Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons-Chapter 340 - - Taming Ancient Stories

Silence enveloped the small group as they walked through the quiet corridors. Selphira led the way, while the three young people followed at a respectful distance, none daring to break the silence.

It was a quick wave of power, emanating from where they had left Sirius, that finally altered the atmosphere. A brief but intense pulsation that made the youngsters momentarily stop in their tracks.

Selphira showed no visible reaction, but her eyes narrowed slightly before turning toward the young people.

"Ren," she finally said, her voice lacking the accusatory tone the youngsters had anticipated, "why did you let your creature go out alone?"

Before Ren could respond, she looked at Luna. "And you, little Starweaver, why did you bring it to us?"

Luna lowered her gaze to the floor, her cheeks burning with an intense blush. Her fingers intertwined nervously as she seemed to search for words that wouldn't come.

Ren, understanding it was better if he spoke first, stepped forward.

"I didn't let it out," he responded honestly. "It acted on its own. It... escaped from me."

Selphira remained silent, studying the young man as if trying to decipher a particularly enigmatic text.

"It acted on its own?" she finally repeated. "Interesting." She paused, her eyes never leaving Ren's face. "Can you control it now?"

Ren nodded with confidence. "Yes, completely."

"What changed?"

Ren hesitated a moment, uncertain of the real importance of his answer. The mushrooms in his hair dimmed slightly, reflecting his caution.

"I think it learned about worse consequences if it didn't surrender its intentions for now," he explained, carefully choosing his words. "And I'm cautious not to let it control the mana flow to manifest itself on its own again."

Selphira's expression remained inscrutable, but something in her eyes changed, a flash of recognition or perhaps... remembrance.

"Long ago," she began, her voice acquiring a softer tone, almost nostalgic, "it seems there existed a person about whom there were legends that are no longer told."

The three young people leaned slightly forward, drawn by the change in her tone.

"According to that legend, this person had cultivated a real dragon. This was when the ruins were not yet ruins." Selphira made a vague gesture with her hand, the movement leaving a brief trail of energy in the air. "That dragon was incredibly powerful and apparently difficult to control as a beast."

Ren couldn't contain his curiosity. "And what happened to him?"

"Nothing… It only helped him discover many things about the flow of mana," Selphira continued with a smile. "And supposedly, to build 'gates and keys'."

"Why don't they ever tell us anything about this in the official histories?" asked Ren, his mind connecting this information with what he already knew about the ruins and the rings.

Selphira smiled slightly again, but the expression didn't reach her eyes.

"It's incomplete information, coming from very damaged and fragile archives of my family," she explained. "Besides, there are more important things there that we don't want to make public..."

She shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. It's just that your mention of your beast's free will reminded me of that old story."

The elderly woman leaned slightly toward Ren, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper.

"Perhaps your beast is stronger and more difficult to control than everyone believes."

Ren gave a nervous laugh, but couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders. The mushrooms in his hair dimmed further.

"However," Selphira continued, straightening again, "stealing is wrong, and your beast is your responsibility. The current situation doesn't lend itself to losing more power on our side."

Her expression softened slightly, the ancient authority giving way to genuine curiosity. "Though I would be interested in you teaching me about that ray that seemed to purify your companion Klein during your combat."

Ren nodded, surprised by the request but willing to try to fulfill it. Though it would be hard to explain, the purifying energy had channeled almost by instinct.

"First I'll take you all to your rooms," Selphira decided. "Afterward, you and I will talk privately… You will answer about today too, Miss Luna."

Han and Luna, who had been listening attentively to the conversation, let out twin sighs of disappointment.

As they turned at the next corridor, they found themselves face to face with Lin. She seemed visibly annoyed, but her expression changed instantly upon recognizing Selphira. Her back straightened and her face adopted a mask of formal respect.

"Lady Ashenway," she greeted with a precise bow.

"Lin," Selphira responded with a slight nod. "It seems your pupil is quite difficult to contain. You should keep him better watched in situations like this."

Lin directed a sharp look at Ren, who had the decency to appear remorseful.

"My sincerest apologies," Lin responded, bowing again, her crane momentarily shrinking in shared embarrassment. "It won't happen again."

Selphira sighed, an expression of resignation briefly crossing her face.

"Although, to be fair," she added with a hint of entertainment in her voice, "this young man in particular seems to have a special talent for escaping surveillance."

Luna and Han nodded in unison, silently confirming this assessment.

"Still," Selphira continued, "in times like these, we need particular attention with exceptional students. Their actions can have... considerable unforeseen consequences."

Lin nodded, understanding the underlying message.

"I will personally ensure that these three young people return to their dormitories immediately," Lin assured. "And I'll make sure they remain there until further notice."

"Excellent," Selphira approved. "As for you, Ren, I'll send someone to fetch you when things calm down a bit, for our conversation."

As Lin took over, guiding the three students toward their respective rooms, Selphira watched them go.

♢♢♢♢

Klein paced back and forth in his room, unable to keep still. Every few steps he stopped by the window, looked outside, and then continued his circular route, like a caged animal.

The initial adrenaline of having defied Kassian began to dilute, giving way to growing anxiety. With each passing minute, regret settled more deeply into his consciousness.

"Idiot," he muttered to himself. "Why did I have to provoke him?"

If Kassian somehow managed to escape, or worse yet, if he was released... Klein knew perfectly well that his brother was not someone who easily forgot offenses. He would collect on them, and with interest.

'Maybe I should try to reconcile,' he briefly thought, before dismissing the idea with a shake of his head. 'No, it's too late for that. Besides, he used me as an experimental pawn. I don't owe him anything.'

Three sharp knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts, startling him. His heart skipped a beat, the first image that crossed his mind was that of his brother, somehow free and smiling with that expression that always preceded a particularly unpleasant "lesson".

"W-who is it?" he asked, hating the slight tremor in his voice.

There was no immediate response, only the metallic sound of a key turning in the lock.