Kael’s Spirit Card lifted from his desk, drifting toward the floating book. A blinding light burst forth, swallowing the room in brilliance. Kael shielded his eyes, heart hammering in his chest. After several tense seconds, the light faded.

  When he lowered his arm, his breath caught.

  Ten Spirit Cards hovered before him, each one shimmering in radiant rainbow colors. Light danced across the walls like shifting auroras. Kael felt his palms grow sweaty, his legs weak. His mind raced.

  Was this real?

  Was he dreaming?

  No one, no one, had ever seen more than three Spirit Creatures at once, and even then, only one ever manifested to its holder at any given time. But here he stood, facing ten cards all glowing with impossible brilliance.

  “W-what the hell!?” Kael gasped, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.

  One of the cards drifted forward, stopping inches from his face.

  “Fear not, dear holder,” a clear, regal voice echoed in his head. “I am Kylon, the Light Dragon, Prime Spirit of Light. I recognize you now as my chosen holder.”

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  Kael’s blood ran cold.

  “A-A Prime Spirit!?” he stammered. This couldn’t be happening. His first Spirit Creature, after years of nothing, was a Prime?

  “Yes,” Kylon replied calmly. “All ten of us are Prime Spirits. However, the others have not recognized you as their holder yet. You must first earn their trust, and their power.”

  Kael pinched his cheek, hard. The sting confirmed his worst fear and greatest hope, this was real. All of it.

  Ten Prime Spirits?

  Only one human in history ever possessed one and only one.

  If anyone found out, they wouldn’t just be jealous, they might kill him for it. He swallowed hard, anxiety creeping up his spine.

  Kylon seemed to sense his unease.

  “Do not worry, dear holder. I have instructed the others to retreat into your card holder for now.” His card glowed, and Kylon materialized, not as a mighty dragon, but as a small, harmless gecko that landed gently on Kael’s desk. “I have also assumed a lesser form so as not to draw attention.”

  Kael exhaled shakily. “Thank you… I just… this is too much.”

  “Before I forget,” Kylon added, “the Book of Prime has one final gift for you.”

  The tiny gecko floated up, touching Kael’s forehead with a glowing finger. A surge of foreign knowledge rushed into Kael’s mind, rules, abilities, pathways, secrets. It felt like the book itself was whispering directly into his soul.

  Kael staggered back onto his bed, clutching his head. “I—I can’t think straight. This is too much…”

  “Calm yourself, dear holder,” Kylon said gently. “The Book of Prime has bestowed upon you a system. It will guide your growth, your training, and help you wield our powers safely. Everything will make sense in time.”

  Kael lay back, overwhelmed but strangely comforted. “I’ll… rest for a bit. I don’t have any more classes, and tomorrow’s Saturday. I need to register you so you’ll be recognized legally as my Spirit Creature.”

  “Rest, dear holder,” Kylon replied, his small form curling atop the desk. “You have much ahead of you. Clear your mind for now.”

  With exhaustion finally catching up to him, Kael closed his eyes. For the first time in years, he fell asleep with a peaceful smile

  Because after all this time,

  after all the doubt and loneliness,

  he finally had a Spirit Creature.