Anu dreamed of escaping the mining town, running away to the city of Verse. With no skill for the sword, and absolutely no talent in magic, she set about learning to forge magical circuits. The one thing she could do that would get her into the Academy.

She was crushed to learn that it wasn’t enough. Without money, or connections, she would need to find a loop-hole in the entrance examinations, or worse, spend another four years trapped in the mountains.

After scouring the regulations, she’d found a way to leave: she would have to contract a beast. Anu hadn’t much mana to offer, but with no other options she stormed into the forest nearby, hoping to contract a beast.