The Outborn Accord [Progression Fantasy/School Life/Monster Bonding]

Kieran watched wild outborns tear his father apart when he was a child. Now he's supposed to bond with one. Highfall College trains callers who share their minds with these creatures of storm and fire. Kieran can't do any of it. No Arts. No bond. Just fists and a mark under his skin that burns when the world goes wrong. At least his friends are dumbasses too. Between a lightning-happy nepo-baby who thinks everything is a competition, a fire girl with zero impulse control, and the most chaotic group of first-years Highfall has ever filed into one cohort, Kieran might survive long enough to figure out what he is. His first expedition into the Outerbound is coming whether he's ready or not. He's not ready. But since when has that stopped anything. What to expect: - Protagonist who hits things until they stop being problems. No "weak to strong." He's strong. He's also a mess. Both are true. - Found family that would commit crimes for each other and also roast each other into the ground five minutes later. And banter. So much banter. - Modern voice. They keep swearing. They drink (a lot). They make choices their future selves will regret. It's New Adult. - Academy setting but nobody’s secretly the chosen one. Some people are just angry and stubborn and too dumb to quit. - Magical bonds with creatures that have opinions. Strong opinions. Your bond might hate your friends. That's a you problem. - Slow-burn mysteries. Marks that burn. An Outerbound that might be more wrong than anyone admits. - No harem. If romance happens it's because two people actually like each other and not because the plot needed drama. Updates Mon-Wed-Fri because I have a problem and the problem is this story living in my head. (First four weeks will be daily updates (M-F) at 16:00!) Book 1 and 2 (255k words) are already fully written and edited!