Raiden

In a world ruled by fearful humans, hybrids must be controlled. Their gifted powers—shaped by the strength of their will—are seen as a threat and danger. Raised in separate boarding academies to prevent forbidden bonds, male and female hybrid graduates are assigned partners at random and are given low quality and low pay jobs. Those who willingly reject their chance to be in the Mate Trials or refuse their assigned job, may become human companions, which is a gamble between an upgrade of lifestyle or something even worse, like fighting pits. Hybrid runaways and unapproved mates face severe and lethal punishments, often publicly. True mates must earn government approval through a trial. Five confirmed mate pairs from the government's testing are brought to the capital and trained, usually poorly, before entering a deadly maze of traps, puzzles, and even other rival hybrids. Only one pair can win approval and leave together. Killing is permitted in the arena, often then turned back in human politics to prove their "animalistic savagery." Any survivors after the winning mate pair are then forcibly separated, reassigned to random partners, and given government jobs—creating many of the runaways the authorities hunt. ***** I am Raiden, a strongly gifted hybrid. I am a black fox, and I can summon and control lightning. Tonight is my last night alone. Tomorrow, I will enter the Maze Trials. I will find my mate and get us both out first. There will not be another option. I won't let there be.