In the small trading town of Thesa, the air buzzed with excitement. The narrow streets were busier than usual, with vendors setting up colorful stalls and villagers bustling about, exchanging goods and stories. But this was outside Swain's attention. Today, he sat in homeroom, a bundle of nerves and anticipation, his fingers tapping restlessly on the wooden desk.

He glanced around at his classmates, who were excited like he was. They whispered to each other in excited voices, some sharing hopes, others voicing quiet fears.

"Today's the day!" said Den, his friend sitting two seats away. Den grinned widely, his eyes practically gleaming. "I can't wait to see what beast I'll get. Maybe a bear or a hawk! Something powerful!"

Swain chuckled, but his stomach was a twist of anticipation and uncertainty. "I dunno, Den. I mean, what if… what if I get something small, like a lizard or something?"

Den scoffed, shaking his head. "A lizard? No way, Swain. You're bound to get something awesome. Everyone gets something fitting for them."

A girl across the aisle leaned over, grinning. "Don't worry, Swain. I heard that the taming ceremony helps match you with the right creature. I'm aiming for a wolf. Something loyal and fierce."

Swain nodded, trying to ignore the nagging voice at the back of his mind. He'd always dreamed of today, the day he'd awaken his Beast Tamer System and gain his first monster companion. He pictured himself standing side-by-side with a fierce creature, protecting Thesa just like the town's elite tamers. But now that the moment was here, his heart hammered with excitement and unease.

The door creaked open, and their teacher, Mrs. Gindell, a tall woman with silver-streaked hair and a commanding presence, entered the room. The chatter instantly quieted.

"Good morning, everyone," she began. "I know you're all excited, but let me remind you of the importance of today's ceremony."

She looked over the room, her gaze settling on each student with a steady, approving look. "Awakening the Beast Tamer System is not just a tradition. It's a responsibility, a bond, and a mark of respect for the creatures we share this world with. Today, you will take your first steps toward that bond."

The class sat in rapt silence. Swain could feel his heartbeat in his ears.

"When I was your age," the teacher continued, a nostalgic smile softening her face, "I received my first mark and tamed my own beast," she said as she summoned a falcon the size of a bike. "His name is Strike. It was one of the proudest moments of my life when I met him as a chick, and it marked the beginning of my journey. And now, it's time for yours to begin."

Swain's friends whispered to each other and exchanged excited looks. He swallowed, feeling both eager and strangely nervous.

"After the ceremony, each of you will receive your first mission: to tame your first beast. The bond you form with your creature will be unique and yours to shape and nurture."

Swain shifted in his seat, glancing down at his hands. The words "first mission" echoed in his mind. This was real. Soon, he would be expected to enter the wilderness surrounding Thesa and find a creature to tame. 

"Alright, everyone. It's time. Form a line and follow me to the ceremony hall."

The hallway was lined with banners that depicted legendary creatures from the town's past—a massive bear with ice-capped fur, a soaring eagle with wings outstretched against a stormy sky, and a serpent with shimmering scales of green and gold. Swain felt a chill of reverence pass over him as he walked, surrounded by the legacy of Thesa's tamers.

Beside him, Den muttered, "I hope I get something as powerful as those guys." He gestured to a banner of a sleek black panther with amber-glow eyes in the shadowed forest. "Imagine the adventures!"

Swain managed a small smile. "You're already thinking about all the battles you'll fight?"

"Why not?" Den replied with a grin. "With the right beast, anything's possible."

The group entered the ceremony hall, where lanterns burned along the stone walls, casting warm light across the room. At the front, a polished stone pedestal stood as the centerpiece, surrounded by elders and teachers who watched the students with knowing eyes. Each student was to step forward, place their hand on the stone, and receive their Beast Tamer System.

The teacher ushered them forward, motioning them to form a line before the pedestal. "When your name is called, approach the stone and place your hand on it. Let the system grant you your first mission, and let your journey begin."

Swain took his place near the middle of the line, his heart pounding as he watched each of his friends step forward. His friend, Mara, went first. She touched the stone with a trembling hand, and after a tense moment, her wrist glowed with a faint symbol—a winding snake, its eyes glinting like sapphires. Mara's face lit up with pride as she returned to her place, clutching her wrist.

Next was Den. He confidently placed his hand on the stone, and a lion-shaped mark appeared on his wrist, roaring with silent power. Den shot Swain a triumphant grin, showing off the mark as if to say, "I told you so."

As more students came forward, Swain's excitement was mixed with an inexplicable anxiety. Finally, it was his turn.

He stepped forward, his palms damp with sweat, and reached out to touch the cold, smooth surface of the stone. His heartbeat thundered in his chest, and he closed his eyes, awaiting the warmth and mark of the Beast Tamer System.

But instead, a strange tingling sensation washed over him, almost like an electric current. His eyes shot open as he felt something powerful but unfamiliar. He looked down, expecting to see a mark on his wrist, but instead, he found a faint symbol glowing in the center of his palm.

Whispers rippled through the hall as students and teachers noticed Swain's unusual mark placement. The elder at the front stepped forward, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Swain," he murmured, his voice just loud enough for Swain to hear, "your mark…"

Swain glanced down at the symbol—a complex pattern of lines and shapes that felt almost alive, pulsating with a soft, steady glow.

He felt cold dread mixed with excitement. This was different from the animal symbol that showed the Beast Tamer System mark he had imagined. It was something else.

"What does it mean?" Swain asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The elder hesitated, then gave him a comforting, if slightly uncertain, smile. "It means, Swain… that you have a different path ahead of you."

Swain felt the weight of his friends' curious, uneasy stares as he returned to his place. He clenched his hand, feeling the mark throb faintly, like a heartbeat.