The first day of combat training began with the instructor standing in front of the gathered students, his arms crossed and an unimpressed look on his face.
"Alright, maggots," the instructor barked. "Run."
The students looked at each other, confused.
"For how long, sir?" one brave student asked.
The instructor smirked. "Until I say stop."
A collective groan rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to complain too much. Instead, they all started running.
Serian, too, began to run, blending in with the group. It seemed simple enough. One foot in front of the other, keep moving forward.
By the time Edward and Sienna reached their ninth lap, Serian was on his third. Or at least, he was—until his legs gave out, and he suddenly found himself face-first on the ground.
He blinked, staring at the dirt beneath him. What just happened?
A strange, heavy feeling settled in his limbs. His breath came in short, uneven bursts. His chest ached. His arms trembled when he tried to push himself up.
Is this... what humans call tired?
He remained lying there, analyzing the strange sensation. His mind, vast and full of knowledge from another world, searched for an answer. He understood the concept of exhaustion, of muscle fatigue, but experiencing it firsthand? This was new.
Before he could move, a pair of strong hands grabbed him—by the back of his uniform, no less.
"Too skinny," the instructor muttered, lifting Serian off the ground like a mother cat carrying her kitten.
Serian dangled in the air, legs limp, arms hanging at his sides. His usually calm expression was now one of mild confusion.
"Put me down," he said.
The instructor wiggled him a little.
"...I don't see any muscles," the man mused. "Are you sure you're alive?"
"I think so," Serian answered honestly.
The instructor sighed dramatically before setting him back on the ground. "You need to eat more. And exercise. What do they even feed you?"
Serian tilted his head. "Food?"
Edward, who had slowed down upon noticing Serian's fall, came jogging back, panting. "Serian! You okay?"
"He's fine," the instructor said, still inspecting Serian like a puzzled scientist. "Just weak. This one's got the stamina of a housecat."
Serian blinked. "Housecats don't run. They conserve energy."
The instructor pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are not a housecat."
Serian remained unconvinced. "But why do I need to run? Humans don't run long distances unless necessary. Why waste energy?"
Edward, still catching his breath, nearly choked. "Wha—you do realize we're training to be hunters, right?"
Serian nodded. "Yes. But I assumed combat was more about skill, not... pointless suffering."
The instructor stared at him. "Son, your body is the foundation of everything. If you collapse after three laps, how are you gonna fight monsters?"
Serian considered this. "...Teleportation?"
The instructor groaned. "Alright, that's it. You, skinny boy, are getting special training. Extra laps. Extra workouts. Extra everything."
Serian frowned. "That sounds unnecessary."
"It is necessary," the instructor shot back. "Now, up and keep running."
Serian sighed, dusted himself off, and began jogging again.
Edward, watching this unfold, shook his head with a mix of amusement and pity. "You're in trouble," he muttered before jogging off to catch up with Sienna.
Serian didn't mind. If anything, he was now more curious than ever.
Humans were so weird.
*****
The second class of the day was Taming and Affinity.
The students gathered, excited murmurs filling the air as the instructor stepped forward. She was beautiful—long green hair cascading down her back, emerald eyes glowing softly with mana. She had an ethereal presence, almost like she belonged to the spirit realm herself.
"Today, you will enter the spirit realm," she announced, her voice gentle yet firm. "Here, you will search for a companion—a spirit or a beast that resonates with your mana. Some of you will succeed, some of you may not. But do not be discouraged. Simply observe, learn, and understand your affinity."
With a wave of her hand, a shimmering portal opened before them. The students gasped as they stepped through, entering a breathtaking world.
The spirit realm was a paradise—lush forests, crystal-clear rivers, glowing flowers, and floating wisps of light dancing through the air. Everything pulsed with life and mana.
Serian, as always, simply observed. His violet eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the sheer beauty of the realm. It's peaceful…
The other students immediately got to work. Some approached animals cautiously, extending their mana. Others reached out to spirits, attempting to form bonds. Some succeeded, their new companions glowing with acceptance. Others failed, their chosen creatures vanishing before they could establish a connection.
Edward, determined, focused on a powerful black tiger that eyed him warily. He extended his mana carefully, feeling a pull, and after a tense moment, the tiger let out a deep rumble of acknowledgment. Nearby, a dark shadowy spirit floated toward him as well, drawn by his presence.
"I got them!" Edward grinned, excitement in his voice.
Sienna, never one to be outdone, proudly showed off her new flame spirit, a small fiery wisp that flickered and danced around her. A majestic phoenix perched nearby, preening its glowing feathers.
"I bonded with two as well," she said smugly.
The students continued searching, but Edward and Sienna soon realized someone was missing.
"Where's Serian?" Edward frowned.
"He was here a moment ago..." Sienna turned in circles, trying to spot their quiet friend.
The two walked deeper into the realm, past glowing trees and sparkling rivers. Then, by a small waterfall, they finally found him.
Serian was sitting on a rock, his pale, skinny legs dipped in the water. His expression was serene as he gazed up at the sky, completely lost in thought. The gentle sound of the waterfall and the cool breeze seemed to lull him into a sense of calm.
Then, to their utter shock—he fell asleep.
"...Is he seriously sleeping right now?" Edward whispered, incredulous.
"He did say he didn't understand why humans needed to run," Sienna muttered. "Maybe he finally figured out that rest is the solution."
But the truly shocking part wasn't that Serian was sleeping—it was what surrounded him.
Animals of all kinds had gathered around him.
A massive bear curled up beside him, its heavy body rising and falling with deep breaths. A group of deer lay near his feet, while rabbits, squirrels, and even a fox nestled against his arms. Birds perched on his shoulders, preening his silver hair. Some rare beasts, glowing softly with mana, lay nearby, as if drawn to his presence.
Even spirits, both weak and high-ranked, floated around him, their ethereal forms playfully twirling his long hair as he slept.
"...What the hell?" Edward muttered, staring in disbelief.
Sienna folded her arms, expression unreadable. "Is this... a hidden affinity or something?"
Edward rubbed his face. "It has to be. Even high-ranked spirits are interested in him."
The instructor soon arrived, sensing something unusual. When she saw Serian's situation, she blinked in surprise before letting out a soft laugh.
"Fascinating," she murmured. "He isn't forming a bond—he's simply... existing. And yet, they are drawn to him."
At that moment, Serian stirred slightly, letting out a small sigh before snuggling further into the bear's fur. The bear let out a deep, pleased rumble, adjusting so Serian could be more comfortable.
Edward watched, utterly baffled. "This guy... does he even realize what's happening?"
Sienna sighed. "Probably not. And even if he did, he probably wouldn't care."
They could only stare as Serian continued to sleep peacefully, surrounded by creatures that others had to earn the right to approach.
The instructor, Fiona, walked toward the resting figure of Serian, curiosity in her emerald eyes. She had felt something unusual from this spot, but as she took a step forward, several spirits fluttered in front of her, blocking her way.
She paused, tilting her head.
It wasn't hostility, but rather… protection. The spirits and animals seemed to surround Serian with a quiet sense of devotion.
Then, Serian stirred.
His long silver lashes fluttered as he blinked sleepily, his violet eyes hazy with drowsiness. With a soft yawn, he stretched his arms before slowly sitting up. The bear beside him grunted in complaint as Serian shifted away from its warm fur.
"Hmm… I fell asleep…" Serian murmured groggily, rubbing his eyes.
At that moment, the creatures around him became lively. The deer nudged at his hands, the birds chirped excitedly, and the spirits swirled around him in glittering lights.
One by one, they each began offering something—fruits, nuts, herbs, glowing flowers infused with mana.
A small rabbit spirit held up a shining apple.
A fox placed a bundle of fragrant herbs near his lap.
A high-ranked wind spirit floated beside him, whispering words of companionship, requesting to form a contract.
Serian blinked at them, completely unbothered by the overwhelming affection. He gently placed a hand on the fox's head, ruffling its soft fur, then smiled slightly.
"I appreciate it," he said softly, his voice calm. "But I don't need a contract. I don't need slaves."
The spirits shivered at his words—not in fear, but in awe.
Fiona, who had been silently watching, widened her eyes. Slaves? No, that wasn't what forming a contract meant. Spirits and beasts partnered with humans to grow stronger together. But Serian's words…
He truly saw them as living beings, not tools.
The creatures hesitated for a moment, but then, as if understanding, they let out gentle sounds and nuzzles of farewell. Even without a contract, their affection for Serian didn't change.
Edward, who had been standing by, crossed his arms. "Of course you reject them. Do you even know how rare it is to have this many spirits willing to form a contract?"
Serian tilted his head. "But I don't need one."
Edward groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You're impossible."
Sienna, who had been observing quietly, sighed. "Well, if nothing else, this proves he has some insane affinity with nature. I don't even think he realizes how special this is."
With that, the students gathered and began leaving the spirit realm. Some walked away excitedly, showing off their new companions, while others looked disappointed at their failures.
Fiona, however, remained standing near the river.
As the students disappeared through the portal, a presence shifted beside her.
A towering figure emerged—Latria, an ancient earth spirit and one of the High Spirits. She was an ethereal being, with bark-like skin that shimmered with gold, and emerald eyes that glowed with wisdom.
Fiona turned her gaze upward. "You noticed it too, didn't you?"
Latria nodded, her voice deep and ancient. "That child… He walks alone, yet nature embraces him."
Fiona's expression softened. "You mean Serian?"
"He is lonely," Latria murmured, watching the portal where Serian had disappeared. "Or perhaps, he is too pure… We spirits are drawn to purity, to the purest of souls. And he…" She trailed off, as if searching for the right words.
Fiona frowned slightly. "He is a bit strange, but… pure? I'm not sure. He doesn't act innocent or naïve."
Latria shook her head. "It is not about innocence. It is about essence."
Fiona fell silent.
She knew what Latria meant. There were some individuals whose very existence resonated with nature itself—souls that carried something far beyond the understanding of humans.
But she and Latria didn't know.
She looked at the spot where Serian had slept, where the earth itself seemed to hum with warmth.
Purest soul? No…
They were wrong.
Serian was not just pure—he was something else entirely.
After all, he was the cherished one of Yggdrasil.
And nature would always bend for him.