After the summoning ceremony was over, all participants were given time to get to know their beasts before entering the initial training phase. Reyan brought his shadow wolf to the training garden located on the outskirts of Valtis City.
"Alright, we'll have to work together from now on," Reyan said as he knelt in front of the small beast. "You can understand me, right?"
The shadow wolf stared at him expressionlessly, then nodded slightly. Although it looked weak, Reyan could sense that there was something different about this beast. There was a sharpness in its eyes, as if it understood the world better than other beginner beasts.
"I'll give you a name... how about Noctis?" Reyan tried.
The beast was silent for a moment before finally making a soft sound, seemingly accepting the name.
Without wasting any time, Reyan began testing Noctis' basic abilities. Most beginner beasts had simple techniques, such as basic scratches or bites, but when Reyan had Noctis attack a training log, something unexpected happened.
From the shadows around them, a black streak shot out, hitting the log with enough force to crack it. Reyan's eyes widened.
"That... was no ordinary attack," he muttered.
Normal shadow wolves only had ordinary physical strength and could not use elemental energy to begin with. However, Noctis had just unleashed a shadow-type attack, something that should have been impossible for a beginner-level beast.
"What exactly are you, Noctis?" Reyan asked, beginning to realize that his beast might not be as weak as people thought.
However, before he could think any further, a group of young men approached him. Among them, a boy with fancy clothes and a haughty expression stepped forward.
"Hey, loser. Do you really think you can survive in the academy with such a weak beast?" the young man asked, his voice full of mockery.
Reyan recognized him. He was Darian Vale, the son of one of the strongest beast tamer families in the city. One who had obtained a powerful beast and often looked down on those below him.
"Why? Are you afraid that my weak beast can defeat you?" Reyan replied calmly.
Darian laughed sarcastically. "I just want to teach you the truth. How about we fight now? Or are you afraid your little beast will run away in fear?"
Reyan clenched his fists. He knew this wasn't just about him—this was his chance to prove that Noctis wasn't the weak beast everyone thought him to be.
"Very well," he said, stepping forward. "Let's see who's really weak."
In front of everyone, Reyan's first fight as a beast tamer was about to begin.