Cori took another look at his status, starring blankly at his sealed skill and the map. He glanced up at his senior who was waiting for his answer with her arms crossed. "So?" She said.
Cori felt a lump at the back of his throat. He swallowed his pride and answered in a respectful tone, "Sure senior. Please look after me."
"Good boy, but call me onechan instead of senior. I don't want to feel old", Sam patted him and pulled his cheeks with a big smile on her face.
"Yes, onechan," Cori said as he felt his cheeks stretched in opposite directions. For some reason, he felt consoled and relieved when Sam showed him affection. "Am I a masochist?" he wondered feeling puzzled before setting off.
At the colosseum, Kareem was deliberating on how best to impress his trainees in his wingless dragon form. The previous year, he showed the power of different magic wands and the year prior to that he demonstrated the power of illusions. Since he wanted each impression to be unique, he had a restless time deciding on an impactful entrace. He wondered if he should let them take a look at his inner spiritual core, but doing so would expose himself to harm. Struck by a sudden lightning of inspiration, he decided to reveals his balls- his 7 magic balls. To set the stage, he conjured dramatic dense red mist and rested himself on his balls. To make it even more impactful, he summoned a few light elemental sprites to add to the atmosphere. "Maybe a bit here... hmm or there.. or maybe here," the dragon said to himself while adjusting the lighting effects and checking himself in the mirrors to ensure he looked his best from all angles. Satisfied, he froze in an extremely uncomfortable pose like a model.
As Cori, Sam and the other trainees approached the colosseum, they noticed a rare red mist encroaching the spaces. Noticing the abnormalities, the juniors proceeded cautiously till edged by their seniors. "This year, there would be new tricks to learn," moaned one of them while some looked entranced by the bright red mist. Amidst the chaotic shuffles, the dragon roared to welcome their entrance to the colosseum.
"He can transform?" Cori was bewildered. Sam, used to Cori's lack of common sense, started to explain, "You really should visit the library and catch up on the fundamentals. It is common knowledge that all beast-kins and furries have the ability to transform."
Kareem roared again silencing the crowds, trembling in his uncomfortable stance. "This year I shall be generous. I shall disperse these 7 magical balls and whoever in this colosseum managed to gather them in this academy will be able to receive 1 favor from me, and I will not reject." A magical scroll integrated out of thin air, recording his promise and names of each individual present. After the contract was finalised, it disintegrated into small sparkles and imprinted themselves onto the dragon and the audience.
The dragon whipped his balls with his tail and slapped it into the air to dispersed the 7 magical balls into unknown locations on the campus. With his gleaming golden eyes, he stared at everyone and announced, "Let the hunt begin!"