For now, I follow my teacher.

We reach a nearby area where another young man is trying to tame a big lizard.

"These are extremely popular with the students."

[Is it because of how sturdy they are? This way they won't die as easily leaving their tamer defenseless. This is it, right?]

"Nope, they are just trying to be copycats. Every time there is a successful tamer appearing, the youngsters try to copy him."

Oh, I see. He's talking about that guy I met in the sewers!

[Does that mean that ice elementals are popular too?]

"No way, these can only be found in a disaster zone. Most of these students might be dumb but they won't try their luck in such a dangerous place recklessly."

Guess it makes sense. I really should be careful the next time I stumble upon one such area.

The guy in there seems to be in the process of taming the creature.

I'm not sure if he has noticed us or not but he doesn't seem to pay us any attention.

At the moment, he seems busy feeding it an apple of some sort. It definitively looks better than whatever little Bai had.

"This part is quite simple, he simply is giving it its favorite food to try and create a positive impression."

The creature gobbles it up and then ….

*CHOMP*

Did it just try to eat the guy's arm?! It did!

The tamer dodges it like a pro. That was super risky!

"See this is why most people come here, the monsters are less violent."

[Didn't it just try to bite the guy?!]

"Yep, but only once playfully. A wild one would have relentlessly gone on the offensive."

[Playfully? What would have happened if he wasn't fast enough?]

"A fountain of blood and the loss of a member of course."

[If that is playful I never want such a pet! This is dumb!]

"That's why the taming process is so important you see. My ice elemental tried to kill me too when I first met it."

And you guys think it's normal?

Who is the insane bastard that designed a whole profession where you go around looking for creatures actively trying to kill you and try to make them yours?!

Then again once the taming is done it is a good way to gain strength. My only issue is how tamers are supposed to deal with assassinations. Since they themselves are not powerful. The fusion can be possible for the ones with elementals, I guess.

The guy inside seems to be expecting things to go this way as he keeps going. He seems to be focusing on casting some kind of spell.

That's when it happens. The lizard charges at him!

The young man dodges and keeps dodging.

Seriously I feel like he should consider a career change.

Why be a tamer when he obviously has mad potential as a toreador?

"He attempted a soul link. Now the creature is trying to make him give up. Should he slip up and die that will be the end of it. As long as he manages to survive it and gain its admiration everything should be fine."

This is wild.

[So all tamers do it like that?!]

"Of course not. This one is especially agile and can afford to do that. Especially true because the target is simply a rank 2 creature. No, most of the tamers would rather spend a long time feeding it and becoming closer to it before attempting the soul link part. That way the target won't try to kill them."

[I see. Is there a limit to the number of soul links one can have?]

"Yes, it depends on the mental strength of the tamer. The stronger he is the more pets he can have. It is also possible to kill the creature to re-contract another."

[Can't they just let it go free?]

"Nope, a soul link lasts until death."

This is kinda dumb if you ask me. Why would anyone even bother taming rank 2 creatures like these ones?

To gain experience perhaps? But won't they just murder it as soon as they find a better one? Won't they feel bad? I know I would.

Taming is probably only worth it with a strong creature.

"Oh yeah, by the way never try to contract a creature way above your own level. Your soul would simply shatter. You should start by contracting a weaker one to raise your soul power first."

Never mind that explains it all. They want to contract a stronger one, but they simply can't. Rip all the monsters that are used as training fodder on a regular basis.

"Ah, it seems it gave up. Watch carefully how the link is done. See how he is gathering mana, imprinting it with his own soul essence and then using it to link with the creature?"

Wait! It takes mana to become a tamer?! Isn't mana for mages?!

[I don't see anything special.]

"Watch carefully this will be important when you need to do so yourself."

This is depressing. I feel like a paraplegic that just managed to somehow join an awesome class only to get told it's about running.

It reminds me of the time I bought a game and installed it fully only to realize it couldn't be run on my operating system for compatibility reasons.

I feel cheated right now. No, I should stay calm. There may be other options.

[Here is the issue, I cannot see or feel mana at all.]

"No matter what?"

[I have tried for a while and no, I don't even know what it looks like.]

"Oh, I understand then."

[You have a solution?!]

"Yes, give up on being a tamer. Now that would explain why the statue said you have no talent whatsoever in this domain. Alright, we are done here."

He leaves.

Yes, just like that.

What the fuck!

What the actual fuck!

That's the solution?

Give up?!

This is bullshit.

Utter bullshit.

What should I do?

I feel lost.

I just start walking back, dragging my feet.

Then I come across little Bai, still crying.

Ah, that seems like a good idea.

I lie down on the ground and join him.

Let's just cry for a while.