Casandra led them to the training field where the demonstration would take place.
As they entered, Lusian and Emily came across a young woman with black hair and yellow eyes, accompanied by an elegant feline. Upon seeing Lusian, the young woman quickly approached and knelt respectfully.
—Welcome, my lord. It is an honor to see you here —she said with reverence.
Instructor Casandra, visibly annoyed, interrupted:
—Adela Douglas, stand up. This is not the place for such gestures.
Adela, a disciple of Sofia and loyal to Lusian, replied firmly:
—I'm sorry, instructor, but as a future general of the Douglas, it is my duty to show respect to my lord.
—It's not necessary here, Adela —Lusian intervened calmly, gesturing for her to rise.
She obeyed, saying:
—As you command, my lord.
Casandra regained control of the training field and looked at Lusian firmly:
—Very well, Lusian. On this ground, you are expected to demonstrate your control over your beast.
With precision, she gave a brief explanation about beast tamers. Those with Alpha, Beta, and Gamma affinity could bond with a single beast throughout their lives; Delta and Epsilon, with two; and Omega, up to three. Each bond was permanent, broken only by the creature's death, which caused a pain no tamer could endure without a shudder.
The first test consisted of destroying ten targets scattered across the field. Lusian gave the command to Umber, and the beast knocked them down with ease. Casandra watched in astonishment; normally, controlling a creature of that level with such precision required years of training. And Lusian, not even an official tamer, made it seem simple.
The second test was an obstacle course. Umber had to complete it guided only by Lusian's thoughts. Every jump, every turn, every dodge was executed flawlessly. Casandra's eyes could not leave the scene: if Duchess Sofia had been present, one might assume she was the one controlling the beast. But no. Everything indicated that Lusian was the true master.
The third test pitted Umber against another creature. Given Umber's rank, the only suitable opponent was Casandra's salamander, an imposing creature measuring 1.10 meters in height and 2.50 in length, classified as B-Gamma.
—Practice without support magic —Casandra instructed—. Only direct commands to the beasts.
—Understood, instructor. Any other instructions? —Lusian asked.
—The safety of the beasts is guaranteed. They may be injured, but we have methods to heal them —she assured calmly.
The duel began. Casandra ordered the salamander to launch fireballs, which Umber dodged with superhuman agility. It counterattacked with spheres of dark mana, calculated with surgical precision. Lusian knew the weakness of salamanders: a strike to the throat was enough to neutralize their attacks.
Sensing the opportunity, Umber adjusted its strategy. A sphere of dark mana struck just beneath the salamander's throat, leaving it stuck and exhaling smoke from its mouth. Casandra tried to react, but it was too late. Umber advanced decisively and placed its paw on the salamander's head, marking the end of the fight.
Casandra was left speechless, stunned by Lusian's mastery. There was no doubt: he controlled Umber like a true tamer… even though he wasn't one. Casandra's intention in summoning him before her students had been clear: to demonstrate that handling a beast requires exceptional skill, and that only a trained tamer could achieve it. However, Lusian had left her without arguments, showing that, thanks to his mother's spell, he could control Umber with a ease that defied all expectations.
Adela approached, happy about Lusian's victory, and asked to meet with him when he had time.
As they left the building, Lusian turned to Emily:
—I'm hungry. Shall we go get something to eat?
Emily, with no other plans at the moment, smiled and happily agreed.
Upon arriving, they encountered a large crowd of customers, among whom Andrew and Elizabeth stood out. Lusian wanted to congratulate Elizabeth on her impressive victory over Lorenzo, but, unable to do so in public, he limited himself to giving her a quick glance before guiding Emily to an empty table.
Once seated, Lusian asked Emily what she would like to eat. She laughed softly and, jokingly, suggested checking if they had smoked salamander ribs. The topic of salamanders seemed to linger in their conversation, perhaps as a playful nod to the recent battle between the magical beasts.
A restaurant employee approached to take Lusian and Emily's order and then left.
—Did you see the battle between Lorenzo and Elizabeth? —Emily asked enthusiastically—. It was incredible. I'd like to become like her someday.
Lusian thought to himself that she would be even better, but at first he said nothing. However, he ended up saying it out loud:
—You're going to be better than her.
Emily was surprised and smiled:
—Thank you… I didn't know you saw me that way.
Lusian, remembering Emily's character in the game, decided to go deeper:
—I know how passionate you are about magic and that you want to use it to protect those you love. Since you were a child, you read books about spells, you strive to become stronger, and you want to create your own incantations. You're an innocent girl, with big dreams… you want to make the world a better place.
Emily, impressed by the accuracy of his words, asked:
—How do you know so much about me?
—It's normal to investigate the person you've been engaged to —Lusian replied naturally, though in his mind he recognized how awkward it sounded to someone he barely knew.
Emily, aware of Lusian's family's reputation and the tension between them, apologized:
—The truth is, I don't really know you.
Lusian smiled softly:
—I know. And it's better that way. For now, focus on your studies and your dreams. I know you'll achieve them.
Emily thanked him for the confidence, and Lusian replied that it was nothing. But inside, he realized he was opening up too much; it was dangerous, since he knew Emily could become a future enemy.
Emily, somewhat concerned, asked:
—What do you mean by that?
Lusian, quickly changing the subject, smiled with a hint of nostalgia:
—Forget it… I'm just a bit lost in thought.
After enjoying their meal and talking calmly, Lusian and Emily stood up from the restaurant. The afternoon was advancing, and the air was filled with a mix of city aromas and the bustle of preparations for the class 1A classification tournament.
—It looks like there's a lot going on at the academy today —Emily commented, watching groups of students heading quickly toward the training arena.
—Yes —Lusian replied, his gaze attentive—. It's the day of the first battles of the tournament. Some of your classmates will be fighting soon.
Emily felt a slight chill at the thought, mixing excitement and nervousness.
As they walked, the distant roar of the crowd and the clash of spells from the arena reached their ears. Lusian frowned slightly, assessing the situation.
—I think it would be wise to stay close, but not interfere —he said—. Watching can be just as useful as participating.
Emily nodded, understanding that Lusian was concerned about her safety, though there was also clear curiosity in his gaze. From a distance, the controlled chaos of the arena could be seen: students running, spells lighting up the air, and the audience's excitement filling the atmosphere.
—It looks like today is going to be intense —Emily murmured, fascinated.
—It will be —Lusian replied with a faint smile—. But don't worry, we'll take it calmly. For now, enjoy the show and learn what you can.