Chapter 67: The Unlikely Circle

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Unlikely Circle

Racking their blunted practice arms back onto the armory shelves, Eric and Edward stepped out of the dome arena and strolled toward the scooter terminal.

The lingering hostility from their rainy forest clash during the trials had evaporated entirely, replaced by the quiet, mutual respect that only a clean, hard-fought duel could forge between martial artists. Coal perched comfortably on Eric’s leather pauldron, methodically preening his glossy wing feathers, while Wendy the two-tailed fox padded alongside Edward’s boots, casting an occasional curious glance up at the obsidian crow.

Eric broke the silence first, glancing sideways as they stepped onto the cobblestones.

"You’re a seriously sharp fighter, Edward. Fluid footwork, vicious close-range dagger mastery, and your beast synchronization is pretty elite. Why come to the Central Research Institution instead of swinging for a good Academy?"

Edward shrugged, burying his hands into the pockets of his dark trousers.

"I’m decent with paired daggers because out in the wilderness, learning how to handle cold steel is just basic survival. But vanguard combat isn’t what I actually want to dedicate my life to. I came here to become a clinical Healer."

Eric choked on his saliva, coughing dryly into his fist.

"A healer?" Eric asked, eyeing the boy’s sharp, irritable jawline with open amusement. "With your explosive, short-fused temper?"

"Hey! Watch your mouth," Edward snapped, though there was no genuine venom behind the retort. He held out an open palm toward Eric. "It’s because of my innate talent. Look."

*WHOOSH.*

A pale, crystalline emerald draft blossomed from Edward’s palm, swirling gently around Eric’s shoulders like a brisk alpine breeze.

The instant the cool breeze swept across his torso, the microscopic lactic soreness lingering in Eric’s forearms dissolved into nothingness. Even the dull bruising across his knuckles from parrying the heavy alloy daggers faded into warm, pristine comfort.

"It’s an innate Rank-C talent called *Healing Breeze*," Edward explained, pulling his hand back and flexing his fingers. "It administers rapid cellular recovery, muscle restoration, and fatigue alleviation to both humans and beasts. The only real drawback is that the talent won’t let me cast it on myself."

"Man, that’s an incredible talent," Eric said, genuinely impressed. "Field medics who can fight off an ambush while patching up an entire squad are practically priceless in the deeper rifts. You’ll make an exceptional healer."

Before they could unlock their scooters at the magnetic dock, energetic footsteps clattered across the cobblestones behind them.

"Heyyyy, guys!"

Eric turned around and immediately recognized the duo jogging over from the spectator archway.

"Ah, the fire siblings," Eric grinned. "What are your names again?"

The pair came to a halt, smiling brightly.

"I’m Jim," the boy said, offering a friendly wave, "and this is my sister, Jenna. We were up in the gallery watching your match, that was seriously incredible!"

"Thanks, guys," Eric chuckled.

Beside him, Edward folded his arms, squinting at the newcomers with a bewildered scowl. "Wait, who are these two?"

"Old acquaintances from the trial," Eric replied with an easy smirk, before turning back to the siblings. "Honestly, what are you two even doing at CRI? I thought this institution only took academic obsessives."

"What do you mean, what are we doing here?!" Jim protested, puffing out his chest, while Jenna struck a theatrical, hands-on-hips hero pose.

"We are here to become the kingdom’s absolute best Beast Nurturers!" they declared in proud unison.

"I didn’t peg you two as the scholarly types," Eric teased.

"Excuse you! We happen to be plenty smart!" Jenna yelled with exaggerated indignation, crossing her arms. "I scored an 87 on the national theory paper, and Jim pulled an 89!"

"Both well above the admissions cutoff, thank you very much," Jim added, grinning proudly.

"Fair enough," Eric laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "I’m Eric, by the way, and this is Edward."

Edward offered a stiff, polite nod. "Nice to meet you."

"Honestly, I’m just glad to see you two getting along as friends," Jenna remarked with a warm giggle, looking between Eric and Edward. "Considering how violently you were trying to skin each other alive in the trial forest."

"Friends, huh..." Eric rubbed his chin thoughtfully, casting an exaggerated, teasing smirk toward Edward. "Are we friends now, Edward?"

A faint splash of pink rose along Edward’s neck. He snapped his head away, scowling intensely at a nearby runic lamppost.

"Hmph! Why are you asking me, dummy? I mean... I guess you could say that. If you really want."

Eric couldn’t help but chuckle softly. *Great, we’ve got a certified tsundere in the house now.*

"That’s settled then!" Jenna cheered, clapping her hands together. "We’re officially a freshman circle. Let’s exchange contact details on our smartbands so we can coordinate study groups."

Nobody objected. Within seconds, all four wristbands chimed in sequence as their personal communication frequencies synchronized.

"So," Jim asked, leaning against the polished stone railing, "what majors are you guys planning to take during orientation tomorrow? Like we said, Jenna and I are locking in Beast Nurturing."

"I’m taking the Medical Track," Edward stated firmly. "Triage healing and biological restoration."

"Oh, clinical healing is fantastic," Jenna beamed. "Certified field healers pull in absurd retainer contracts from high-ranking exploration guilds. What about you, Eric?"

Edward turned his gaze toward Eric as well, curious where the lethal swordsman was headed.

Eric smiled calmly, his dark eyes steady. "I’m taking Beast Evolution Research."

"Beast Evolution?!"

All three of them gasped simultaneously, their eyes widening in sheer disbelief.

"Are you completely insane, Eric?" Jim breathed, staring at him as if he had grown a second head. "That is easily the most brutal, cutthroat department in the entire institution! The theoretical failure rates are through the roof!"

"He’s right," Jenna nodded solemnly, her cheerful demeanor turning dead serious. "Formulating stable evolution paths requires analyzing hundreds of volatile mana catalysts, bloodline strains, and elemental deviation thresholds. But... if you actually succeed, an Evolution Master is easily the most respected figure in the entire kingdom."

She paused, then flashed him a bright, supportive smile. "All the best, Eric. You’re going to need it!"

"Yeah, thanks," Eric laughed softly.

Right on cue, his stomach let out an unceremonious, rumbling growl that echoed loudly across the open plaza, prompting Coal to let out a soft, mocking squawk from his shoulder.

Eric rubbed his stomach with a sheepish grin. "Speaking of survival... that arena match drained whatever breakfast I had left. I’m completely starving. Anyone down to grab some food?"

"Count us in!" Jenna pointed eagerly down a wide flagstone path toward the campus center. "Jim and I already scoped out the central dining pavilion during our morning tour. Follow us, they’ve got an entire hall dedicated to mana-infused food!"