The Gym Class Where I Became a Mythical Beast’s Emotional Support Human

(Location: Noble Academy – Department of Applied Combat & Chaotic Athletics, aka Magical PE)

It was a sunny morning in Noble Academy. Birds chirped. Flowers bloomed. A magical tree tried to eat a student.

Just another Tuesday.

Inner Me: Why did I wake up today? Why did I agree to go to PE class? I should've hidden in a broom closet with my dignity. Oh wait, I lost that three chapters ago.

Magical PE, as it turns out, was a fusion of wizard boot camp and an interdimensional circus. Professors in glittering track suits barked orders while enchanted balls hovered menacingly in the sky. A dragon was lifting weights. A gryphon was doing pushups.

And I? I was trying to figure out if my gym uniform was cursed.

"What do you mean this shirt is sentient?" I asked, watching the fabric twitch.

Belladonna, already halfway through a warm-up potion, giggled.

"It encourages core strength by resisting your movements. Or by strangling you slightly. Builds character."

Seraphina was adjusting her blade straps in the distance, completely unbothered.

"Kael," she called out, without turning, "if you die during warm-up, I'm claiming your dessert rations."

"Noted," I muttered. "Nice to know where I stand."

The instructor, Coach Brawnstone (a minotaur with a whistle fused to his horn), snorted.

"Alright, maggots! Today's lesson: Magical Beast Handling!"

Inner Me: Why does that sound like a job interview for trauma?

Brawnstone stomped twice. A trapdoor opened. A parade of mythical creatures emerged.

There were blink dogs, spectral foxes, an adorable-looking phoenix chick (on fire, naturally)... and then there was... it.

A chimera the size of a hay wagon, with goat legs, lion paws, and a snake for a tail. It looked like someone had lost a bet with evolution.

"REINHARDT!" Brawnstone bellowed. "You get Fluffernox."

Me: "Excuse me. Who?"

Fluffernox: Snarls adorably.

The chimera trotted over and licked my face. Its snake-tail hissed, then nuzzled my ear.

System Notification: FLUFFERNOX HAS BONDED WITH YOU (Emotionally).

Inner Me: This is not how I imagined forming meaningful connections.

The rest of the class was split into groups.

Belladonna got a hyperactive gremlin-pony hybrid she named Kettle.

Seraphina was paired with a winged tiger that immediately tried to assert dominance.

Aureline arrived late, stepping from a shadow portal with her parasol.

"Apologies, the moon was misaligned."

She was assigned a mistwolf. Naturally, it bowed to her.

Meanwhile, Fluffernox had decided my shoulder was the perfect headrest.

"I think he's emotionally codependent," I said.

"So are you," Belladonna chimed. "Now run your laps!"

Coach Brawnstone blew his nose — or maybe it was the whistle. Hard to tell.

"Activity One: Beast Coordination Obstacle Course!"

Which meant:

* Vaulting walls while your magical beast mimics your movements.

* Balancing on enchanted floating stones.

* Trying not to die.

Round One:

Fluffernox followed none of the commands.

He napped halfway through the sprint.

When I tried to motivate him with snacks, he picked *me* up and carried *me* across the course.

Coach Brawnstone: "Unexpected. But acceptable."

System: Title Gained: Beast-Coordinated Luggage.

Meanwhile, Seraphina and her winged tiger cleared the course with militant grace. Belladonna exploded three barriers but somehow passed. Aureline teleported through the trial and claimed it was allowed in footnote 7 of the student guidebook.

Inner Me: Why am I the only one sweating?

### Mid-Class Mayhem

Halfway through class, we were instructed to engage in the "Trust Duel."

You and your beast were to fight another pair. Not to the death, but just until someone surrendered or spontaneously wept.

My opponent? Sir Elric von Hairgel and his ice wolf, Sparklefang.

Me: "Of course. Of course it's you."

Elric twirled his staff.

"Prepare to be dazzled by teamwork, peasant."

"Your wolf looks like it shops at winter-themed gift shops."

He snarled.

Fluffernox, sensing my mood, rolled onto his back.

Me: "Fluff, now is not nap time."

System: NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: Disarming Cuddle.

Effect: Your beast can reduce enemy aggression by being extremely fluffy.

Sparklefang paused. It blinked. Then... sniffed Fluffernox.

The beasts began playing.

Elric was furious.

"Fight, Sparklefang! Fight!"

Meanwhile, Fluffernox and Sparklefang were spooning.

Coach Brawnstone: "Interesting approach. Win by defusing hostility."

Me: "You mean... diplomacy?"

Coach: "Unnatural."

Still, we were awarded points. Elric was awarded counseling.

### Meanwhile: The Peanut Gallery

From the bleachers:

* Lunaria (maid/spy) took notes.

* Bartholomew the parrot judged us from a perch.

* The talking vending machine short-circuited.

Belladonna passed me a flask labeled "Not a potion. Probably."

I declined.

Inner Me: I have enough hallucinations without liquid encouragement.

### Final Challenge: Beast Bond Sprint

The goal: sprint to the tower bell and back, while maintaining link with your bonded beast.

I tied a friendship ribbon to Fluffernox.

He swallowed it.

Me: "Okay, we improvise."

We ran.

Sort of.

I jogged.

Fluffernox ambled.

Then, disaster struck.

The floating stones began to crack. A student miscast a speed spell and created a vacuum vortex. Magical air was displaced.

Fluffernox panicked.

Me: "HEY! Look at me! You're okay!"

I threw myself between him and the gust.

And for once... I glowed.

A faint shimmer wrapped us both.

System Notification: UNREGISTERED MAGIC ACTIVATION DETECTED

Effect: Aura Shield – Beast Protection Mode

Even Brawnstone paused.

"...Reinhardt? What in the name of enchanted kettlebells was that?"

"I... don't know."

Fluffernox nuzzled me. The wind calmed.

Belladonna and Seraphina exchanged a look.

Aureline tilted her head.

"Interesting," she whispered. "Very interesting."

### Aftermath

* We passed Magical PE.

* I got a medal that read Most Surprising Survival.

* Fluffernox is now banned from the dorm kitchens.

* Elric requested a transfer. To the janitorial division.

System Message: YOU ARE NOW KNOWN AS: The Beast Whisperer of House Reinhardt

Inner Me: I was almost eaten, exploded, and emotionally adopted by a monster.

Not bad for a Tuesday.

---

Next Time on: "Yes, I Was Reborn..."

Kael tries to enjoy lunch.

Gets dragged into a noble debate.

The debate topic? Whether spoons are elitist.

Spoiler: Someone challenges him to a spoon duel.