—Secret Society Hunting Department, Julia Shelby

  The Eclipse Academy might not be the best in the Jade Country, but it was definitely in the top ten. Situated five kilometers away from the Vildeth—the Capital. Sprawling at the base of the Black Mountain. Academy’s high towers and sleek skyscrapers pierced through the clouds, portraying a dreamy and unreal panoramic view, casting reflections of golden light in the day and ambient shimmering under the moonlight.

  Luna strolled under the shadow of a towering building. Her dark hair rustled with every passing gust of wind, teasing her smooth cheeks and velvety lips. The well pruned hedges and flowers flanked on either side of the concrete path. The bees and butterflies flapped this way and that, approaching her now and then before fluttering away.

  The lady though seemed completely unaware of the beauty around her. A frown casted over her face and umpteen wrinkles covered her temples.

  The academy was organising field training. But only beastmasters could partake in the drill. Luna was just an Awakened. Without a monster. Academy had forbidden her to get involved, like many others, who had yet to contract a monster.

  She did not care about the trial, though. The academy, however, had given them an ultimatum. To find a monster companion in a month, or else leave the institution.

  Luna had gathered enough money for an ordinary monster. But her ambitions were lofty. She wanted a monster with a clear Evolution Path. Level 10? In the capital those people could not even get a job.

  But now…

  “Hey, Luna!”

  Hoisting her head, she eyed the speaker with her charming dark eyes. The newcomer had dusky skin and sharp features. She was tall and slim. Her eyes were brown and her gait was seductive. “Hey, Rupa,” she said with a smile.

  Due to Luna's humble background, only a few people interacted with her. Rupa was one of them. Both of them had come from an inferior social class. So the two quickly became best friends. Rupa grinned and planted her hand over her shoulder before asking, “Have you decided?”

  “Not yet,” Luna shook her head. “Whatever option I choose, my future will be on the stack.”

  “Remaining in the academy is still important.”

  “I know,” Luna replied in an irritated tone. “I know that.”

  “Well,” Rupa said. “If that is the case I'd suggest you follow your heart.”

  Luna eyed her friend. A blank expression appeared on her face. Rupa was always there when she was at her lowest. Always giving the most appropriate advice at the right time. This time, however, she could not embrace her advice. Could not follow her heart, and leave. Her brother had ruined his future to get her admitted into such a prestigious beastmaster academy. No way she could go back. No way!

  “Anyway.” Rupa eyed the hazy peak of the Black Mountain and asked, “Have you heard about the new monsters appearing on the Eldora continent?”

  “What has it got to do with us?” Luna frowned. The event was happening on the continent level. How could a stone make a ripple in the ocean? She was just a lowly student of a beastmaster academy. Eldora was brimming with innumerable academies like Eclipse.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Rupa smiled. Maybe because of her ignorance. “Do you know about the field training?”

  “You mean…” Luna's eyes suddenly widened, and then understanding dawned over him.

  “Yes,” Rupa nodded. “We are going to hunt them.”

  ***

  Nick sat on a bench outside the hospital. His expression was hollow and blank. Not knowing what to do. He had never experienced horror and helplessness like yesterday. He was angry for being weak. But he was infuriated by his conceit. Thinking that he could run amok in the Goblin Forest—as the people were starting to call it—if he tread carefully, was a mistake.

  He clamped his skull in his hands and sobbed. What to do? He did not know how to help her. Her hand. Her hand was gone with her future. No way could he bring it back… No way… wait…

  Nick hoisted his head, his eyes twinkling.

  Then, his facial expression changed. A troubled look manifested. To do that he had to reveal his identity. His Talent. He could not do that. It could lead him to his grave.

  He grabbed his chest, feeling claustrophobic even under the open vast sky. This feeling of guilt won't go away. He needed to do something. Something!

  He undone a few buttons of his shirt and climbed to his feet. The tightness in his chest was unbearable. He began walking without a destination. Numerous cars and bikes went back and forth. Peddlers called out to the customers. And buskers danced and performed beside the road.

  And finally he stopped at the crossroad. His heart somewhat calmed down. His back was drenched in sweat and face was red. He stood there for fifteen minutes. Before he turned to leave, he glimpsed a digital billboard flashing a headline on its screen: BEWARE OF THE SECRET ORGANISATIONS. DO NOT TRUST THEM. CALL ON 101 IF YOU ENCOUNTER THEIR MEMBERS. THE SERVICE AVAILABLE 24×7.

  Nick's fuzzy eyes glittered, shone with brightness. An idea had taken root in his mind. A dangerous one. Deadly, even.

  He turned around and rushed to the hospital. Straight away he headed to the private ward where Isabel was admitted. He opened the door. No one stopped him as he had brought her to the hospital and he was paying the bills. Bills were important, after all. Hospital was mindful of that. The first thing they did was not check Isabel's condition, but asked him to deposit money.

  Isabel lay on a cot, staring at the ceiling with blank expression. All the brightness had vanished. Her dreams of saving her sister, gone. Her future, gone. Nothing remained for her in this world. She eyed the revolving fan as suicidal ideas creeped into her head.

  “What are you thinking?” She was startled awake by Nick’s voice from her wretched thoughts.

  Wiping away the tears at the edges of her eyes, she tried to smile. “Nothing. What happened?”

  Nick eyed her red eyes and sighed. He knew she had taken a nap since yesterday. Losing a limb was too much of a blow to her. Nineteen. That was her age. Almost the same as him. She had seen nothing in her life yet. Maybe she had never been to a town or city other than Aston.

  Nick took a deep breath and settled on the stool that lay beside the bed.

  “If you could get your hand back would you do it?” He went straight to the point. Beating around the bush was never his style. He liked to be straightforward. Well, maybe not always.

  Isabel's eyes had gone wide. Almost bulging out of their sockets. Then she took a deep breath filled with pain and sadness. “Are you making fun of me?”

  Nick shook his head and repeated his question. “Would you do it or not?”

  Isabel was about to lash out at him for taking pleasure in her misery. However, when she spotted his bloodshot eyes. She froze. She was not the only one who did not sleep last night. At least she was out for a few hours when the doctor performed surgery. But Nick. He hadn't touched his back on bed after escaping from the forest.

  As Isabel eyed him, her heart began to race, a new hope brewing within her eyes. “You have a way?”

  “I don't.” Nick shook his head. Isabel was disappointed. Then Nick peered into her eyes and spoke with a grave tone. “Will you go against your country if you could get your hand back?”

  Isabel's eyes widened. She frowned in confusion. However, when she looked into Nick’s eyes she seemed to understand what he was trying to say. Or at least she thought she understood.

  ***

  After taking a sleeping pill, her eyelids started becoming heavier. The frown on her face eased, returning to the peaceful expression. And then she found herself floating in a peculiar space. Her surroundings were dark and fuzzy.

  But this did not look like a dream. She had dreamt in the past, obviously. Never had she felt this real. Not even once.

  To answer her confusion, the fog gradually thinned, and a large, ancient, haunted looking castle emerged in front of her. Its dilapidated walls were covered in moss and crawling ivy.

  The crumbling battlements and towers stretched upward like long dead skeletons. Isabel blinked and eyed the decaying and broken plank at the majestic yet corroded gate of the castle. Something was printed over it. She focused and the epitaph became readable: Welcome to the Primal Ascension