Chapter 1

At the graduation ceremony, everyone is waiting for Silas, the White Tiger shifter, to seal the bond with me.

We grew up side by side for eighteen years. He promised me a thousand times that he would be my Guardian for life.

But the moment I reach out my hand, he walks right past me and drops to one knee in front of Seraphina.

"The Dark Surge is coming. She has a purification gift. She is a better match for me than you."

Just as the Head Mentor announces that I've failed to graduate, a serpent shifter in the far corner—one no human chose—slowly rises to his feet.

He walks straight to me, kneels on one knee, and presses his cold forehead into my palm.

"No one wants me."

"You don't have a Guardian either."

"Can we… try?"

Later, the Dark Surge swallows the royal city whole.

Silas's beast core shatters, and he crawls on his knees begging me to save him.

While the black serpent—the one everyone once threw away—evolves into a noble Dark Dragon amid the sky full of dark mist, becoming the ruler of this world.

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Guardian Academy holds its graduation ceremony once a year.

Humans stand on the left side of the high platform. Shifters stand on the right.

When their name is called, each shifter must walk—under the eyes of the entire hall—toward the human they've chosen to protect for life.

Once the bond is sealed, betrayal is punishable by death.

The Head Mentor calls the first name.

"White Tiger shifter—Silas."

The hall breaks into whispers.

Every eye lands on me.

The girl next to me nudges my arm, grinning.

"Elara, hold out your hand already."

"Everyone knows you two are already promised. He would never pick anyone else!"

My palm is damp with nervous sweat.

Silas and I were born the same year.

Our family estates were separated by a single wall.

The first time he shifted, his cub paws got stuck in the fence, and I was the one who ran crying for help.

The first time he fell into a frenzy, I was the one who held him and calmed him again and again with my gift.

Back then, his fluffy head rested on my lap, and he mumbled into my knee:

"Elara, when we graduate, I'll seal the bond with you."

"Anyone who hurts you, I'll rip their throat out."

He said it so many times.

I believed him for years.

Silas steps forward from the line of shifters.

He is tall, his white hair falling across his forehead, his golden eyes glowing under the ceremony lights.

He is top of the combat class.

The shifter with the best shot at joining the Royal Guard.

Every step he takes draws gasps from the crowd.

When he gets close, I finally lift my hand.

But he doesn't stop.

His sleeve brushes past my fingertips.

A soft, cold breeze trails behind him.

I stand there, frozen.

Silas keeps walking. He stops in front of Seraphina.

The hall goes silent for a heartbeat.

Then explodes into louder whispers than before.

Seraphina looks shocked.

"Silas?"

Silas drops to one knee and holds out his hand.

"Seraphina. I want to be your Guardian."

My hand is still frozen in midair.

The girl next to me sucks in a sharp breath.

The Head Mentor frowns.

"Silas. The name on your registered bond is Elara."

"Reselection is allowed at the ceremony, but are you absolutely sure?"

Silas's voice is steady.

"I'm sure."