"That's the mute boy.""Why's he even here? He'll get flattened.""Shh, his Whisp's weird. I heard she doesn't even come out unless he blinks twice or something."
The whispers trailed through the air like flies, but Jimmy moved past them like wind through reeds—silent and unmoved.
He made an hand sign. A shimmering Whisp summoning array blossomed at his feet, threads of blue light spiralling upward. In a flash, Luna emerged—graceful, alert, and calm. Her silver-blue fur shimmered faintly as if coated in morning mist. Ripples of gentle energy danced around her paws.
A boy stepped forward from the crowd, his expression smug. Tall and lanky, with messy bronze hair and a golden-trimmed jacket that screamed for attention—Gorrik.
"I'll take this one," he sneered. "Let's end it quickly."
The teacher overseeing the match, a sharp-eyed woman with a clipboard and a tired scowl, nodded. "Jimmy, Gorrik. Ready yourselves."
Gorrik twirled his hand theatrically. "Let's rock, Gravettle!"
A jagged-edged summoning array exploded open, and from it burst Gravettle—a hulking, boulder-backed beetle Whisp. Its armour clinked like breaking stone, and its six legs scraped the arena with weighty menace. Its antennae twitched, glowing faintly with stored kinetic charge.
"A Water-type? He's done for.""That Gravettle looks brutal."
"Gravettle!" Gorrik barked, "Use Stone Shard Burst!"
The rocky Whisp's back trembled—and then, with a growl, it fired a spray of glowing orange shards, each like a serrated dagger screaming through the air.
Jimmy's hand shifted—only slightly.
Luna moved with fluid grace, her front legs glowing in pale blue. With a burst of pressure, a Water Wave surged out, colliding mid-air with the shards. The explosion of mist and dust rippled outward like a shockwave.
Some students gasped, shielding their eyes.
Gravettle staggered back from the splashback, steam curling around its legs.
"Roll form—now!" Gorrik roared.
Gravettle curled into a spiked wheel and launched forward, tearing across the stone floor like a living missile.
Jimmy remained still, eyes steady. His fingers made a subtle twist.
Luna vanished in a blink, a streak of silver mist. Aqua Jet. She collided with Gravettle's spinning side, cracking it off balance. The creature rolled, scraped, and slammed into the arena's edge, groaning.
"Get up! Stone Fang—"
But Jimmy was already moving. He made an another gesture.
"Bubbles."
Tiny, glowing water bubbles formed in front of Luna and surged forward in a dense cluster—Bubble Beam. Gravettle shrieked as the bubbles struck like hammer blows, throwing it back. Before it could recover, Luna darted in—Aqua Bite, her small jaw glowing, clamped onto Gravettle's leg joint with shocking force.
The audience winced at the yelp.
Gorrik screamed. "Get up! Slam him down!"
Gravettle lunged, but Luna danced backward. Another Water Gun launched point-blank, followed by a flash of the Bubble Beam, twisting together like a twin torrent. Gravettle collapsed with a thud.
Smoke hissed from its body. Cracks spidered across its rocky carapace. The creature's limbs twitched once… then stilled.
The teacher raised her hand. "Gravettle is unable to battle! Victory goes to Jimmy!"
There was a long silence.
Then it hit.
"Wait... what just happened?""He didn't even speak...""That water Whisp is no joke."
Jimmy didn't smile, didn't raise a fist. He simply walked forward and rested a hand on Luna's head. Her fur glistened, and her eyes looked up at him—content, if a little tired.
She gave a low, soft yawn, then shimmered in blue light and vanished into his Mind's Garden.
Gorrik was still kneeling beside his fainted Whisp, face pale with shock.
No cheers. No jeers.
.................................
Jimmy stepped off the battle platform without a word, walking calmly back toward the rows of benches set along the edge of the training ground. Luna had returned to her taming space, but her presence lingered—subtle, comforting.
He sat down quietly, folding his arms over his lap. The sounds of the next match had already started, but something had changed. Whispers shifted from mockery to curiosity, from dismissal to awe.
A short boy with curly black hair and an oversized scarf hesitated a few steps away before speaking.
"Hey… that was… really cool," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I've never seen a Whisp use Water Wave like that. Did you train her yourself?"
Jimmy glanced up and offered a small nod.
Another girl, tall with glasses and an air of confidence, crossed her arms and studied him. "You didn't even say anything. No orders. Does she just know what you mean?"
He didn't respond—only tapped two fingers against his palm gently.
"Ah... right," she said softly. "Still... impressive."
More students trickled over. Not all were friendly, but many were intrigued. Some tried to ask about Luna. Others wanted to know his training method. Most were too proud to admit they underestimated him—but their eyes had changed.
Time passed quickly. Battle after battle unfolded. Wins, losses, accidents, and narrow victories painted the day's canvas. The field grew dustier. Cheers became less enthusiastic. Even the confident ones began to realize that power wasn't always flashy—and strength didn't always shout.
Then, at precisely 1:10 PM, the teacher in charge of the B-Class stepped onto a raised platform at the front of the training yard, his clipboard tucked under one arm. His voice boomed out across the field.
"Alright, enough!" he barked. "Everyone, silence!"
Students fell quiet instantly.
"You've all seen where you stand now. Some of you expected your place and earned it. Others—" his gaze shifted briefly to Jimmy, "—have surprised us."
He began to pace slowly.
"This school isn't like your little village tournaments. No one here will hold your hand. You're not toddlers—we don't care where you came from, how you awakened, or what your excuses are. We only care what you do next."
He stopped.
"You'll be ranked every week. You'll be tested every month. If you slip too far, you'll be expelled. But if you climb—if you rise—you'll earn things beyond what you imagined."
The students glanced at each other. Some nervous. Some fired up.
He took a long breath.
"Don't forget this: no Whisp is weak. Only Whisp Masters can be. Train hard, fight smart. Class dismissed."
As the crowd began to break up, Jimmy sat quietly. For the first time in his life, people weren't looking at him with pity or disgust… but something closer to respect.
And deep inside his Mind's Garden, Luna purred softly in her sleep—still glowing from the points gained, a silent bond growing ever stronger.
Gravettle : Gravettle is a compact, armour-plated Whisp resembling a beetle fused with a chunk of granite. Its jagged shell is encrusted with mineral shards and fossil-like patterns, giving it a rugged, ancient appearance. Six stubby, clawed legs keep it low to the ground, and each step thuds with weight. Two mandibles twitch constantly, sensing vibrations in the air, and a ridge of rocky spines runs along its back. When threatened, it can curl into a spiked boulder, rolling at high speeds to crush or evade opponents. Despite its heavy look, it moves with surprising control.