Leon stepped out of his room and stretched, blinking at the warm orange glow spilling through the hallway windows. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long golden shadows across the floor. Perched around his shoulders, the tiny firefox yawned, its three tails swaying lazily behind him like ribbons in the breeze.
As he rounded the corner, a creak echoed from a nearby door.
Creaaak.
Before he could react, the door burst open—and out came Layla, practically skipping with excitement.
"Leon! Leooon! Look what I've got!" she squealed, cradling something against her chest like a prized treasure.
Leon blinked. "Let me guess… you finally beat your high score in that berry-catching game?"
Layla huffed. "No! My beast hatched! And she's amazing!"
She proudly held out her arms, revealing a tiny bird nestled in her palms. The creature was barely the size of an apple, covered in sleek sky-blue feathers with a faint shimmer, like sunlight bouncing off water. Its beady black eyes blinked up at Leon with surprising confidence, and a small crest of white fluff bobbed on its head.
Leon whistled. "Well, would you look at that. Already showing off, huh?"
Layla grinned smugly. "Of course! She's beautiful, graceful, and probably way cooler than your little fluffball."
The firefox on Leon's shoulders let out a low, offended huff, shooting the bird a narrow look.
Layla giggled. "What? Jealous already?"
Leon raised an eyebrow and scoffed with a mock-offended expression. "Jealous? Me? Of that feathery puffball?"
Leon quickly checked the Beast Codex to learn more about Layla's bird.
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Name: Skyfin Sparrow
Type: Spirit Beast
Race: Bird
Level: Primary Iron
Bloodline: A faint trace of Skyfire Phoenix bloodline
Talent: Elemental Affinity (Fire & Wind) — increases fire damage and burning effect, boosts speed and agility due to the wind element.
Skills:
Claw Strike (Entry Level): Quick physical attack with sharp claws. Moderate damage.
Peck (Entry Level): Basic melee attack using the beak.
Fire Gust (Entry Level): Launches a small fiery wind gust, dealing fire and wind damage; may cause burning or stagger.
Evolution Route:
1st Evolution: Skyfin Sparrow >>> Flarewing Sparrow
Requirements: Peak Iron + Bronze level beast core + Fire Stone + Wind Stone + Blazebloom Grass + Galegrass
Further Evolutions: Unlock after completing the previous stage.
---
Leon smiled quietly to himself, watching the little sparrow. "She's got a strong one," he thought. No need to say too much—this was his little secret.
Gently holding the little fox cub nestled in his arms, while Layla carefully cradled her tiny sparrow, the soft feathers barely ruffling as it chirped quietly, they headed toward their mother. Anticipation buzzed between them.
Leon glanced at Layla with a grin. "Ready to show Mom our new partners?"
Layla laughed softly. "She's going to be so proud!"
---
Cradling their new companions gently, Leon and Layla entered the living room where their mother was waiting.
Isabella looked up as they came in, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Well, well… not bad at all," she said, her eyes sparkling with quiet pride as they settled on the fox and sparrow.
"There's a lot of potential in these little ones." Her voice held gentle warmth but beneath it was a calm seriousness — like someone who'd seen many beasts grow and knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy.
"Treat them well. Maybe they'll surprise you one day."
Layla suddenly asked, "Mom, when will Dad be back from work?"
Their mother smiled gently, but Leon caught a flicker of something deeper in her eyes—something unspoken. "He should be back later tonight," she replied softly.
Layla nodded eagerly. "Alright! I can't wait to show Dad my bird!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, already imagining his reaction.
---
Layla smiled brightly and said, "I'm going to name her Tiki. I can't keep calling her 'bird bird' all the time!"
She turned to Leon with a curious smile. "What about you? Have you named your fox yet?"
Leon scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward. "Uh, I'm not really good at naming… Haven't thought of one yet."
Layla scrunched her nose and made a face of mild disgust.
"Ugh, seriously? You can't even name your own beast? That's kinda lame, Leon."
Leon raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"Alright, smart one—why don't you suggest a name then?"
Layla smirked mischievously and teased, "How about 'Fluffy McFiretail' for your fox?"
Leon rolled his eyes, embarrassed. Then she grinned and added, "Okay, okay, seriously—how about 'Emberlyn'? You can just call her Ember for short."
Leon scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face.
"Emberlyn, huh? Yeah… that actually sounds pretty cool."
Layla smiled brightly. "I'll call my Tiki 'Tiki' for now, but her real name will be Cinder once she grows strong."
Their mom smiled softly, watching them with quiet warmth. "Good names," she said gently. "Both of them suit your new partners well."
Both the kids smiled brightly, feeling proud and happy their mom approved.
---
Leon glanced at Ember curled comfortably in his arms, then at Tiki, who softly cawed in Layla's hands. The warm evening light filtered through the window, casting a calm glow over the room.
"Alright," Leon began, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "With the university entrance exam just two months away, we need to start training seriously. Both Ember and Tiki are still young and fragile, but this is our chance to prepare them well."
Layla nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling. "Yeah! I want Tiki to be strong and fast, just like a real phoenix someday."
Leon smiled, feeling a surge of determination. "Same here with Ember. We'll need a step-by-step plan to help them grow and unlock their true potential."
Their mom watched quietly but with a knowing smile. "Good. Training will be important, but don't forget patience. Every beast has its own pace."
Leon thought back to everything he'd learned at the academy—how to build a strong bond with his beast, the importance of balanced physical and elemental training, and strategies to gradually push their limits without overwhelming them. He knew patience was key, but also understood consistent effort could unlock hidden potential faster.
He considered starting with basic obedience and agility drills for Ember, focusing on controlling her fire abilities without losing composure. For Tiki, gentle flight exercises mixed with wind and fire control practice would be essential to develop her dual elements.
Leaning forward, Leon said, "We'll need to tailor the training for each of them—Ember's got raw power, and Tiki has speed and agility. Getting them to work together could give us a big advantage."
Layla smiled brightly. "Teamwork sounds awesome! Let's make them the best duo ever."
Leon grinned back, feeling a surge of excitement for the challenge ahead.
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