Two choices

"I can show them to you right now. They are quite sweet," Clara said before she closed her eyes for a second, making Theo confused.

In the next moment, two bluish lights seemed to emerge from her forehead.

Theo was already dumbstruck, his eyes involuntarily moving to the ground where the lights had landed.

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Ironback Boar

Level - 5

Type - Metallic Beast

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Silverfang Direwolf Pup

Level - 2

Type - Metallic Beast

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Theo instinctively took a few steps back. There were two monsters in front of him.

It had been a while since he had seen a tamed monster other than the wolves of the guards.

Nobody had ever shown them to Theo, and he respected that. His siblings were only allowed to take out their beasts during combat training or at the academy.

"I have an uncommon affinity with 'Metal,' so both my tamed beasts had to be of the metallic beast type, young master," Clara said, crouching down.

The boar stayed firmly in its spot, yet the small direwolf pup came to Clara's legs and snuggled against them.

It had thick fur, and its eyes showed a childish innocence.

The direwolf pup had silver-colored fur on its body, and its eyes were a deep light blue. Its size was no more than that of a five-month-old puppy.

"STAY," Clara commanded firmly, without petting its body. The pup whimpered for a second before going on guard and sitting down.

On the other hand, the big boar was nothing like the direwolf pup at all.

Since it appeared as light and materialized, it hadn't moved in the slightest.

Theo noticed that the small fur on the boar had a metallic luster to it, and even its tusks shone as though made of metal.

Theo came closer and crouched down. The direwolf pup's excitement was evident in its eyes, yet it didn't dare move.

Theo looked up and nodded at Clara, who smiled and nodded in return. Surprisingly, the pup began moving and came near Theo, sniffing his leg.

Theo placed his hand under its chin and scratched it, making the pup stick its tongue out in happiness.

It was then that Theo realized why the pup was called a Silverfang Direwolf.

There were sharp canines in its long mouth, and all of them had a silvery texture.

"Are its teeth really made of silver, Clara?" Theo asked while still scratching its neck, making the pup relax even more.

"You are correct, young master. It's teeth are metallic in nature. And forgive me for its rude behavior. It's still not trained properly due to its young age. Thorkell, on the other hand, is exceptionally trained to protect and defend," Clara said, refraining from touching the boar as she remained on duty as an attendant.

"No worries. This furball's innocence makes it look more like an animal than a beast," Theo stated with a warm chuckle.

"That's only when they're young, young master. In just another six months, it will reach a height of two meters."

Theo was not very surprised to hear that. The direwolf in front of him was only three months old, after all.

"What about its lifespan?" Theo asked with dazed eyes, his mind went to another place. The pup seemed to sense the concern in Theo's eyes and rested its head on his lap for support.

For the first time, Theo placed his hand on the pup's head.

"… That depends, young master," Clara said thoughtfully and continued, "If I don't level this one to 5, it will be old within 20 years. But after reaching level 5, its lifespan doubles."

"That's pretty good. What about level 10?" Theo asked.

"I don't think I can reach that level with him, young master. But if I did, both his lifespan and mine would increase significantly," Clara stated with a warm smile as she watched her young master playing with the pup so lovingly.

"Yours too? That's great. I hope you reach a level more than that one day, Clara."

Clara was surprised by the comment and smiled. "If it's you who is saying that, then I have absolute confidence in myself too, young master."

After a minute, Clara made her beasts return to the beast space.

When Theo questioned her about it, she explained that the beast space was something one unlocks upon reaching level 5—a task that, while requiring effort, was attainable.

Theo sent Clara to fetch him some snacks and began reflecting on his situation in detail.

'I have to decide quickly… there is no time to waste…'

Theo felt that if he could have found a better insect, he would have done so long ago. The insects in his terrarium were the only ones he had, and he had to choose between them.

'Wait, did Clara say her wolf's lifespan increases at level 5?' Theo thought, and a realization hit him hard.

'This is what happens when I don't have good sources of information…' He grumbled at the fact that the tutor hadn't told him this detail, even though he knew it wasn't immediately necessary.

The books he read were all about beasts and their uses.

Theo went to his terrarium room again, a frown on his face.

He went through every single insect he had and, with a deep sigh, sat on the nearby chair.

'The Rockplate Beetle is good if I want very high defense on the insect, which is not necessary… It also cannot hunt, so I can't use this one.' Theo made a cross next to the beetle's name in the notebook nearby.

'The Glowthread Silkworm… it can do nothing but craft good healing silk. I could have some use for it if I bought them in bulk and processed the silk… but for now, canceled.'

Theo quickly crossed off the two insects he had always known were not the right choice.

'Now comes Scorpy…' Theo thought and started his analysis. 'He's good at hunting in the dark, but he also needs an environment he's familiar with. The blindness doesn't help either…' Theo painstakingly crossed Scorpy's name off the prospective tames list.

It was a good pet but not something that he could depend on as a tame beast.

Now, in front of him were two choices—and they couldn't have been harder.