Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 498. Goals of the trio

The subsequent hour was dedicated to Carlos imparting instructions to Theo regarding his training with the mantis. Upon concluding his explanations, he turned his attention to the three students who remained frozen.

Darrian exerted all his effort to resist the oppressive force. He clenched his jaw, and even from Theo's vantage point during his practice, the boy's deep frustration was evident on his face.

Theo couldn't help but feel a slight smirk form. The young man certainly possessed courage. Few individuals could maintain eye contact with the mantis, particularly its gaze, and still manage to move.

The other two students, however, were utterly rigid. It wasn't until Carlos delivered sharp slaps to their faces that they finally began to move again.

Darrian, contrastingly, was left undisturbed. Carlos refrained from any forceful actions toward him.

Theo surmised the underlying reason. It appeared Carlos had recognized that Darrian was, in fact, making progress, albeit minuscule. At the very least, he was genuinely attempting, unlike the rest.

The hour elapsed as swiftly as it had commenced, and Theo experienced a touch of annoyance when Carlos summoned him and the others forward.

The mantis was finally returned to its beast space, and curiously, it did so without any hesitation, almost as though it too wished for the activity to conclude as rapidly as possible.

"Your beast attempts to cooperate with you, based on what I observed just now, but it's excessively chaotic and aggressive for you to manage," Carlos elucidated.

"You must either gain control over that aggression, or if you're unable to, then you will be the one who needs to adapt significantly. You'll have to learn how to keep pace with your beast, and that will be our focus."

Theo regarded Carlos with burgeoning excitement, then nodded his head enthusiastically.

He was the inaugural instructor who truly grasped Theo's learning aspirations.

Rhys and the baron had been peculiar yet effective teachers. Still, they never perceived their own beasts as comrades, and thus, never truly fought in unison with them.

But Carlos was instructing him on achieving genuine synergy with his beast, a goal Theo had pursued with his sword from the outset.

"Tomorrow, we shall concentrate precisely on that," Carlos declared before turning his attention to the trio, who could finally take a proper breath once more.

"And the three of you, the trial confronting you this year will either shatter you or forge you into something noteworthy. Personally, I find myself hoping for the former outcome, no matter what, understood?"

His pronouncement prompted the three to place their fists against their left chests, their expressions grave.

After departing the training grounds, the group proceeded together in quietude, while the other three repeatedly cast furtive glances toward Theo.

By the tenth such instance, Theo finally deemed it sufficient and initiated the conversation.

"If you have inquiries, feel free to ask directly," Theo stated, causing Darrian to immediately look away in embarrassment.

The others, however, did not share his hesitation. Intense curiosity blazed in their eyes.

"Esteemed Theo, how did you manage to attain an aura of lower-medium level at such a tender age?" Pavel inquired, clasping his hands as if addressing a revered senior.

Factually, Theo held seniority, albeit not within the academy's hierarchy. They were all in the same cohort.

"Our ambition is to one day manifest aura ourselves. Only then can we realize our objectives," Seris added.

Before providing a response, Theo found himself growing curious.

"What are your respective goals, Esteemed Seris and Esteemed Pavel?" he asked, prompting both to gaze at him with smiles.

"My aim is to join a hunter team eventually and assist in eradicating the outer devils, Esteemed Theo," Pavel replied, a fiery determination evident in his eyes. Theo perceived an undeniable passion within him.

"The forest adjacent to my hometown was devastated during a conflict between a formidable tamer and a metal demon a decade ago. The land eventually recovered from its scorched barrenness, but the towering trees never returned. What we lost nearly annihilated our entire town."

The fire in his gaze intensified as he recounted the event.

"I understand." Theo nodded, finding the individual's passion almost infectious.

'Metal demons... they refer to automatons. So, a mechanical construct attacked and incinerated their forest just ten years prior? How have I never encountered news of this?'

"I deeply regret the destruction of your forest, Esteemed Pavel. However, why is there no official report regarding this incident?" Theo inquired directly. There was no benefit in evading the subject.

This time, Pavel seemed to grow somewhat more at ease with the exchange. He clicked his tongue, bitterness lacing his tone.

"It is because any information pertaining to the outer devils is consistently concealed from the populace, Esteemed Theo. They endeavor to prevent widespread alarm." He spoke, then bit his lip.

"Only those who have borne the suffering are privy to their narratives. And there are countless others..."

The conversation swiftly veered into somber territory, and a heavy silence ensued for a full minute.

"You are attempting to manifest your aura for a truly noble purpose, Sir Pavel. My sincere hope is that the benevolent artifact will soon aid you in reaching your objective," Theo stated.

Upon the mention of the artifact, Pavel's gaze lifted, directed upwards. He raised a finger to his lips and planted a kiss upon it with his eyes closed, before returning to his usual demeanor.

While the world revered the artifact as a deity, Theo found himself feeling quite indifferent towards it.

"And what of your aspirations, Sir Seris?" Theo inquired, causing the young man to blush slightly.

"My ambition is not as lofty, Sir Theo. I simply wish to attain sufficient strength to provide my family with the opulence they rightfully deserve..." he confessed, apprehensive that Theo might scorn him for such a reason.

Darrian cast a sideways glance at Seris. Sensing a potential downturn in the conversation, he placed an arm around the young man's shoulder.

"Look at you, trying to sound so profound," he remarked with a broad grin.

Seris's expression shifted into an awkward chuckle, though he could still discern the look on his friend's face.

"I can certainly relate to that sentiment, Sir Seris. I too would go to great lengths for my family. Furthermore, I perceive a noble quality underlying your objective, so do not fret that it might seem too commonplace," Theo responded with assuredness.

The three individuals stared at Theo, utterly dumbfounded, while Darian's jaw hung slack.

They had never encountered a nobleman so grounded and approachable, and this unexpected humility left them feeling rather bewildered.