Chapter 2: The Farmer’s Shadow
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Three weeks after his awakening, Zephyr stood at the edge of Brightmoor town, preparing to leave everything he had ever known behind.
He hadn't been accepted into any of the prestigious academies, nor invited to join any elite taming corps. But there was one place that had agreed to take him. It was called Lowmoor Academy. It wasn't built for legends. It was a place for the forgotten: low rank tamers, feed farmers, stable hands, and beast workers. The kind of people who existed in the shadow of true power.
His acceptance wasn't earned through talent or achievement. It was a courtesy, a quiet recommendation passed down by Lady Alira Ves after her unexpected visit. They wouldn't train him to fight, and they wouldn't teach him to tame dangerous creatures. But they would give him shelter, a barn to clean, beasts to feed, and a stable boy's apron. It was enough for his parents.
So... His mother packed his coat without a word, her fingers folding the fabric with care, eyes misted but dry. His father stood at the door, arms crossed, jaw clenched as if holding back everything he wanted to say.
"Come back stronger," his father finally said.
Zephyr didn't reply. He only nodded.
Outside, the merchant's cart waited for him. It was wooden, creaky, piled high with sacks of feed and crates of preserved roots. The driver spat into the snow and jerked his thumb toward the back. Zephyr moved to climb aboard when a familiar voice called from behind him.
"Wait."
He turned, and there she was, Fenna Dale.
She carried a small pack slung over one shoulder and wore a light green cloak stitched with beast mark sigils along the sleeves. Her long chestnut-brown hair was tied in a ponytail, swaying gently in the breeze, and a soft green ribbon bound it tight. Her hazel eyes met him with quiet certainty.