Alkrem

"Theo is about to turn thirteen when everything he knows changes in an instant. At the stroke of midnight, when his Apto, the animal guide that accompanies Archemists throughout their lives, is due to appear, he instead meets a fire fox, the strongest, fiercest, and most-loyal of companions of the Alkrem. Thus, Theo discovers that he is an Alkrem -- people who can create magical potions, wield powerful weapons, and have been vilified -- and later...