Just Another Beast Tamer

A dull throbbing pain spread through Auron's head as he slowly regained consciousness. The cold, hard floor beneath him felt unforgiving, pressing against his stiff muscles. His nose wrinkled at the pungent mix of dried herbs and alchemical reagents strewn around him.

"Ugh… what the hell happened?" he groaned, his voice hoarse. As he struggled to sit up, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him.

His vision blurred momentarily before sharpening to reveal the cluttered mess of his small bedroom. Various cheap mana-enhancing reagents lay scattered—half-used incense sticks, broken crystal shards, and diluted elixirs. He blinked as a flood of foreign memories surged through his mind.

Auron Veyne. Orphan. 14 years old.

The realization hit like a bolt of lightning. I transmigrated.

His breathing hitched. The past life he knew—the mundane world filled with screens and skyscrapers—was gone. In its place were memories of a struggling orphan, a boy desperate to awaken as a Beast Tamer before being cast away by society.

Then he remembered—the Awakening Ceremony was today.

Panic jolted through him. He stumbled to his feet, grasping at the desk for support. His hands trembled as he looked at the mess of so-called 'enhancing materials' he'd bought. A wry chuckle escaped his lips.

"So that's why I passed out… I tried to forcefully expand my mana heart with cheap reagents?" He shook his head. What an idiot.

Suddenly, his chest felt like it was burning from the inside. A pulse of energy spread through his body, causing his muscles to tense involuntarily.

A deep, resounding heartbeat filled his ears. Ba-dump.

His eyes widened as he felt something inside him shatter, releasing a flood of warmth through his veins. His breathing grew rapid, sweat forming at his brow. A deep instinct told him what was happening.

His Mana Heart was opening.

His consciousness flickered as an unfamiliar force spread within him, like a river breaking through a dam. He clenched his fists, his body screaming at the sudden influx of energy. A final pulse echoed in his chest before the sensation died down.

Then, before his eyes, a semi-transparent blue window flickered into existence.



[STATUS WINDOW]

Name: Auron Veyne

Title: None

Mana Heart: 5.01% Opened (Fledgling Mana Heart)

Level: 1

Affinities: ???

Condition: Stable

Attributes:

Strength: 4

Agility: 6

Endurance: 5

Magic Power: 7

Luck: 3

Abilities:

Beast Appraisal (Common [Upgradeable])

Quests:

Awaken as a Beast Tamer.



His breath hitched as he stared at the floating text in front of him. A system?

"No way…" he muttered. He tried to reach out to touch it, but his fingers passed through the ethereal window. It remained still, waiting.

He swallowed, his mind racing. This wasn't part of the memories of the original owner.

"This is mine," he realized. A cheat? A guide? A curse? He had no idea, but one thing was certain—this system was connected to him, and it acknowledged his newly awakened Mana Heart.

A tired grin formed on his lips. "At least I hit the requirement," he murmured, leaning back against the wall. If I had opened my mana heart even 0.01% less, I would've been doomed to a life of insignificance.

But 5.01% wasn't anything special. He was at the bare minimum threshold to become a Beast Tamer. There would be nobles and geniuses at today's ceremony awakening at 10%, 15%, or even 20%. He was nothing compared to them.

His fingers curled into a fist. But that doesn't mean I'll stay weak.

He exhaled deeply, calming himself. There was no use panicking now. He needed a plan.



The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, illuminating the messy room. Auron groggily sat up, glancing at the scattered remnants of his failed attempt to boost his mana heart. He sighed.

"I'll clean this up later. After the ceremony," he murmured, dragging himself to his feet.

The Awakening Ceremony was a once-a-year event. Every child between 14 and 15 was required to attend, held in government-funded high schools. These institutions provided specialized equipment, including the Mana Heart Meter, which measured the opening percentage, Mana Sheets, special materials made from a rare tree that reacted to mana tiers in various colors, and the Class Affinity Crystal, which determined the best-suited job for the awakened individual.



The grand hall of the school buzzed with excitement. Students murmured in hushed tones, their faces filled with anticipation.

"Welcome, students!" The school president's voice echoed through the hall. "Today, you stand on the precipice of your future. Your Awakening will determine your path—whether as a Beast Tamer or an ordinary citizen."

Among the crowd, Auron stood beside Alfred, his only friend. He was initially confused when Alfred greeted him so warmly, but as the memories kicked in, he realized—they had grown up together in the orphanage and had always looked out for each other.

"You nervous?" Alfred asked.

Auron smirked. "More excited than nervous."

A scoff interrupted them. Derek Rathmore, son of a famed Beast Tamer, sneered. "Excited? With that pathetic mana heart? You'll be lucky if you don't get laughed out of here."

Auron met his gaze, a confident smirk forming. "At least I didn't inherit my status. Whatever I earn, I'll have worked for."

The surrounding students gasped. Derek's smug expression twisted in anger, but before he could retort, the school president raised his hand.

"We shall begin."

After a few hours of waiting, Auron was next. He placed his hand on the Mana Heart Meter, feeling the slight warmth as it scanned him. A mechanical hum filled the air before numbers appeared.

5.01%.

A ripple of laughter and whispers spread through the crowd.

"Barely made it."

"Even the lowest-ranked awakenings are at 7%!"

Then came the Mana Sheet. Instead of a dull hue, it shimmered with two distinct colors, causing the examiner's eyes to widen.

"Affinity detected: Spirit Caller and Rune Inscriber!"

Finally, the Class Affinity Crystal was placed before him. As he touched it, intricate symbols glowed, confirming his unique paths.

[New Skills Acquired: Spirit Link – Forms a direct soul connection with summoned beasts. Arcane Ink – Uses mana-infused ink to create temporary runes that enhance a beast's combat abilities.]

Auron descended the stage amidst murmurs and ridicule. Derek smirked, stepping forward. "See? Even with dual affinities, you're still weak. Unlike me." He proudly displayed his results—12.4% Mana Heart Opening, Bestial Berserker.

Auron chuckled. "Congratulations. Try not to get cocky before we even contract a beast."

After the ceremony, the president announced, "From this moment forward, you must contract your own beasts." Derek sneered, glancing at Auron. "Some won't even be able to afford one."

Auron ignored him. Alfred placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. That night, Auron researched the best beasts for his contract: Three-Tailed Cat, Speed Rodent, Tri-Colored Bird.