Morning in the Barracks
Morning in the
The sharp blare of the alarm at 7 AM shattered the silence, signaling recruits to wake up and head to the canteen for breakfast. The barracks groaned to life as soldiers rolled out of their bunks—some with urgency, others groggy from exhaustion.
Kyle's eyes snapped open, the lingering fatigue from yesterday's events vanishing as a sudden ding echoed in his head. A glowing notification appeared before him.
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[Defeated a Level 6 Holder]
[Reward: 20 EXP]
Smirkin, he pulled up his profile.
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[User: Kyle Corvayn]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 2]
[EXP: 85/75]
[HP: 30/30]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 10]
[Stamina: 20]
[Willpower: 20]
[Mana: 25]
Another message followed.
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[Leveling Begins]
A surge of energy rushed through his body. Heat built in his muscles before settling into a strange lightness. His limbs no longer felt sluggish, his senses sharper than before.
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[Reward: +10 Stat Points]
Kyle exhaled, feeling the newfound power coursing through him. He quickly allocated the points to Agility and Willpower—he needed speed and mental fortitude if he wanted to control Boneclaw properly.
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[User: Kyle Corvayn]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 3]
[EXP: 10/150]
[HP: 35/35]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 10 → 15]
[Stamina: 20]
[Willpower: 20 → 25]
[Mana: 25]
His skill tab remained unchanged.
---
[Mana Sense: 10]
[Mana Reinforcement: 10]
[Mana Surge: 10]
He needed Willpower if he wanted to keep Boneclaw under control. Speaking of which…
Opening his familiar's profile, his eyes narrowed.
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[Boneclaw (Dormant)]
[Race: Familiar]
[Health: 1000/1000]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: ???]
[Speed: ???]
[Defense: ???]
[Stamina: ???]
[Skills: ???]
Kyle's stomach clenched.
"A Level 1 familiar with this much health?" he thought.
It didn't make sense. A Veil-Tier familiar at Level 1 had at most 200 HP, yet Boneclaw had five times that. And its stats were still hidden.
"And it hasn't even evolved yet…"
His stomach grumbled, breaking his thoughts.
"Guess the fight burned more energy than I thought."
Across the room, Jace chuckled. "Come on, roommate. If we're late, we're getting whatever's left on the trays—if there's anything left at all."
Kyle sighed, pushing aside his thoughts.
As they stepped outside, the crisp morning air carried the distant echoes of orders being shouted across the military grounds. Soldiers jogged in formation, instructors keeping watch with sharp, calculating eyes.
The mess hall loomed ahead—a steel fortress built for efficiency rather than comfort. Inside, recruits sat in rows, eating with precision. The clatter of trays, the scrape of utensils, and the low murmur of conversation created a controlled hum of activity.
Kyle and Jace grabbed their trays and joined their squad. Darius, Lena, and Vivian were already seated, each lost in their own thoughts.
Kyle barely touched his food, mind still on Boneclaw. Something wasn't right.
And he had a feeling that whatever Boneclaw truly was, it wasn't supposed to exist.
---
Classroom: The History of Familiars
As the students filed into the lecture hall, the noise of breakfast faded. Some were still groggy, others restless, but all fell silent when Mr. Leon, a tall, severe-looking man, stepped forward. With a tap on his desk, a holographic display flickered to life, showcasing ancient battlefields, war-torn landscapes, and the faded sigil of the Accord Keepers.
Kyle leaned forward. He had heard the name before—but never like this.
"The Accord Keepers," Mr. Leon began, his voice calm but firm, "were the first to wield familiars. Not through contracts like today, but through bloodlines. For centuries, they kept their knowledge secret, ensuring their power remained unmatched."
A murmur spread through the class. Some students had heard of the Accord Keepers, but the details were scarce.
"But secrets do not last forever," Mr. Leon continued. "War revealed their existence, and when the world learned of familiars, nations fought to control them. This war lasted for decades, shaping the territories we now call home."
Kyle felt a chill creep down his spine.
"A war over familiars…"
Mr. Leon's gaze swept across the room. "We are in an era of peace, but peace is merely the breath between wars. This academy exists to prepare you for when that balance is shattered again. That is why you are here—to become the next generation of warriors."
The weight of his words settled over the students.
Lena, sitting next to Darius, muttered, "So we're just weapons waiting for the next war?"
Mr. Leon's eyes locked onto her. "No. You are the ones who will decide what happens next."
Kyle clenched his fists. The Accord Keepers… They had hidden familiars for centuries. If they had secrets then, what else could they have hidden?
And then, an unsettling thought crept into his mind.
"What if Boneclaw is one of those secrets?"
He stole a glance at his familiar's profile again, its unknown stats and locked abilities staring back at him.
"What if… I am part of that missing piece?"
The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
And he had a feeling that when the truth finally revealed itself, he wouldn't like the answer.
---
The lecture had left a heavy silence in its wake. The weight of history, the reminder that they were being trained for war—it settled into their bones. As the students exited the hall, Kyle found himself walking with Jace, Darius, Vivian, and Lena, their usual group forming naturally amidst the moving crowd.
"That was intense," Vivian muttered, adjusting the sleeves of her uniform. "The Accord Keepers, the Great Familiar War… I knew bits and pieces, but hearing it like that—makes you wonder what else we're not being told."
Lena scoffed. "Tch. It's the military. There's always something they're not telling us."
Darius, walking ahead of them, kept his eyes forward. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that we're strong enough to handle whatever comes next. We're here to fight, not sit around doubting everything we're taught."
"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Mr. 'Charge-Headfirst-Into-Battle,'" Jace teased, flashing a grin. "But Vivian and Lena have a point. If the Accord Keepers really hid familiars from the world for centuries, who's to say there aren't still secrets buried in all this?"
Kyle remained quiet, his thoughts tangled. His Boneclaw wasn't just a secret—it was something wrong. Even its status screen didn't display normal values.
Jace nudged him with an elbow. "You're way too quiet, Kyle. You're usually the one asking questions. What's up?"
Kyle hesitated but shrugged. "Just… thinking."
Jace gave him a sideways glance. "Uh-huh. And I'm thinking you leveled up overnight. You're moving differently." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Your mana flow's stronger too. I can tell."
Kyle tensed. Jace was observant—too observant.
Vivian tilted her head. "Now that you mention it… Kyle, did you gain a new ability or something?"
Lena folded her arms. "Or maybe you finally tapped into your familiar properly?"
Kyle forced a small chuckle. "I just trained a bit harder yesterday, that's all."
Darius finally turned, giving Kyle a long look before smirking. "Hah. About time. You had a sluggish start, but if you're catching up, then that just means the competition's getting more interesting."
Kyle exhaled, relieved that Darius took it as normal progress. But Jace… Jace wasn't convinced.
Silvercrest Raven fluttered from Jace's shoulder, its silver-tinged feathers gleaming in the light. The bird's sharp eyes locked onto Kyle, its head tilting as if analyzing him.
Kyle felt an unnatural chill. Could it sense Boneclaw?
Jace seemed to notice his familiar's reaction. He didn't say anything, but his easygoing smile faltered just a little.
Vivian, oblivious to the silent exchange, clapped her hands together. "Well, enough weird tension. I say we take bets—who's most likely to crash and burn in today's training exercise?"
Lena smirked. "No bets needed. Theo's gonna trip over his own shield again."
The group laughed, the tension breaking just a little. But even as they joked, Kyle could feel Jace's gaze lingering on him.
Jace knew something was off.
And Kyle knew it was only a matter of time before he pressed for answers.
Later that evening, after a long day of drills and lectures, Kyle lay in his bunk, staring at the ceiling. The barracks were dimly lit, with only the occasional rustle of fabric and quiet murmurs of recruits settling in for the night. His body still buzzed with the residual energy from leveling up, but it wasn't just that keeping him awake.
It was Boneclaw.
The familiar's status screen still bothered him—its raw power, its hidden stats. It wasn't normal. Most familiars had clear attributes, something measurable. Boneclaw? It was an anomaly, a beast lurking in the unknown.
Kyle exhaled slowly. He needed more answers.
"You're thinking too hard again."
Kyle turned his head. Jace was sitting on the edge of his bunk, arms crossed, his Silvercrest Raven perched beside him. The bird's sharp silver eyes gleamed in the low light, studying Kyle in eerie silence.
Kyle smirked. "That obvious?"
"Painfully," Jace said. "You've been different since yesterday. Faster. Stronger. And whatever happened in that test area—" he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, "I know you weren't just summoning an ordinary familiar."
Kyle tensed. He expected Jace to be observant, but hearing it out loud sent a chill down his spine.
Jace didn't look angry, just… curious. And maybe a little concerned.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kyle said, keeping his tone even.
Jace's raven let out a low caw, tilting its head as if amused.
Jace sighed. "Look, I get it. Everyone's got their secrets. I just want to know one thing—" He leaned back, resting against the bunk frame. "Whatever you're hiding… is it dangerous?"
Kyle hesitated. Yes. The answer was yes. But he couldn't say that.
"I'm in control," he said instead.
Jace studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright."
Just like that, he let it go.
Kyle frowned. "That's it?"
Jace smirked. "For now. I trust you, Kyle. But if whatever you're hiding does become a problem…" He tapped his temple. "I see things, you know? My raven's got an eye for fate. And my gut tells me something big is coming."
Kyle swallowed. He had a feeling Jace was right.
"Get some rest," Jace said, lying back on his bunk. "Tomorrow's gonna be hell."
Kyle sighed, closing his eyes. Sleep didn't come easily.
And when it finally did, it brought something far worse.
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