Chapter 9: The Trainer
Sanat was still studying the hologram of the Royal Academy when the door to his room opened quietly.
He didn't turn immediately.
"Boba, did you finish loading the academy—"
A familiar voice interrupted him.
"So."
"You want to attend the academy?"
Sanat turned around.
Kyala stood at the door.
Her silver hair fell over one shoulder and her bright eyes watched him calmly.
Sanat smiled slightly.
"Thinking about it."
Kyala stepped inside the room.
"I heard your conversation with Boba."
Sanat raised an eyebrow.
"So the walls in this palace spy on people?"
Kyala shrugged.
"The palace has excellent listening systems."
Sanat sighed.
"Great."
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"So what do you think?"
Kyala answered immediately.
"You should go."
Sanat blinked.
"That was fast."
Kyala crossed her arms.
"I studied there."
Sanat sat up.
"You did?"
"Yes."
"Back when the Virel House took me in."
Sanat stared at her for a moment.
Then he asked something directly.
"…Are you royal blood or something?"
Kyala looked at him calmly.
"I was the third daughter of the Elven High Chief."
Sanat blinked twice.
"…Wow."
He leaned back slowly.
"So you're basically elf royalty."
"Was."
Sanat tilted his head.
"Then why are you working for my family?"
Kyala immediately corrected him.
"I am not serving you."
Sanat raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"I am training you."
Sanat looked surprised.
Kyala continued.
"I was assigned to train you until the day you become stronger than me."
Sanat laughed slightly.
"That might take a while."
Kyala didn't smile.
"We will see."
Sanat studied her for a moment.
Then he asked the question that had been bothering him.
"That still doesn't explain why you're here."
Kyala remained silent for a moment.
Then she answered calmly.
"My older siblings tried to kill me."
Sanat sat up straight.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"My eldest sister and eldest brother both saw me as a threat to the throne."
Sanat shook his head.
"Royal families everywhere are the same."
Kyala continued.
"The Virel House intervened."
"They took me in."
"And since then…"
"…I have been training here."
Sanat nodded slowly.
"So you're hiding here."
"Yes."
"And getting stronger."
Sanat smiled slightly.
"Sounds familiar."
The Paths of Power
Sanat stood up and stretched.
"Alright, trainer."
Kyala raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Teach me something useful."
Kyala walked toward the center of the room.
"There are three primary paths of power on Astra Prime."
Sanat leaned forward.
"Go on."
Kyala raised three fingers.
1. The Warrior Path
"Warriors strengthen their bodies and combat skills."
"They rely on physical energy and battle techniques."
"These fighters dominate close combat."
Sanat nodded.
"Simple enough."
2. The Beast Path
"Beast tamers bond with primal beasts."
"They fight alongside powerful creatures."
"Your father followed this path partially."
Sanat remembered Boba mentioning his father's Tier-5 beast.
"Right."
3. The Energy Path
Kyala raised the final finger.
"Energy cultivators focus on manipulating planetary energy."
"They develop techniques that can destroy cities."
Sanat whistled.
"So basically…"
"Warriors punch things."
"Beast masters send monsters."
"And energy users go full anime."
Kyala stared at him.
"I do not understand that last comparison."
Sanat waved his hand.
"Never mind."
Why Humans Became Powerful
Sanat then asked another question.
"If beasts can reach Tier 6…"
"Why are humans still the dominant species?"
Kyala answered immediately.
"Adaptability."
Sanat frowned.
"Explain."
"Humans can learn every path."
"Warrior."
"Beast master."
"Energy cultivator."
"Sometimes even combinations."
Sanat nodded slowly.
"So humans cheat the system."
Kyala didn't argue.
"That is one way to describe it."
Sanat then asked something else.
"What about the races here?"
Kyala raised her hand again.
"There are five primary intelligent races on Astra Prime."
1. Humans
"The most numerous and adaptable race."
"Humans dominate most political and military positions."
2. Elves
Kyala gestured toward herself.
"Elves possess superior energy sensitivity."
"We produce the strongest energy cultivators."
3. Serpent Kin
"Snake-like humanoids who worship the World Serpent."
"They are currently allied with several hostile mythical beasts."
Sanat frowned.
"So they're enemies."
"Yes."
4. Titanborn
"A massive race descended from ancient giants."
"They dominate physical combat."
5. Aetherians
"A rare race capable of manipulating cosmic energy."
"They rarely interfere with planetary politics."
Sanat leaned back.
"So basically…"
"This planet is full of monsters."
Kyala nodded.
"Correct."
Sanat walked toward the window again.
The lights of Astra Prime stretched endlessly below.
Guilds.
Noble houses.
Five races.
Six-tier monsters.
A royal academy full of prodigies.
Sanat smiled slightly.
"Alright."
Kyala looked at him.
"You've decided?"
Sanat nodded.
"Yes."
He turned toward her.
"If the academy trains the best fighters on this planet…"
"…then that's where I'm going."
Kyala's eyes showed a hint of approval.
"Good."
Then she added one more sentence.
"Training begins tomorrow."
Sanat sighed dramatically.
"I was hoping for a day off."
Kyala shook her head.
"You are far too weak for that."
Sanat laughed.
"Fair enough."