The tension that had gripped the training ground began to ease, replaced by a sense of awe and curiosity. The griffin, still in its bowing stance, seed to embody reverence itself, its regal wings spread wide, its intelligent gaze unwavering as it held its position.
I continued to stroke its feathers, marveling at the softness beneath my fingertips. Wonder and amazent swirled within , mingled with a lingering disbelief. Why ? The question hung unanswered as I struggled to process the surreal connection I had just experienced.
Finally, the silence was broken by Instructor Harris, his voice tinged with astonishnt. "I've never seen anything like this. It's rare for a griffin to show such submission, let alone to a student. Seems Sphinx has taken quite a liking to you, kid."
"Seems like it," I replied, my voice calm despite the whirlwind of emotions inside .
At that mont, Sol's familiar voice chid in from her perch on my shoulder. "Sylpha's blessing... you carry the divinity of the Goddess of Nature," she began, her tone laced with clarity.
I glanced at her, and she continued, "Griffins are incredibly intelligent creatures, often more so than humans. This one must have sensed the faint divine energy you emit. Rember the incident with that druid? It's the sa principle. Mystical beasts are deeply attuned to nature and hold Sylpha in great reverence. To them, you're like a living connection to their deity."
Her explanation made the pieces fall into place. The griffin's unexpected behavior was not re coincidence—it was instinct.
"It seems I'm going to enjoy this course more than I expected," I mused silently, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
Turning my attention back to the griffin, I decided to test its comprehension. "Now, you can go back," I said to Sphinx, unsure if the majestic creature would understand .
Fwip
As if in response, Sphinx raised its head and turned around gracefully, striding back to Instructor Harris's side with a commanding elegance. The creature's movents were smooth, as though every step was a performance in itself.
"Professor..." I called, breaking the spell of silence that seed to hold him.
He blinked, as though snapping out of a trance. "So, where was I?" he asked, his tone casual, as though the extraordinary event monts earlier was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Sothing about bonding with magical beasts..." I reminded him, though the other students were still locked in states of shock, their gazes fixed firmly on .
Instructor Harris nodded, his deanor returning to his usual professional air. "Ah, yes. The bond between magical beasts and humans. It's a nuanced and intricate relationship," he began, his voice steady as he resud his lecture.
"Lower-grade magical beasts can be acquired through summoning rituals or purchased in the market. However, forming a bond with higher-grade creatures, such as a griffin here," he said, gesturing to Sphinx with a small grin, "requires much more. It's a matter of mutual respect, understanding, and, as we've just witnessed, a deeper connection."
His eyes flicked to
for a mont before continuing. "Most of you are aware that our academy offers a dedicated beast mastery course. So of you may already have bonds with magical creatures. For those who haven't, the greenhouse," he pointed toward a distant building on the academy's edge, "houses temporary companions of low-grade rank. It's a good place to start and practice the basics of care and bonding."
I glanced around and noticed that there were three other students besides
who had brought their magical beasts with them. As for the rest, it seed they were relying on the academy's resources for their magical companions.
"In the anti, let's head over there before I introduce you to sothing truly fascinating," Instructor Harris suggested, his gaze briefly shifting to the wind eagle perched beside the girl standing next to .
With that, he started walking, and the rest of us followed suit. As we moved toward the greenhouse, a fellow student sidled up to , brimming with excitent.
"Hey, that was incredible! How did you manage that?" he asked, his voice eager. He was a nerdy-looking guy, and a small, lizard-like familiar coiled around his neck, occasionally flicking its tongue.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not sure. Maybe I just have a scent that Sphinx likes."
The guy chuckled at my response. "Nevertheless, it was... pretty amazing," he said, a grin spreading across his face.
"Yeah, it was," I agreed, a small smile tugging at my lips. The encounter with Sphinx had definitely left its mark on everyone.
We soon reached the greenhouse, a glass-dod structure adorned with climbing vines and overgrown greenery. While the exterior showed signs of imperfect maintenance, the atmosphere inside was serene and refreshing. The mont we stepped through the doors, it felt like entering another world. The air was cool and rich with the scent of vegetation, and vibrant plants lined every corner, creating a tranquil haven. Continue your story on empire
Whistle
At the sound of Instructor Harris's whistle, a chorus of chirps and unique calls echoed through the space. One by one, magical beasts began erging from their hiding spots, as if summoned by the sound.
"Choose any that catches your interest, and we'll begin today's lesson," Instructor Harris instructed, gesturing to the group of creatures that had appeared before us.
There were four beasts in total: an Aqua-Whisper Serpent with shimring, translucent scales; a Stoneback Tortoise with a rugged shell covered in moss; a Sylvan Squirrel with glowing, leaf-like fur; and a small, sleek White-Back Fenrir that watched us with cautious eyes. All of them were D-rank creatures.
"Due to the limited number available, we'll have to take turns," the instructor added, addressing the group.
I was about to step forward to make my choice when a familiar flutter of wings caught my attention. The sa small bird I'd t earlier that morning swooped into the greenhouse and landed gracefully on my shoulder, its soft feathers brushing against my cheek.
The sudden appearance of the bird didn't go unnoticed. Instructor Harris walked up to , a curious expression on his face. "What do we have here? I didn't know you already had a companion."
I shook my head, clarifying, "It's not my companion. I just t it this morning. I don't know why it ca back."
"Oh~ You're certainly popular with beasts," the instructor comnted with a knowing smile. "Let's check its breed and see if it's a regular bird or a mystical one."
He reached out to take the bird from my shoulder, but it reacted instantly, pecking his hand lightly in defiance.
"Ha ha~ It seems it doesn't want to leave you," the instructor remarked, amused by the bird's behavior.
"It's fine, Instructor. Let
handle it." I carefully cupped the small bird in my hands and extended it toward him. This ti, it didn't resist, rely tilting its head as it observed
with curious eyes.
Instructor Harris examined the bird closely, his brow furrowing as his expression shifted to one of astonishnt.
Instructor Harris's expression deepened into one of astonishnt as he gently ran his fingers along the bird's feathers. He studied it intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. After a few monts, he let out a low whistle.
"This isn't just any bird," he said, his voice tinged with awe. "It's a thunderbird—a mystical breed. Rare, powerful, and deeply connected to thunderstorms. They're usually found in regions where storms rage frequently."
I frowned, glancing at the small bird perched on my shoulder. "But the capital barely gets thunderstorms. What's it doing here?"
Instructor Harris tilted his head thoughtfully. "It's a youngling. Mother thunderbirds push their fledglings out once they can fly, forcing them to survive on their own. This one must have been searching for a place to settle and… seems to have taken a liking to you."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're like a magnet for mystical creatures. First Sphinx, and now a thunderbird."
The murmurs among the students grew louder, a mix of wonder and envy coloring their hushed voices.
"The little guy sought you out—twice, no less," Instructor Harris added, his gaze locking onto mine. "That says a lot. Your affinity with magical beasts seems far from ordinary."
I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the weight of their stares. "I guess I'm just lucky," I mumbled, trying to downplay the situation.
The thunderbird chirped softly, its intelligent eyes fixed on
as if it understood every word exchanged.
Instructor Harris extended his hand to return the bird to , and it hopped willingly onto my shoulder, nestling against
as if it had found its rightful place. "It seems this little one has chosen you," he said with a faint smile.
I glanced at the thunderbird, its bright eyes shimring like tiny storm clouds. A mix of curiosity and unease swirled within . "What does that an exactly?" I asked.
"It ans you've gained a potential companion without even trying," the instructor explained, his tone laced with admiration. "Thunderbirds, even at a young age, are remarkably powerful. Their control over thunder is unparalleled. Treat it well, and it will grow to beco an invaluable ally. But rember, their loyalty must be earned—it's not unconditional."
"Look at , getting the son-of-heaven treatnt," I mused. "The random bird I almost turned into KFC turned out to be an SS-level mystical beast."
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