The past few days had been a whirlwind of excitement for Alder Kenwood. Between meeting new friends, training Willow, and exploring Ironwood Academy, his life had changed faster than he could have imagined. Despite his lingering nerves about sharing classes with nobles, he was determined not to let that intimidate him.
Morning sunlight filtered through his dorm window as Alder packed his satchel — a few sheets of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. He slung it over his shoulder and stepped into the hall, nerves buzzing in his stomach.
"Hi, Alder," a familiar voice called.
He turned to see Sara waiting just outside his door. She wore a light yellow dress that made her look radiant in the morning glow, and for a second, Alder forgot how to speak.
"Ahem," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I said hi."
"Oh—hey, Sara. Sorry," Alder stammered, forcing a nervous laugh. "Guess I'm just a bit anxious about the first class."
Sara's lips curved into an amused smile. "Understandable. I noticed you've been sneaking off to the forest every night since we got our monsters. Making progress?"
Alder grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "Willow and I took down a couple of slimes and horned rabbits. Nothing impressive, but it's something."
Sara gave a knowing look. "You've been doing well, then. Cookie's close to evolving — at least, that's what my Appraisal Scroll says. We've hunted nearly a hundred horned rabbits already. They're her natural prey."
Alder stopped mid-step, his eyes wide. "A hundred?! That's incredible!" He paused, realization dawning. "Wait—so you're the reason I couldn't find a single rabbit for two days?"
Sara giggled behind her hand. "Oh… sorry, Alder. Guess I cleared them out before you arrived."
Alder sighed in mock exasperation. "You're lucky I can't stay mad at you."
They continued walking, the conversation turning lighter. Alder didn't mention the more dangerous encounters he and Willow had faced recently — like the young timber wolf that had ambushed them after a slime fight.
That battle had been close. Willow had managed to entangle the wolf moments before it reached him, her barbed roots tightening as poison seeped into its body. The wolf clawed and bit at her, but Alder had joined the fray, his cheap iron sword flashing as he distracted the beast. By the time the wolf collapsed, drained of its strength, Willow's wooden form had already begun to heal, drawing vitality from its fading life force.
Later that same night, another wolf had attacked. Though both pelts were ruined, Alder had collected their monster cores — proof of their growing strength. Despite being one-star monsters, timber wolves were vicious hunters, relying on bleeding wounds and brute force to overwhelm opponents. Willow's enchanted wood body gave her a clear advantage. Her lack of blood and her central core made her resilient, and the wolves' claws couldn't penetrate deep enough to threaten her. When the dust settled, she'd even grown an inch taller.
By the time Alder and Sara reached Professor Leo's classroom, Alder's earlier nerves had faded into excitement.
They spotted Cal waving from a row of seats near the middle, surrounded by a few other commoners. Alder and Sara joined them just as Professor Leo rose from behind his desk, his familiar warm smile putting everyone at ease.
"Welcome, class," Leo began, adjusting his spectacles. "In my course, we'll approach learning in two ways. First, I'll provide a broad understanding of monster classifications and species. I won't focus on any one creature — that part, my students, will be up to you."
Alder frowned slightly, glancing down at his notes. He had hoped to learn more about Atlas directly, but Leo quickly continued, as if reading his thoughts.
"Don't worry, Alder," the professor said, catching his eye with a grin. "Those who wish to study their own monsters will have that chance — through self-learning. Knowledge earned through curiosity is the knowledge that lasts."
Before anyone could respond, an arrogant laugh rang from the back of the room. Damion, the noble who had antagonized them before, leaned back in his chair with a smirk.
"So we're teaching ourselves now? What's next — cleaning the classrooms too?"
The room fell silent. Even Leo's kind expression hardened. "Listen well, Damion," he said, his voice sharp enough to cut through the air. "This is the prestigious Ironwood Academy. Titles and status mean nothing here. Continue that attitude, and you'll find your privileges gone faster than you can blink."
A tense silence lingered. Damion's smirk faltered. "I… apologize, Professor," he muttered, though his clenched jaw betrayed his irritation.
A few quiet laughs rippled through the class — mostly from the commoners.
"As I was saying," Leo continued smoothly, "the Academy possesses ten rare tomes for each elemental discipline — detailed guides to monsters and their behaviors. You may check out one that matches your element. My own affinity is Darkness, so I'll let you explore what lies beyond my expertise. Understanding your monsters is the key to evolving them — and yourselves."
When Leo finished, the students rose to choose their books. Alder joined Tarrel near the Earth element section, since both of their sub-elements branched from it. Most of the shelves were already half-empty, but after searching, Alder spotted a bright green volume tucked away at the end of a row. Its cover was embossed with a great tree whose roots formed runic spirals.
He read the title aloud, his voice filled with wonder:
"Yggdrasil's Children: The Book of Nature."
It felt right — almost like the book had been waiting for him.
He returned to his seat, flipping it open as Professor Leo began their first lesson. "Today, we'll start with one of the most misunderstood species — the slime."
A few nobles groaned, prompting Leo to arch an eyebrow. Before he could respond, another voice cut in from the center of the room.
"There's no such thing as a 'trash monster.'"
The speaker's tone was calm yet commanding. Alder turned toward the voice — a young man with sharp features, silver hair, and the confident bearing of someone born to lead. Whispers spread through the room like wildfire.
Leo smiled approvingly. "Well said, Prince Elyas."
Alder froze. Prince Elyas? The Prince of the Kingdom? He couldn't believe the heir to the throne was sitting only a few rows away.
Leo continued, "You'll all receive a slime in your Evolutions class eventually, so you'd best pay attention. The smallest creatures can teach the greatest lessons."
The room quieted as the lecture continued. Alder found himself absorbed not only by the professor's words but also by the idea that even the humblest monsters — slimes, stumps, dolls — could grow into something extraordinary with enough effort.
When the class finally ended, Leo dismissed them with a smile. "Study hard, everyone. The difference between a Sealer and a Master Sealer is what you choose to learn on your own."
As Alder packed his things, he couldn't help but glance once more at the green book in his hands. Yggdrasil's Children.
Something told him this was only the beginning.