Rings of the Matriarch (Bloodline of the Phoenix Book 1)

Cam Stassen expected to join his family guild as a fighter, but on the summer solstice when he turns eighteen and receives his Class, everything shifts. He is given a crafting Class instead of a combat one, closing the door to his planned future. His father offers him an alternative path: leading a group to build an outpost from scratch and controlling access to a dungeon that will expand as he grows. Naomi Silverclaw, a young pantherkin who becomes a scout on the same summer solstice, joins Cam's initial group. The two form a relationship that propels them both forward. While exploring the dungeon, Naomi discovers a natural treasure of extraordinary rarity—something unseen for thousands of years. Fearing stronger individuals will seize it, she binds the treasure to herself and Cam, an action with unforeseen consequences. As Cam and Naomi work to protect their people and develop their town, their decisions affect far more than themselves. With mystical beasts, kingdoms, and powerful forces all seeking the treasure, they must grow stronger together to secure their place in the world.