The Great Hall of Grokna Academy buzzed with nervous energy as hundreds of cadets awaited their turn at the Bonding Ceremony. Teralynn pressed herself against the back wall, trying to make her purple hair somehow less visible among the sea of browns and blacks and reds. Someone got a monkey. That's... that's pretty rare. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she watched another cadet step forward, golden light erupting from their circle. "An eagle!" someone whispered excitedly nearby, and Teralynn's stomach twisted tighter. At least when I get a turtle, no one will pay attention. Just another defensive posting, another disappointment for the Berut family legacy. "Teralynn Berut!" The announcer's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts like a blade. No, no, not yet, I'm not ready— Her legs moved on autopilot, carrying her through the parting crowd while her mind screamed. Every eye in the hall felt like a weight on her shoulders, her purple hair a beacon marking her as the family disappointment about to disappoint again. She stepped into one of the bonding circles with trembling hands clenched at her sides. Turtle, turtle. Please be a turtle. Slow and steady and stationed somewhere quiet where no one will bother me— The circle erupted in light, and suddenly she stood on warm sand. A beach stretched before her, an island paradise with crystal waters lapping at the shore. Relief flooded through her as she spotted movement - there! A small turtle waddling across the sand, slow and steady and perfect. Yes! This is it, he's so cute! This must be my— A spear brutally pierced through the turtle's shell. Teralynn stared at the now dead turtle, mouth agape. "...huh?" She spun around to see a human in tribal paint pulling the spear free. What? The dreamscape lurched into motion around her - the island transformed at impossible speed, tents sprouting into existence, then morphing into huts, then houses, then castles. Humans lived entire lifetimes in seconds, civilizations rising and evolving before her eyes until one figure stepped forward from the chaos. You. How do I know that name? Why do I know— The dreamscape shattered like glass. Teralynn's eyes snapped open, still seeing afterimages of that final figure. But You wasn't an afterimage - she could still see them, feel them somehow, like a presence at the edge of her consciousness. What animal did I bond with? Where's my turtle? What's happening? An officer - stern woman, sergeant stripes - approached her and pulled her through to the backstage area. "Cadet Berut, report your bond." Teralynn thought quick: "T-turtle, ma'am." she stammered, the lie tumbling out desperately, terribly. "It was... um... a turtle." The officer's eyes narrowed. "That's... unusual. We've never recorded a magic signature quite like this before. It doesn't read like..." She trailed off, frowning deeper. "It's probably just, um, a really weak turtle?" Teralynn proposed, her gray eyes darting between You and the officer. Can she see You? Please don't let her see You. Or... or maybe she should? Someone needs to explain what's happening to me. Part of her desperately wanted someone else to understand what was happening, but the larger part - the part trained for years to be invisible - kept her mouth shut. The officer though, was unconvinced. "You know that misreporting your bond can land you in jail, right?" she pressed.
