"The next lecture is also the most important one,
Beast Taming."
The instant Kael heard those words, instead of his usual bickering and complaining that he does every time Althea talks about the next training, he turned silent.
The Almoner of Services didn't miss that.
For now, however, she didn't show any reaction and continued her job.
"Lyric Ashwind."
She mentioned a name.
"She is one of the best beast tamers alive.
They say she once calmed an entire herd of rampaging thunderstags with just her voice. Her affinity with magical beasts is unmatched.
She doesn't just tame them, she understands them. To her, Beast Taming isn't about dominance or control, it's about connection and trust.
She will be your Beast Taming Teacher."
Kael nodded.
Honestly, all his teachers till now have been exceptional, so he was getting used to it.
Not to mention that right now, he was thinking about an entirely different thing, so he wasn't really paying attention to Althea's words.
Soon, Lyric walked into the training hall.
She was in her mid-thirties with an air of calm and grace around her. She had soft, shoulder-length auburn hair. Her almond-shaped eyes were a striking shade of green.
When her eyes fell on Kael and Althea, a gentle smile appeared on her face as she walked towards them.
"You must be Hero Kael."
Kael nodded.
"My name is Lyric Ashwind.
I will be teaching you about Beasts and how to strengthen your Bond with them. I hope we get along."
Lyric spoke with a gentle smile.
Kael smiled back, in his mind, however, he was cursing his luck.
'One somewhat normal teacher, and I cannot learn from her.'
"Are you ready to begin?"
Oblivious to his thoughts, Lyric questioned.
"Uhhh… Teacher Lyric…"
Kael called out with an awkward look on his face.
"What is it?"
Lyric tilted her head in confusion.
"My Firefang Wyvern won't come out of the Sanctuary."
Kael shared his problem.
"What…?"
Lyric frowned in confusion.
"I tried to call him out before, but ever since Althea appeared, he never left it. It is as if he is afraid of anyone other than me."
"A Firefang Wyvern is afraid of people? That isn't right."
Lyric furrowed her brows.
Firefang Wyverns were Beasts known for being aggressive and highly active. Lyric found it hard to believe that a Firefang Wyvern out of all beasts isn't coming out of the sanctuary.
Actually, the very fact that someone like Kael was able to open the Sanctuary surprised Lyric to her core.
Sanctuary was a unique Beast Storage Dimension that every Beast Tamer possesses. A magical pocket space bound to them. A dimension that served as a haven for the Tamer's tamed beasts, ensuring they remained safe and undisturbed during periods of rest or travel.
It was a 'Gift' given by Lord Feraos to all the Beast Tamers in Nerathis. A magical dimension that automatically adapts to the preferred environment of the beasts stored inside.
An essential that makes it possible for the Tamer to always be close to the beasts they love and be battle-ready even when caught unprepared.
Usually, a Tamer is only able to access the Sanctuary after some guidance, but for Kael to already be able to access it when he just came to this world yesterday…
It showed his talent.
'Is this what it means to be a Hero…?'
Lyric wondered the same thing other instructors did when they saw Kael's growth.
What Lyric didn't know was that Kael had absolutely no hand in opening the Sanctuary.
He was just reading about the Sanctuary in the book the King had given to him. He tried to open it, but just like any other Beast Tamer, he failed.
It was normal since he didn't know anything about it. However, just as he was about to give up, Igni climbed on top of him, placed his head on Kael's forehead, and... disappeared.
Yes, the Dragon opened the Sanctuary by himself, and it was only after Igni opened it first that Kael was able to access it.
As for Igni not wanting to come out of the Sanctuary?
The little guy was actually raring to come out and show his power to the people around. It was Kael who wanted to hide him.
He had turned what was supposed to be a Wyvern into a freaking Dragon. Who knows what sort of reaction these people would have if they learned about it?
If Kael's theory about the Vision being a Warning was correct, then the last thing he wanted was to reveal his trump card to everyone.
Yes, despite liking all the people he had met so far, Kael couldn't bring himself to trust any of them.
Maybe the vision of him and his Igni dying had made him paranoid, but unless he was absolutely sure that his Igni was safe, he wouldn't reveal his existence to anyone.
Honestly, he was glad that something like a Sanctuary existed. Since it was a personal dimension that only he and his bonds could access, no one would find out about Igni's existence if he didn't want them to.
Before this, he was actually planning on revealing Igni's existence while feigning ignorance as to how a Wyvern turned into a Dragon.
According to the book he read, it wasn't uncommon for some Beast Eggs to retract their bloodline and be born stronger than their parents. Kael was sure these people would think of it as 'Feraos's Blessing' or the 'Hero's Luck' or whatever and stop thinking about it.
Now, however, he had an even better excuse that made it possible for him to hide Igni's existence.
As to why a Firefang Wyvern, a beast that is usually active, wasn't coming out of the Sanctuary?
That wasn't something he had to figure out, was it?
He just said it and as for the reason, it was these people's task to find something.
Something he would later use as an excuse.
A perfect plan.
Lyric, however, was prepared to make things hard for Kael.
"Can I see him? I am sure I can do something about it."