The next morning, Silas awoke to the first light of dawn streaming through the dusty windows of his inherited quarters. He stretched and rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb Diog, who was curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed.
"Morning, Diog," he whispered, scratching the cub behind his ears. Diog yawned and blinked up at him with bright, icy blue eyes.
Silas stood and stretched his arms above his head. He knew today would be another day filled with challenges and training. But first, he needed to check both his and Diog's current status, as well as how much gold they had left after yesterday's expenses.
He motioned to Bonereghard, who was already waiting by the door, ever the vigilant steward. "Bonereghard, can you summon the system interface for me?" Silas asked.
"Of course, my lord," Bonereghard replied with a nod. He waved his skeletal hand in a fluid motion, and a shimmering blue interface materialized in front of Silas.
《System Status: Silas Beckham》
《Name: 《Silas Beckham》》
《Title: 《Lord of the Beckham Estate, Tamer Initiate》》
《Level: 《1》》
《Experience: 《67/100》》
《Class: 《Beast Tamer (Potential: Mythic)》》
《Gold: 《2993》 (After 《7 gold》 deducted for training)》
《Estate Mana Output: 《30 Mana/Week》 (Allocated: 《20 Mana》 to 《Bonereghard》, 《10 Mana》 to 《The Gemini》)》
Silas nodded in satisfaction. Despite spending gold on their training yesterday, they still had a decent amount left. It was a good start, but he knew they needed more if they were going to pay off the estate's debts.
"Let's check on Diog next," Silas said. Bonereghard nodded again and flicked his hand once more.
《System Status: Diog》
《Name: 《Diog》》
《Species: 《Fenrir (Mythic Rank)》》
《Form: 《Cub》》
《Level: 《1》》
《Experience: 《78/100》》
《Bond: 《Strong》》
《Abilities (Current Form):》
《Frost Fang (Basic): 《Gnaws at enemies, inflicting minor frostbite.》》
《Howl of Ice (Dormant): 《A powerful ability locked until later forms.》》
《Stats:》
《Strength: 《3》 (+2) 《5》》
《Agility: 《5》》
《Endurance: 《4》 (+1) 《5》》
《Intelligence: 《3》 (+1) 《4》》
《Mana Affinity: 《9》 (+2) 《11》》
《Growth Potential: 《Mythic (Final Form: Primordial Fenrir)》》
Silas grinned. Diog was close to leveling up. A few more training sessions or battles should do it. He looked down at his companion and scratched him behind the ears again.
"We're getting there," he said softly. "One step at a time."
Bonereghard cleared his throat, or at least mimicked the action, as he had no throat. "My lord, shall we proceed with today's schedule?"
Silas looked over Diog's stats again, thinking about his next move. He turned to Bonereghard for feedback. "What's your opinion, Bonereghard? What should I have Diog do next?"
«The Hexgear Cup»
Bonereghard's hollow eyes flickered with a dim glow as he considered Silas's question. "Ah, my lord," he began, his voice drawn out and excited. "As it happens, I had something else in mind, the thing for which I told you we must prepare."
Silas raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"The Hexgear Cup," Bonereghard explained, stepping closer. "A monster fighting event held twice a season in Bastian. It is one of the few competitions where anyone, from the most seasoned summoners and tamers to lordlings like yourself, may enter their creature into battle."
Silas felt a moment of unease. "So, Diog would be matched up fairly, right?"
Bonereghard shrugged. "It will be fair enough, my lord. You don't need to worry about Diog. Diog is simply an existence beyond many monsters you will come across. Though many of them may not have the same potential, they will provide the initial challenge Diog needs to propel his growth."
Silas considered it. Diog had grown stronger through the Mana Control Meditation, and while there was still more training to be done, a real battle would be the best test of his companion's abilities. Besides, there was also the promise of gold.
"And what's the reward for winning in this Hexgear Cup?" Silas asked.
Bonereghard's skeletal grin widened slightly. "Victory in the E-Class bracket offers 10 gold, along with minor prestige. Win enough battles and work your way up the ranks, and your name will begin to spread in Bastian."
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Silas couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect. This was the perfect chance to test Diog's abilities and earn some gold to continue funding the estate and his training. And if they could win, it would bring him one step closer to paying off his debt.
"Alright then," Silas said with renewed determination. "Let's enter Diog into this Hexgear Cup."
"Very well," Bonereghard replied smoothly. "I shall handle the necessary arrangements for your entry."
Silas looked down at Diog who seemed just as eager as he was. "You ready for this buddy?" Diog barked softly in response.
"Good," Silas said with a grin. "Let's show them what we're made of."
《System Notification:》
《Event Available: 《Hexgear Cup》》
《Entry Fee: 《Free (for first-time competitors)》》
《Level Requirement: 《E-Class (Diog qualifies based on current stats)》》
《Rewards:》
《First Place (E-Class): 《10 Gold》》
《Experience Gain: 《Moderate》》
«The Path of a Beastmaster»
Bonereghard clasped his hands behind his back, watching Silas closely. He leaned in, the monocle on his left eye socket glinting with light. "There's another aspect to consider, my lord," he began, "Your path as a Beastmaster. It is a rare and powerful combination of both tamer and summoner, yet it stands apart as its own discipline."
Silas raised an eyebrow. "Beastmaster? I've heard of tamers and summoners, but how is a Beastmaster different?"
Bonereghard's glowing eyes flickered slightly. "Apologies, your grandfather, Arch Magus Dewalt Beckham, was an enigma in many ways. He wasn't a summoner by traditional standards. He bound creatures to his will and created others with magic. While he summoned beings, it was a sub-specialty of his primary arcane focus."
Silas tilted his head, trying to grasp the complexity of his grandfather's abilities. "So, he wasn't just one thing; he was... everything?"
"In a manner of speaking," Bonereghard replied with a sigh, steepling his bony fingers. "This is conjecture. I do not know for certain. But, from my observations, it seems a beastmaster forms a deeper bond with their creatures, utilizing both the taming skills to bond and control and the summoning arts to call forth additional creatures when needed."
Silas nodded slowly. "Alright then, so, I need to train myself as much as I train Diog."
"Precisely," Bonereghard confirmed. "Your growth is intertwined with Diog's. You must push yourself just as hard. This Hexgear Cup will be an excellent opportunity to test your abilities in a controlled environment."
Silas glanced down at Diog. His tail wagged eagerly, his icy blue eyes fixed on Silas.
Bonereghard continued, "For all my decades serving the Beckham Estate, I must admit that I lack comprehensive knowledge about Beastmasters. Your grandfather was more focused on summoning than taming. This... hybrid approach... is something that requires exploration."
Silas felt a pang of curiosity mixed with determination. "So we're both learning as we go," he mused.
"Bluntly, yes," Bonereghard said with a slight incline of his head. "This is a prime opportunity to test Diog against opponents who will challenge him but not overwhelm him."
Silas nodded. "Alright," he said, standing tall and looking determinedly at Bonereghard. "We'll enter the Hexgear Cup."
«Arriving at the Hexgear Cup Arena»
Silas, with Diog trotting eagerly at his side, made his way through the winding streets of Bastian toward the Hexgear Cup Arena. The city was even busier than usual with vendors shouting about their wares, street performers drawing crowds, and discrete bookies taking bets on the upcoming Hexgear Cup matches.
The Hexgear Cup Arena loomed ahead, a massive structure of stone and steel that dominated the skyline. Banners fluttered in the wind, displaying the sigils of the more famous tamers and summoners who would compete today.
As they neared the entrance, Silas overheard snippets of conversation from excited spectators. "Did you hear? There's a Phoenix battling a Lich in the A-rank matches," one man said to his companion.
"Yeah, I thought the Lich was going to be S Rank though, still. I'm more looking forward to Drogan vs. Behemoth match," his friend replied, just as animated.
Silas's eyes widened slightly at the mention of such legendary creatures. In this world, it was not unusual to hear about Phoenixes, Dragons, Liches, Behemoths, or even Titans clashing in high-stakes battles. One day, Diog would be on that list.
Entering the arena's main hall, Silas marveled. Diog nudged Silas's leg gently, drawing his attention back to their immediate goal. He smiled down at his companion, giving him an affectionate pat on the head.
"Let's find our way to registration," Silas said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. He weaved through the crowd toward a sign marked "Competitor Registration."
«Registering for the Hexgear Cup»
A stern-looking official sat behind a wooden desk cluttered with parchment and ink pots. She glanced up as Silas approached. Her name tag read "Morgaine." Despite the severity in her gaze, she looked quite young, possibly in her late teens or early twenties. Her cherry blonde hair framed her pixie-like face, giving her an almost fey-like appearance compared to her seriousness.
"Name?" she asked curtly, dipping a quill into an ink pot.
"Silas Beckham," he replied, feeling a slight nervousness under her intense scrutiny.
Morgaine's eyes flicked up from the parchment to study him for a moment before returning to her writing. "And your companion?"
"Diog," Silas said, gesturing to the Fenrir cub sitting obediently by his side.
Morgaine's quill paused for just a heartbeat before she continued writing. "Wolf species, I assume?"
Silas thought for just a second about correcting her to say 'Fenrir' but decided against it. "Yes," he replied.
She continued writing, her quill scratching softly against the parchment. The noise filled the otherwise silent room, making Silas acutely aware of each passing second. He glanced down at Diog, who seemed unfazed by the whole process.
"Class?" Morgaine asked without looking up.
"E-Class," Silas responded quickly. He knew that starting in this bracket would give Diog the fairest chance at growth without being overwhelmed by stronger opponents right out of the gate.
Morgaine made a small note on the parchment and finally looked up again. Her eyes met Silas's with an intensity that belied her age. "Do you understand the rules of the Hexgear Cup?" she asked pointedly.
Silas shook his head. "No, I didn't know there were rules."
Morgaine sighed, as if she had heard this a hundred times before. "The match ends when a monster either passes out, the tamer or summoner forfeits, or the monster dies," she explained. "No attacking the crowd, and all combat stops when the match is called."
She set down the quill and reached for a different sheet of parchment. "So, first time competing in the Hexgear Cup?"
Silas nodded, absorbing the information.
Morgaine's expression softened ever so slightly as she handed him the parchment. "This is your entry form. Fill it out completely and return it to me. You'll also need to sign the liability waiver."
Silas took the parchment and began to fill out the necessary information while Morgaine watched him. "You know," she said after a moment. "Looking at your Diog, you might do well today."
Silas pushed the finished forms back over to her. "Thanks, Diog is special. I think so too."
She placed the parchment aside and handed him a small brass token engraved with intricate designs and the number 21. "This is your entry token," Morgaine explained briskly. "Keep it safe; you'll need it to access the competitors' area and for identification during matches."
Silas took the token and turned it over in his hands. "Thank you," he said, pocketing the token carefully.
"Alright, Silas Beckham," she said. "You've been registered for the E-Class bracket. First-time entry, no fee. Report to the waiting area. You'll be called for your first match soon."
《System Notification: 《Event Joined: Hexgear Cup (E-Class Bracket)》》
《Status: 《Registered》》
《Opponent Information: 《Randomized》》
《First Match: 《Scheduled soon》》
《Rewards: 《10 Gold》 for first place, experience gain》
"Next," Morgaine called out sharply, already focusing on the next person in line.