I am Just an Average Tamer

As Kai stepped out of the infirmary, he began making his way down the quiet corridor, his footsteps echoing lightly against the marble floor.

Just as he passed a door to his right, it creaked open and a professor stepped out. Kai's eyes flicked toward the room out of instinct, and through the narrow opening, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

Lying unconscious on the bed was a silver-haired boy.

Corrin.

Before he could process much, a middle-aged woman in a flowing white robe stepped out behind the professor.

She had a gentle face, clearly a cleric assigned to tend to the wounded.

She noticed Kai standing there, eyes still on Corrin, and smiled warmly.

"He's alright," she said in a soft voice. "Just overused his essence and mana reserves. He'll need rest."

Kai blinked and looked at her briefly, then gave a small nod.

"I see."

Without another word, he turned and continued down the corridor.

The moment he stepped into the sunlight pouring into the arena, his pace slowed.

His eyes widened slightly as the full scale of the stadium revealed itself.

It was massive.

The stands rose high, packed with over ten thousand spectators, their cheers, chatter, and excitement forming a living wall of sound.

Above the main stands were two rows of luxurious VIP booths—each enclosed in a shimmering glass barrier, lined with polished wood and golden trims, where nobles and high-ranking academy officials observed from the shadows of their lavish seats.

Kai moved toward the inner circle where the other contenders were gathered.

There were around more than forty of them, all watching the stage with tired eyes as the announcer's voice echoed across the stadium, still rambling through the ceremonial speech.

Kai's gaze scanned the group until it landed on two familiar figures standing near a corner.

Riven and Aria.

Without hesitation, he walked over and joined them, slipping into place beside them as the roar of the crowd continued to rise.

Aria gave him a brief nod, while Riven Just grinned.

The announcer's voice still boomed across the arena, magically amplified to reach every corner of the colossal stadium.

"…and as we gather here today, let it be known that all those who reached this stage have shown exceptional talent, grit, and potential!" he declared dramatically, his words a little too theatrical, drawing half-hearted claps from some students.

Kai folded his arms, letting his gaze wander as the speech dragged on. He wasn't the only one. Several others wore bored or exhausted expressions, their minds clearly elsewhere.

Soon enough, the remaining students who had been recovering in the infirmary began trickling out one by one and joining the main group on the arena floor.

Rashira walked slowly with Sevyr beside her, the latter keeping a close eye on her every step.

Cassian appeared not long after, his usual confident smirk back in place despite the bandage on his arm.

Corrin arrived last, flanked by a professor. Though a little pale, he stood tall, that same unreadable look in his eyes as always.

Once everyone had gathered, the announcer finally changed tone, voice taking on more weight.

"Now then!" he said with a grin. "Let us first honor the Top 50 of this year's Azurean Academy entrance trials!"

A wave of applause rose from the crowd.

"These individuals have proven themselves to be the future of our continent—rising stars, scholars, warriors, tamers, and more! May this moment mark the beginning of your legend!"

The clapping grew louder, cheers erupting from the stands as names were briefly displayed on magical panels floating above the stage.

Then, the announcer raised one hand, calling for silence as the energy shifted.

"And now… the moment you've all been waiting for."

His voice grew deeper, more deliberate.

"Let us honor the Top Ten. The ten individuals who rose above all others in every aspect of the entrance trials. From strength and strategy to beast mastery and teamwork, these ten candidates stand at the pinnacle of this year's selection."

The crowd held its breath as the announcer began listing the names, starting from the bottom and working upward.

"At Rank 10… Rashira Duskwood!"

Polite applause echoed, and Rashira gave a quiet nod, standing with composed poise.

"Rank 9… Serena Whitheart!"

Serena waved confidently to the crowd, drawing scattered whistles and cheers.

"Rank 8… Cassian Vale!"

Cassian grinned and rolled his shoulders, clearly enjoying the spotlight.

"Rank 7… Riven Weaverheart!"

"Hell yeah!" Riven pumped a fist in the air, earning a laugh from Aria beside him.

"Rank 6… Aria Glimair!"

Aria gave a short bow, stoic but proud.

"Rank 5… Arven Blake!"

Arven simply nodded, keeping his bow slung over his shoulder, unbothered by the cheers.

"Rank 4… Kai!"

Kai blinked, lips twitching slightly as some in the crowd erupted into shouts and whistles.

"Rank 3… Sevyr Lyssarien!"

Seyvr offered a smug wave, dramatically flipping his white hair for effect.

"Rank 2… Corrin Duskwood!"

Corrin stayed quiet, letting the applause wash over him with a grin.

The announcer paused, raising his arms high before delivering the final name.

"And finally… Rank 1—Lei Mei OUR ACE!!"

A thunderous cheer erupted across the stadium.

A figure stepped forward and waved gently to the crowd—Lei Mei.

The Green-haired girl who had captivated everyone with her twist of last attack.

She stood tall in her ceremonial robe, calm and radiant, as if untouched by the chaos of battle.

The top ten stood in a line now, as cheers rose and magical fireworks flared in the air above the stage, painting the sky with shimmering gold and azure.

Kai glanced sideways at the others.

Some looked proud.

Some looked relieved.

And some, like him, had eyes still quietly burning, with resolve for what came next.

****

"Well, it really was tiring," Riven complained as the trio—Kai, him, and Aria—walked back into the corridor after exiting the stage.

After the announcements, the students had dispersed after giving them just a simple medal.

Corrin had been sent back to the infirmary due to some lingering issues, while the trio decided to go out and unwind.

"What did you expect?" Kai said, dryly. "That guy was a real chatterbox."

Aria giggled. "But weren't you just soaking up all the attention and clapping a few minutes ago?" she asked, nudging Riven's side playfully.

"Well…" Riven let out a sheepish laugh. "Not gonna lie—I might've been enjoying it just a little."

Aria shook her head, smiling, then turned her gaze to Kai.

"So, what are your plans for the week?"

With the entrance trials finally over, the selected candidates were granted a one-week break before academy life officially began.

Not only because they were exhausted—but also because the academy needed time to prepare.

They had to assess the final rankings, assign appropriate dorms, distribute resources tailored to the top students, and prepare the curriculum.

The top 200 had earned special privileges—mentorships, rare resources, and early access to training grounds.

Although up to a thousand students would be accepted into the academy, the trials had only selected the top 200 directly.

The rest would undergo a few more academic and practical exams before gaining full admission.

While they wouldn't receive the same tier of support as the top ranks, it was still far better than what most common academies offered.

And not making it into the top 200 didn't mean they were doomed to mediocrity.

If they showed strong growth, they could be promoted into the elite ranks later and even receive sponsorships from professors or noble houses.

Kai gave a small shrug. "I don't have anything planned. Just want to rest for a while."

"How about joining us?" Riven grinned.

Aria's eye twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything.

"Nah. I want peace of mind," Kai replied after a short pause.

"Argh!" Riven groaned and clutched his chest like he'd been stabbed.

"Right in the heart, man!"

Aria stiffened a laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly.

As they walked out of the arena and into the bright afternoon sun, the crowds had already started to scatter.

The cheers had faded, replaced by casual chatter and the rustle of the city's bustle returning.

At the plaza, the three stopped.

"Well then… I guess we'll see you around?" Aria said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Kai gave a short nod. "Yeah."

Riven waved dramatically. "Don't get too lonely, brother!"

Kai simply turned, walking into the opposite street, where the crowd was denser. He blended into it like a shadow slipping away.

Riven and Aria exchanged a glance before heading toward their designated inn together.

"Hmm... What to do now?"

Kai muttered to himself, hands tucked into his pockets as he wandered through the lively market street.

Then he closed his eyes.

He dove inward—into the quiet, boundless void of his Soul Space.

A silvery-blue mist curled around the edges of his consciousness as he stepped into the ethereal domain where his bonded beasts rested.

Vael, perched atop a rocky outcrop, had his wings tucked neatly at his sides, talons relaxed.

Vex was sprawled in the shadows of a gnarled tree, tail flicking lazily even in sleep.

Stromeon lay coiled near a thundering stream of raw lightning, soft crackles dancing across his scales as he snored faintly.

They were recovering, not wounded anymore, but still worn down from the intensity of the trials.

But Kai's eyes weren't on them.

He looked deeper, toward the corner of his Soul Space, where an unusual phenomenon stirred.

There, on a ground shimmered with jagged icicles, firestorms swirled chaotically around its core.

And between them a cocoon was pulsing faintly.

His gaze softened, lips pressing into a worried line.

'When will you wake up… Luna?'

It had been almost a full year since she entered her evolution phase.

And still—nothing. No movement. No sign. Just that slow, rhythmic pulsing from within the cocoon..

A twinge of unease gnawed at him.

He didn't speak it aloud, but... what if something had gone wrong?

Suddenly—

"Big Brother!"

A chirpy, bright voice pulled him sharply back to reality.

His eyes blinked open just in time to see a blur of golden hair and fluttering blue ribbons rushing at him from the side.

A little girl with her blonde hair gleaming in the sun, and her sapphire eyes sparkling like twin gemstones, was sprinting through the crowd, arms thrown wide with the biggest grin on her face.

Kai barely had time to react before she launched herself at him.

He caught her effortlessly, arms wrapping around her small frame.

"It's been a while, Elina," he said, a small smile curling on his lips.