The day dawned with a veil of mist covering the campus of Valmere Academy. As the city slowly awakened, Ethan felt a mixture of tranquility and unease. The triumph at the freshmen tournament, although resounding, had left unanswered questions and a sense that the world hid secrets far beyond battles and elemental abilities.
After lunch, while his classmates dispersed for individual training, Ethan sought refuge in the academy's library. The imposing stone building, with colorful stained glass windows and hallways that stretched like a labyrinth of wisdom, had always been his favorite place. Today, however, something felt different. Among the shelves, the silence was almost palpable, and each book exuded the weight of time.
Ethan wandered through the narrow corridors, running his fingers along the worn spines. In a rarely visited section, he found a leather-bound volume, aged and inscribed with symbols that combined elemental signs and traces of an ancient language. As he flipped through the yellowed pages, he discovered meticulous illustrations of beasts, evolution diagrams, and notes that hinted at training methods long forgotten.
As he read, he discreetly jotted down his thoughts in a worn notebook. Each paragraph stirred in him the sense that these literary relics could hold the key to understanding not only the true potential of beasts, but also the bond between them and their tamers.
During his reading, Ethan came across a passage mentioning "the natural synergy that transcends traditional training methods." The words seemed to echo the commands he had given during the tournament: "Nature's Rhythm" and "Verdant Cascade." Could there be a deeper connection—something that linked the beasts' natural state to the very essence of the world they inhabited?
He thought about the behavior of the Forest Ancestral Deer, which had shown a unique ability to manipulate the environment during battle. It wasn't just a learned technique, but something intrinsic to the creature, as if its DNA carried memories of ancient times. The idea intrigued him—perhaps there was a forgotten link between beasts and ancient civilizations, and the library might be the place to uncover such secrets.
As his hands slid across the book's pages, the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the reading corridor. Ethan looked up and saw Professor Alden, whose piercing gaze softened at the sight of the young man so deeply focused. He approached with a curious expression, as if he sensed something special in that silent moment.
"Looks like you've found something interesting," Alden remarked, discreetly pointing to the old book resting on the table.
Ethan closed the book carefully and offered a shy smile.
"Yes, professor. I'm trying to understand how certain natural techniques connect with beast abilities... something that seems to transcend conventional training."
Professor Alden nodded, his eyes gleaming with a mix of approval and curiosity.
"There are many secrets in this world, Ethan. Not all answers lie on the battlefield. Sometimes, true power lies in knowledge. You've already shown, both in the tournament and here today, a unique kind of sensitivity. Perhaps, in time, you'll become one of the few who can unite the art of combat with deep research into the origins of beasts."
The professor's words echoed within Ethan, filling him with a renewed sense of purpose. For the first time, he glimpsed a path that blended his passion for strategy with the mysteries that permeated every corner of this world.
As he left the library, the sky cleared even more, and Ethan felt as if each sunbeam carried a fragment of lost knowledge. He knew the road ahead would be long and filled with challenges, but the certainty that there was more than met the eye made his heart race with determination.
As he walked through the academy's gardens, he wondered if the secrets hidden there could one day rewrite the rules of the tamers' world. And in that moment of contemplation, a silent determination settled in: it wouldn't be enough to be strong in battle—he would have to become a pioneer in uncovering the true roots of that power.