Chapter 18
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Episode 5 - Specialties [4]
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"I am Eleonor Winslet. Are you also here for the summoning class?"
"Oh, yes."
Eleonor smiled and nodded.
"Let's go together; I'm also going to the summoning class."
The classes had their respective schedules.
For example, the summoning class started in a few minutes, precisely at 10 in the morning.
"Let's go."
Following Eleonor, I arrived at a hill overlooking the sea.
A huge tree stood at the edge of the cliff, where the students were chatting.
"Waiting?"
"Yes."
Eleonor nodded.
When we reached the huge tree and joined the rest of the students waiting for the summoning class to begin, suddenly, most of them looked at me.
I heard their murmurs while ignoring them all.
"Isn't he the first-year representative?"
"Why is he here? Isn't he a knight, not a summoner?"
"Ha, this bastard seems to look down on the summoning class."
"He thinks that just because he's the representative, he can be better at everything."
As we walked, Eleonor seemed embarrassed, smiling bitterly.
"Don't pay attention to them. Since everyone knows you're a knight and they see you here, they think you're treating the summoning class as something easy."
Of course, I understood that.
"No, I knew something like this would happen."
Eleonor smiled.
"It's not easy to provoke you, huh? That will be helpful."
As the wind blew around us, Eleonor's golden hair swayed slightly.
"You think it's easy, don't you?"
A group approached.
A fat guy with black hair and red eyes had two followers behind him.
"What are you talking about?"
Looking at him without any expression, I asked.
The fat guy looked at his two followers, then back at me, smiling mockingly before frowning.
"Don't think you're all that just because you're the first-year representative. You better get out of here and stop looking down on the summoning class."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not looking down on any class."
Suddenly, a woman with gray hair and violet eyes approached, followed by a tall, broad-shouldered guy with golden hair and blue eyes.
"You're the first-year representative?"
The woman spoke, both hands resting on her waist.
Why do I feel like she's looking down on me without even knowing me?
"You should already know. I am the first-year representative."
"Why are you here? You're not in the knight specialization."
Shaking my head, I replied.
"That doesn't mean I can't attend different classes, does it?"
The woman tilted her head slightly and said,
"My name is Emiria Crowshader, and you better not be a nuisance."
She turned around while the tall guy with golden hair spoke.
"My name is Julien Bonsenter. Don't mind her. She's just very competitive and tends to look down on everyone."
The tall guy named Julien turned around and followed behind Emiria.
Meanwhile, the fat guy, who had been silent all this time, turned toward me.
He pressed his finger against my chest, pushing me back as he said,
"Stay away from us, bastard."
Then he left with his two followers.
When I finally processed what had just happened, I frowned.
"I feel like they didn't deserve my salvation."
Eleonor stood beside me, looking in the same direction as I was, and said,
"As long as those words don't provoke you, you'll be fine."
"Yes, you're right."
But in reality, I felt annoyed.
Students from hero bloodlines were more arrogant than they should be.
Like nobles.
In my time, nobles were respected for their actions and kindness.
The arrival of hero bloodlines changed that perspective into one of a lineage with supposedly good-hearted descendants.
"And they call themselves the descendants of heroes."
That's why I believe I am better than any hero.
***
From the sky, a shadow suddenly appeared.
It was a black Wyvern, twice the size of an average house.
On its back, a woman with black hair and ink-black eyes rode the Wyvern as they descended to the ground.
"I am Professor Elizabeth D. Rose. I will be teaching you about the summoning class."
Stepping down from the Wyvern, she landed gently on the green grass.
The students lined up while Elizabeth spoke.
"Today's class will be in the summoning zone, a medium-sized island near the Sanctuary of Heroes where you can form your first bond."
The summoning zone was an island far from the Sanctuary of Heroes.
Reaching it required a few minutes of travel from here.
Forming a first bond with a summon involved going to the island and finding the summon that best suited your preferences or needs.
Although my goal in this class was to steal a summon's ability, I had to form a bond with one to avoid being disqualified.
Besides being disqualified, I would attract the disdain of all the summoning class students, which I didn't want.
Having so many problems just for being the first-year representative, having an entire class against me would be annoying.
"Professor Elizabeth, how will we get to the summoning zone if we don't have any means of travel right now?"
A student raised his hand and asked.
Elizabeth answered while snapping her fingers.
"That's easy..."
Flap!
Suddenly, the entire sky filled with shadows as white birds descended to the ground.
They were, more specifically, eagles normally hostile to anyone.
"If you tame these eagles, you'll be able to reach the summoning zone. But if you fail, you'll get a zero on your first day of class."
Taming eagles like these, which are hostile to anyone other than their original and primary tamer, was a matter of talent.
Talent in summoning was the most crucial factor in securing success in the summoning class.
The students approached the eagles.
"There are few eagles; you will ride in pairs," said Professor Elizabeth while watching the students attempt to tame them.
Beside me, Eleonor spoke.
"Let's go together."
Nodding, I followed behind her.
"It's better to leave this task to someone else."
I looked at Eleonor's back while smiling.
"Will you be able to tame it?"
I asked Eleonor, and she nodded.
"Of course. Don't underestimate someone coming to the summoning class just by looking at them."
I waved my hands quickly.
"No, I didn't mean it that way."
Eleonor chuckled.
"Ha, ha, ha, I'm kidding. Watch how fast I tame this guy."
Eleonor stroked the head of the enormous eagle.
At first, the eagle protested, shaking its head, but it quickly lowered it, and Eleonor gently petted it.
Then she turned to me with a smile, saying,
"Let's go."
"....."
Although it was quick, she seems to have incredible talent in this class.
"Sure."
I climbed onto the eagle's back, settling in comfortably.
Eleonor grabbed the reins to control the eagle's flight it was like riding a horse.
I sat behind her and held onto her waist.
"H-haah, hey, warn me before touching me like that."
Smiling in surprise, I said,
"Ha, ha, sorry, I didn't know you were sensitive to touch."
"I'm not, but you startled me."
"Alright, I won't do it again."
"It doesn't matter."
***
"Eleonor Winslet, Emiria Crowshader, and Julien Bonsenter are the best in summoning, but..."
Elizabeth looked at Lucius.
"Lucius Behringer, wasn't his specialty knighthood?"
As the first-year representative, he was undoubtedly one of the strongest. In the entrance exam, he demonstrated the skills of a true knight.
"But summoning… wouldn't that be reckless of him?"
The truth was that there were very few students in the summoning class.
Particularly because it was a class that required talent above all else.
Something that few possessed in summoning.
However, the first-year representative was present, mounted on an eagle, waiting for Elizabeth's instructions.
"It's time to go. Anyone who couldn't tame an eagle will receive a zero for today."
Elizabeth mounted her Wyvern's back as it began to ascend into the air.
"Let's go!"
She shouted as the students mounted on eagles took off.
"If you have talent in summoning, that would be good, Lucius Behringer."
As the first-year representative, failing the first day of summoning class would be very detrimental for him.
It would tarnish the first-year reputation.
As the representative, he should show how incredible he is as the strongest.
Elizabeth smiled, eager to see if the first-year representative possessed promising talent.
***
"By the way, my name is Lucius Behringer, though I think you already know that."
Eleonor laughed.
"Ha ha, no problem, the entire Sanctuary knows your name anyway."
Rumors spread about my race against Dorian, and on the day of my arrival, I threatened my position as the first-year representative.
I think I should be the one who knows more than anyone about my presence here.
"Yes, good point."
An island full of trees and of great size could be seen in the distance.
As the clouds passed on both sides while I was riding the eagle, I felt something from the island.
"Spiritual power."
The summoning area was filled with spiritual power.
Spiritual mages would dream of training their spiritual magic in a place where spiritual power was abundant.
Although the summoning area was one of those places full of spiritual power, it was not permitted to train or go there easily.
Therefore, a student in the spiritual magic class could not go to the summoning area without the proper permission.
Besides, it was a sacred place where creatures were summoned and lived in harmony.
Upon arriving at the island, all the students riding eagles descended onto the beach.
"That was a short trip."
The eagle flew very fast.
When in reality, this island was quite far from the starting point.
"Here, we will begin the summoning class. The goal will be to form a bond with a creature. You will receive points depending on the rarity of the creature you bond with,"
Said Professor Elizabeth as she dismounted from the Wyvern, placed a beach chair, and sat down.
"You have one hour to form a bond. If you don't manage to form one in an hour, you will receive zero points,"
"Oh, I hope I get lucky and form a good bond,"
I said, looking at her.
"Ha ha, you have talent, don't you? You'll be able to form a great bond."
As we talked, Emiria and Julien walked in my direction.
"I highly doubt you'll form a bond. At most, it will be a chicken," she said, frowning.
"And what if you end up with a chicken?"
"....."
She looked at me and frowned.
"Lucius Behringer, let's make a bet. If I form the best bond of all, you'll stop coming to this class."
I smiled as I replied.
"Then what do I win?"
She answered.
"I'll consider that you don't belittle our class and will respect you for it."
It was a tempting proposal.
Although, this time, I was confident.
"Alright, I accept, Emiria Crowshader."
"Whatever, I'm going to find the best bond, Lucius Behringer."
Saying goodbye, she ventured into the forest while Eleonor seemed surprised and said.
"You shouldn't have accepted. She is known for having the greatest talent in summoning."
"Don't worry, I have confidence that I'll win."
Eleonor sighed.
"I believe you."
She smiled.
Then I looked at her, somewhat surprised.
"Why?"
Of course, I had confidence in winning this bet since I had the Ring of the Stars.
But Eleonor trusted me that easily.
"Well, maybe because you're the first-year representative and because you entered the summoning class so confidently. That's why I think you have it all figured out."
She was an interesting girl.
"Yeah, well, something like that."
I shrugged as I started walking toward the forest.
After saying goodbye to Eleonor, I headed toward the center of the island.
The area where spiritual power was most concentrated was the center.
Upon arriving, there was a small lake with a waterfall, and behind the waterfall, there was a cave.
"There."
I smiled and entered the cave.
It was dark, and the sound of the waterfall echoed throughout the cave from the entrance.
"....."
Suddenly, the Ring of the Stars began to vibrate.
"A scale?"
There was a dragon's nest.
When I picked up the scale, it resonated with the Ring of the Stars.
Thud!
Suddenly, a glow shot out from the ring, and the scale floated in the air as a vortex of dark flames appeared.
「You called me?」
A sharp, cold voice reached only my ears and was not heard anywhere else.
"Something like that."
「Hmm, that ring...」
I showed the ring to the black flame vortex as the man's voice resonated once more.
「How delightful this is.」
Suddenly, the vortex began to fade.
When it disappeared, a man with white hair and black eyes appeared, his body covered in black scales, muscular but not excessively so.
He had two prominent horns pointing forward, protruding from above his ears, aimed at me as he stared.
「You're here for a bond? Well then, take this.」
He handed me an egg with black scales and a pattern I recognized well.
"This is... a dragon hatchling?"
「That's right, the only and last descendant of the dragons. Only the owner of the Ring of the Stars can take the descendant. That person is you.」