Spirit Taming

After they had gathered their thoughts, They watched Jerold slowly appear out of the snowy surroundings. They hadn’t made it to the gate of the city yet, but they were sure that they would have noticed someone. Even Clark had totally missed that there was another person here. It made him completely evaluate his sense and how he used the system analysis skill.

"I just told you, say what you need to say then we will go inside. I am not waiting too long." Professor Wright was really ready to move on. She was not going to play some game where they all sat in silence.

"I’m-"

"I don’t care, you can be with us or not. Doesn’t matter. I will be the champion of our team. I am leaving." Ralph was already done with it. He didn’t mind if anyone was on the team. He wanted to be at the top. But he also didn’t see the point in spending half the day apologizing for something pointless.

"I think you were dumb. If you aren’t anymore, I am fine."

"I will agree with Brad on that." Reese followed Brad and Ralph ditching the others.

"If you’re alright now...that’s fine. I will show off my partner later. You should talk to them." Grace knew that she didn’t have much of a say in things. She had trusted Clark’s judgment and given him exactly what he had asked for. She was bowing to his judgment and leaving him as the leader of their group. That was exactly how it should be and what Clark wanted. He was going to help as long as everyone was loyal and open with what they wanted and the goals they had.

"So that just leaves us. What do you have to say for your past actions? Will they continue to influence the business relations we have here?" Isa was very solemn in how she spoke. She was not going to partner with anyone that was going to cause them issues. That would be a death sentence for their entire business and everything they had built.

"I know that I let myself get a big head. I was too pushy and let myself get too focused on attention. I didn’t think things through and I learned a lot by taking some time alone to reflect. I want to fight in the tournament with the team but I am fine with finding my own way. We managed to do it alone so that would be fair to leave me that way." Jerold said this. There wasn’t a doubt that he actually was sorry.

However, it was also clear that he was a lot less focused on the group or Maria at all. Something had clearly happened that had crushed his desire to pursue anyone in any sense for the time being. It was also clear that he had been in a few fights since they had last seen each other. The real question was, how did he get this way?

’Armor skin chameleon- rare

The armor skin chameleon is a forced mutated variant of the rainbow chameleon. The forced part of this is due to the close combat battles that normal rainbow chameleons would never normally be in. This forced situation caused the chameleon to fall in to great stress. When paired with their tamer’s stress, the sudden mutations and following mutation causes a lot of changes.

There are tougher lizard scales that grow in to a nearly steel hard skin over the chameleon’s body. It can perfectly match this coloration and texture to the environment around it. This additional strength helps their tamers blend in with them which is a major boon. It also can wrap around them and act as a blanding cloak which is why this mutation is incredibly valuable.

The poison typing is weakened slightly due to the mutation. However, frontal and assassin like battles styles gain a major boost. Many people have...’

Clark was very curious about the changes in the rainbow chameleon. This was such a large difference that it would not have surprised him if Jerold could fight stronger opponents head on compared to before. Especially since he had even evaded Clark’s eyes. Not that Clark believed that Jerold would be able to avoid Devi if he had been out and not in the taming space.

"If you are able to help the group battle in my place, that is fine. I will be keeping an eye open for any betrayals or foolish acts. I have a list." Ella walked away with this. She was not going to be happy if Jerold was the reason that the group lost any matches.

"I’m with Ella. I have a list too." Isa didn’t really know what Ella meant by a list but she liked the sound of it and followed her lead.

"I don’t forgive you. You risked everyone’s lives and I don’t like that. We have larger goals than this tournament. Just know that if you mess up this time..." Maria was annoyed but she could tell that Jerold had indeed learned a lesson. But she was not going to forgive anyone so easily.

"Get moving. We have plans. We need to check the city map, get the inn rooms all set, and then we need to plan out personal business before we have to meet the academy for the opening ceremonies." Clark didn’t say anything. He just pushed forward with an eye on Jerold who was a little stunned. He was expecting that Clark would have asked about other things.

The reason that Clark hadn’t asked anything was simple, it didn’t change who Jerold was now. Whatever had happened was of no consequence. That was only going to be important if Jerold had made enemies or had a master evil plan. But for now, the results and having the first year team perfectly filled was more important. Clark also knew that someone could also be used as a meat shield to weaken a tough opponent if worse came to worse. He didn’t want to use that tactic but if he had to...

While Jerold walked behind Clark he could only think about what he had just done and how he had made it here. Unfortunately, there was no time to think about these things. Professor Wright was already speaking to the guards at the gate to the northern city of Nebula.

On the surface, the city looked very clean and peaceful. There were fires burning periodically in the street for people to remain warm. But it appeared that many people didn’t need them. They had some form of ice type beast that alleviated the cold around them. This was the bonus of having certain types of beasts, they often helped resist certain elemental energies.

The streets were paved with stones, but ice was nearly everywhere. Some homes seemed to entirely be made with ice. There were even a few tamers building and repairing with their beasts to carve ice. It was a strange sight to see since most people only saw the cold for a few months. This city saw it at all times.

"And remember, the laws of the city are to be followed. You will be prosecuted by the highest law if you violate them. It is not acceptable to break them." The guard focused on this greatly.

"Is there any reason you are so strong about this?" Professor Wright heard the additional tone in the guard’s voice.

"There have been troubles recently in the city. Some hooligans from another city decided they were above the law." That was all the guard said before focusing on the merchant entering behind the group. He wasn’t going to gossip about the details of the incident.

"You heard the man, stay on your toes and do not break the rules. If I have to bargain for your release or watch you go to jail, I swear I will make you a snack for my beasts." Professor Wright’s threat sounded much worse than the jail could ever be.

When Clark noticed that there were a few merchants eyeing them, he realized that their different clothing and school crests made them a very good target now. They had all changed their clothes when they met Professor Wright’s friend. That had been a mistake. They were representing their academy, yes, but they also were easy targets for merchants that knew they were less knowledgeable about the area.

"Isa, you will need to keep an ear out for good things. I don’t know enough about the area, but I might be able to find some good things." This was what Clark needed to fall back to. Isa was a merchant through and through. She would be able to throw aside the falsehoods other merchants tried on them.

"I am already ahead of you. I know a few people to talk to that my father and brothers have mentioned. I will take a walk to them later and get the details." Isa knew she could get a nice report for cheap on the state of business in the city. She just had to ask the right people.