The night's conversation lasted much longer than Swain expected. Between his parents' questions and Beelze's funny behavior, it was almost 11 o'clock when Swain was finally able to sneak off to his room. Beelze was already half asleep in his arms, softly snoring with his round belly rising and falling.
Swain gently set him on the bed and pulled the blanket over the little Cragboar before collapsing onto the mattress himself. "Goodnight, buddy," he whispered, but Beelze was already asleep, lost in a dream about food.
The next day, Swain woke up to the feeling of something heavy moving under his blanket. He opened one eye and saw Beelze trying to burrow closer to him, his stone-like snout pressed against Swain's side.
"Morning, Beelze," Swain mumbled with a yawn, scratching behind his ears. The Cragboar let out a happy snort, leaning into the scratch before settling in comfortably.
"You really are a handful, aren't you?" Swain said with a smile. Beelze responded with another snort, his stubby tail wagging under the blanket.
A knock on the door interrupted their morning. "Swain! Time to get up and get ready for school," his mother called.
"Coming!" Swain yelled back, throwing the blanket aside. Beelze slid off the bed with a soft thud, landing on his short legs and shaking himself awake. "Alright, buddy, let's get moving."
The streets buzzed with morning activity as Swain headed to the academy. Beelze walked beside him, attracting curious glances from people passing by. Swain understood why—after all, the little Cragboar was hard to miss, his stone-like skin shining in the sunlight.
As they walked, Swain decided to check the notifications that showed up after summoning Beelze the night before. He opened the interface in his mind, and the familiar holographic menu appeared before him.
[System Notifications]
Beast Status Unlocked
Beast Evolution Tree Unlocked
Swain's curiosity was piqued. "Beast Evolution Tree?" he muttered under his breath. He tapped the notification mentally, and a new menu appeared, displaying a branching diagram with Beelze's name at the center.
[Beast Evolution Tree: Cragboar]
Current Rank: Copper I
Evolution Paths:
[Stonehide Juggernaut]
[Ironback Charger]
[Earthcall Guardian]
Swain's eyes widened as he read through the options. Each path was locked, with faint text describing potential traits and abilities. He scanned them quickly, his excitement growing.
"Looks like you've got some serious potential, Beelze," Swain said, glancing down at the Cragboar. Beelze snorted proudly, lifting his snout as if he understood every word.
The thought of evolution intrigued Swain. If Beelze could grow into something even stronger, it would open up endless possibilities. But for now, those paths remained out of reach. The system displayed a faint message beneath the tree:
[Requirement: Rank Up to Copper II to unlock evolution paths.]
Swain sighed but nodded. "Okay, one step at a time," he said. Beelze grunted, his hooves clicking on the cobblestones as they walked toward the academy.
The academy courtyard buzzed with energy when Swain arrived. Students were gathered, showing off their creatures and chatting about the latest news. Swain felt a mix of nerves and excitement as he moved through the crowd, Beelze following closely behind.
"Swain!" a familiar voice called. He turned to see Den jogging over, a small lion cub trotting proudly beside him. The cub's golden fur shone in the sunlight, and its big, curious eyes scanned the crowd.
"Den!" Swain replied, but Den quickly focused on Beelze.
"Wait… is that your beast?!" Den exclaimed, staring at the Cragboar. "You said yesterday that you didn't have one!"
"It's a long story," Swain said, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is Beelze. He… well, let's just say he's not your average beast." Den squatted down, looking at Beelze with interest. "He looks tough, like a big rock. And you named him Beelze?"
Beelze snorted, lifting his head proudly as if he appreciated the compliment.
Den smiled. "At least you didn't end up without a beast. I was worried! Everyone's been talking about the trip outside the walls this weekend."
Swain raised his eyebrows. "Trip? What trip?"
Den's smile got bigger. "You'll hear about it in homeroom. It's going to be amazing."
Homeroom was especially noisy, buzzing with excitement as students tried to keep their beasts calm. Swain sat down, Beelze settling under the desk with a soft grunt. Den sat next to him, his lion cub curling up at his feet.
Soon, Mrs. Gindell entered the room and clapped her hands for everyone to listen. "Alright, everyone, settle down!" she called. The noise quickly stopped as the students turned to face her.
"As you all know," she started, "the taming ceremony was just the first part. Now it's time for the next stage of your training."
She pointed to a large map on the wall that had several locations marked outside the city. "This weekend, we're going on a trip beyond the city walls. Each of you will get a chance to work as a team, bond with your animals, and face challenges in the wild."
Excited whispers filled the room, but Mrs. Gindell raised her hand to silence them. "This isn't just a fun outing—it's a test. The wild can be unpredictable, and you'll need to depend on your animals and each other to succeed."
Swain felt a thrill of excitement. It was a chance to explore the wild and see what Beelze could do—it was everything he wanted. He looked at the Cragboar, who snorted lightly, watching Mrs. Gindell with keen interest.
Mrs. Gindell walked in front of the class, her sharp eyes scanning the students. "Get ready," she said firmly. "We leave at dawn on Saturday. Be prepared. Today, we'll discuss the creatures and resources you might encounter in the wild. Pay close attention—understanding these can make the difference between success and failure."
She walked over to a chart on the wall, showing drawings of different creatures and plants. "Let's start with the weaker beasts. These are the ones you might find near town or on the edges of the woods. They aren't too dangerous, but if you underestimate them, you could get into trouble."
She tapped the first picture, a small rabbit-like creature with faint blue markings. "This is a Frost Hare. They're quick and slippery. They won't attack unless they feel threatened, but they can freeze your limbs if you scare them. If you see one, don't chase it blindly. Their fur and frost essence can be valuable for crafting gear that resists cold, so catching one safely is worth your time."
The next image was of a rodent with dark fur. "Then we have the Duskrat. These little guys are nocturnal and prefer shadows. They're timid but smart, so be quiet when trying to catch one. Their tails are often used for making stealth charms, and their meat is good for stronger animals."
Swain glanced at Beelze, who let out a soft snort, as if to say, "Sounds tasty."
Mrs. Gindell moved to the next creature, a small bird with shiny feathers. "Glowbirds are also common. They are tiny, glow softly in dim light, and are attracted to mana-rich areas. Catching one can be hard—they're easily scared and aware of your movements. But their feathers have traces of mana and can help enhance weaker animal abilities. If you find one, remember where it nests; it will usually lead you to other useful resources."
Finally, she pointed to a dog-like creature with tough skin that looked like bark. "And lastly, we have the Barkling. These little creatures are loyal but territorial. Alone, they're harmless, but in groups, they can overpower anyone not paying attention. Their bark-like hide can be used for beginner armor, and their saliva has mild healing properties when processed correctly."
The students started whispering and taking notes. Swain leaned over to Den. "The Barkling pack sounds tough," he whispered.
Den smirked. "Your little guy looks strong. I bet he could charge right through them."
Swain laughed softly but didn't reply. Beelze, unaware of the conversation, was sniffing around under the desk as if looking for something to eat.
Mrs. Gindell then shifted to the next part of the chart, which showed various plants and minerals.
"Now," she said, tapping a drawing of vines with metallic streaks, "let's discuss the resources you'll find. Some are just as important as the creatures, so don't ignore them."
She pointed at the dark green vines. "These are Ironroot Vines. They're very tough but flexible and are great for making harnesses or strengthening tools. If your animal likes to chew, these can also help strengthen their teeth. Look for them near rocky places."
Beelze snorted loudly at the mention of chewing, catching some stares. Mrs. Gindell ignored the interruption and moved on to a glowing green moss.
"This is Glowmoss. It grows in damp, shady places, usually by streams or caves. If you crush it into a paste, you have a basic healing salve. It's also a key ingredient for boosting your animal's stamina."
Next, she tapped an illustration of small, shining crystals. "These are Mana Crystals. You'll find them in areas rich with mana, often near Glowbird nests. They're great for restoring your animal's energy and can also be used in basic enchanting. But be careful—everyone wants Mana Crystals, so expect competition."
Finally, she pointed to a round, gray fruit. "And this is Stonefruit. It looks hard on the outside, but the flesh is soft and sweet. Strong animals love them, and they're also used to make energy tonics. If you see a Stonefruit tree, make sure to take some."
Swain glanced down at Beelze again, who perked up at the mention of Stonefruit. "Looks like we've found your new favorite snack," Swain whispered.
Beelze seemed to understand, snorting in agreement.
Mrs. Gindell clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "Remember, this trip isn't just about gathering resources or battling creatures. It's about learning to work together. Pay attention to each other's strengths and weaknesses, and don't forget to rely on your team. Now, let's go over the groups and areas assigned..."