The morning sun cast a sharp, golden glow over the massive, volcanic stone pavilions of the Black Fire Academy's central training halls. Tony Clark walked along the wide marble walkways with his usual slow, lazy steps, his dark hunting cloak draped loosely over his hardened shoulders.
As he navigated through the crowded public practice fields, his dark eyes scanned the surroundings with a look of quiet curiosity. He immediately noticed a distinct phenomenon that defined the higher echelons of the inner campus. Almost every single elite disciple, high-level wizard, and senior magus walking past him was accompanied by a powerful, glowing spiritual creature.
To his left, a proud inner disciple was meditating alongside a massive, blue-fanged frost wolf whose body radiated a freezing mist. To his right, an elegant young lady from a prominent noble clan carried a fiery crimson hawk on her shoulder, its feathers humming with raw fire-attribute laws.
