An Angel

"Can I see him? I think I can help."

Lyric declared confidently.

Kael, however, shook his head.

"He doesn't want to come out."

A Tamer and their Bonds could sense each other's emotions when the Bonds were inside the Sanctuary. It was a way they could communicate with each other even when they were in two separate dimensions. So, when Kael said that his Bond didn't want to come out, Lyric had no choice but to take his word for it and drop the matter.

Or at least, that is what Kael expected would happen, but,

"I have a way."

Lyric smiled.

"What is it?"

Kael had no choice but to ask this question.

"The two of us would leave, leaving just you in the Hall. You will call him out, and once he comes out, I will come in.

Once I meet him, I assure you that I will be able to understand the problem and help you out."

"So you want me to lie to him?"

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"That is not what I—"

"That is exactly what you said."

Before Lyric could explain herself, Kael interrupted.

"You want me to reassure him that no one is around and that he can come out, only to later betray him."

"You are not betraying him, it would be me who returned to the Hall. You didn't know anyth—"

"But I did."

Kael interrupted. 

Even when Lyric tried to explain herself, he refused.

"I will not lie to my Bond."

Kael declared as he then stared right into Lyric's eyes and,

"No matter who tells me to."

Althea, who was observing in silence, didn't show any expression as usual. Inwardly, however, she was taken aback. 

She had never seen Kael so adamant about anything.

"You seem to love your Bond."

Lyric smiled gently.

"I do, and this is why I do not wish to betray him."

"You do realize I am doing this for his own good, correct? A Firefang Wyvern not leaving the Sanctuary is not normal. I'm only worried for his well-being. If there's even a small chance something is wrong, wouldn't you want to know?"

"So just because my Wyvern is a little shy, he is sick?"

"Magic Beasts are complex creatures, Kael."

"I know my Wyvern is perfectly alright, I can sense it. 

If he doesn't want to come out, I will not force him."

"So what are you going to do? How are you going to train him? How are you going to make him stronger? You aren't planning on keeping him inside your Sanctuary for the rest of his life, are you?"

"If I have to, I will."

Kael replied, his icy blue eyes shining intensely as if he was prepared to face the entire world for his Bond's sake.

Eyes that Lyric appreciated. For now, however, she needed Kael to understand her.

"You know that a Sanctuary has limited space, don't you?

At your level, it can only store one Beast, and if you use that space on a Bond that doesn't come out, you will wast—"

"Give him some time. I am sure he will come out eventually. I trust him."

"How much time?"

"As long as it takes for him to feel safe."

"And what are you going to do till then? How are you going to train him?"

"Either you tell me a few ways to train him, and I will do it on my own, or I will not train him and continue to get stronger, for both of us."

Kael answered with a determined look on his face, and in the end, Lyric had no choice but to sigh in defeat.

She didn't expect her first day to be so difficult.

"Alright, we will do as you said.

I will tell you about some basic drills that you can perform together with your Bond and you can train your Bond whenever he decides to come out. Will that be okay?"

Lyric questioned.

"Yes, thank you for understanding."

Kael nodded, tears nearly welling up at the edge of his eyes.

'She is so understanding…

An angel amongst the group of demons.'

Kael couldn't be happier.

"Before that, however, let's start with a few basic things that you, as a Beast Tamer, should know."

Lyric spoke, and Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, eager to learn.

Seeing his attitude, Lyric smiled. Then, the Master Tamer started,

"In Nerathis, every being grows stronger as their Magic Beasts do. A Tamer and a Beast share what is called a 'Bond.'

A 'Bond' is not just a name for their relationship. It is the means of shared growth, a connection between the Beast and the Tamer.

A connection through which a Beast shares their strength with their Tamer.

A connection using which a Tamer grows stronger as their Beast does."

Lyric paused, giving Kael a moment to absorb everything she said. Kael nodded in understanding, signaling Lyric to continue.

"You must have already attended your other classes, one that trains you to become a Warrior and one that trains you to become a Mage, correct?"

Kael nodded.

"What did you learn in those lectures?"

Lyric questioned, and this time, Kael turned silent. Just recalling those lectures seemed like a nightmare.

"Uhh… General Deren made me do all these physical exercises that 'strengthened' me, Commander Arlan beat me up, Court Mage Elira taught me fireball spell, and Marshal Therian told me some basics of leadership and strategy."

Kael summarized, and hearing those words, Lyric blinked in surprise.

"Other than Marshal Therian, did none of them discuss the basics of their course…?"

'Yes! Exactly!'

Seeing the woman's dumbfounded face, Kael couldn't believe how happy he was.

Finally!

A person who understood him!

This was supposed to be his first day! It was supposed to be an introductory day! A day where they briefed him about everything, told him how the world works!

A day where they were supposed to take it slow!

But no! They all just started doing their own things!

Kael was so glad he had finally found someone who understood his feelings!

He stared at Lyric as his eyes turned moist.

'She really is an angel.'

The look on his face was enough for Lyric to get the answer to her question. When she realized it, she facepalmed with a sigh.

"I can't believe it…"

'Right!?'

Kael shouted inwardly.

Lyric then shook her head. Then once again, she glanced at Kael and smiled.

"Let me do it in their stead."

Kael nodded, ready to attend his first actual lecture, from an actual teacher.

"In the World of Nerathis, there are two major paths the humans walk on…"