The First Step Into Another World

The morning sunlight stretched lazily through the clouds as Jimmy gently scooped Luna into his arms. She yawned with her mouth closed, curling slightly like a misty ribbon, then nestled into his palm. Jimmy whispered nothing—just smiled, placed her gently on his shoulder, and walked out of the orphanage gates.

At the towering gate of the Veyrith Academy of Tamer Arts, he showed his admission papers to the gatekeeper, who scanned it with a glowing crystal and waved him through. Jimmy walked silently across the sprawling stone courtyard, past fountains carved with Whisp sigils, and followed the posted directions to the boarding house. Room B-12. But this time he did not see that ancient tree and those whisps.

Once settled in, Jimmy pulled out his old, flickering tab. Logging into the academy portal, he updated his profile with basic info: no family, special needs—mute since birth—and his bonded Whisp: Luna (Ondirael). He marked her as Primary 7th Level, Water. He closed the tab.

A metallic speaker in the hallway crackled:

"All students report to the Grand Corridor. Collect your IDs before entering the induction ceremony."

He opened the door and saw boys rushing past. Most wore clean, tailored uniforms, some even had flashy accessories that reacted to nearby Whisps. Jimmy followed silently behind.

At the end of the corridor was a majestic hall with crystal chandeliers and sigil-etched pillars. Volunteers handed out student IDs and forms. Jimmy waited his turn. When he received his, he glanced at it:

[Section: B | Seat Number: 100]

He was the last student on the list.

The hall buzzed with chatter as the students arranged themselves:

15 students on a glowing blue carpet—Elite Section.

35 sat in the polished silver zone—Class A.

50 were ushered into the bronze-coloured wooden seats—Class B.

Jimmy took his seat at the very end of the last row.

A bald man with long robes stepped onto the stage—his presence silenced the crowd. Even without a mic, his voice carried perfectly.

"Welcome to the Veyrith Academy of Tamer Arts. I am Vice Principal Rollo. Your paths will diverge from here. Some will shine, others will falter. But each of you holds Whisps. It is your bond, your soul's echo."

A whisper passed through the students.

"That's Rollo the Stone-Eater! 🤣😂🤣😂 He's an A-level Whisp Master..."

"He looks barely 60... but rumour is he's over 100..."

"Silence!" barked a teacher from the side. The murmurs died.

Then the mood shifted.

A woman walked to the centre of the stage—tall, elegant, her black and crimson robes flaring slightly as if responding to her aura. Her presence turned heads instantly. Luna on Jimmy's shoulder turned slightly, sensing power.

"I am Viola Nicolas," she said, voice calm but sharp, "an original member of the Whisp . I will personally train the Elite Class this year."

The room erupted with whispers, gasps, and even a cheer.

"However," she continued, "if you're weak, I don't want you. No Whisp is useless. Only a Master's resolve determines growth. Fail to show up at Room A13 in ten minutes, and you're demoted to Class A. That's all."

She turned and walked off the stage, her boots making no sound, but her power lingering like smoke.

...........

As the Elite and Class A students quickly left for their orientation and test sessions, the remaining Class B students stood uncertainly in the hall. Jimmy noticed that none of the instructors had come to guide them.

A few brave students approached a nearby assistant, only to be waved off with a scoff.

"You? You're the leftovers. Don't waste my time."

The assistant chuckled and walked away.

A group of Class A boys passing by burst into laughter.

"Look at them. Welcome to the Losers' Corner!"

"Don't forget to wear your training diapers!"

The mockery spread fast. Jimmy stood quietly, unaffected. He had heard worse.

Just then, a stern, middle-aged teacher with a bushy moustache appeared. He looked at the confused B-Class group and raised his clipboard.

"Don't just stand there. Playground. Now."

The students quickly followed him outside, murmuring among themselves. The teacher didn't even introduce himself. As they gathered under the broad training field, he barked,

"This is your 'orientation.' No lectures. No hand-holding. A mock battle. Win? You get points. Lose? You don't."

No one laughed anymore.

Jimmy adjusted Luna's resting position on his shoulder. Her eyes flickered open.

The game had begun. Jimmy was waiting for it, no for points.

........................................................

Every move, every dodge, every moment of pushing Luna's limits was a chance to grow. He had seen it before—the Codex didn't lie. Progress came with action. Luna needed those points as much as he did.

They stood in a wide, sun-washed training yard surrounded by rune-marked barriers. The grass was thin, patches of dirt visible from hundreds of battles fought here before. On one side, Class B students stood in hesitant groups of two or three. Many held starter-grade Whisps. A floating candle. A tail-wagging pup. A beetle with soft chitin and glowing eyes.

On the other side, stood the instructor, arms crossed, frowning.

"Mock duels. 1-on-1 format. Random pairing. Call your Whisps when your name is called. Fight ends when one side yields or their Whisp is judged unable to continue."

A floating board flashed names. First Match: Taro vs. Jinso.

Jimmy didn't even glance. He quietly walked to a shaded spot under a rusted practice spear, sat down cross-legged, and opened the Codex again.

[Ondirael] – Primary 7th Level (10/200)+Points left: 0 Current skills: refined, but not enough. She needed more. 

He watched as Taro's Whisp, a blue-furred electric rodent, Nimblin, tried to dodge a blast of sand thrown by Jinso's Earth-type Shileft. The match ended in under two minutes.

Second Match. Third Match. The weak fell fast. The strong—well, none were really strong here. That's why they were B Class.

Then a name blinked at the top of the board.

Jimmy vs. Gorrik .

There were snorts of laughter. Gorrik, a loud-mouthed brute with spiky brown hair, cracked his knuckles and walked into the centre like a gladiator.

"Hey mute boy! Hope you brought something better than your plush toy!"

Jimmy didn't react. He stepped forward, placed a hand over his chest, and tapped twice.Luna emerged in a spiral of glowing blue mist, landing silently in front of him.

Gorrik laughed.

"That's it? A floating fish-whisp? What's it gonna do, splash me?"

Jimmy didn't flinch. He gave no command. He didn't need to.

Luna's eyes flickered. Water pulsed from her form, and a faint current of static tingled in the air. Her body shimmered with quiet power. She wasn't laughing.

#Shileft : Shileft is a squat, mole-like creature with stubby limbs and oversized front claws built for digging. Its body is soft brown with dark, stone-like ridges along its back that haven't fully hardened yet. Tiny pebbles are embedded in its fur, and faint green mineral spots shimmer on its cheeks. Its eyes are large and expressive, glowing amber when excited or focused. It has a short tail that wags when it burrows, and its nose is flat with a jagged rocky crest forming just above its forehead

#Nimblin : Nimblin resembles a tiny, agile rodent with soft, sky-blue fur that crackles faintly with static energy. Its round ears are slightly oversized and tipped with glowing yellow rings. A streak of white fur runs down its belly, and its cheeks hold shimmering electric sacs that pulse when it's excited or alert. Its tail is thin and whip-like, ending in a jagged lightning-bolt shape. Nimblin's small black nose twitches constantly, and its bright golden eyes reflect curiosity and cleverness. Its feet have slight paw pads that leave behind flickers of static with each step.

#Karablight: Karablight is a sleek, armoured beetle Whisp with a shimmering carapace that shifts in colour from deep emerald green to midnight blue under different light. Its sturdy shell is etched with natural ridges that glow faintly at night. It has two long antennae that twitch with sensitivity, and its glowing horn curls slightly like a hook, used to push, pull, or channel energy. Its six legs are clawed, able to grip both wood and stone surfaces with ease. The wings underneath its shell are translucent with a glowing web-like pattern, but it rarely flies unless threatened.

#Barkinroot : Barkinroot looks like a small woodland puppy, its soft fur resembling mossy grass and bark-textured patterns running along its back. Its ears droop like tender sapling leaves, and its tail resembles a young branch tipped with fluttering green leaves that wag gently in the breeze. Tiny vines wrap around its ankles and tail, subtly growing or shrinking depending on its energy level. Its eyes are a rich amber, glowing softly in the shade. When it walks, little sprouts sometimes grow where its paws touch the earth.

#Wispindle : Wispindle appears as a small, hovering wax candle with a dancing blue-purple flame that never fades. Its wax body is an ethereal off-white with faint runic carvings that glow in the dark. Two hollow, teardrop-shaped eye sockets glow faintly with violet light, giving it a haunted but curious look. When it moves, its flame flickers gently, trailing wisps of misty smoke that spiral like whispers. The melted wax seems to reform constantly, dripping and then vanishing before hitting the ground.