Leon woke up and thought about today's schedule—it was the first real training day for him and Ember.
Leon stretched and got ready quickly. Today was the day—they had to gather at the academy first before heading to the secret realm for training. The excitement buzzed quietly in his chest as he imagined what awaited them.
No one truly knows how the secret realms came to be. Their origin is shrouded in mystery, lost in the chaos of an ancient past. What is known, however, is that they first began appearing ten thousand years ago—during the Great War that nearly tore the world apart.
It was a time of darkness, when an evil god from beyond the stars descended upon this world with a singular, terrifying goal: to sacrifice all living beings and absorb the planet's spiritual energy to ascend to a higher form of existence. The skies burned, the oceans roared, and entire continents trembled beneath his wrath.
As the world teetered on the brink of destruction, strange rifts began to open—tears in the very fabric of space itself. These rifts led to unknown worlds: the first secret realms. Some say they were created by ancient guardians trying to preserve the essence of life. Others believe they were the god's doing—fractures in reality caused by his arrival, never meant to exist.
From these rifts came not salvation, but slaughter.
Endless swarms of savage beasts poured through the space nodes—monstrous creatures twisted by malevolent energy, their minds filled with only destruction. They rampaged across the land, tearing down kingdoms and devouring everything in their path. These were not normal beasts. They were born of chaos, corrupted by something otherworldly… something hungry.
The war raged for centuries, until at last, the evil god was sealed away by an alliance of the greatest beastmasters and ancient powers. The secret realms, however, remained—unchanged, unmapped, and still pulsing with danger, opportunity, and the remnants of a forgotten age.
Millions perished in the Great War.
Entire empires fell overnight. Cities turned to ash, forests to cinders, and rivers ran red with blood. No one was spared—men, women, children, beasts. The rampaging evil beasts from the secret realms tore through the world like a plague of nightmares.
And when all hope seemed lost, the god-level beastmasters—the strongest beings to ever walk the land—rose up for one final stand. There were only nine of them, each a legend in their own right, bonded with beasts that could shake mountains and scorch skies.
Together, they confronted the alien god in a battle that scarred the heavens and shattered the earth.
In the end, they succeeded. At the cost of their lives, they sealed the god beyond the veil of reality, using a forbidden ritual that fused their very souls into the chains that now bind him.
Their sacrifice saved the world—but it also ensured that no god-level beastmasters ever appeared again. Some say the ritual consumed the path to godhood itself. Others believe the secret lies hidden in the deepest corners of the surviving realms.
To this day, the secret realms remain… and the echoes of that ancient war still linger.
Leon shook off the lingering thoughts of ancient battles and sealed gods. Today was training day.
He jumped out of bed, washed up quickly, and threw on his academy uniform. Ember stretched on the windowsill, yawning with all three tails fanned out like lazy flames.
"Come on," Leon muttered with a grin, tossing a small roasted meat strip her way. "Big day today."
Downstairs, the scent of fresh bread and fried eggs filled the air. Their mother had already laid out a simple breakfast.
"Eat fast," she said, barely glancing up from her tea. "Don't make your class wait."
Leon and Layla scarfed down their food with barely a word. Tiki cawed eagerly from Layla's shoulder, wings twitching with excitement.
Bags packed. Beasts ready.
"Let's go," Leon said.
"Race you to the academy!" Layla shouted, already halfway out the door.
Leon laughed and sprinted after her, wind rushing past his ears as the sun climbed higher. Today, they'd step into the unknown.
They reached the academy courtyard and spotted Jacob leaning casually against a pillar, a relaxed smile on his face.
"Hey Leon, Layla," Jacob called out as they approached. "Ready for the secret realm training? I'm a bit nervous. So… what beasts did you two hatch?"
Leon glanced at Layla, then shrugged. "We just got them recently. I've got a little fox—Ember. She's got fire powers."
Jacob's eyes lit up with interest. "A fire fox? That sounds awesome. I can't wait to see her in action."
Layla grinned. "And I've got a tiny bird named Tiki—well, I'm calling her Cinder now. She's a spirit-type with fire and wind elements."
Jacob whistled. "Spirit-type already? Nice! You two lucked out."
Leon smirked. "What about you? What beast did you get?"
Jacob leaned in slightly, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Now that… is a secret." He chuckled. "But don't worry—I'll introduce you to my partner inside the secret realm."
Layla raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious much?"
Jacob smirked. "Gotta keep things interesting, right?"
Leon laughed. "Fine. We'll see who impresses who out there."
Jacob grinned. "Looking forward to it."
Soon, the three of them joined the rest of their classmates near the main platform.
Their class was already assembled, buzzing with excitement. The principal stood at the front, hands behind his back.
"This is your first step," he said briskly. "The Novice Secret Realm will test your bond with your beasts. Stay alert, work together, and don't do anything reckless."
As he finished, a shimmering portal flared open behind him, humming with quiet energy.
Without wasting another second, the students began lining up.
Leon took a deep breath. Ember stirred inside his awakened beast space, sensing the shift.
It was time.