When he arrived at the garden, he saw Ella, Halime, Sera, Hemera, and Leira sitting at a table, which they saved a spot for him.

Archer walked over to them and greeted each one with a kiss on the forehead before sitting down.

As he did, Ella spoke to him with a smile. ”Hey, Arch. How were your quests? How many have you done so far?”

”We’ve completed five so far. It was good we cleared out some orcs, goblins, and wendigos, which were creepy. They made my skin crawl.” He answered.

The four girls laughed, but Sera asked in a curious voice. ”What’s a wendigo?”

Halime shifted her gaze, revealing her yellow snake eyes, and explained to the dragon girl. “They are eerie humans who skulk in forests and abandoned towns. According to the books, they were once ordinary people, but their transformation occurred after resorting to cannibalism and feasting on human flesh during hard times.”

Archer’s curiosity was piqued, but before he could say anything, Professor Summerwild interjected, “Wendigos are both dreadful and captivating beings. My former mentor once kept one in captivity, providing a fascinating opportunity for study. They typically shun the light but venture into it when the need to hunt arises.”

He turned to the older woman, who was smiling as she continued. ”There are many creatures that lurk in the dark corners of the land.”

She continued talking. ”During my journey here, we were attacked by cannibal tribes that roam the Murkwood Swamp. It was daunting, but the guards were skilled.”

Following the professor’s instructions, the students were told to retrieve their beasts and stay seated.

Then, Archer opened a portal and summoned Juno, the owlbear. In the ensuing moment, a ball of fluff emerged from the portal, finding its place on Archer’s lap.

Simultaneously, he conjured the Astral Serpent gracefully slithered out of the same mystical gateway.

The snake climbed up his body and wrapped around his neck before speaking in a quiet voice that only he could hear. ”Can I stay with you? You left me in that place for a while.”

Archer nodded as he stroked the little snake before replying. ”Yeah, I haven’t got any battles planned so you can hang out for a while.”

As he spoke to the snake, Juno climbed onto his lap and started nibbling his neck, which caused him to shiver.

The four girls laughed as Hemera spoke. ”Why are you speaking to the snake? What does she want?”

Archer stroked the owlbear, who loved the attention, before replying to the sun elf. ”She wants to stay around my neck. I left her in the treehouse until now.”

Everyone smiled as they got up to retrieve their creatures. All the girls went to get theirs while Archer waited behind.

He looked down at the fluffy owlbear who was sitting on his lap with a happy look on her face as he stroked her.

One by one, the girls returned, and Archer looked at Halime, who looked like she was thinking about something.

So he asked with a concerned voice. ”What’s up, Hali?”

The snake girl looked up and smiled before answering. ”I was just thinking of an island that’s on the east coast of the Nagendra Kingdom,”

Archer asked. ”What is this island you speak of?”

With a quiet, almost haunting voice, Halime began, “There’s a forsaken island off Nagendra’s eastern coast, a place steeped in dark history and forgotten tales. Long ago, it was home to two thriving human kingdoms, flourishing in prosperity and unity.”

Her eyes reflected the flickering flames as she continued, “But as fate would have it, foul magic crept into the hearts of the rulers. The kingdoms, once wealthy and alive, succumbed to the dark forces that twisted their very essence.”

Halime’s words hung in the air, creating a moment of suspense around the table. The crackling of the flames seemed to sync with the rhythm of her storytelling.

The snake girl continued. “The evil magic cursed the once proud citizens, their bodies morphing into hideous forms. Twisted by the foul sorcery, they became eerie humanoids, their minds consumed by a hunger for human flesh.”

She looked at Archer and finished explaining. ”Now, anyone who dares to step foot on that accursed island is met with the haunting gaze of these creatures, forever bound to roam the land they once called home.”

Upon hearing this, Archer’s curiosity was piqued, and he inquired, “Why are so many islands succumbing to such fate? I already possess one. Why are they becoming infested with transformed humanoids?”

Leira took the initiative to respond, stating, “The rumors suggest that an unknown force targeted them due to their isolation from the mainland. Father dispatched soldiers to investigate some of these islands, but either they discovered nothing or were met with aggression from the former inhabitants.”

Archer nodded, a seed of curiosity planted in his mind about those mysterious islands, a place he wished to explore someday. 𝘪.𝑐ℴ𝘮

Nevertheless, he shook his head, refocusing on Professor Summerwild’s class.

“Good morning, students!” She greeted them with a warm smile. “I hope your creatures are settling in well. Now, before we delve into our studies, an essential aspect of your journey often goes overlooked.”

She gestured toward the creatures perched, slithering, or resting near each student. Juno was sitting in Archer’s lap, and the snake wrapped around his neck.

“It’s not enough to have these companions by your side merely as tools for battle,” Professor Summerwild continued, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. “Each of these creatures is a unique entity, and fostering a bond with them can be as rewarding as any quest you embark upon.”

Archer listened as his beasts glanced up at him as if they understood the importance of the professor’s words.

“To truly harness their potential, you must spend time getting to know them—understand their quirks, their fears, and their strengths. Only then can you unlock the true depths of your partnership,” the professor explained.

She took a moment to let the weight of her words settle before proceeding, “I urge all of you to invest meaningful time with your creatures beyond our training sessions. The headmistress believes students should take them once classes finish.”

The Professor stroked a creature that flew up to her before continuing. ”Understand their habits and preferences. But above all, forge a strong connection with them. It will undoubtedly enhance your teamwork and make you a formidable force.”

As the students exchanged glances and nodded in agreement, Professor Summerwild finished, “Now, to aid you in this endeavor, I recommend a visit to the library. There, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge on magical creatures and their care.”

Everyone nodded and started paying attention to their creatures. Archer was stroking Juno, who was rolling around on his lap.

While he was doing that, the four girls were pampering their creatures. Ella stroked the little white Aetherwing standing before her, chirping.

Sera was tickling the Drakeling she chose, who was wiggling around, trying to escape from her, but Archer could see the little beast was enjoying it.

Archer turned to Leira, who was stroking the Thunderfeline and acting like a house cat as it just sat there enjoying the pampering.

He turned to Halime, who was talking to the Venomshade in an unknown language, who was curled around her arm.

While those three were doing that, Hemera talked to her Dawnfeather, who listened to every word she said.

When Archer saw this, he thought to himself. ‘That bird is really intelligent. It looks like a student listening to a teacher.’

A contented purr-like sound emanated from the owlbear as he stroked Juno’s feathers after he stopped thinking to himself.

The gentle bear nestled in his lap, clearly enjoying the attention. Archer’s fingers traced her feathers, and he marveled at the softness beneath his touch.

“Hey there, Juno,” Archer whispered with a smile, his eyes reflecting his genuine affection for his little bear. “You like that, huh?”

She tilted her head in response, her large eyes blinking slowly as if in approval. The owlbear’s cute noises continued a mix of soft hoots and endearing chirps that echoed in the serene garden.

He chuckled, “You’re such a softie, right?”

Getting closer, Archer skillfully navigated through the feathers around Juno’s neck. The owlbear’s eyes gently closed.

As Archer ventured into uncharted territory, his fingers unearthed a tender spot beneath Juno’s ear.

The owlbear’s immediate reaction was a harmonious chorus of delighted coos and joyful hoots resonating through the garden.

Professor Summerwild approached with an expansive smile, her voice radiating happiness. “Archer, you’re a natural at this. I can see that little Juno is absolutely reveling in the pampering, and she’s clearly quite thrilled. It’s remarkable, especially considering owlbears are typically known for their ferocity – not the easiest creatures to approach.”

Archer smiled as he stroked Juno before talking. “I can understand them and know what they want, making it easy for me to care for them.”

The older woman nodded in agreement, her smile widening as she continued, “My husband is the same. All sorts of creatures flock to him like he’s a haven. It makes me jealous.”

If there are any mistakes, point them out, and I’ll edit it. Thanks

𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ