Spirit Taming

"Listen!" Professor Wright was annoyed that the classroom was full of chatter instead of focus. It was understandable that the rest of the students would be riled up after their break from classes.

"I can see that you have all had a good time off. Some of you clearly improved yourselves and will be rewarded for it in our start to battle training. First comes first, you will fight amongst yourselves to show me what you can do." That was exactly what Clark thought would be the reasoning.

"The battles will be simple. We will have the arena booked for a day within the academy coliseum. Other students will be there to evaluate the battles and form theories on improvement which their professors will grade. Anyone that doesn’t want to participate can have a solo evaluation but will miss out on the better training suggestions from other professors or students."

After hearing this, no one was foolish enough to skip out on a public battle. There were many students and professors with beasts similar to what they might have and it would help to receive direct feedback from them.

"Those of you that have poisons will need to provide antidotes or alert the healing staff of the necessary steps. I will not tolerate anyone perishing in a simple introductory battle." This was a wise choice that Clark thought was the best route to take. Many beasts had poisons that they used to take down their opponents.

"Professor, my beast has an acidic poison. I don’t think I can participate." The boy that spoke up had a striped serpent as his beast. It was an overlooked beast because of its weak body. However, when properly raised it could produce an acidic poison strong enough to melt through the hardest metals.

"I see what you mean. In that case, we will request for a higher rank healer. They can utilize your acidic poison. They have specific beasts that can purify the body as well. It is something the academy prepares people for within their healer education. Some of you may take those classes at some point."

"Let’s get a move on. The arena is only booked for the day. Come on, come on. Listen while we walk. I will explain a little more." Professor Wright set off at a brisk pace making everyone rush to stay in pace with her. It was clearly her way to keep them on their toes.

"You should know that students are ranked within the academy a little differently than in the real world. You may be novices or advanced out there in the world, but right now you are unranked. You are considered the weakest tamers in the academy. Once you are evaluated and placed in the ranking you will have more opportunities.’" Clark felt that this was all new to him. He had not heard of such a ranking.

"The rankings are simple numbers leading to the top student in every class then up to the top student in every year, and so on to the top student in the academy. Right as we stand, the class rankings do not matter to you. This is an elite class. I fully expect you to reach the level of a second year basic student soon." The high bar had been set just as they reached the Nova academy coliseum for training.

"We will be in arena five. Come on. I will tell you to fight who I wish you to fight based on the beasts you have." Professor Wright walked in to the arena and many students became quieter in the seats around. They had been waiting to start and all had notebooks and coal pencils to record what they saw.

"Your rankings within the academy can attract mentors, rewards, and even unique missions to become stronger. Beyond that, I will not tell you. Ralph, Miranda. You two are the first up."

"Watch what my partner and I managed to accomplish while you two were falling behind us." Ralph scoffed at everyone when he went up. He had been working the entire week with new materials to make his steel haired boar stronger.

’Needle boar soldier- rare

The growth of steel haired boar is normally very slow. However, when proper materials are used to activate a unique bloodline, the steel haired boar can begin growing in to its proper form. The fine metallic hairs that the steel boar has become even smaller and sharper. This is due to dense steel being consumed while in very high temperature areas. To increase the growth rate to become a steel boar General, the tamers must feed...’

Clark was beyond impressed. The toughness of the steel boar was well beyond what it had been. Now even touching the hairs on its body would cause someone injury. Yet, this was not what was making the entire class silent.

The muscles on the needle boar were much larger. It had also lost the hooves from its front feet and seemingly began growing hands. This was a transitional growth period before the boar would be able to walk on two feet becoming somewhat humanoid. This also meant that it could grab on to and crush its opponents.

"Ralph, I see you visited the library and researched the steel haired boar species. Very good. If you use your wits like that more often you might be able to have the first steel boar general in the last five years. Not many are able to obtain such a feat." Professor Wright praised Ralph for what he had managed. It was an achievement deserving of praise.

"Miranda, I see that you allowed your Treant sapling to rest in the sun. that has toughened its bark well enough that you shouldn’t have to worry about it breaking away as much." Miranda was a smaller girl who appeared frail. Yet, Clark saw this to be a false appearance.

’Treant sapling- rare

The treant is a near immortal species which can grow back from just roots and live as long as it has proper conditions. Very weak at the start of its life, the treant will grow to control entire forests. They are highly valued for their long burning wood and easy to eat fruits. They have devastating root attacks that can completely pull an opponent in to an early grave. They also control small water attacks using the dew they gather on their leaves. They are incredibly weak to fire attacks. The best method...’

Treants were a beast rarely seen within the city. They were incredibly hard to tame since they were a plant type beast. On top of that, they were not even local to the area the city existed in. They were normally found deep within forests. Clark knew that Miranda must have had a large advantage in the admittance exam due to the many trees in the entrance.

"You may begin." Professor Wright stepped back to watch the battle between the two. No one spoke while they evaluated everything.

"Wrap him up." The sapling followed Miranda’s orders. The roots of her treant unfurled from the trunk and jabbed under the arena floor. Cracking and breaking stones made everyone sure that Ralph would have been caught.

This was where they were proved wrong. Ralph had planned to be able to fight just like Clark could. His boar was not the only one that had learned something new over the last week.

Just as a root broke under his feet, Ralph jumped back and chopped down with a one handed ax. This was the weapon he had chosen to learn since it was simple and straightforward. He could battle with it like it was part of his own body.

The chop cut the root as it tried to reach him. Meanwhile, the other roots wrapped the needle boar which hadn’t even moved a step. "Just shake it off. It’s just a few vines." Ralph ignored the boar and began circling toward Miranda who had pulled out a shield to protect herself.

Hearing Ralph’s orders, the needle boar snorted a few times before squealing loudly in anticipation of a real fight. It raised its head and spun causing the roots wrapping it to become shredded. The treant sapling felt every bit of this and recoiled.

Feeling the pain through her bond with the treant sapling, Miranda flinched. It was not a good time because Ralph had closed the distance. She barely held the shield up when Ralph attacked, knocking her backward.

"I recommend you get stronger before you try and wrap us up," Ralph spoke seriously as the needle boar charged and knocked Miranda right out of the arena. Ralph had managed to learn a great deal of tactics in the last week. Clark was more than impressed.

"I will beat you next, Clark." Ralph’s promise was for a singular reason. He wanted some revenge for the first battle they had between them where Ralph was completely embarrassed. It was the sole reason he had pushed himself to become stronger and learned to use a weapon to fight with his boar.