KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 19 — Taming the Wild
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"Your name's Chen Xia, right?"
"Yup, nice to meet you, Leo Flove. Just call me Xia."
"You can drop the formalities too."
"Then I'll call you Young Master Leo," Chen Xia said with a playful, friendly smile.
"I didn't peg you for a summoning expert. What's your focus, Young Master Leo?"
"I'm aiming for spirit summoning for now."
"Then we'll see each other often."
Grinning, Xia opened her palm.
Whoosh—!
Water droplets coalesced, summoning a lesser water spirit, an Undine.
"What spirit have you contracted with, Young Master Leo?"
"I haven't made a contract yet."
Xia nodded.
For a minor, it wasn't unusual.
Many students picking Summoning Studies as a secondary major had only spirit affinity and spiritual power, no contracts.
She assumed Leo was one of them.
"If you need advice on spirit summoning later, come to me. I'll help."
She seemed the type who enjoyed helping others.
"I'll take you up on that."
"Ahem. So, how old are you, Young Master Leo?"
"Fifteen."
"Then I'm your senior. I'm seventeen."
'Seventeen?'
Leo gave Xia a curious look.
Lumern's admission age ranged from 14 to 17, so it wasn't odd.
But Xia's petite frame and youthful face made her look younger.
'She could pass for Chelsea's age, but she's two years older?'
"Young Master Leo, you're thinking something rude about me, aren't you?"
Xia narrowed her eyes. Leo replied smoothly, "Nope."
"I think you are."
As Xia's suspicious glare lingered, class time arrived.
Unlike the crowded Knight Studies class, Summoning Studies had far fewer students.
But even well past the start time, no professor appeared.
"Shouldn't the professor be here by now?" Xia said, puzzled.
Leo looked skyward. "Here they come."
Xia followed his gaze.
A massive wyvern flapped its wings, descending.
Whoosh—!
The wyvern landed, its wings stirring the ground.
"Wow! A Black Wyvern!"
"A top-tier magical beast!"
Students cheered at the rare beast's appearance, a sight most would never see.
A figure dismounted from the Black Wyvern.
The professor, about 170 cm tall, had gray hair tied loosely down to her back, exuding a wild aura.
Her tight leather outfit flaunted her curvaceous figure, and a leather whip hung at her waist.
"Greetings, first-year fledglings! I'm Yura Marnin, your Summoning Studies professor for the year!"
"It's an honor, Professor Yura!" the students chorused.
Yura crossed her arms, nodding, her ample chest drawing blushes from some male students.
"Where are the assistant professor and TAs?!"
At Yura's shout, an assistant professor rushed over.
"P-Professor, preparations are done."
"Why so late, Assistant Professor?!"
"You changed the class schedule out of nowhere!"
"No whining! My schedule's always unpredictable. You should be ready!"
"Ugh! That's unfair!"
Assistant Professor Carlo grimaced.
'What a loose cannon' Leo and the students thought.
Could they learn properly under this professor?
Though some male students were too busy ogling Yura.
"Preparations are done, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Listen up, fledglings. If you're here, you've got summoning talent, yeah?"
Yura's expression turned serious.
"If any of you are half-heartedly taking Summoning Studies as a minor, here's my advice."
Her eyes glinted dangerously.
"Get out now."
No one moved.
Students who'd passed Lumern's entrance exam weren't intimidated by such a warning.
"No takers? Then you're all committed. Let's move."
Xia raised her hand. "Where to?"
"Where else?"
Yura grinned, pointing.
TAs led a flock of griffons toward them.
"The training ground."
***
Students, paired two to a griffon, whooped with excitement.
Flight-capable magical beasts were rare.
Hard to summon, most Summoning Studies students had never ridden one.
"I made the right choice coming to Lumern!"
"I'll contract one of these soon, right?"
Students swelled with dreams.
"Hey! Switch! I'm steering now!"
"No! Just a bit longer!"
Ten minutes in, first-years bickered over the reins.
"Pretty fun, huh?" Xia said excitedly, holding the reins.
"Be careful," Leo warned.
"Huh?"
"Griffons are tough for first-timers to handle."
"But it's so docile and obedient."
"That's because it's wary of the professor."
Leo glanced at Yura, leading on her Black Wyvern.
"With her personality, I doubt she'll keep the griffons in check for long."
Screech—!
No sooner had Leo spoken than their griffon roared.
It wasn't just theirs.
The once-docile griffons began bucking wildly, as if their obedience was a lie.
Xia yanked the reins in panic, but they wouldn't calm.
"Argh! It's not listening!"
"What's wrong with it?!"
"Professor! Save us!"
Other students spiraled into chaos.
Yura, atop her wyvern, cackled.
"Can't even handle a griffon and call yourself a Lumern student? Tame them!"
"Tch, but—Eek!"
Xia's hands were yanked by the griffon's strength, her hips half-lifting from the saddle.
But, true to her Knight Studies training, she quickly regained balance.
Scowling, Xia gripped harder, ready to wrestle it into submission.
Leo wrapped his right arm around her waist, pulling her toward him.
"Eek? Young Master Leo? So bold—"
"Griffons are prideful. Force them, and they'll resist harder."
With his left hand, Leo gently tugged the reins.
The griffon, startled by the skilled touch, paused its rampage and began to settle.
'Well-trained. Easy to handle.'
Tough for novices, but for someone experienced, few flying beasts were easier.
Xia looked amazed. "Young Master Leo, have you handled griffons before?"
"Nope. First time this life."
Xia turned, staring at his face.
Leo met her gaze, puzzled.
"Guess you're telling the truth," Xia said, tilting her head as she faced forward. "How do you handle it so well? Got a secret?"
"Studied the textbook."
"Hm! No wonder you threw out that challenge at the entrance ceremony."
Xia laughed, clearly impressed.
Leo, unfazed, pulled her closer. "I'm gonna speed up. Stick close so you don't fall."
"A bit forward with an older lady, aren't you?"
"Older lady? Oh, sorry."
"And rude to boot."
Xia pinched the back of Leo's hand, narrowing her eyes.
Realizing he meant no harm, she relaxed, leaning against his chest.
Ready, Leo shouted, "Let's go!"
Pulling the reins, the griffon roared—Screee!—and soared higher.
"Wow!"
Xia marveled at the griffon's distinctly smoother movements compared to her control.
"Well, well?" Yura's eyes gleamed.
"A student handling a griffon that well? Who's he?"
"Leo Flove, ma'am."
"Leo Flove? The freshman representative? I heard he's a Knight Studies major."
"He beat central top ranker Duran Moira in a duel earlier."
"A guy like that handles griffons *this* well? Does he own one?"
"No, he's from a minor kingdom's noble family, not wealthy enough for a griffon."
Carlo answered diligently, checking the student roster.
"Then… it's pure talent?"
Yura licked her lips, eyes sparkling.
"With that skill, he could major in Summoning Studies, not Knight Studies."
"I get your enthusiasm, but the Knight Studies professors won't be happy."
"Let them complain. Knight talents are a dime a dozen, but summoning? Rare. Besides, he hasn't picked a major yet."
Yura flashed a predatory grin.
Carlo looked uneasy. 'Hope this doesn't stir trouble.'
The griffons landed on a massive island in Lumeria Lake.
The lake, vast as a sea, had several such islands, often used for training.
"Hup."
Xia dismounted with agile grace.
As Leo stepped down, the griffon nuzzled his cheek.
Reaching for a tree fruit to feed it, Leo paused.
A large gray feather on a branch caught his eye.
'This is…'
"Young Master Leo, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Leo tucked the feather into his pocket.
Meanwhile, other students arrived.
"Ugh!"
"So… exhausting."
"I'm gonna puke… Urp!"
Most were drained from just riding.
But some were fine.
Notably, southern top ranker Warrenden Tyden.
And a haughty-looking female student, filing her nails, who sneered at the others.
Both handled griffons as skillfully as Leo.
'Warrenden, Eliza. These two are definitely this year's Summoning Studies aces!'
Yura's eyes gleamed as she watched them.
"Some of you have impressive taming skills. Stop collapsing! Gather up!"
Yura shouted, grinning with satisfaction.
The students scrambled to line up.
Smirking, Yura announced, "Today, we're holding a practical exam!"