Most of the class, including Ms. Claire, had chosen to join the training and stood in a neat line. In front of them waited an array of experts from different kingdoms, including the Great Empire, each brought in to help raise the heroes' abilities as quickly as possible.
The officer in charge began calling students forward one at a time. First came the combat-oriented classes, such as mages and warriors, who were paired with masters suited to their fighting styles. There was even a brief dispute over who would train Brian and his friend George, eventually settled when the Master Spearman claimed them. The man clearly enjoyed showing off, demonstrating flashy acrobatics every chance he got.
Once the front-line fighters were taken away to various corners of the field, it was the turn of the builders and support-types. Some left the training grounds entirely, as the exercises here would not suit their methods.
Alma, for example, was claimed by a striking woman named Lady Aria, whose fame as a musician seemed well known even in this world. The reaction was immediate; several otherworlders whispered in recognition, and even a few soldiers' eyes followed her. She wore light, revealing clothing, and a polished flute hung at her waist.
Next was Lisa. Her best friend had already gone with Lady Aria, but a group of priestesses waved to her as if they were old acquaintances. One adolescent priestess stepped forward, embraced Lisa warmly, and the two left together chatting happily.
Soon only a few students and Ms. Claire remained. The burly man giving orders, who had introduced himself as Commander Theron, announced that he would personally oversee Ms. Claire's training as a speaker and leader for the class.
One by one, the rest were called forward until only Logan and Ms. Claire were left. Once her assignment was settled, Theron turned to Logan, his stern expression giving nothing away, and strode toward him.
"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 to be around the other heroes. Tamers can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous to others."
Logan felt a surge of frustration but forced himself to stay composed. "Well, I was summoned here just like everyone else and not by my own will, I might add," he replied, his tone edged with defiance.
Theron narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical. "In any case, your training will be on hold. Tamers are rare, it seems, so you'll have to wait until your instructor arrives in a few days."
Ms. Claire, catching the sharpness in Theron's tone, stepped forward. "With all due respect, Commander Theron, every student here deserves respect. We were not sent by your Great Spirits without reason, and I believe each of us has unique strengths and weaknesses. Dismissing someone's potential based on assumptions is not the way to train future heroes, is it?"
Theron turned to her, his expression hardening. "I appreciate your input, Ms. Claire, but my priority is the safety and efficiency of this program. We cannot afford unnecessary risks."
He gave Logan one last, measured look before turning back to his duties. "Just remember my warning, young hero. My job is to ensure everyone's safety even if the danger comes from among yourselves."
Ms. Claire turned to Logan, her gaze steady and reassuring. "Don't let him get to you, Logan. I know you, and you're not someone who would do wrong."
Logan nodded, feeling a quiet surge of strength from her words. For a moment, he wondered if she had used her voice-based Orator skill without realizing it. "Thank you, Ms. Claire. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I won't let you down."
Seeing his teacher walk off, Logan took a moment to cool his temper and think about what to do next. The commander had left him to his own devices, which essentially meant he'd been given the day off.
For a while, he stayed and observed the others train. The warriors, for example, were set up with wooden dummies while their instructors drilled them on proper body mechanics.
Stance, balance, and precision were emphasized until each movement became deliberate and controlled. It was almost like watching a choreographed art form, with the improvement in his classmates so rapid it felt as if the knowledge had been hardwired directly into their minds.
This went on for some time, and Logan was nearly bored enough to ask for a carriage to take him back until something caught his attention.
A group of soldiers began bringing in large iron cages, each rattling under the weight and fury of what was inside. The sound of claws against metal and deep, guttural snarls filled the air.
Logan's eyes locked on the scene, pulling him out of his boredom.
The creatures within the cages were varied some covered in scales, others in fur, and a few with unsettling, luminous eyes. The soldiers handled them with extreme caution, moving slowly and keeping weapons at the ready, a clear sign of the danger these monsters posed.
Logan watched closely, his mind already racing with possibilities.
A stern-looking woman with sharp eyes stepped forward, addressing the gathered students. "These creatures will be part of your training. They will be essential for you to gain levels, and learning to handle real threats is a crucial step in your development as heroes."
With curiosity, Logan moved closer as the soldiers set each cage down. The creatures inside were nothing like the ones he had seen at the Rosengard mansion. Those had been calm and composed, but these snarled at him with unrestrained hostility, their eyes following him as if he was their next meal.
Each beast's gaze glowed with feral intensity.
Their growls and hisses carried a primal edge that sent a chill down his spine. These were not the docile, obedient creatures he was used to; they were wild, unpredictable, and dangerous.
At first, Logan considered whether he might be able to tame one of them. But as he studied their madness-filled eyes, doubt crept in. He remembered that taming required the other being's willingness, and there was no trace of reason in these creatures.
Seeing little chance of success, he stepped back. If one of them escaped, he would likely be in greater danger than anyone else. From a safer distance, he noticed soldiers chaining the beasts in front of the students, not to restrain them for taming but to be executed.
The reaction from most of the class was immediate: they recoiled, unsettled not just by the beasts' ferocity but by the prospect of killing them. Only five students stepped forward to fight. The "idiot trio" were first, eager to show off their newfound abilities. Alongside them was a boy named Owen, with a bow who carried himself like someone who had hunted before, and a fire mage, Charlie, whose magic flared with lethal precision.
Brian and his two friends treated the whole event like a game, laughing and boasting about leveling up and getting stronger as they approached the beasts, weapons ready. The boy with the bow moved in stark contrast, silent, focused, and deliberate.
He drew an arrow, his posture steady and his aim unwavering. The fire mage, expression grave, began his incantations, his spells striking with explosive force and without hesitation.
He recalled the previous day, when his tamed Scorchwyrm had killed, but that had been for food, or so Logan told himself. The need to survive had driven his beast's actions; it was simply part of the cycle of life. This, however, what the students were doing now, was different. They were killing purely to gain levels, to grow stronger without a thought for the lives they were ending. The contrast unsettled him, perhaps because, deep down, he knew he was a hypocrite.
His tamed beast had done the killing, and yet he had felt a thrill when his salamander leveled up. Even if the prey had been no more than oversized insects, they had still been living creatures.
As these thoughts turned over in his mind, a sense of guilt settled in. It was easy to judge his classmates for their casual approach to violence, but he had to acknowledge his own role in it and the moral weight of being a tamer. The realization was uncomfortable, but it strengthened his resolve to use his ability with greater care and respect for life.
He decided that from now on, he would focus on forming bonds with creatures, understanding their needs, and seeking ways to coexist rather than dominate. It might not be the fastest road to power, but it was the one that felt right to him.
Before him, the five boys cut down the monsters placed in front of them, and soon four more students joined the fight.
Some could not handle the sight and left, while others stood frozen, watching in silence. It was one of those days that would shape the students, not just for survival in this world, but for who they would become within it.