This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain stepped into the Pathfinders' building and immediately felt as though he had travelled back in time or entered another world.

The very air contributed to the antiquated atmosphere as the scent of various herbs mingled with the scent of aged parchment and something faintly sweet, like the sap of ancient trees.

The lighting was dim, provided not by modern fixtures but by softly glowing orbs encased in sconces shaped like dragon claws, which looked as though they'd been chiselled from some black shining metal that faintly pulsed with spiritual power.

The floor beneath his feet was a patchwork of materials: some tiles gleamed with the sheen of polished stone, while others had the silver and gold speckled coloured reflective quality of a metal Kain had only read about in ancient texts—solvanium, a legendary alloy said to calm the mind and amplify the spiritual energy of those who stood on it.

Intricate patterns covered the walls, carved in ancient scripts that had long since died out with the nations that created them.

Their meanings were lost to time, but Kain couldn't help but feel they seemed to emit a tangible power, only slightly weaker than sigils.

Interspersed among the carvings were paintings depicting scenes of exploration: adventurers crossing rugged landscapes, deciphering relics, and battling towering spiritual creatures.

"The entire building, aside from the murals, is composed of materials brought back by our pathfinders." Kain turned to see a faintly lit individual in what appeared to be a reception area.

The reception area was marked by an arched entryway flanked by two towering statues. These statues depicted figures faintly resembling the almost mythical sirens, women with the upper half of a human and a lower body that could take on the form of a myriad of aquatic creatures.

The ones depicted in the statues had delicate features, and one had the lower body of what appeared to be an octopus, while the other's lower body was an elongated fishtail resembling a cross between an aquatic serpent and fish.

They were both holding lanterns made of what appeared to be pure starlight that pulsed rhythmically. And their vacant gazes somehow seemed to follow Kain as he passed beneath the arch, adding to the building's sense of pressure and mystery given to the new arrivals.

The receptionist sat behind a long, polished desk made of a rich, dark wood veined with streaks of silver—likely harvested from some ancient forest now extinct given the words they'd mentioned before about the source of everything in this building.

The attire of the receptionist fit in perfectly with the surroundings: he wore a fitted coat of deep blue velvet trimmed with silver thread, paired with bracers made of some kind of an antique, dull bronze alloy.

Beneath the coat, hints of an embroidered tunic peeked through, with intricate vine-like patterns.

A silver circlet adorned his forehead, with a small, faintly glowing gem at its center, which seemed to pulse in sync with the starlight in the lanterns held by the two statues.

He had long light-blue hair and a thin, delicate figure that gave him an almost androgynous appearance.

The receptionist's eyes, were a piercing gray that shimmered faintly in the dim light, fixed on Kain as he approached. A faint smile curved their lips, and they inclined their head slightly in greeting.

Kain cleared his throat, trying to match their calm demeanour. "I'm here to join the Pathfinders. I've reviewed my profile and decided this subdivision aligns best with my strengths."

The receptionist extended a gloved hand, and Kain handed over the booklet containing his report card. They opened it carefully, their gloved fingers skimming over the pages with practiced ease.

Then, in a move that broke the ancient atmosphere of the space, an extremely modern holographic screen appeared before them which he seemed to use to confirm that Kain was indeed a candidate able to instantly join the Pathfinders.

After confirming, he closed the booklet with a soft snap and met Kain's gaze. "Your decision is noted, and your report reflects a promising alignment with our subdivision's needs. If you're certain, we can begin the formal process of welcoming you into the Pathfinders. Be advised—this subdivision is not without its unique challenges and the opportunity to change subdivisions is not available until you have accumulated a certain amount of contribution points. However, the rewards and feelings of accomplishment granted to Pathfinders are unlike any others."

"I'm certain," Kain said firmly.

The receptionist nodded and gestured toward an ornately carved door to the right of the reception desk. "Very well. Through that door lies the Orientation Chamber. It will provide you with the next steps to formally integrate into our ranks since further assessment for you is unnecessary. Take this with you."

They handed Kain a small medallion, the size of his palm, made from the same silvery-gold alloy that glimmered faintly in the floor tiles. The second it landed in Kain's hand, he felt a refreshing feeling pass through his mind and the ease with which he could utilize his spiritual power was faintly stronger.

The center of the medallion was etched with a constellation that Kain had never seen before on any star maps—and he was unsure of its significance.

It resembled a compass rose, with four smaller stars positioned at the cardinal points—north, south, east, and west. However, at the center of the constellation was a large, luminescent star, slightly elongated, as if it were stretching to reach each of the cardinal points. Encircling the large central star. And between it and the 4 stars in each cardinal direction was a ring of six smaller stars, arranged in a perfect hexagon.

It was an extremely distinct constellation, so Kain became even more certain as he examined it that it didn't represent any constellation that existed. He didn't even think there was a star close enough to the planet to appear so much larger in comparison to the others.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Place the medallion on the pedestal inside the chamber within the platform in the adjoining room and it will automatically transport you into the orientation room specific to the Pathfinders. Also, make sure to keep the medallion on you at all times, not only does it have tangible benefits and is expensive to replace. It will also be your entry ticket into all areas with restricted access available to you in the Eclipse Order," the receptionist instructed. "I wish you luck on your future path."