to disperse.

The idea of betting intrigued Tyrin. He had never seen anything so peculiar: there were no goods or items involved, just the anticipation of an outcome. While it seemed risky, Cassandra appeared skilled at the game, winning often. When she lost, however, her irritation was almost comical.

"Thanks for keeping me company in the line, but I'm next," Tyrin said, finally reaching the service desk.

"True. Well, if you want to watch more battles, just call me. I'm heading out," Cassandra said goodbye, leaving with the same energy she had arrived with.

Watching the battles had been eye-opening for Tyrin. The universe seemed far bigger and more diverse than he had imagined, and, to his relief, giant monsters appeared to be the exception. The battles following the Betas were more plausible, featuring smaller but equally fascinating creatures.

When he entered the service room, he was greeted by a girl with golden hair streaked with pink highlights.

"Okay, your name is Tyrin, right? Interesting... it looks like your companion is still in its egg. Because of that, unfortunately, we can't assign it to any district yet. But from what we can see, it should hatch this month. I'll need you to take this taming collar. We don't know how it'll react when it sees you for the first time, do we? Oh, and we've already assigned it to District... 76."

"Is that district any good?" Tyrin asked, curious.

"Hmm... it's a cheap district, but it seems to have just undergone a change in leadership. I don't know much about it," the attendant admitted, consulting a holographic terminal. "Let me see here... Ah, the new leadership belongs to the Dracones family. Have you heard of them?"

"Yes, I know them. Thank you very much," Tyrin replied with a slight nod.

"You're welcome. Just one more thing: while we've identified that your companion will hatch this month, we couldn't determine its species or origin. That's why the collar is necessary. We'd like to request permission to register it as soon as it's born. Can you tell us anything about its appearance or the planet it came from?"

"Well... I don't think so. It was a gift," Tyrin replied hesitantly.

"How curious. Well, we'll wait for the registration once it's born, okay?"

"Okay. See you later," Tyrin said as he left the room.

He knew that many things had been hidden by Dante, but he preferred not to delve too deeply into those mysteries. As curious as he was, there were limits he couldn't cross. His sister depended on it.

The following week, lessons with Gertrudes continued to be interesting and promising. Tyrin hadn't yet managed to get close to the classmate who controlled the district where his companion would be sent, but the days were productive. However, Manfred, the Piloting instructor, made his disdain for Tyrin increasingly clear day by day. Manfred's noble demeanor reflected a deeply ingrained prejudice against the lower classes, who were taught from a young age to fight for scraps. Despite his efforts to frustrate Tyrin with impossible challenges, the professor knew the boy was anything but stupid or desperate. And that irritated him deeply.

"Students, today we will begin the piloting lesson with our quantum test system," Manfred announced in his deep, haughty voice. "Each of you has a prototype of the tool on your desk. Put it over your eyes and say the word 'Start.'"

The device Tyrin picked up looked like a strange pair of goggles, similar to the collar from Custe's class. When he put it on and said the magic word, he was immediately transported into a dark, immersive environment. It was a vast, empty space that reminded him of the starry sky he had seen outside the ship.

"This is space. But how am I able to breathe here?" he asked himself, trying to make sense of the situation.

Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the silence, making Tyrin flinch.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the setting of one of the greatest battles the universe has ever seen. Here, at the cost of countless lives, we defeated the Tyranos' greatest fleet."

Humanity had long realized that fighting on Earth was a devastating disadvantage. Even the Astras couldn't stand against the sheer numbers of the Tyranos in open warfare. However, space presented a different battleground. It was where human strategic intelligence and destructive technology could triumph over the enemy's brute force and overwhelming numbers.

"We are in the Alpha Centauri region. Our academic year will revolve around this historic battle," the voice continued. "Each of you will command humanity's fleet and fight as the ultimate representatives of our species. Our goal? Victory, of course. But more than that: I want you to achieve a crushing victory. Show me what you're capable of, and perhaps..."

"Understood?" repeated Professor Manfred, his stern voice breaking the silence.

"Yes, sir!" the students replied in unison, though many were hesitant.

Tyrin, like the others, couldn't take his eyes off the scene before him. Gradually, thousands of Tyrano ships appeared in the sky, advancing toward the home planet of the Emperor. But waiting for them was nothing less than humanity's entire fleet: frigates, fighters, and colossal ships, including the massive mothership that had brought Tyrin to Vanaheim.

"So this is how it happened..." he murmured to himself.

Before he could process anything further, he was "transported" into the largest ship of the fleet. Hidden behind the planet, it was a colossal masterpiece—a floating citadel. Even the imposing mothership seemed insignificant beside it.

"Sir, we have our enemies in sight. They haven't detected us yet. When would you like to begin the attack?" boomed a deep voice.

Tyrin, with no prior knowledge of strategy or combat, quickly lost control of the situation. It didn't take long before the simulator terminated his attempt, transporting him back to the classroom. He removed the goggles with trembling hands, his face reflecting the shock of the experience.

Around him, the other students looked just as shaken, staring blankly into space. One thought hammered in Tyrin's mind: "It was impossible to win that fight."

Professor Manfred paced the room, observing the students with the same mocking smile that had been plastered on his face since the start of the class.

"I see you've all had a reality check," he said, clearly pleased. "Our Emperor is a genius beyond comparison. Even so, we lost nine-tenths of our fleet in that battle. All that remained was the ship that brought you here and a fragment of the Empire's flagship. But he won. Against a ratio of five to one. Facing ships that were stronger, faster, and, at the time, more heavily armed. So, my dear students, good luck."

Manfred paused, savoring the weight of his words, before concluding:

"You will have access to the simulator for an entire year to try and win this battle. Class dismissed."

The students left the room, heads low and lost in thought, with the exception of Manfred, who wore a triumphant smile as if he had crushed their spirits.

"Well, I think that puts an end to your arrogance," he muttered aloud, clearly satisfied with himself.

Tyrin, lost in his thoughts, barely noticed when Cassandra tapped him lightly on the head with a baton.

"Damn it, Ty! Snap out of it! The professor's staring!"

"Sorry, Cass... I was distracted."

"I can see that," she replied, shaking her head. "Anyway, get up already. You need to help me in Custe's class."

As he left the room with Cassandra, Tyrin couldn't shake the vision of what he had experienced in the simulator. His mind kept returning to the battle. He had lost with a ratio of seven to one, and none of it made sense. The Tyranos didn't seem like a foolish or disorganized species. On the contrary, everything about the battle suggested that someone incredibly intelligent was coordinating the attacks, manipulating the pieces from afar like a master strategist weaving an intricate web of war.

Who was really behind that offensive? Tyrin thought, following Cassandra down the hallway.