Getting through my first year at the academy hoping to pass the test that would be held was the only thing that kept me going with my training. Even if it meant listening to the droning voice of Instructor Willis.

During my time at the academy, I heard rumours that I was the only one here at the academy to have a talisman, which I found to be a little odd, considering each member of my family would receive a talisman at the age of six, like I had with Larana.

“Not everyone is destined to wield a talisman, not even all the members of your clan,” informed Larana, she always knew so much. “Most have to pass a small test before the contract is made.”

“I just called your name,” I shrugged.

“Yes, but a talisman also knows who their master is meant to be, and you were always meant to be mine.” She smiled as she said those words, I blushed.

“Break times up Alex,” said dad holding the sphere.

I had just finished my thirty laps around the castle, which to be honest were getting pretty easy now, but dad still insisted I take a break, considering I would still need to get through the boring day at the academy, I would just use it to catch up on some sleep, even though I heard another rumour flying about that the yearly test was going to be held sooner this year, the perfect opportunity to progress higher.

“Right.” I jumped to my feet, staring at the ball in his hand, my tail was already flickering wildly in anticipation of trying to catch it. I had been so close on quite a few occasions and today I knew I would catch it.

“Go.” Dad smirked as the sphere became airborne and flew away from me.

I dashed straight after it. I had become quite fast at running now, even using Larana as a boost to catch up with the sphere quickly. I felt my whole body buzzing with excitement as I jumped, reaching my hand to grab the sphere. It ascended higher.

“Not this time.” I wasn’t going to let it escape, not this time as I reached out even more. I found myself moving up towards it, my feet leaving the ground. “Wow.” My concentration was interrupted as I looked down to see I was off the ground. I noticed dad run over as I fell down, he caught me in his arms. “What was that?”

“An advanced skill of Larana’s is flight,” answered dad.

“Flight?” I repeated.

“It allows you to fly like she does.” As dad said those words Larana flew around us. “For a split second your sync level was quite high.”

“How do I know when it gets higher?” I asked as he put me down.

“You can feel it as your connection grows, you find you can do more with her power, last longer while using it,” explained dad. “It is something that grows the longer you two work together.” Dad glanced around. “Well, it’s about time you headed to class.”

“Ah.” I sighed.

“Go on,” encouraged dad.

“Alright.” Without any further delay I headed off to the academy.

I ended up thinking about my first year, it hadn’t been all that bad I guess, sure I hadn’t made a single friend or learnt anything of actually value from Instructor Willis, but I had been able to progress with my training with Larana and I was really getting the hang of my abilities with her and to see glimpse of events to come.

I felt this sadness as I walked off towards the academy, most of it only just becoming active in the mornings light. I hadn’t seen Tigra all that much, mostly in passing as her tutors kept her busy, so much so she could hardly escape from them; I missed playing our games, just thinking about it ruined my mood.

-

The test for the yearly advancement soon arrived. I had been so patient for this day, I felt determined to face this challenge head on, standing with all the others from class looking at the obstacle course that was our test. It looked pretty simple, places to prove one’s balance to areas focused on speed and agility.

“Today we will see who will pass into the higher classes,” informed Instructor Willis standing in front of the course. “But it will all depend on how well you do or if you complete the task at hand.” I looked about to see most were nervous, none of them had progressed all that much. “Some of you might be able to complete this but unfortunately others won’t.” He glanced in my direction as he said those words. I ignored him and looked back over at the course, analysing the layout, so I knew what to do when it was my turn. “Well then who’s first.”

I put my hand straight up, undeterred by the challenge. “I’ll do it.”

“I don’t think you’re ready yet Fang,” responded Instructor Willis.

“What?” I snarled, instantly feeling my blood boiling. “I have just as much right as everybody else.” I stared him right in the eyes. “You can’t stop me from taking it.”

“You’ve not made any progress since coming here Fang, I don’t want to put you in danger.” Instructor Willis seemed pleased with his words.

“I will be doing the course,” I responded, controlling myself, my anger reflected in the flickering of my tail. “By the rules of the academy I have the right to proceed, if not I shall get higher forces involved and you know what I mean by that.” I had established early on that I had strong ties to the royal family, and I wasn’t afraid to use their names in my little battle with him.

“Very well Fang but wait till it is your turn.” Instructor Willis had changed his mind faster than I thought but he had been the one who asked who wanted to go first, was there a reason he had changed it so quickly? Usually, I would bring out the ‘I will bring King Alton here tomorrow and you can explain it to him’ line.

I couldn’t help feeling there was something more to this, but I just shrugged it off, my gaze on the course that would take me out of this pointless pit.

“I’ll wait.” I crossed my arms, not pleased but at least I won.

“Alright.” Instructor Willis nodded and the tension between us quickly faded. “You’ll go first.” He patted some poor kid on the head, one of the ones still shaking, he hadn’t stopped since he joined the academy, a bit of a cry baby. “You can do this.” Instructor Willis encouraged kindly, kind of wished he’d treat me like that, but it was something that was never going to happen.

The little Feles gulped before stepping up to the course. The first section was easy, you just needed to balance on a group of up-right logs, the one at the end was on its side, attached a rope, obviously it would wobble when one stepped on to it.

He stepped on to the first, still shaking, but quickly gained a little confidence as he progressed, but as soon as he came to the last one attached to the rope, he slipped off, straight on his butt. I fought back the urge to laugh as he started crying.

Instructor Willis was by his side within seconds. “It’s okay, you’ll do better next time.” I doubted that. “Next.” He pointed out the next one.

I guess I was a little impressed when this one reached the second stage, a tall wall with a rope dangling down halfway, a pretty big jump to do for Feles as small as we were. Everyone watched in anticipation waiting to see if he would reach it.

He jumped, reaching his hands up, barely touching the rope. Unfortunately, there was only a small space between where the first section finished and the second section started that he lost his balance on landing, fell backwards, and rolled off the wobbly log.

“Well done,” encouraged Instructor Willis.

The yearly advancement test continued on like that, most didn’t make it passed the first part, a few managed the second, but ended up hurting themselves on the way down the other side. I could hardly believe my eyes as I waited for my turn, at one point I had to cover Larana’s bracelet over as I could hear her laughing.

“This is too much.”

“Larana, stop it.” I warned as everyone looked at me with such disgust.

“Sorry.” I apologised. “Um…” I didn’t know how to respond.

“If you think it’s so easy Fang, why don’t you have a go,” snarled one of them.

“Yeah, let him go next,” chanted a few of the others.

“Very well.” Instructor Willis gave into their demands. “Fang, you’re up.”

“About time.” I stretched a little as I walked to the starting line. “Could have saved me the time of watching the laugh fest if you’d let me go first.”

“Don’t be so cocky Fang,” snapped Instructor Willis.

“You and I both know I am in the wrong class, but your master wants to keep me here,” I commented ready to get started.

“My master?” He looked at me funny. “I have no master.”

“Oh, you do, you just don’t know it.” He had no idea he was being manipulated by Dumah, like I cared as soon as this was all done with I hoped to never see his face again.

“Just go already,” he snarled at me, had I caught a nerve.

I jumped onto the first post, then the next, this was easy, the wobbling log was no different, I just moved my tail and my arms to balance myself out, how they struggled on this I didn’t know, was almost like he didn’t want them to get any stronger.

I jumped straight up from the wobbly log towards the wall, grabbing hold of the robe; training with the sphere had made any obstacle course easy to conquer. Jumping down I saw the next challenge, a body of water with bars hanging high above it.

“Too easy.” I jumped up grabbing hold of the bars, swinging my body I moved to the next one and the one after that. I made easy work of it, getting halfway over in a matter of seconds.

“Danger.” I heard Larana as I felt the bars wobbling in my hands.

I looked up surprised. “What?” My eyes widened as the whole thing began to shake and break apart. “Aagghh!” I let out a cry as the bar I was holding came out of its place, dropping me into the water.

The water was far deeper than I thought, deep enough to swim in. I quickly swam to the surface in time to see the whole thing falling down on top of me. The metal bars, to the supports they had been connected to.

“Master!” I heard Larana as I was dragged back under the water, hit in the shoulder by one of the bars.

Under the water I looked towards the light as more fell from above, crashing towards me I had no time to avoid it, the light fading from the boarding falling over the water.

I tried swimming up again, my movement slower as the rest of the bars fell towards me. I needed air. I reached my hand out, wanting to reach the surface, touching the boarding above my head.

My eyes widened I couldn’t escape. I wanted to cry for help but feared I would drown. I could feel my lungs tightening begging for breath.

“Master!” Larana appeared before me. “Release my power quickly.” Her words were almost an echo as my vision began blurring. “Master!”

“Larana.” I bubbled out the words, sinking deeper into the water. I wanted to release her power, but not even being able to draw in a single breath, I couldn’t concentrate to do so.

There was a sudden explosion of air, expanding out from me, blowing away the entire obstacle course, still falling apart around me. I didn’t understand why as I had not been the one to summon her power, but it didn’t matter I was safe.

I coughed as I gasped for breath, laying on the ground I struggled to even move. I put on a little smile as Larana flew to me, rubbing my cheek.

“You’re safe now master.”

“Thank… you.” I managed the words through gasped breath. I struggled to keep my eyes open seeing Instructor Willis appear over the ruins of the obstacle course.

“Fang,” he called over.

“You can stay away from him.” Larana flew up in front of me.

“Larana.” I reached my hand up before blacking out.