บท 22: Books

"First comes first. Tell me what you saw just now!" Professor Wright pointed to a student who had just sat down.

"Clark punched Ralph very hard and broke his ribs!"

"Yes yes, but how did he do it?" Professor Wright realized that many of the students were talented in the sense that they had great potential. Very few of them would have the battle experience to understand everything.

"Clark moved very fast to get close to Ralph then ended the fight with the first attack to a weak spot on his body. Crim waited just long enough to dodge and jump on top of Ralph's beast and defeat it quickly." Maria spoke up with a louder voice than Clark thought she was capable of.

"Very good. You paid attention. What you saw was a trained movement technique along with a trained fist technique. The movement technique seems to be a self modified technique. You can learn from your beasts and take inspiration from that."

The fact that Clark boasted a self modified technique was amazing. The students were looking at him with awe but also at their own beasts. They could learn from the beasts they had grown up with and become just as fast as Clark. Their desires were overtaking them.

"Don't get distracted. There's more. The focused fist technique is basic but I can see that Clark was able to derive it from a different style. Therefore, it was incorporated easily in to his battle form. You can all learn the focused fist skill as a basic technique. It is very easy to modify as you grow and understand your beasts." This was another encouraging string of words for the students.

"What you should truly be amazed by is the fact that Clark and his beast worked together. They acted as one to defeat both opponents at once. If you believe that you are not participating in the battle yourself, you are a fool. You are just as much in that fight as your beast." The students were all silenced yet again.

"There may be times when you are told to battle with only your beasts. But that is not the case in the wild. As a professor, I can show you one day that even a tamer can defeat many wild beasts with their bare hands. Or like me, you can use a variety of weapons.'' The small hint that their professor would take them out in to the wilds caused more energy to burst in the classroom.

Clark listened carefully as his match was evaluated. Professor Wright had seen through his techniques and training. It was something that Clark lacked when watching an opponent. It would be an extremely valuable skill for him to harness in the future.

'The system can allow you to evaluate tamers as well. If you can complete future quests this is always a potential. The creator has many potential rewards for quests.'

When the system spoke up in his mind, Clark was further encouraged. He had not received a quest in a little bit. He wanted another that would push him to become stronger and grant him better rewards.

"Clark?" Maria tugged on his shirt making Clark wonder what was going on. "Are you alright?" Crim was looking at him too and Clark could feel Devi pulling on him too.

"It seems I was distracted. There is a lot to think about." Maria felt the same. She had her eyes opened to things she had forsaken when it came to getting stronger. Her body was weak and she had not begun training.

"What do you plan to do?" Maria wanted to ask Clark to help her train. He was clearly experienced. "Will you train today?" The short classes were designed to let students learn on their own and put things in to practice.

"The library. I know too little. I may find important information about Crim. Or I may find new training technique. I can still get stronger and learn to incorporate my beasts styles in to mine." Clark knew that with Crim added to his family he could learn new skills. He had matched very well with him in the short battle.

Crim was a slime dragon. A dragon that attacked head on with power. Clark had done that too. He used the ghostly steps to get near his opponent and then won with the overwhelming force he had. But Clark could not win that way all the time. He might need tricks to deal more pinpoint damage.

"I will come as well. I could learn training techniques." Maria waited for Clark to say no, but he did not. The pair walked from the classroom while a few other students looked at him. They had admiration for Clark and the little dragon with him. But they also wondered how he had obtained a dragon as a beast. Not many had the potential to have a spirit beast that was a dragon. It was not unheard of though.

Walking in silence with Clark was not a big deal. Maria was less stressed out trying to speak with him knowing that he might not have much to say. So far from what she had learned, Clark was silent. He spent time planning and thinking while moving through his day.

The large building set aside for the library was one that every student should have gone to many times. But like most young people, the students forgot the benefits of such a place. The library was the best place for anyone to learn. So much knowledge that could be the difference between life and death in the wilds.

"This place is huge. There are too many books to choose from." Maria had never seen so many books. The quality of every single one was spectacular. Those tending the library were extremely careful in every action. Their beasts were also similar to them in assisting their tasks.

'Fluffy tailed cat- uncommon

The fluffy tailed cat has high intelligence but very low battle strength. Their species is able to use air type skills to clean which makes them very useful in the home. They are an uncommon beast, yet they often gather in groups when sensing others. The best way for them to grow…'

"Plenty of hard workers."

"I am glad you can see that. Not many students come here even though I quite like it." Alexander came in to view holding a book in his hand. "My student seems to have found a friend. Strange choice but I will allow you to remain by him." Alexander's warning was enough to scare Maria until Clark gave a questioning look.

"This is my mentor. He will teach me a few things."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I will work hard." After giving Maria a once over, Alexander decided to continue on his way. Her words enough for now.

"You have access to the advanced section. You will find what you are looking for on the second row fourth shelf. The little girl with you may look in the regular section. But I could not stop you if you brought a book out of the advanced section." Alexander walked toward a chair. He rested while watching Clark and Maria wander away. Maria was understandably worried that she would offend someone clearly stronger than her.