After the mock battle, Biron faced two choices: stay where he was and remain close to Mirelia, or go with Selka and accept the help of the Drayne family—who were openly opposed to the Valcyne family.
The two houses had a history of bitter feuds but couldn't engage in outright conflict due to the Crown's authority keeping them in check.
Instead, they resorted to petty schemes that Biron had no interest in being part of.
All he wanted was to find the best way to train and make his salamander, Torch, stronger.
The two girls, though… they made his life miserable.
Mirelia no longer spoke to him the way she used to, likely because Selka had led her to believe Biron was growing closer to her instead.
Biron, who had little experience dealing with girls, was completely lost.
He even tried talking to other boys for advice, but that only made things worse.
Some thought he was flaunting his connection to both powerful families. Others just saw him as a pitiful boy who didn't understand love.
There was, however, one boy who didn't care about any of that: Weldon Harris—a student obsessed with his golem, which he was oddly shaping to resemble a girl.
"I keep telling you, you should ditch that lizard and go for a golem," Weldon insisted. "Nothing beats their quiet and cute attitude. Celia here is almost done. Give me a few years, and you'll see—she'll have flawless skin."
Biron stared at the meter-and-a-half tall golem, its muddy surface coated in patches shaped like broken armor that were supposed to resemble a dress and thin, skinny legs which barely supported it.
"Right… well, I like my creature, Torch. It's a good and strong summon. Do you remember how it helped me pass the test? So no, I'll be keeping it. But you keep working on Celia. I think I've read about some creatures that take human form when they become stronger, right?"
He wasn't sure if that was true, but he just wanted to keep the boy happy.
"Yes! I knew someone would understand! I just need to get stronger—and you do too! That's a great idea, Biron. We'll be the best duo ever!"
Biron subtly stepped back. Weldon was a little unhinged, and the last thing he wanted was a surprise hug.
"So tell me… did you find anything interesting about land creatures? You should know something, right, since you're working with Celia and all that."
Biron's real reason for befriending Weldon was to help Mirelia.
She was trapped in a dangerous cycle. She hated her land-type creature, which led her to neglect it. That neglect kept it from growing stronger, causing her to lose battles—and each loss only made her blame the creature more.
But Biron believed in the Budling. He had been serious when he told her it could become a powerful summon. Unfortunately, she refused to listen. Her thoughts were still clouded by her family's expectations, and it was tearing her apart.
"Yes, about that," Weldon said, leaning in. "I did find something. There are parts of the campus where land-domain creatures grow stronger passively. But… the teachers don't want us going there. You have to sneak in at night if you want to use those spots. That's the only way to really strengthen them."
He lowered his voice.
"It's dangerous, though. Because of the school's aether flow system, lots of creatures get attracted to the area. Even a regular bee can be harmful. And worse—there are students who've died. Their creatures ran off and became wild ones. Those are even more dangerous."
Biron nodded grimly. He had heard of the wild ones—creatures that had lost their masters and turned feral, hunting anyone they encountered to absorb raw aether.
"Just tell me the least dangerous spot," Biron asked, almost pleading. "You should know it… right?"
"Fine, just don't tell anyone," Weldon said, leaning closer. "I paid good gold for this information. It's near the training field—in the back. There's a small creek. Cross it, and you'll find a large tree. That's the place…"
Biron took note, glancing in that direction. Among the trees, he spotted one that stood out—slightly larger, tucked away near the far edge.
"Thanks, Weldon. I'll be sure to pay you back. Just say the word if you ever need help—I've got you."
With the location in mind, Biron decided to scout the area, not enter it outright. He jogged toward the training hall, passing by students sparring with their summons. Each pair had a referee present to declare the winner before things got out of hand. The school even had a fail-safe rod—an emergency tool that forced summoned creatures back into their realm.
While briefly distracted watching the second-years battle, Biron shook his head and pushed forward. He reached the creek soon after. It wasn't too deep—at most, it would reach below the waist. Manageable, even if someone ended up wet.
But that wasn't the real problem.
The other side looked infested with bugs and strange creatures, many of them floating or flying around the area near the largest tree in sight. And there, standing beneath its shade, was a boy.
Biron's eyes narrowed.
The boy's pointed ears reminded him of Mirelia's, only longer, thinner and more delicate, with a sharper taper.
An Eluwyn.
Rare in this region. Most of their kind were enslaved, just like the beast-kin. To see one without a collar—let alone enrolled as a student—was nearly unheard of.
As Biron stared, the boy looked back. His silver hair shimmered in the breeze, and his green eyes met Biron's with an almost serene intensity. None of the insects or wild creatures dared touch him.
For a moment, they simply locked eyes.
Then, the Eluwyn boy vanished—his body dissolving into mist.
Biron didn't understand how he did it—especially a boy that young. How had he gained that kind of power?
He found himself genuinely curious—not only about the boy's strength, but also about why he had been near the tree in the first place.
Either way, Biron knew one thing for certain: he had to find out more.
There were countless things the school wasn't telling them, this was possibly another one of them.