My F-Rank Sagea is Secretly an EX-Rank Calamity

Chapter 2: Awakening to Destiny

​"Well done, sweetheart!" Emily Enas exclaimed the moment they stepped through the front door.

​"This absolutely calls for a grand celebration! Years of hard work have finally paid off!" their father, Ritler, added with a booming laugh.

​Their parents were prominent figures in the magical community. Emily was a highly respected Sagea healer, celebrated for her empathy and innovative medical approaches. Ritler was a renowned Sagea researcher who spent his life documenting rare entities.

​Asher forced the most realistic smile he could muster and threw his arm around Rowan’s shoulder. "This is his big moment. We need to sign his school application forms as soon as possible!"

​Rowan looked at his brother, immediately realizing what Asher was doing. Asher was intentionally keeping his own awakening a secret. He didn’t want his parents to know about the mockery he had endured.

​The evening went by in a blur of celebration. For Asher, his dreams felt dead before they had even begun.

​Later that night, he curled up under his bedsheets, utterly consumed by misery. Kaito materialized beside his pillow, watching him with round, innocent eyes.

​Tears trickled down Asher’s nose, blurring his vision. "Why did it have to be you?" he choked out, staring at the rodent. "Why? Just go back!"

​He cried himself to sleep, praying that the morning light would reveal it was all a terrible dream.

​The next morning, Asher woke up to unexpected news. His father had received an urgent research request, meaning both parents had to leave immediately on an important mission.

​Because of their sudden departure, Asher would have to accompany Rowan and stay at Ravenhurst Academy—the prestigious training grounds for future Sagea masters.

​"Hey, I know this is sudden and tough," Emily said gently, packing their travel bags. "You don’t have to join any classes there, honey. Just live dormside with Rowan for a while."

​They had arranged everything with Rowan beforehand, completely assuming Asher’s somber mood from the day before was just teenage angst.

​Ritler stepped into the hallway, adjusting his cloak. "Now, you two are old enough to handle yourselves. When the official acceptance letter arrives—"

​"We must prepare for the term and make a proper impression," Rowan interrupted smoothly, offering a reassuring smile. "I know, Dad. I’ll take good care of the little guy."

​Rowan wanted to protect him, but for Asher, the situation was overwhelming. Yet, it was also a massive opportunity.

​His parents wouldn’t find out about his botched ritual, but every student at the academy would eventually recognize him as the failure. He faced a brutal choice: hide his secret from his parents forever, or endure long-term disgrace at school.

​A dark thought crossed his mind. The bonding rules... what would happen if I attempted to break them? Before he could dwell on it, a loud knock echoed through the house. Rowan opened the door, only to find a sleek golden disc hovering mid-air.

​The automated disc glided into the living room, projecting a holographic screen displaying their profiles.

[​Name: Rowan Flynn]

[Age: 17 years old]

[Sagea: Erebus (Nine-Tailed Wolf)]

[Faction: Auric Circle]

​Status: Accepted into Ravenhurst Academy. Academy rules will be physically distributed upon arrival. Your specialised Auric Tier uniform will be delivered at sunset.

​At Ravenhurst Academy, the ranking system was absolute, governing privileges, housing, and uniform designs to motivate students to climb higher.

​Rowan waited until the disc floated away before turning to his brother with a heavy frown. "Hey, I get why you hid it from Mom and Dad. But playing dumb at the academy is incredibly risky."

​Asher, who had been staring blankly at the wall, shrugged coldly. "I’ll be fine. Just keep your promise and stay quiet."

​Rowan raised his hands in mock surrender, letting out a deep sigh. "Fine, chill. I will. But don’t tell me you plan on hiding your Sagea forever."

​Asher stopped in his tracks, his eyes flashing with sudden anger. "That has nothing to do with you! You have your own status to worry about. Soon enough, you’ll have rivals trying to take you down every single day. I don’t need your pity or your advice!"

​Rowan’s expression hardened, his own temper flaring. "Oh, so that’s how it is? You’re just jealous of my success because you’re too damn weak to accept your own pathetic destiny!"

​The harsh words sliced through Asher like a blade. Overwhelmed by rage, he grabbed a heavy picture frame from the side table, raising it to strike his brother.

​Rowan instantly braced himself to retaliate, but before either could move, a dual burst of spiritual energy filled the room. Both of their Sageas manifested forcefully, physically separating their partners.

​Erebus let out a low, warning growl that shook the floorboards, while Kaito desperately clung to Asher’s ankle.

​The sudden intervention forced the brothers to snap out of their rage. Rowan threw a bitter glare at Asher, turning on his heel. He stormed out of the house, his heavy footsteps echoing as Erebus followed tightly behind him.

​Asher sank onto the edge of the couch, breathing heavily. Kaito let go of his boot and hopped onto the coffee table, staring directly into Asher’s eyes.

​"Follow me," a clear, youthful voice echoed in Asher’s mind.

​Asher bolted upright, his heart leaping into his throat. True verbal communication with a Sagea was a feat reserved only for the top five percent of elite masters—the Argentum and Auric tiers—and even then, it took years of intensive training to achieve.

​Ravenhurst Academy had been established thousands of years ago, right after the cataclysmic War of the Realms. That ancient war had shattered the Liminal Gate, allowing wild Sageas to pour into the human world, causing near-total destruction. The surviving human masters made a sacred pact with the entities to restore peace, creating the academy to teach cooperation between the species.

​None of that history explained why a common squirrel was currently speaking fluent telepathy to a fifteen-year-old boy.

​"You can talk?" Asher stammered, wondering if the stress had finally driven him insane. "Is this a telepathic link?"

​Kaito flicked his fluffy tail, his posture strangely dignified for a rodent. "Yes, I can talk. Now, can we go to your private quarters? You gigantic, loud being..."

​Without waiting for a response, Kaito hopped toward the stairs, gesturing for Asher to follow.

​Meanwhile, outside the Flynn estate, Erebus growled softly as he trotted beside Rowan. The giant wolf was deeply unsettled, his emotions bleeding directly into Rowan’s consciousness through their brand-new bond.

​"I know, buddy," Rowan muttered, rubbing his temple. "I don’t know how to handle this either. I don’t want to hurt him, but keeping his premature bonding a secret feels like a ticking time bomb."

​Erebus stopped pacing and gently extended a massive paw to pat Rowan’s head. Rowan flinched slightly, stepping back from the sheer weight of the limb. "Whoa, I don’t think I’m fully adjusted to your size yet."

​The wolf retracted his paw, letting out a low, understanding huff. A sudden wave of profound relief washed over Rowan through the bond. He stared up at the majestic beast in absolute wonder.

​"It’s insane how well we understand each other," Rowan whispered, reaching out to gently stroke the silver-tipped fur of the wolf’s neck.

​The moment his skin made contact, a surge of vibrant purple light flared between them. Rowan gasped as the light seared into the back of his right hand, permanently imprinting the glowing, stylized runes of a master contract: [EREBUS].