Most students in the class, including Ms. Claire, had decided to join the training and were placed in a simple line. In front of them stood various experts in different fields, brought from various kingdoms, including the Great Empire, to help raise the heroes as quickly as possible.
The one giving orders began calling students forth one by one. The first to be go up were the combat-oriented classes, like mages and warriors, who were paired with a master to begin training. There was even a little scuffle that was quickly resolved over who would train Brian and his friend George, the Master Spearman, who loved to show off his new acrobatic abilities from time to time.
After they left for various parts of the field, the builders and support-type classes were called, some of them leaving the training field since it wouldn't suit their style of training.
Alma, for example, was taken by a woman named Lady Aria, who seemed to be a famous musician in this world. This was evident from the way the otherworlders reacted around her. Even the soldiers, who were interested in the heroes, glanced towards the beautiful woman with light, revealing clothing and a flute of sorts on her waist.
Next, Lisa, whose best friend had been taken by Lady Aria, was called up. A few priestesses waved towards her as if they knew each other well. One of these was an adolescent girl who went up to Lisa, gave her a hug, and then they left while having a nice conversation.
This left a few kids and Ms. Claire, who was waiting for the burly guy giving orders to finish. The man had stated that his name was Theron and that as a well-known commander, he would be in charge of helping the young teacher to train as a speaker and leader of the class.
One by one all the rest of the students were called and it was when everyone had been called up that Theron looked at Logan. Now that everyone had gone, leaving just the boy and the teacher Ms. Claire, the man approached Logan with a stern expression.
"Logan," Theron began, his voice harsh and scrutinizing. "I've heard about your abilities as a tamer. Frankly, I'm not convinced it's a safe or valuable skill for our heroes. Tamers can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous to others."
Logan felt a surge of frustration but kept his composure. "Well, I was summoned here just like everyone else, and not by my own will, I will remind you," he replied, his tone edged with defiance.
Theron narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical. "Anyway, for now, your training will be on hold. It seems tamers are hard to come by these days, so you will have to wait until your instructor arrives in a few days."
Ms. Claire, sensing the hostility in Theron's tone, stepped forward. "With all due respect, Commander Theron, every student here should be treated with respect. We were not sent here by your Great Spirits without a cause, and I believe everyone has their unique strengths and weaknesses. Dismissing someone's potential based on preconceived notions is not how we should be training future heroes, right?"
Theron turned to Ms. Claire, his expression hardening. "I appreciate your input, Ms. Claire, but my priority is the safety and effectiveness of this training program. We cannot afford any unnecessary risks."
Theron gave a final, scrutinizing look before turning back to his duties. "Just remember my warning, young hero. I am tasked with ensuring everyone's safety, even if the danger is among yourselves."
Ms. Claire turned to Logan, her eyes filled with determination. "Don't let him get to you, Logan. I know you, and you are not one to do wrong."
Logan nodded, feeling a surge of strength through his teacher's words, knowing she could have possibly used her skill unknowingly. "Thank you, Ms. Claire. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I won't let you down."
Seeing his teacher walking off, Logan tried to cool off while thinking about what he would do next. He was left to his own devices by the commander, so he was practically given the day off.
He stayed for a while, watching how the others trained. The warriors, for example, were placed with wooden dummies and guided on how to use their bodies correctly. Their trainers emphasized the importance of stance, balance, and precise movements, turning their practice into a refined art of sort with everyone in the class improving almost instantly.
This went on for a while, and Logan was almost bored enough to ask for a carriage back to leave. But then he noticed something strange. Soldiers began to bring in cages full of monsters who rattled the bars with ferocity. The sight immediately grabbed Logan's attention, pulling him out of his boredom.
The creatures inside the cages were varied—some with scales, others with fur, and a few with eerie eyes. The soldiers handled the cages with caution, clearly aware of the danger these monsters posed. Logan watched intently, his mind racing with possibilities.
One of the instructors, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes, stepped forward to address the students. "These creatures will be part of your training as they will be essential for you all to gain levels. Learning to deal with real threats is also crucial for your development as heroes."
With curiosity, Logan got close to each cage while the soldiers placed them down. He noticed these creatures were not like those in the Rosengard mansion; while those were calm, these were snarling at him and looking at him like he was food.
Their eyes glowed with a feral intensity, and their growls and hisses sent chills down his spine. These weren't the docile, well-behaved creatures he was used to seeing; they were wild, unpredictable, and clearly dangerous.
Logan at first thought he could possibly tame one of them but seeing the madness in all the beast he began to doubt this decision. He recalled that to tame the other being had to be willing, and these seemed far from rational.
Seeing that not much could be done, Logan stepped back, knowing that if one of the monsters escaped, he would probably be in the worst danger. From afar, he began to notice that the monsters were chained up in front of the students to be killed.
The reaction from most of the class was to cower, not only from the sight of the beasts but also from the thought of killing another creature. Only five people stepped forward to fight a monster: the "idiot trio," who readily jumped in to show off their new abilities, a boy with a bow who showed confidence in his skill and looked like he had killed animals before, and finally a kid who was a mage and excelled in fire magic.
Out of all of them, Brian and his two goons seemed to take everything like a game, only talking about leveling up and getting stronger through killing. They laughed and joked as they approached the beasts, wielding different weapons and completely unfazed by the dangerous creatures.
The boy with the bow, on the other hand, moved with a quiet confidence, his eyes focused and determined. He nocked an arrow and took aim, ready to prove his worth. The fire mage, with a serious expression, began to chant incantations, preparing his spells that hit his targets with explosive force and no remorse.
He recalled the previous day and how his tamed Scorchwyrm killed, but in the end, it was for food—or so Logan told himself. The need to survive had driven his tamed beast's actions; it was just another part of the cycle of life. But this, what the students were doing, was purely to gain levels, to increase their power without regard for the lives taken. This stark difference unsettled him deeply, probably because, at the end of the day, he was a hypocrite.
His tame did the killing, and yet Logan felt happy when his salamander leveled up. But now he thought that even if they were insects, they were also living beings.
As he wrestled with these thoughts, Logan couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. It was easy to criticize his classmates for their casual approach to violence, but he also had to acknowledge his own actions and the moral complexities of his role as a tamer. This self-awareness, though uncomfortable, strengthened his resolve to approach his abilities with greater care and respect for life in the future.
Determined to stay true to his values, Logan decided to find a way to use his taming skills that aligned with his ethical beliefs. He would focus on forming bonds with creatures, understanding their needs, and finding ways to coexist rather than dominate. This approach might not be the quickest path to power, but it was the one that felt right to him.
Before him, Logan saw how five boys killed the monsters placed before them, and then four other students joined in after. Some kids couldn't take the violence and left, while others just stood there and watched. It was without a doubt one of those days where the students would learn and grow not just for this new world.