"Hey, Nixie! You can't just breathe fire like that! You'll kill it!"
Ray snapped at the phoenix, which looked utterly furious almost as if it knew exactly what was inside that egg.
At his command, the blazing bird stopped. With a flick of its wings, it flew off in a huff, slipping into the bag with an air of dignity and pride.
The egg cracked open at last. After more than a decade of never hatching, everyone finally saw the beast inside. Those who recognized it gasped, never expecting it would choose Ray as its tamer.
According to legend, this golden egg had been at the Temmesia School for over ten years, used as a prize in the annual tournaments. But no matter which champion received it, it had never chosen an owner.
Every time someone won it, they either sold it off or exchanged it for cash. Unlike the other eggs awarded to victors, this one never hatched until it met Ray.
A species that had been enemies with phoenixes since ancient times.
Name: ??
Beast Species: Diamond Dragon
Level: 1
HP: 1000
MP: 0
Elements: Nature, Normal
Rarity: S
Info: Diamond Dragons are an endangered species. Their dazzling scales make them targets for hunters, and very few survive to adulthood. The diamond-like scales are both beautiful and extremely durable, and their immense strength makes them fearsome weapons. It's said they excrete gemstones.
Skills: –
You have acquired a new beast. Please name it.
"Awww, a baby dragon? So cute! Let's call you Mond," Ray said, tilting his head in curiosity at the tiny pink-scaled diamond dragon, sucking its own finger innocently in his hands.
He had no idea how unusual his lack of surprise was.
"A d-dragon! Wait, if you're a phoenix user, how can you also be a dragon user? They're opposites!" The crowd erupted in shocked chatter as the mysterious decade-old prize revealed itself.
"That's a Diamond Dragon! The rarest of all dragons!"
"He's gonna be rich—those things literally poop diamonds every month!"
"This is too weird… Only pure-blood dragon clans or cultists get chosen by dragons. Does that mean this kid is… shady?"
"No way. Only good people are chosen by phoenixes. He doesn't seem evil at all. But still… no one can raise a dragon and a phoenix at the same time. Just who is this kid?"
The noise didn't die down. Ray could already tell his life was about to get a lot more complicated.
Aria, who was also well-versed in beast lore, found it impossible to believe.
"Ray… who exactly are you? How can you tame both a dragon and a phoenix?" Aria covered her mouth, watching the brown-haired boy holding the baby dragon. He turned to face her slowly.
With a nervous drop of sweat, he said, "I dunno. My parents left me at an orphanage when I was born." His expression was pure cluelessness.
Aria sighed quietly. She decided not to press further. From the look on his blank face, he really didn't know.
Ray looked down at the adorable pink creature in his arms and spoke softly.
"Honestly, I've always wondered who my parents were, why they abandoned me… but whatever. I have Geed and Aunt Olivia. That's enough for me. I'm just happy I met good people." He smiled brightly.
Behind him, Witzany smiled faintly at his optimism and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You're really strong, Mr. Ray," the professor said sweetly.
"Ah, thank you, Professor," he replied with an innocent grin.
"Professor, do you know anything about—" Aria began, glancing at Ray and the baby dragon.
"Hmmmm," the professor pressed a finger to her lips in thought.
Then she took something from her skirt pocket and placed it in Aria's hand before walking away.
"Wait Professor, I" Aria called after her.
Witzany turned back, smiling kindly, and pressed a finger to her lips again.
"Some things are better left unknown, Miss Aria, Mr. Ray." She smiled gently and walked off, along with the other spectators leaving the arena still chatting animatedly on their way home.
"Okay, Professor!" Ray waved cheerfully.
"Wait! You seriously don't want to know? She clearly knows something," Aria said, smacking his arm.
"Oww!"
Ray scratched his head. "Maybe it is something bad. That professor's too nice to lie to us, so if she won't tell, maybe we're better off not knowing. Same reason I don't wanna know about my parents they left me, and thinking about it just stresses me out. Forget it. I'm just lucky to be chosen by both a phoenix and a dragon."
"You really do make everything sound simple… Anyway, I'm going home. Here, take this candy."
"What? That's Professor Witzany's candy! She gave it to you just like she gave me. You're really not keeping it?"
"I don't like sweets."
"It could be a lucky candy, Aria! From a legendary hero!"
"Stop talking nonsense, Ray."
"Ooh, don't disrespect the candy~" he teased.
Aria had the sudden urge to pinch his cheeks and shove the candy into his mouth, but she restrained herself. With a deep sigh, she handed it to him calmly.
Ray crossed his arms and deepened his voice in mock seriousness.
"Stop! What are you doing? I didn't ask you to give me the lucky candy!" He glared at her outstretched hand.
Being mimicked melted Aria's icy composure instantly.
In one swift motion, she shoved the candy into his mouth.
"MMMPHH! ARIA! NOOO! YOU CRAZY WOMAN!"
At Olivia's Pet Supply Shop
"Ray, honey, what happened to your face?" Aunt Olivia asked from behind the counter.
"Got punched for teasing a friend who's a bit touchy."
"Ohhh? First day of exams and you've already made a new friend? You get along fast."
"Heh, yeah. Actually, Aunt Olivia, during the written test this morning, I barely passed thanks to working here. Thanks for raising me all these years." He bowed deeply.
"Oh, don't get all sentimental. I hire you, you know. I'm not running a charity." She put her hands on her hips.
"Exactly! A job and knowledge!"
"So… was that all you came for, this late? Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet. I came to buy food for my Diamond Dragon."
"Ray… just admit you're making that up," she said, narrowing her eyes.
Ray chuckled, shrugged, and shook his head.
"Go on, get out of here. I'm starting to get jealous," she laughed.
After buying food for his cute pink dragon and the other 200 beasts in his care—emptying his wallet in the process—Olivia decided to close up early.
After feeding all the beasts inside his bag, playing with Rogue, petting Geed, and rolling around with Nixie on the grass, Ray realized he still hadn't eaten.
He headed to a restaurant in Lugana's night district.
The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by a rowdy, festive scene. A band was playing guitar, drums, and flute, adventurers fresh from a hunt were covered in blood and mud, and people were eating, drinking, and flirting at every table.
Ray slipped through the crowd to the quieter, pricier upstairs area and ordered grilled fish to share with Geed.
As the fragrant dish was set down, he overheard voices from the floor above.
"You're pathetic, Jason. I even let you use Gorgon, and you lost to some nobody. You disgrace me."
"S-sorry, Father…"
Ray smirked to himself—Jason sounded like a scared puppy when talking to his dad.
"Ha ha ha! Don't be too hard on him, Pops. Beating five people was decent enough for someone with zero talent."
"Decent? Every Forster in history has placed first in the tournament. He's the only one who failed. It's shameful."
"S-sorry, Father…" Jason's voice trembled as if on the verge of tears, wiping the smile off Ray's face.
"If you don't get the highest score in the third round, you're out of this house."
"F-Father!? But"
"No buts. You've had every advantage—money, resources, opportunity—and you still keep failing. At the prep school, you let other clans humiliate you. At the Beast Tamer Academy, you're mediocre. Do you know what it's like for me at social events, talking about my youngest son? Fail again, and you're no son of mine."
Ray heard Jason's quiet sobs. His initial satisfaction faded, replaced by something else pity.
"Hey, little brother, crying in front of Pops? Bold move. Stop it! Stop!"
Slap! Slap!
Ray counted over ten smacks before Jason fell silent.
"S-sorry, Father. Sorry, Brother."
Chairs scraped, and Ray saw Jason's father and older brother Joel with his sloth leave the room. Ray quickly looked down at his food as they walked past him.
Ten minutes later, Jason shuffled down, looking like a ghost.
Ray froze—he'd never seen him like this. Jason took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, then grabbed a chair and hurled it at the band below.
CRASH!
The music stopped. Everyone stared.
"You guys suck! Annoying as hell, you losers!" Jason shouted, then stormed out.
Ray was stunned. He ate only half his meal before packing up Geed and following Jason.
Under a yellow streetlamp, Jason sat on the curb, hugging his knees, crying alone in the night.
Ray, still bewildered, walked up and stood over him.
Jason looked up.
Ray wordlessly handed him something.
"Hey, Jason. Want a candy?"
"Huh!? Uh… sure." Jason unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.
"It's okay, man." Ray patted his shoulder.
Jason blinked, then scowled.
"Wait… you mocking me, you damn orphan?"
Without warning, he jumped up and punched Ray square in the face.
WHAM!
"Oh, you little—!" Ray jumped to his feet and swung back.
Punches flew, and soon they were brawling like stray dogs in the street.
Patrons from the restaurant came out with beers in hand, cheering for the fight.
It turned into a full-blown street brawl the stuff of Lugana legend, with the first rule of this legend being never to talk about it.
By the end of the night, the two boys went to bed bruised and battered only to wake up for the third round of exams.
Morning of the Third Round
"Ray, did you get mauled by a dog or something?" Aria asked, staring at his battered face by the academy fountain.
"Heh… lucky candy," Ray replied, scratching his head.
"Huh? I don't get it."
Ray checked the list for the team-based beast capture exam. He was thrilled to be paired with Aria until he saw another name.
The guy he'd just been trading punches with.
Jason, also bruised, turned to glare at them.
"Tch. Pathetic."
"Ahhh… crap. We're doomed," Ray muttered.