“This is Fern City,” Maeve muttered while her gaze moved across the surroundings, trying to take everything in at once. The place felt unlike any city she had seen before.It was a strange blend of civilization and living nature. Massive trees rose high into the sky, and at different heights, houses were built directly into their trunks and branches. Wooden bridges and rope ladders connected everything together, forming a network between the treetops. On the ground level, between the roots of those enormous trees, stood sturdier brick buildings and stone structures.Most of the buildings were simple box-like shapes, but that simplicity allowed people from many different races to live there without issue.A man with cat ears ran across one of the wooden bridges. A group of harpies relaxed on thick branches overhead, chatting casually. Humans and other races stood together along the streets, some talking, others drinking as if they had known each other for years.“This is a place where

The Dragon King thought about Rhys’ condition for a few moments before speaking again. “Will this put her in danger?” “I have no intention of harming her,” Rhys replied with a calm shake of his head. “Good. If you manage to convince her to attend the academy, I will accept your condition. But understand this clearly. If you fail, you gain nothing.” “I’ll do my best,” Rhys said with a nod. Maeve had been silent through the entire exchange, observing every word and reaction. Her mind struggled to keep up with what she was seeing. ‘He is negotiating with the Dragon King like they are equals… Does he even realize who he is speaking to?’ she thought, narrowing her eyes slightly. What shocked her even more was that the Dragon King did not seem offended in the slightest. He was actually entertaining it. “Stay here for a moment,” the Dragon King said. He turned away and walked into the forest. About five minutes later, he returned with a small badge in hand. “Go to Wals City near the

Gunther gave a simple introduction as he stepped between them. “They are guests sent here by your father.” Then he gestured toward the young woman beside the table. “And this is Sir Dragon King’s daughter, Mirova.” Mirova’s eyebrows tightened slightly the moment she heard that. Her gaze dropped to the badge on Rhys and Maeve’s uniforms, then she spoke without hesitation. “I think we already have enough people.” Rhys stepped forward before the tension could settle. “I am Rhys, and this is Maeve,” he said evenly. “We are first-year students from Valaris Academy. Your father, the Dragon King, assigned us a mission. We are here to assist you in this area and will follow your plan unless it directly puts us in danger. That is the full instruction we received.” The moment he finished speaking, Mirova answered immediately. “Then go support Covenwood Academy.” Rhys paused for a brief moment. His expression stayed calm, but it was clear he was not entirely pleased with the instruction.

A deep, metallic sound tore through the forest.Deunnggg!The low, resonant growl rolled across the trees, and in the next instant, countless shrieks answered it. The Abyssals responded like a swarm being awakened all at once.Whatever calm remained in the forest vanished.Soldiers stiffened. Some stumbled. Others tightened their grips on their weapons as panic began to spread through the ranks.Mirova’s eyes widened slightly. “Wasn’t that thing only supposed to detect within fifty meters?”“There’s no time to think about that,” someone shouted. “We need to get the soldiers into position before we’re surrounded!”“That’s right!”“Move! Tristan, Levia, with me. We’ll distract the Elite class Abyssal for one minute!”“Yes!”Orders flew out in quick succession as the formation split apart. Everyone rushed to stabilize the situation before it collapsed entirely.Gunther turned back for a brief moment, concerned about how the younger students would react.To his surprise, Rhys and Maeve we

“It’s them!” The four Beast Tamers exchanged quick looks as they finally pushed past the line of Abyssals. When they spotted Rhys and Maeve already some distance away, they immediately assumed the two were trying to run. Without hesitation, they sped up. They barely took a few more steps before something lunged out from behind a tree. Gaelion. The wolf crashed straight into the orc and the kobold, knocking both off balance. At the same time, Anubis lashed out, his bandages snapping forward toward the lamia and the cat-person. The lamia reacted instantly. She pulled her glaive back with force, dragging the bandage along with it and nearly pulling Anubis off his footing. The cat-person chose a different approach. Instead of retreating, he rushed straight toward Anubis. He never reached him. Rhys’s Bloodclaw appeared in his path, slicing forward with enough force that the cat-person barely managed to block it in time. Steel met claw, and the impact made him recoil. If he had be