I am Just an Average Tamer

Somewhere else in the forest...

A dark blur zipped across the treetops, shadow passing silently over the forest floor below.

Moonlight filtered through the branches, glinting faintly off his twin daggers.

His gaze scanned the terrain, sharp and focused, as if looking for something—or someone.

Then, in a sudden halt, he skidded on the edge of a branch and turned his head slightly, brows twitching.

"...Why are you following me?" Kai asked without even fully turning around.

A second later, a second figure appeared behind him, landing a little too loudly for stealth.

Messy silver hair, and that same cocky grin tugged at his lips.

"Well, since we're friends and heading in the same direction, I thought I might tag along. Haha," Corrin said, rubbing the back of his head like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Kai stared at his mismatched silver and black eyes.

The breeze shifted. Leaves rustled.

Then he shrugged.

And just like that, without a word, he turned and moved again—fluid, controlled, silent.

Corrin grinned wider and followed, hopping branch to branch, a few beats behind him like a ducklet following its mother.

"Man, you're fast…" he muttered as he picked up his pace, finally landing beside Kai after a brief sprint.

He bent slightly forward, breathing heavier than before. "And you've got a heck of a stamina."

Kai glanced sideways. His face didn't even show a flicker of fatigue.

He was calm, composed.

Corrin blinked. "Bro… we've been walking, running, climbing, sneaking."

Kai said nothing.

"Like seriously, you're not even gasping. Not even a little?"

[<Yeah, really, he's a fun guy.>]

'I take that back,' Kai groaned internally.

Corrin groaned. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're secretly a beastkin in disguise. Don't tell me—you've got a third lung, huh?"

He tilted his head just a little, enough for his voice to reach behind him, flat as always.

"What? Wanna see my third thing?"

Corrin's smirk widened immediately. "Oh really th—"

But he stopped mid-sentence.

Halted so fast on the branch, he nearly lost balance and had to windmill his arms to stay upright.

His face drained of all color. Eyes wide, hands shooting up like he was being held at knifepoint.

"Whoa, whoa—yo, chill! I'm not into that, man!"

Kai paused.

Brows furrowed.

"…What?"

Corrin took a step back, still grinning like an idiot. "Hey, I'm flattered, but I like girls. Real soft ones."

Then a beat passed.

Kai's face paled as realization hit like a spear through the gut.

"I didn't mean it like that, dumbass," he said, half-turning, voice now slightly urgent. "I meant—I was just—ugh."

He clicked his tongue and looked away.

Corrin blinked. Then blinked again.

And then started wheezing.

He doubled over laughing, pointing a shaky finger at Kai. "Y-You—pffft—you actually got embarrassed! Damn, man!"

Kai groaned, muttering something under his breath, 'I should've snapped his neck when I had a chance.'

Just like that, Kai kept moving. Silent and focused.

And just like before, Corrin followed, a half step behind, humming softly to himself as if they were out on a casual stroll.

Then, a few minutes later, Corrin pointed to the left.

"There. On top of that ridge, see it? There's a huge cave. We can crash there for the night. Pretty sure the miasma won't catch up to us this high."

Kai's gaze followed the line of Corrin's finger.

A huge shadow loomed against the night sky, carved into the side of the mountain.

The entrance looked wide enough to fit three carriages side by side.

He gave a short nod. "Yeah."

Without another word, they veered off, changing their path toward the base of the ridge.

Eventually, they reached the cave mouth.

It was colder here, the air thick with dampness.

Inside, darkness stretched far back. But at least it was dry.

They stepped in, the outside light fading behind them.

The sound of the wind dulled instantly, swallowed by the cave's silence.

Corrin stretched his arms and dropped onto a flattish stone near the wall.

"Man… my legs are killing me."

Kai didn't reply.

He walked deeper into the cave, eyes sharp, scanning every nook and crevice until he was sure—nothing was hiding here.

Then he returned, sat cross-legged near Corrin, and began untying the wrappings on his forearm.

Thin scratches lined his skin—marks from branches and one too-close dodge earlier.

Corrin peeked over. "You good?"

Kai nodded. "Tired. That's all."

"Same, man. Same."

Corrin dug into his pouch and pulled out a few dried jerky strips, tossing one to Kai.

Kai caught it without looking and took a bite.

Silence lingered between them, comfortable this time.

Then Kai lifted his hand and waved silently.

A faint shimmer pulsed in the air.

Veal spread its wings with a soft hum.

Its blue feathers glimmered in the low light, and its slender body hovered for a second before darting toward the cave entrance.

It didn't wait for commands. Didn't even look back.

It just knew what to do.

Corrin watched it go, eyes following the beast until it vanished into the dark sky.

Then he slumped onto his back with a loud sigh.

Kai laid down too, folding his arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling of the cave.

His eyes started to drift shut.

But just before they did—

"Ah, fuck," he groaned.

******

Tick… Tick…

Soft footsteps pressed against the damp forest floor, barely loud enough to stir the silence.

Leaves rustled.

As the pair emerged from the dense tree line, moonlight spilled gently over them—painting silver across their skin, revealing their features like a portrait brushed in silence.

Hand in hand, walking calmly through the still night, were none other than the elven duo.

Rashira and Sevyr.

Rashira's long green hair flowed like silk behind her, catching faint glimmers of starlight. It bounced softly with every step, rippling like a quiet stream.

Her crimson eyes—usually composed and indifferent—now shimmered with gentle warmth as she looked up at the boy beside her.

Her hand tightened slightly around his.

She walked closer, half-hugging his arm like someone afraid the moment might vanish if she let go.

Sevyr, ever the contrast, walked with his usual loose, confident posture.

His silver-white hair drifting with the breeze like falling moonlight.

Sharp violet eyes scanned the shadows calmly, alert but unbothered.

His grip on Rashira's hand was firm, casual, like it belonged there.

Neither of them said a word.

The forest around them seemed quieter now—as if the trees themselves were holding their breath for this rare moment of calm.

A gentle wind passed.

Leaves whispered overhead.

Rashira tilted her head slightly, eyes watching the stars between the canopy gaps.

"...It's beautiful," she murmured softly.

Sevyr's lips curved into a small smirk.

He glanced down at her, something softer flickering through his violet gaze.

"…You've changed," he said, voice quiet, almost drowned by the wind. "You're not hiding behind me as much now."

Rashira gave a sheepish smile. "Oi, I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm a lot stronger now. Or maybe…"

She looked ahead again, her eyes narrowing with determination.

"Maybe I want to protect the people I care about too."

Sevyr looked at her a little longer—long enough that it made her glance back with a blush rising on her cheeks.

"What?" she asked.

He smiled.

"Nothing. Just proud of you."

Rashira's face turned redder, and she turned away quickly, pretending to look at a glowing bug crawling over a tree bark.

Sevyr didn't tease her.

He just kept walking, guiding her gently as they moved through the moonlit clearing—searching for a spot to rest, or maybe just silently watching over the woods.

Meanwhile, in the Observation Hall…

A calm, moonlit forest scene flickered across the magical viewing screens, showing Rashira and Sevyr strolling hand in hand.

A moment of peace.

And—

"What?" Professor Kalden squinted at the screen, brows furrowed in confusion. "Are they… on a date? Now? In the middle of a trial?"

The silence that followed was thick, until Professor Maelora sighed loudly and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"These brats…" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "At this point, I'm not even sure if they're trying to win or just out here living their best lives."

Across the table, Professor Halvar grunted, folding his arms with a deep frown.

"Tch. What else do you expect from weaklings like them? Of course they'd be off being all lovey-dovey while the real contenders are fighting proudly, fiercely and magnificently."

He gestured toward another screen showing a brutal clash between two participants.

But then came a calm, smug voice.

"Well," said Professor Gellad, adjusting his gloves, "matter of fact, those two have already met the requirements to pass the trial. So they can do whatever they damn well please."

He leaned back, giving Halvar a sideways glare. "Unlike others, who couldn't even survive a single attack."

Halvar's chair creaked as he leaned forward, veins pulsing at his temple.

"What did you just say, you pointy-eared bastard?"

Gellad didn't even flinch. He smiled.

"Didn't hear me, thick-skulled?"

The table creaked as Halvar stood halfway, knuckles cracking, but before it could escalate further—

"Ah, come on, you two!" Maelora snapped, rubbing her temples. "Enough already!"

The bickering ceased, at least momentarily.

Halvar grunted and dropped back into his seat, muttering something under his breath as he turned his attention back to the screens.

Gellad, ever unbothered, shrugged and leaned back, resting one ankle over his knee with a smug little smirk tugging at the edge of his lips.

Kalden, still watching the screen with Rashira and Sevyr, shook his head slowly. "I swear, this year's batch is something else…"