Chapter 7
The room was small, clean, and just barely enough. A narrow bed, a stone basin in the corner, and a cracked window that overlooked the inner courtyard of the academy's guest wing. It wasn't much, but after days in the caravan and a morning spent standing in the capital’s blinding sun, it felt like luxury.
Jai dropped his satchel and sat cross-legged on the bed. Sheeren’s presence was a quiet thrum beneath his skin, like a heartbeat that wasn’t entirely his. The tigress had chosen to stay within the soul realm for now—content, resting, but always there. Watching.
He hadn't spoken to anyone since arriving—besides the gruff attendant who’d handed him the key. Outside, hundreds of students gathered, waiting for the exams to begin in the coming days. Most of them were nobles—he could tell by their clothes, their posture, the way they looked at the world like it belonged to them. A handful of commoners milled about, clinging to corners and shadows.
Jai wasn’t sure where he belonged yet.
A soft knock came at the door.
Before he could respond, the door creaked open and a boy’s head poked in—lanky frame, messy dark hair, wide eyes. He grinned when he saw Jai.
“Hey, they told me this was my room too. You’re not secretly a prince, right? ’Cause I don’t snore, but I do talk in my sleep.”
Jai blinked. “I—no, it’s fine. Come in.”
The boy stepped inside and dropped his satchel with a groan. “I’m Talan. Bonded to a mountain eagle. Fastest bird this side of the peaks. Got here two days ago—been trying not to get trampled by all the lion cubs and dragon-spawn strutting around.”
His eyes swept over Jai, pausing. “Whoa—a tiger? That’s an epic-class beast.” He let out a low whistle. “Didn’t think anyone outside the noble houses ever got one of those. Unless you pulled some miracle in the wild or won a beast-lottery auction or something.”
Jai didn’t respond right away. Talan’s presence was easy, like he filled silence before it could become awkward. And somehow, that made Jai trust him a little more.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Grew up a hunter and she found me,” Jai said simply. “We attuned early on, and the bond formed after some time. Took a lot of patience. A lot of scars.”
Talan gave him a look of understanding. “Makes sense. Bonding outside noble systems is always messy. Mine took me three bloody months. She almost took my eye out the second week, and now she won’t fly unless I feed her by hand.”
He flopped onto the second bed with a dramatic sigh. “Anyway. You missed the morning excitement. Two big names showed up right in front of the gates. Practically had the whole crowd holding their breath.”
Jai looked over. “Who?”
Talan sat up, clearly relishing the gossip. “First was Kael. Ninth prince of the Empire. Golden armor, lion tattoo stretched across his back—huge male lion soul bond from a recent conquest of the Ugandan republic a couple years ago, not the typical lioness bond you sometimes see among the lesser nobles. That beast's bloodline is something else. And Kael? He walks like he owns the place. Smirks at everything. Talks too loud. Parties hard.”
Jai raised an eyebrow. “Sounds charming.”
“Oh, he’s a menace,” Talan said, grinning. “But people love him. Commoners, minor nobles—anyone with spirit. He’s the kind of guy who’ll invite you to a feast even if your boots are muddy. Trouble, yeah. But the kind you follow into battle.”
He hesitated, then added, “The other one… Revyn. Bastard son of the Emperor. The phoenix-bonded.”
Jai’s breath caught slightly.
Talan nodded. “Yeah. A phoenix. Mythical class. Only the Emperor is known to have one—or was, until Revyn came along. His mother was some court noble no one talks about. But the Emperor acknowledged him. Took him in. Trained him. Now he’s the favorite to ascend the throne.”
“What’s he like?” Jai asked.
Talan’s voice lowered a little. “Serious. Mysterious. But the public adores him—gives out charity, rebuilds orphanages, that sort of thing. People say he’s the perfect heir. It's basically assumed by everyone that its only a matter of time before the Emperor officially names him heir.”
He shrugged. “They both had entourages when they showed up. Kael’s was massive—dozens of nobles and commoners, all loud and laughing. Revyn’s was smaller, tighter. Pure elites. Centered around four of his closest allies, all prodigies and legends in their own rights. You could feel the tension between the two groups. Like they were just waiting for a reason to clash.”
Jai was silent for a long moment.
Two sons of power. One wild, one controlled. Both impossibly strong.
And he was supposed to one day stand against them?
Talan stretched. “Anyway, entrance exams start tomorrow. You’ll want to sleep well. They don’t go easy on anyone, especially commoners.”
He rolled over and muttered into his pillow, “Try not to snore, tiger prince.”
Jai stared at the ceiling.
Outside, the sun dipped below the towering walls of the academy. Tomorrow would bring new trials.
But for now, he had a bed and a roommate who wouldn’t shut up.
It was a start.
