章 25: Diligence
Khalil sat cross-legged on the wide, comfortable bed, large enough to easily fit two people. The soft moonlight filtered through the window, casting a faint glow on the open books and manuals spread out before him.
Ryn, the little sapphire-scaled beast, was curled up at his side, his feathery crest shifting slightly with each soft breath, emitting a faint, rhythmic purring sound.
Khalil glanced at his status screen, a faint, shimmering projection in the air before him. His brows furrowed slightly as he studied it. No new messages, no rewards, no increase in his success rate—nothing to indicate that bonding with Ryn had made any immediate difference to his abilities.
Yet, strangely, he wasn't disappointed.
"I figured as much," he muttered, closing the status screen with a flick of his fingers. A small, amused smile tugged at his lips as he looked at the little creature snoozing beside him. "Guess we'll just have to work harder for it, huh?"
"Hr..."
Ryn stirred slightly in his sleep, letting out a soft trill before settling again.
Khalil chuckled quietly before turning his attention to the books before him. He knew the academy would start tomorrow, and though he had attended a basic elementary-level school as Kalem, his understanding of this world's beast-taming intricacies was woefully inadequate.
"Time to catch up," he said to himself, picking up one of the books. His smile widened as his eyes fell on the title, his lips twitching in amusement.
"Introduction to Beasts for Dummies."
Shaking his head, he picked up another: "How to Tame Without Losing a Finger." And another: "Bonding: Even You Can Do It."
"Seriously?" he muttered, a small laugh escaping him. He couldn't help but feel the titles were slightly insulting, but he shrugged it off. "Well, if they work, who am I to complain?"
Among the stack, one book caught his attention—a worn, slightly thicker manual with gold-embossed lettering: "Connecting to Your Bond Space: A Beginner's Guide."
Curious, he opened it to skim through, quickly noting that the Bond Space was not just a mental connection but also the source of a beast tamer's Primal Essence. The text described how a tamer could store their bonds within this space and draw upon their collective energy.
"That's interesting…" he murmured, flipping the pages.
Despite the appeal of the manual, Khalil knew he needed to start with the basics. Setting the Bond Space guide aside for now, he picked up Introduction to Beasts for Dummies and began reading.
The minutes ticked by as he turned page after page, pausing briefly now and then to process the information. His expression shifted between concentration and curiosity, his mind fully absorbed in the material.
The book was surprisingly straightforward, filled with diagrams of various beast types, behavioral notes, and humorous warnings like: "If it hisses, you're already too close." Khalil couldn't help but grin at some of the entries.
The author clearly wrote the book for dummies with zero knowledge of the topic. It was easy to read and understand.
Relying on an efficient learning technique he'd perfected back in his previous life, Khalil finished the book in record time, committing its key points to memory with ease. He closed it with a satisfied sigh, stretching briefly before diving into the next one.
Time seemed to slip away unnoticed as he made his way through each book. By the time he finished the guide on Bond Space, he was already experimenting mentally, trying to sense this ethereal connection. He didn't achieve much yet, but the concept intrigued him enough to bookmark it for future exploration.
His eyelids began to feel heavier with each passing moment.
[04:24]
'1:24?'
He glanced at the clock on the wall but only vaguely registered that it was well past midnight, though the outside of the window seemed a bit lighter.
"Just one more chapter," he mumbled, though his body was already rebelling.
Before he knew it, his head tilted forward, and his vision blurred as his eyelids closed on their own. The book in his hands slipped from his grasp, landing softly on the bed.
He too fell with a light, soft thud.
Ryn stirred, opening one sleepy eye to glance at Khalil before curling closer to his side. The little beast let out a contented chirp, the sound mingling with Khalil's steady breathing as the room settled into a peaceful quiet.
The stack of books lay before them, their spines bearing amusing titles, but Khalil had already taken the first crucial steps toward becoming the tamer he needed to be.
_____ ___ _
The faint sound of chirping birds and the warm caress of sunlight broke through the tranquility of the room. A golden ray slipped through the open window, landing directly on Khalil's face. At first, he merely shifted, his brows furrowing in discomfort as the brightness pressed against his eyelids.
The light grew more insistent, pulling him from the depths of slumber. He stirred, groaning softly as his hand reflexively rose to shield his face. Squinting against the brightness, he turned to his side, away from the window, and let his eyes drift shut once more.
Just a few more seconds, he thought. Just a little more...
But peace eluded him. A sudden realization hit him like a splash of cold water. His eyes snapped open wide.
"I fell asleep!"
Khalil bolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest as he turned to glance out the window. The sun was already well above the horizon, its golden light filling the room.
The academy's opening ceremony!
His gaze darted around the room, his mind racing. The principal had been clear: punctuality was non-negotiable. Lateness would result in a penalty on the very first day. He could already imagine the disapproving stares and the consequences that would follow.
"Not happening!" he muttered, leaping out of bed.
In his haste, Khalil nearly tripped over the pile of books and manuals scattered on the floor. Ryn let out a startled chirp, lifting his small head to blink at Khalil in sleepy confusion.
"No time to explain!" Khalil called out as he darted toward the bathroom, kicking the door open with his foot in haste.
The cold water hit his face as he splashed it over himself, jolting him fully awake. He caught his reflection in the mirror, his hair sticking up at odd angles from his restless night. There was no time to fix it. Khalil grabbed a towel, hastily drying his face before running his fingers through his hair in an attempt to make it somewhat presentable.
He couldn't afford to be late. Not only would it be a poor first impression, but it also went against everything he stood for. If there was one thing Khalil prided himself on, it was being reliable and prepared.
Bursting out of the bathroom, Khalil grabbed his neatly folded uniform from the nearby chair and dressed in record time. He paused only long enough to scoop up the now fully-awake Ryn, who chirped in protest but clung to Khalil's shoulder nonetheless.
"Let's go," Khalil said, his voice firm as he made for the door. "A new life awaits us!"
"We shall arrive in time!"
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