Casandra led them to the training grounds where the demonstration was to take place.

  Upon entering, Lusian and Emily were met by a young woman with black hair and piercing yellow eyes, accompanied by a sleek feline. When she saw Lusian, she hurried forward and knelt respectfully.

  "Welcome, my lord. It's an honor to see you here," she said, bowing deeply.

  Maestra Casandra, clearly annoyed, interrupted:"Adela Douglas, stand. This is no place for such gestures."

  Adela, a devoted disciple of Sofía and loyal to Lusian, responded firmly:"I'm sorry, Maestra, but as a future general of the Douglas family, it's my duty to show respect to my lord."

  "It's unnecessary here, Adela," Lusian said calmly, motioning for her to rise.

  She obeyed, murmuring,"As you command, my lord."

  Casandra regained control of the training grounds and turned her gaze to Lusian, her expression firm."All right, Lusian. Here, you are expected to demonstrate your control over your beast."

  She offered a brief explanation about tamers: those of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma affinity could bond with a single beast for life; Delta and Epsilon, with two; and Omegas, up to three. Each bond was permanent, broken only by the death of the creature—a loss that brought a pain no tamer could endure without shuddering.

  The first test was simple: destroy ten targets scattered across the field. Lusian gave the order to Umber, and the beast tore them down effortlessly. Casandra watched, jaw dropped—controlling a creature of that level with such precision normally took years of training. And Lusian, not even an official tamer, made it look effortless.

  The second test was an obstacle course. Umber had to navigate it guided solely by Lusian's thoughts. Every jump, turn, and dodge was executed flawlessly. Casandra couldn't look away—if Duchess Sofía had been present, one might have assumed she was controlling the beast. But she wasn't. Every movement proved Lusian was the true master.

  The third test pitted Umber against another creature. Given Umber's level, the only suitable opponent was Casandra's salamander: a massive creature standing 1.10 meters tall and stretching 2.50 meters long, classified as B-Gamma.

  "No support magic," Casandra instructed. "Direct commands only."

  "Understood, Maestra. Any other instructions?" Lusian asked.

  "The beasts' safety is ensured. 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 inhuman agility. The wolf countered with spheres of dark mana, calculated with surgical precision. Lusian knew the salamander's weakness: a strike to the throat could neutralize its attacks.

  Spotting the opportunity, Umber adjusted its approach. A sphere of dark mana struck just below the salamander's throat, leaving it stunned and exhaling smoke from its mouth. Casandra tried to react, but it was too late. Umber stepped forward decisively, resting a paw on the salamander's head, signaling the end of the fight.

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  Casandra was speechless, astonished by Lusian's mastery. There was no doubt: he controlled Umber like a true tamer, though he wasn't one. Her intention in calling him before her students was clear: to show that handling a beast required exceptional skill, achievable only by a trained tamer. Yet Lusian had left her argument void, demonstrating that, thanks to his mother's spell, he could command Umber with ease that defied all expectations.

  Adela approached, elated by Lusian's victory, and asked if she could meet him when he had time.

  Exiting the building, Lusian turned to Emily:"I'm hungry. Shall we grab something to eat?"

  Emily, with no other plans, smiled and happily agreed.

  Upon arriving at the restaurant, they found it crowded, with notable figures among the patrons—including Andrew and Elizabeth. Lusian wanted to congratulate Elizabeth on her impressive victory over Lorenzo, but unable to do so publicly, he simply gave her a quick, approving glance before leading Emily to an empty table.

  Seated, Lusian asked Emily what she wanted to eat. She laughed softly and, jokingly, suggested they see if the menu had smoked salamander ribs—a playful nod to their recent magical beast duel.

  A waiter approached to take their order and then left.

  "Did you see the battle between Lorenzo and Elizabeth?" Emily asked, eyes shining. "It was incredible. I hope I can be like her someday."

  Lusian thought to himself that she might surpass even Elizabeth, but initially kept quiet. Finally, he spoke aloud:"You'll be better than her."

  Emily's eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled."Thank you… I didn't know you saw me that way."

  Lusian, recalling Emily's in-game persona, chose to expand:"I know how passionate you are about magic, and how much you want to use it to protect those you care about. Since you were a child, you've read books on spells, trained to grow stronger, and dreamed of crafting your own magic. You're innocent, yet ambitious… and you want to make the world a better place."

  Emily, impressed by his insight, asked,"How do you know so much about me?"

  "It's normal to research the person you've been promised to," Lusian replied naturally, though internally he knew it sounded awkward to someone he barely knew.

  Emily, aware of Lusian's family reputation and the tension between them, admitted,"The truth is… I don't really know you yet."

  Lusian smiled softly."I know. And that's for the best. For now, focus on your studies and your dreams. I know you'll achieve them."

  Emily thanked him, and Lusian waved it off. Yet inside, he realized he was opening up too much; it was dangerous, since Emily could one day become a future adversary.

  Sensing her concern, Emily asked,"What do you mean by that?"

  Lusian quickly changed the subject, smiling with a hint of nostalgia:"Forget it… I'm just a bit pensive."

  After enjoying their meal and chatting quietly, Lusian and Emily left the restaurant. The afternoon air was thick with the mingling scents of the city and the bustle of preparations for the 1A class tournament.

  "There's a lot of activity at the academy today," Emily observed, watching groups of students rush toward the training arena.

  "Yes," Lusian replied, eyes sharp. "It's the day of the first tournament battles. Some of your classmates will be facing off soon."

  A shiver ran through Emily, a mixture of excitement and nerves.

  As they walked, the distant roar of the crowd and the clash of spells from the arena reached their ears. Lusian furrowed his brow slightly, assessing the situation.

  "I think it's wise to stay nearby, but not intervene," he said. "Observing can be just as valuable as participating."

  Emily nodded, understanding that Lusian's concern was for her safety, though she noticed a spark of curiosity in his gaze as well. From a distance, the controlled chaos of the arena unfolded: students running, spells lighting up the air, and the audience's excitement saturating the atmosphere.

  "Looks like today's going to be intense," Emily murmured, captivated.

  "It will be," Lusian replied with a faint smile. "But don't worry—we'll watch it calmly. For now, enjoy the spectacle and learn what you can."