【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 484 [Empire] Joint Training

The morning light filtered through the slits in the curtains, spilling onto the bedside, warm and soft. I opened my eyes slightly, and the first thing I saw was his gentle gaze. He sat by my bed, his eyes as calm as ever, as if nothing could disturb his peace of mind.

That look was silent, yet it held a warm power that seemed to soothe my restless mood from the night before. I opened my eyes slightly and found that he didn't disturb me, but was looking at me quietly, as if waiting for me to wake up from my sleep.

The air was filled with the freshness of morning light, and his presence seemed especially peaceful and gentle in this early morning. Seeing the slight curve of his lips, my heartbeat unconsciously slowed down a few beats. Although his words didn't break the morning's tranquility, his eyes said it all.

"Good morning." He said softly, his tone so gentle that people almost forgot their previous fatigue and anxiety.

I nodded slightly, a faint smile involuntarily curling up the corners of my mouth, responding to his warmth. Though there weren't many words, it felt as if something had been quietly connected in that early morning. That gentleness, like the morning light, quietly spread out, illuminating my heart.

"Why are you up so early?" I asked lazily, although I already knew in my heart that he must have woken up early.

He smiled softly, his eyes still as gentle as water: "Maybe I'm used to it."

At that moment, I didn't say anything else, just looked at him quietly, with an inexplicable emotion welling up in my heart. The first ray of sunlight in the morning illuminated his quiet profile and warmed my slightly quiet heart.

I hesitantly recalled the past, and suddenly felt as if the distance between us was too close. Every time we were together, especially these days, our interactions were so natural, yet they were tinged with emotions that made me feel uneasy and uneasy. Sometimes, a word from him, or a warm look from him, would make my heart beat faster.

Perhaps it's because he's so attentive, always there when I need him; perhaps it's because his care has gradually made me feel dependent on that gentleness. And this dependence, which I have never expressed openly, always feels like a hidden surge.

Yes, our relationship seemed a little too close. I kept telling myself we were just ordinary friends. But as we spent more time together, I found myself caring about him more and more. Every time he showed concern for me, a warm feeling would surge in my heart, like a sudden ray of sunshine on a winter's day.

But this closeness also made me unconsciously begin to wonder. It happened naturally, with almost no warning, as if it became increasingly inevitable as time and distance gradually shortened. And I didn't even notice any of this change.

I sat there, my brow furrowed slightly, a sudden sense of confusion rising within me. How had we gotten to this point? Had I unconsciously accepted too much of his every act of kindness? If one day this dependence morphed into something deeper than love, how would I face it?

There seemed to be no real answers to all of this. But at this moment, I just sat quietly by the bed, my heart filled with such doubts and the emotions that were quietly but increasingly strong.

The cleaned uniform, though neat and tidy, lacked any hint of sunshine and even had a slightly damp feel. Perhaps it was washed too hastily, or perhaps the dampness hadn't fully faded, but the fabric felt slightly cold, as if it had never experienced the warmth of sunlight. I couldn't help but sigh. Despite my best efforts to clean it, it still felt uncomfortable, like a piece of clothing plucked from a pile of dirty clothes; it didn't quite fit me.

Training uniforms were scarce, given the limited resources of the military academy. After each large-scale training session, there was always too little time to change and wash clothes, so everyone just had to endure it. Sometimes, they were forced to wear slightly uncomfortable, sweat-soaked uniforms over and over again. Although they knew this was unhygienic, they had no other choice.

This wasn't the first time this had happened. After each training session, everyone felt like a soldier fresh from battle, drenched in sweat and dirt, breathing rapidly, their hearts pounding. Not having enough clothes to change into became a normal part of military academy life. Their clothes piled up in corners, many people neglecting to clean them, and some never even had the chance to wash them, leaving them to scramble for replacements only after training was over.

I forced the uniform onto my body, tightening the cuffs and trying not to look like I was being forced into something ill-fitting.

This is the norm of military school life.

After a simple meal, I barely had time to savor this brief moment of peace. I hurriedly packed up and headed to the training grounds. The cafeteria was still bustling with activity, and others, like me, hurried through. There were occasional banter and brief conversations, but no one paused. Everyone understood that time was of the essence, and training was paramount.

Walking down the long corridor, I relied almost entirely on memory and inertia, my pace quickening, my heartbeat rising with each step. Though the food had barely filled my stomach, my body still felt heavy. Lack of sleep, accumulated fatigue—these combined to create an indescribable heaviness before every training session. But I had no time to pause, not even a moment's rest. I couldn't stop, I couldn't slack off, I had to keep moving forward.

The moment I entered the training ground, the piercing call to arms, the shouts and the clatter of footsteps instantly brought me back to reality. All distractions and fatigue seemed to vanish at that moment, replaced by an even stronger desire for survival and a fierce competitive spirit. I quickly changed into my training uniform, gathered my gear, and joined the team.

No matter how exhausted I felt, the external pressure and the rigors of training kept me from being distracted. Every minute and every second was filled with challenges, and I couldn't stop. I took a deep breath, adjusted my breathing, and began to devote myself to training.

This time, it was a combined training session with the Beast Taming Class. By combined training, I meant sparring, in pairs.

This combined training session was clearly much more intense than usual. After all, we were training with the Beast Taming Class, and their strength and chemistry were unmatched by ordinary classes. Although I knew the intensity would be higher than usual, I still felt a tinge of pressure when I stood on the field and saw the Beast Taming Class members already prepared. Everyone's eyes were fixed, waiting for the match to begin.

Qianmo and I were naturally paired together. After all, during our regular training, we'd developed an indescribable rapport. While he rarely showed his aggressive side, whenever we faced actual combat, he was surprisingly calm and precise. Seeing him remain composed as always, I felt a sense of relief. After all, at least I had a reliable partner on my side.

"Are you ready?" Qianmo's voice came from beside me with a bit of teasing. He seemed to be familiar with this form of training and his tone was relaxed.

I took a deep breath and composed myself: "We can start anytime."

Our opponents were a group of Beast Taming students. It was clear they weren't taking this fight lightly; their eyes were filled with a spark of challenge. Something in me stirred, and I tensed slightly. The atmosphere of battle instantly filled the entire arena.

As soon as the signal sounded for the start of training, the atmosphere around us instantly erupted. Everyone quickly got into form, coordinating their abilities to attack or defend. Qianmo stood guard nearby, while I concentrated, constantly ready to respond to the enemy's attacks. The air was filled with the scent of grass and trees, and waves of shockwaves carried through it.

I noticed that the students in the Beast Taming Class clearly had more tactical experience than we did. Their beasts coordinated with each other with precision and reacted quickly. On the other hand, despite the support of the Transparent Young Vines, I still lacked flexibility, especially in responding and maneuvering in short periods of time.

Qianmo obviously noticed my change. He didn't fully unleash his special ability, but instead used flexible manipulation and careful anticipation to contain the opponent's offensive. He was neither impatient nor anxious, and from time to time he would use his eyes to coordinate with me, reminding me what to do next.

A student from the Beast Taming class across from me had obviously noticed Qianmo's calmness and began to frequently mobilize his beasts for targeted attacks, trying to force Qianmo to react incorrectly. Just when I thought Qianmo might be caught off guard, he suddenly accelerated and rushed forward, quickly dodging the attack.

At that moment, I reacted almost instinctively, quickly commanding the transparent young vine to release frost, stopping the opponent's beast in its tracks. Qianmo also precisely seized this opportunity to activate his most powerful ability, quickly controlling the opponent's range of movement.

The enemy's attack was quickly neutralized, and the situation was temporarily stalemated. Our coordination became increasingly harmonious, and we gradually developed our own rhythm.

The Beast Taming students on the other side were clearly no match for the others. Especially the seemingly older student, whose exotic beasts were unique in type, and who was a dual-beast tamer with two of them. The two beasts worked in perfect harmony, making them incredibly powerful.

The first beast was a large, leopard-like creature, its black fur gleaming with cold. It moved with such speed that it seemed to trace blurry streaks through the air. The other was a bird-like creature with ranged attacks. Its feathers seemed to flash with lightning in the air, and every flap of its wings caused vibrations in the air. The bird's attacks were not only swift but also full of unpredictable changes.

I saw Qianmo's brow furrow slightly. Clearly, he had noticed the threat posed by the coordinated attack from the other beasts. Although he was usually steady and composed, this time, he unconsciously became alert.

"Pay attention to that bird and don't let it get away." Qianmo reminded me in a low voice.

I nodded, quickly formulating a response plan in my mind. The transparent vine's frost power was enough to counter the bird's lightning attack, but the leopard-like beast was too fast. Without proper defense, I would likely be suppressed. My mind raced for a few seconds, thinking of how to deal with both attacks simultaneously.

"I want to attract their attention." I whispered to Qianmo while observing his movements.

"Okay." Qianmo didn't say much, as if he already knew what I was going to do.

I suddenly accelerated, using the gap to slip into the two beasts' attack range. Instantly, the leopard-like beast pounced, its speed and force practically shaking the very air. I quickly manipulated the transparent vines to release cold air, forming a thick ice wall that blocked the leopard's attack.

However, at that moment, the bird was ready to launch a second electric shock attack. Lightning streaked across the sky, aiming directly at me. I chose not to dodge, but instead used transparent young vines to quickly cast a frost barrier in the air. The moment the lightning fell, the frost crystals absorbed it. Although the pain was still there, at least I was not directly shocked.

At this moment, Qianmo also rushed forward, launching a precise counterattack with his supernatural power. His attack was almost without any fancy moves, swift and direct, almost finding a gap between me and the other beast. The leopard beast barely had time to react before Qianmo's supernatural power successfully subdued it.

Although the birds were still circling in the air, they no longer dared to make any rash moves. Qianmo's movements were even more swift, finding the most suitable attacking position in almost an instant and defeating the enemy with a single blow.

As the enemy beasts' formation was disrupted, our coordination began to gain the upper hand. The transparent young vine's frost barrier and Qianmo's swift and flexible abilities combined to create a powerful suppressive force, forcing the beastmaster's two beasts to reassess the threat posed by our camp.

Although intense, this training brought me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. This accelerated heartbeat seemed to be a rare source of motivation in military academy life. As the training progressed, I could more clearly sense the natural and effortless rapport between me and Qianmo.

The beastmaster on the other side finally gave up on the attack, his beast clearly tired. We, though equally exhausted, didn't let our guard down.

"Not bad." The other student finally retracted the beast and walked up to us with a slight smile on his face. "Your cooperation is getting better and better."

The other party's praise made me smile. Although the other party was not completely our opponent, I felt that I had gained more inspiration by being able to learn something from such a practical exercise.

"Thank you," I whispered. Though simple, it was filled with gratitude. After all, being able to discover one's own shortcomings and improve through such a confrontation was what mattered most.

Qianmo stood beside me, seemingly unfazed by the other person's words, simply lowering his head to sort out his gear. Perhaps he was already accustomed to such occasions, needing no excessive words or praise. Spending time with him, I gradually learned to be more silent and focused, and to keep moving forward with the support of this silence.

After the other student and his strange beast retreated, I looked at Qianmo. He seemed a little reluctant, but more of it was a calm reflection.

"Next, are you ready to take on the next opponent?" I asked.

Qianmo turned and glanced at me, a hint of a smile in his eyes, but he didn't answer immediately. He walked to the side and sorted out his slightly messy training equipment, appearing as calm and rational as ever.

I followed him, my eyes involuntarily scanning the surrounding training grounds. Every confrontation here, in some way, strengthens us. Whether it's physical strength or mental toughening, it seems that every encounter makes us stronger.

"There will be a new opponent soon, no rush." ​​He said lightly, his voice low but clear, without much ups and downs in his tone.

I nodded and said nothing more. The tacit understanding between us no longer needed too many words. Often, just a glance or a gesture was enough to tell each other's thoughts.

As new confrontations approach, I know the next challenges will be the real test. And within these challenges, there may be more unknown forces and situations waiting for us to break through and surpass.

"Are you ready?" Qianmo spoke again, his eyes revealing a determination that could not be ignored.