Shadow Orb

Alex woke up before the sun even thought about rising, his excitement pulling him out of bed at exactly 3:30 a.m. He couldn't sleep anyway not with the thought of bonding with his own Tay buzzing through his mind. He quickly threw on his jeans and a t-shirt, then rushed downstairs, eager to head out.

Just as he was about to leave, his grandmother's voice called out from behind him. "Alex, wait."

He turned around to see her holding something in her hands a purple leather jacket. It wasn't new, but it had a timeless feel, with a deep, rich color and soft leather that seemed to shimmer slightly under the dim morning light.

"This belonged to your father," she said, her voice quiet but filled with meaning. "He wore it the day he bonded with the Shadow Orb. I want you to have it now."

Alex hesitated for a moment, his throat tightening. He took the jacket with a nod, feeling the weight of his father's legacy in his hands. Sliding it on, he couldn't help but feel like he carried a piece of his father with him, even though he was gone.

With his messy hair, jeans, and the leather jacket, Alex looked in the mirror by the door and felt... cool. Maybe today really would be his day.

When he reached the bus stop, the school bus was already there, waiting to take him and the other students to the Selection Ceremony. Alex climbed on board, his heart racing, and soon they were off, heading toward the famous Purple Paradise Forest the mystical home of the Tay.

The forest was nothing short of breathtaking. Towering trees with purple leaves swayed gently in the breeze, casting a soft, ethereal glow over everything. It felt like they had entered another world entirely, one that pulsed with the energy of the Tay.

As the students lined up, anticipation filled the air. One by one, they stepped forward to meet their fate.

Sarah went first. A magical glow surrounded her as a Magic Tay a sleek, elegant creature with shimmering, iridescent scales appeared and bonded with her. The class cheered, admiring her new Tay, and Sarah beamed with pride.

Next was Aristotle. He stood tall and confident, and, unsurprisingly, the rarest of Tay immediately appeared before him. It was a Morningstar Tay, a first-class creature known for its unmatched strength and power. Its golden fur and piercing eyes were a sight to behold. The Morningstar Tay knelt before Aristotle, sealing their bond, and the crowd erupted in applause. Aristotle, always the golden boy, had once again proven he was a step above everyone else.

And then... it was Alex's turn.

His heart pounded as he stepped forward, standing in the clearing with all eyes on him. He closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze of the forest against his skin, waiting for a Tay to come forward. He pictured a fierce, powerful creature maybe even something rare like his father's Shadow Orb.

But as the moments passed, nothing happened.

Alex opened his eyes, glancing around nervously. The other students watched him with confusion. The Tay in the forest, once curious and full of energy, were now avoiding him. Every creature that had gathered suddenly turned away, giving him a wide berth as if he carried some invisible plague. One by one, they disappeared back into the forest, leaving Alex standing there... alone.

His chest tightened with disappointment, his hope crumbling like sand through his fingers. Every Tay had rejected him.

He looked down at his hands, his father's jacket feeling heavier than before. He didn't understand. Why wouldn't any Tay choose him?

The silence was deafening. Behind him, the other students began to murmur, and he could feel their eyes on him pity mixed with confusion.

Rejected.

Sarah and her friends didn't waste a moment once they realized what had happened. As Alex stood there, staring at the spot where the Tay should have appeared, he heard the cruel laughter from behind him.

"Wow, not even one Tay wants him," Sarah said, her voice laced with mockery. Her new Magic Tay perched on her shoulder, glowing faintly as if sharing in her amusement.

"Guess some people just aren't meant to bond," one of her friends added, snickering.

"Maybe they know he'd just hold them back," another chimed in, sending another round of laughter through the group.

Alex clenched his fists, trying to block out the sound. He wanted to say something back, anything, but the words caught in his throat. The rejection already stung, but their laughter made it so much worse. He felt utterly humiliated.

Even Aristotle, who stood nearby with his impressive Morningstar Tay at his side, didn't say anything. He just watched Alex with a raised eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

The rest of the ceremony passed by in a blur for Alex. One by one, the other students bonded with their Tay, excited to begin their new lives. And yet, here he was empty-handed, walking back to the bus with his head down, trying to ignore the whispers and glances.

The ride home was quiet. No one talked to him. The students were too busy discussing their new Tay, their laughter and excitement filling the bus while Alex stared out the window, the weight of failure heavy on his shoulders.

When they finally arrived back in town, Alex dragged himself off the bus and walked home. His feet felt like lead, each step echoing with the reminder that he had been rejected by every single Tay in the forest. How could he explain this to his grandmother?

As soon as he opened the door, she was there, waiting. She took one look at his slumped posture, the way he wouldn't meet her eyes, and she knew.

"They didn't choose you," she said softly, her voice filled with understanding.

Alex shook his head, biting down on the emotion that threatened to bubble over. "Not one," he whispered, his voice hollow. "They all avoided me… like I didn't even belong there."

His grandmother crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "Oh, Alex," she murmured, her embrace warm and comforting. "I'm so sorry."

He stood there in her arms, feeling the weight of the day crash down on him. "I don't understand," he said, his voice cracking. "Everyone else got a Tay. Even Sarah, even Aristotle... Why not me?"

His grandmother held him tighter, her fingers gently brushing his messy hair. "I wish I had an answer, but sometimes... things don't happen the way we expect. But that doesn't mean it's the end. You're stronger than this, Alex. I know you are."

"But what if I'm not?" he mumbled into her shoulder, feeling the sting of tears in his eyes.

She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. "You are," she said firmly, her gaze full of love and certainty. "I believe in you. And no matter what happened today, your time will come. Trust me."

Despite the sadness gnawing at him, Alex nodded, though he couldn't quite bring himself to believe her. All he knew was that today, in the most important moment of his life, he had been rejected. And that was a wound that wouldn't heal easily.