A few more days had passed since the incident at the training hall. Today was the day of the class test, and the air in the room was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Courage sat at his usual desk in the middle of the classroom, quietly preparing himself. He glanced around to see his classmates exchanging whispers and adjusting their supplies, but his gaze soon fixed on the front of the room.

Miss Everdine stood there, her usual warm smile radiating encouragement, while Riker, the stern and pragmatic instructor, was beside her.

"Alright, class," Miss Everdine began, her voice calm but firm. "Today is the day of the test. I hope you've all done your best to prepare."

Riker stepped forward, his tone sharp and efficient. "Here's how this will go. First, each of you will take a written exam here in the classroom, monitored by Miss Everdine. After that, you'll head to the training hall for your physical exam, which I will oversee. Understood?"

"Understood," the class echoed, though their voices betrayed varying levels of confidence.

"Good. Then let's begin," Miss Everdine said as she began distributing the test papers. Along with each paper, she placed a small, sealed box on every desk.

As Courage’s turn came, he stared at the box curiously, but Miss Everdine’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "These contain supplementary materials for the questions. The test basically revolves around them . Good luck, everyone," she said before stepping back to her desk

And so the test began. Its mechanics were simple: inside the boxes were small samples of various materials, and the students' task was to use Spirit Sense to identify them. They were required to write down their answers, with higher scores awarded for more detailed and accurate identifications. It was clear that this test was designed to evaluate the students' development of Spirit Sense.

Courage, having prepared extensively, wasn't nervous. He focused intently, carefully identifying each material to the best of his ability. By the time he completely filled his paper, there was still time left, so he took the opportunity to revise all his answers meticulously.

Eventually, the clock ticked down, and it was time to submit the answers. As Miss Everdine collected the papers, the room buzzed with murmurs—some students expressing worry, others radiating confidence.

The scene then shifted to the training hall, where the second part of the examination took place: testing Spirit Command. Riker stood at the front, calling each student one by one to step onto a specially prepared stage. Each student was tasked with commanding their beast to perform specific actions and tricks. These ranged from executing particular maneuvers within a set timeframe to showcasing unique abilities.

The tasks varied depending on the student and their beast. This made sense, as different creatures had distinct anatomies, movements, and capabilities. For instance, some students were tested on their beast's ability to fly or swim rather than on terrestrial movement. Birds, fish, and other specialized creatures were given challenges that suited their nature.

The physical tests took several hours to complete. By the end, Riker addressed the students, informing them that the results of the day's tests would be revealed tomorrow, along with some additional announcements. He advised them to rest and prepare for the evening lesson, emphasizing its importance.

Several hours later, after having lunch and some rest, the students returned to their classroom. Once everyone had settled into their seats, Miss Everdine stood at the front and began, “Alright, students. In today’s lesson, we are going to address some longstanding questions—mainly the ones you’ve had about what you see in your beasts when you use Spirit Sense on them.

“To start, those things are called Beast Marks, and...”

Miss Everdine proceeded to explain the concept of Beast Marks in detail. Her explanation sparked a wave of intrigue among the students, who listened intently with great interest. For many of them, this was their first proper understanding of the subject.

Courage, however, was less impressed. Dan had already lectured him extensively on Beast Marks, so most of the information wasn’t new. Still, he kept his attention sharp, just in case Miss Everdine introduced any insights that Dan might have overlooked

Miss Everdine concluded her explanation, taking a few moments to address questions from curious students. The classroom buzzed with excitement and murmurs as the students absorbed the new information. Then, after a brief pause, she added, “Alright, now that you all understand the importance of Beast Marks to your beasts, I’m sure you’re wondering how to develop this crucial aspect.

“The answer to that lies in something tamers call the Domain.”

At the mention of the word, the room fell silent. Even Courage, who had been somewhat detached during the lecture, perked up. Miss Everdine’s tone had shifted, signaling the significance of what she was about to discuss.

She began, “A Domain is a personal, internal space that exists within every tamer’s spirit. Think of it as a pocket dimension where you can store your beasts. However, it is much more than a simple storage space. A Domain is a place where you can nurture your beasts, simulate environments that enhance their natural growth, and even experiment with creating conditions to stimulate the development of their Beast Marks.”

She moved to the chalkboard and began drawing a diagram of a human figure, with a glowing sphere centered in the torso.

“This sphere represents your Domain. When you first awaken as a Beast Tamer, your Domain is small and undeveloped. Its initial capacity is limited, allowing you to house only a few creatures. Over time, as you train, gather resources, and grow stronger, your Domain Will expand. And With the right materials, you can even shape your Domain to mimic the natural habitats of your beasts, encouraging their Beast Marks to grow and evolve.”

She paused, scanning the room to ensure everyone was following along. “The environment you create in your Domain is critical. For example, a beast with fire-based Beast Marks will benefit from volcanic or arid conditions, while water-based creatures need aquatic or humid settings. By carefully designing your Domain, you can maximize the potential of your beasts and their abilities.”

The students listened intently, some furiously taking notes. Courage found himself intrigued by the new information Miss Everdine provided.

“Lastly,” she added, “a tamer’s Domain is also a reflection of their own spirit. It grows with you, shaped by your aptitude and the effort you put into developing it. The stronger and more versatile your Domain, the more powerful and adaptable you—and your beasts—will become.”

Several hands shot up with questions, but Miss Everdine raised her hand to signal for quiet. “I know you’re curious, but for now, let’s move on. I’ll show you a demonstration later. Just remember: your Domain is the foundation of your journey as a Beast Tamer. Its development will determine not only your success but also the future of your beasts.”

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. Courage couldn’t help but feel a mixture of anticipation and unease. Dan hadn't mentioned Domains before, but Miss Everdine’s explanation alone had given him a very clearer picture of their importance

After that Miss Everdine continued explaining a few more points to the students before finally saying, "That should cover everything you need to know about Domains. Now, how about a demonstration? But first, why don’t you pick your beasts from the stables and meet up with Riker in the training hall?"

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After a quick transition to the training hall, every person in the class stood some distance away from each other, their beasts positioned beside them. The students whispered among themselves, their excitement and nerves palpable. The murmurs were broken by Riker’s commanding voice:

“Alright, remember what you were taught in class. The first step is forming a Domain with the help of your beast. So, follow the instructions carefully. Step one: receiving feedback. Begin!”

Each student approached their beast, placing their palms gently on its body. Courage followed suit, pressing his hand against the cool, chitinous surface of his rhinoceros beetle. Slowly, he began transferring his spirit energy into the creature.

Inside their bodies, the spirit energy coursed through the pathways of their beasts’ Beast Marks. For a deeper observer, the process was clear—the spirit energy followed the intricate lines of the marks, causing them to glow faintly as they began to expand and grow.

Courage could feel his energy being absorbed steadily, but something else was happening. After a few moments, the Beast Marks began releasing a faint, steam-like energy that radiated back into him. It wasn’t quite spirit energy but something rawer, more primal—an energy that carried a deep, unexplainable vitality.

This feedback energy, known as primal essence, was the key to forming a Domain. Courage closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation as the primal essence surged back into his body. He didn’t have to think too much; the process felt natural, almost instinctive.

As the essence entered his torso, it gathered in the center, condensing into a sphere of intense heat. For a moment, it felt as though a furnace had ignited within him. But before the heat could overwhelm him, his totem—the ethereal, glowing rhinoceros beetle—shifted inside his body. It moved toward the sphere, its translucent form merging with the energy.

The moment the totem submerged itself into the sphere, the energy began to transform. The heat dissipated, replaced by a harmonious blend of warmth and coolness. It was as if two opposing forces had found balance within him. Courage could feel the sphere stabilizing, solidifying into a core that radiated power.

He opened his eyes briefly, seeing faint traces of energy swirling around him. His rhinoceros beetle stood motionless but alert, as if guarding him during the process.

“Good!” Riker’s voice boomed across the hall. “Keep absorbing the feedback energy and let it guide you. Don’t fight the process—trust your instincts!”

Courage felt the sphere in his torso pulling more primal essence into it, solidifying its presence within him. He could sense something forming, a space not in the physical world but within his spirit. It was vast, empty, and waiting to be shaped.

The murmurs of the other students faded into the background as Courage focused inward, his thoughts consumed by the process. Slowly but surely, he felt a connection to this new part of himself—a Domain uniquely tied to his spirit and his beast.

Several minutes later, the process was complete. If one were to look inside each student’s body, an ethereal-looking orb had manifested in their torso. Though the orb appeared to be the size of a football, it didn’t occupy any actual physical space; its presence was entirely spiritual.

Riker, noticing that everyone had finished, raised his voice to grab their attention. “Alright, now that you’ve all completed step one, let’s move on to step two: inspecting your Domain. Remember what we discussed earlier. Clear your heads and focus on your totem.”

Courage, like many of his peers, followed the instructions. He sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. Slowly, he felt himself attuning to a sensation—faint at first but growing stronger as he persisted.

After several moments, a strange feeling crawled down his spine, like a sudden shiver . Then, the atmosphere around him shifted dramatically. Instinctively, Courage tried to open his eyes, and what he saw left him speechless.

The training hall, his classmates, and even Riker had all vanished. In their place was an endless expanse of blank white space, stretching infinitely in every direction. It was as though the entire world had stopped existing, leaving only this strange, surreal void.

His initial shock caused him to flinch, but as he glanced down at himself, a new wave of surprise overtook him. He no longer had his regular human body. Instead, he had the body of a beetle—pure white, semi translucent, and eerily ethereal. Courage nearly jumped in alarm, his mind racing to make sense of what had happened.

Fighting to stay calm, he took deep breaths and began organizing his thoughts. The blank space around him, the shift in perception, and his transformed body... It all started to add up. This wasn’t some random dream or hallucination. This place was the inner space of his Domain, and he was experiencing it through the perspective of his totem.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. The teachers had described inspecting a Domain as a deeply immersive experience, one that often involved seeing the world through the eyes of one’s totem. And as he reflected on the process earlier, it explained something else that had puzzled him: his totem hadn’t disappeared after forming his Domain—it had simply entered this inner space.

Now fully aware of what was happening, Courage steadied himself and began to observe his surroundings more closely. Though the white void seemed empty at first glance, he could feel a subtle, latent spirit energy all around him.

He continued to observe the space around him, feeling the subtle energy permeating the space. but aside from its strange, infinite emptiness, there seemed to be nothing else of immediate interest. Recalling his earlier instructions, he decided to move on to the next step: exiting the Domain.

He focused his thoughts, willing his consciousness to return to the outside world. At first, it was difficult, as though his mind was tethered to the Domain, but after a few seconds of concentrated effort, he felt the connection loosen. Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the world around him shifted.

When Courage opened his eyes, he was back in the training hall. The familiar sights and sounds flooded his senses, but the abrupt transition left him feeling slightly disoriented. A wave of vertigo swept over him, and he swayed for a moment before steadying himself.

Shaking off the lingering dizziness, Courage decided to practice entering and exiting his Domain again. Closing his eyes, he focused on the connection to his totem and the ethereal orb in his torso. This time, the process was a little smoother, and within moments, he found himself back in the white void.

Repeating the process, he willed himself out of the Domain once more, his consciousness snapping back to reality. With each attempt, the transitions became easier. After a few more tries, Courage began to get the hang of it, seamlessly slipping between the two states without hesitation.

Feeling that he was done with that step , he glanced around and noticed some of his classmates were still struggling, their faces scrunched in concentration as they attempted to navigate their own Domains. Others, like him, seemed to be making progress, their expressions of confusion giving way to determination.

Once everyone had completed the previous step, Riker addressed the group again. “Alright, final step: storing and nurturing your beasts. You all know what to do,” he said confidently.

Listening to the instructions, Courage approached his beast. Taking a deep breath, he focused on projecting his will toward it. He visualized clear ideas: "shelter," "enter," and the sensation of "opening" his Domain. A few awkward seconds passed, and nothing happened. Courage furrowed his brows but wasn’t discouraged.

He tried again, this time concentrating harder on the feeling of connection between him, his totem, and his Domain. Slowly, something began to happen. A strange light emanated from his body, its glow spreading to envelop both him and his beast.

As the light intensified, Courage watched in awe as his beast's body started to transform. It became semi-transparent, its form shifting into an ethereal state. Then, as the light subsided, the beast seemingly vanished.

But Courage knew better. He immediately closed his eyes and focused, inspecting his Domain. Within moments, he saw it—his beast, floating calmly in the void-like space of his Domain. Unlike before, when the Domain felt empty and distant, he now experienced entirely new sensations.

The first was his connection to the beast itself. Inside his Domain, he could sense everything about it: its condition, the structure of its beast marks, its breathing rhythm, and even faint echoes of its thoughts. It was as if their connection had deepened to a level he had never thought possible.

The second realization was about the Domain itself. Although it appeared infinite to the eye, Courage now sensed its finite boundaries. His beast’s presence within it took up a portion of that space, far larger than it appeared visually. He understood instinctively that the Domain’s capacity was limited, and the more powerful the beast, the more 'space' it would occupy.

Courage took a moment to let the experience sink in, marveling at the transformation and the depth of the connection he now shared with his beast.

Riker, noticing that some students had successfully completed that step, instructed them to now try nurturing their beasts within their domains.

Following the instructions, Courage focused inward, activating his domain. Inside this personal space, he willed his stored spirit energy toward his beast. The moment he did so, the stray energy within the domain began converging and pouring into his beast’s body.

Unlike his earlier attempts in the outside world, Courage immediately noticed a significant improvement in control. Within his domain, the flow of spirit energy was far more refined, responding to his intent with remarkable precision. This allowed him to nurture his beast with greater ease and efficiency.

Observing his beetle beast, Courage saw it floating weightlessly within the domain, serene and motionless. Yet, contrary to its calm state, he could sense the immense pleasure it was experiencing. The energy coursing through its form seemed to invigorate it, filling it with vitality.

Inspecting deeper, Courage noticed something astonishing: it's beast’s marks were growing at a considerably faster rate than before. The marks radiated faint pulses of primal essence, which were immediately absorbed into the surrounding space. This feedback loop had a profound effect, as Courage began to feel his domain subtly expand and strengthen in response to the primal essence being generated.

The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before—a rejuvenating and immersive experience, as though every fiber of his being was resonating with the growth of his beast and domain.

He continued this process for nearly an hour, completely absorbed in the pleasant sensation. However, the feeling abruptly ceased, pulling him back to awareness. Inspecting his domain, he realized that his spirit energy reserves had been depleted. Without energy to sustain the process, the growth of both his beast and his domain came to a halt.

Finding nothing he could do to replenish his spirit energy at the moment, Courage remained seated, waiting patiently for his classmates to finish so they could move on to the next step. As he observed the others, something struck him: the order in which everyone completed the exercise wasn’t random at all.

It dawned on him that the order was closely tied to their aptitude. The reasoning became clear the more he thought about it—aptitude determined one’s spirit energy capacity. A higher aptitude meant a greater reserve of spirit energy, allowing for prolonged nurturing of their beasts.

Given his own situation, it made sense why he had been the first to run out of spirit energy. As the student with the lowest aptitude in his class, his reserves were the smallest, limiting how long he could sustain the process. He noted the pattern among the others: those who finished after him were similarly those with lower aptitudes, while the ones still continuing had progressively higher aptitudes.

As he reflected further, another crucial realization struck him. Higher aptitude didn’t just mean greater spirit energy capacity—it also meant faster growth. Those with more spirit energy could nurture their beasts and expand their domains more effectively, giving them a significant advantage over time.

The disadvantages of his low aptitude were already becoming evident, and the gap between himself and his peers was likely to widen unless he found a way to bridge it. For the first time, Courage felt the weight of his limitations bearing down on him.