Ellen

Edited on 27 January 2025.

I walk toward the town square with my parents. Many other families can be seen with their children as the graduating class will bond with their monsters today.

There are many monsters walking and flying around people from Tri-colored butterflies to Gem Claw Cats. Some people could be seen riding on top of their monsters. Monsters are a part of everyday life.

Most of these monsters have type II strains like Ashlyn. They are common in a town like this.

"Micheal!" I heard someone calling me, I turned to see my friend Ron. He was holding a light green wolf cub in his arms, whose fur looked like it was waving in the air but there was no wind.

That monster is Wind Wolf, he has a class 6 strain, and as his name suggests it is a wind elemental monster.

As Ron came closer, the wind wolf puppy in his arm tried to shrink away.

"Nothing to fear Johnny, I will protect you from her." He said as he pacified the puppy while glaring at Ashlyn.

A few weeks ago when Ron brought his Wind Wolf to my house to show off. The poor puppy wanted to play with Ashlyn and even offered its toy to her.

Ashlyn rebuffed his attempts, which annoyed the puppy who attacked her with his little wind blades.

Getting incensed by it, she attacked it with a little fireball. Burning a patch of its fur. Making a little puppy yelp in pain.

Since then Johnny developed a little fear of Ashlyn, whenever he saw her, he would hide behind Ron.

"Johnny, have you been a good boy?" I said as patted the cute puppy lovingly.

"Chew Chew!"

A moment later, I heard a familiar chirp and a sharp peck on my neck.

She liked to act arrogant and indifferent but she gets jealous quite easily, especially when I get close to the other monsters. Which she didn't like.

"Ashlyn good to see you too," Ron said but he didn't try to pat Ashlyn as he knew she would avoid it.

''How are you feeling?" I asked Ron a few seconds later. ''Excited, but also nervous." He replied with a small smile on his face.

I understood how he felt as I felt the same emotions.

''You are leaving tomorrow right?" I asked

"Yes, in the morning," he replied

Every year top students and those potential get recruited by the government and the organisation.

They provide everything from the monster partner to a suitable mana Refinement Engine. The only condition is signing years long contract.

The minimum period is 5 years and the maximum is 15 years. The contracts are lenient to strict. Where one can't even refuse the mission that will result in their deaths.

I was second in my batch, they offered me a Class 7 strain monster but I rejected them.

There are two reasons for me rejecting them. First, I only wanted Ashlyn to be my Monster and second, a five-year contract was too long for me.

Ron accepted the contract from one organization for Eight years of service and he even got Johnny from them.

Many of my friends did. It is a great opportunity.

Soon we reached the town square, where the ceremony is held every year and there was already a big crowd waiting for it to start.

A big stage had already been enacted with a big black stone tile in the center of it. It is called the Enlightenment Stone, it reduces the chances of failure of bonding.

In front of the stage, two hundred chairs are placed. It is for the students who were undergoing the ceremony.

My seat is in the center of the first row, Ron is also in the front row as he is ranked 8th.

I sat down, beside a young woman, who was looking with a smile.

"I didn't believe it when I heard that you rejected all the offers but looking at the bird, it is true I guess," she said.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile.

Ellen is my very good friend and also my competitor for the top place.

For three years, we both were competing for first place but in the final exam, she beat me in the race for first place, by a single point.

On her shoulder was a palm-sized spider which looked like it was made of glass. This monster is known as Glass Spider and is one of the best Monsters in the Class 7 strain.

''Looking at Glass Spider you have, you must have accepted the Crystal Web's offer?" I asked as many organizations have their signature monsters, and they give these monsters to their low-level members.

Ron's Gale Wolf is mainly used by the Hermes Merchants and Ellen's Glass Spider is especially used by the Crystal Web'. They are one dangerous organization.

"Yes, they offered some good conditions and I accepted it." She replied with a small smile on her face.

"It's a good choice, they gave you a top-class lv. 7 strain monster," I said, for a moment even I felt jealous of her but when l thought of the little sparrow on my shoulder, I remembered why I declined all those offers.

I do not regret my choice. Even now, looking at all these powerful monsters with bright potential.

''Strain isn't everything Michael. People have broken through its bounds" Ellen said.

Yes, the strain just shows the map, the actual walking on it has to be done by us. Crossing many roadblocks, that come in the way.

Hun!

We were talking when suddenly, I heard a faint sound.

'Sip…'

''Stella!" Ellen shouted at her Glass Spider. It attacked Ashlyn suddenly with its glass strings binding her.

Anger could be seen in Ashlyn's eyes and her whole body started to burn with silver fire. It melted away those glass strings.

Still, Ashlyn isn't the one to bear it.

''Ashlyn calm down! If you don't attack, I will ask Mom to give you some special treat" I said, trying to calm her before things escalated further.

Hearing the words 'special treat' she calmed down and flew away to sit on my other shoulder.

I could see the anger and irritation in her eyes. If the spider attacks again, she will respond and this time, even the bribe won't work.

"Micheal, I am so sorry! Stella really acts unruly sometimes." Ellen apologized,

"It's okay, it happening everywhere," I said as I glanced towards Ron's wind wolf who was fighting a Dark Centipede on the ground, with both Ron and the Krasil beside him trying to separate their monsters from the fight.

"Yes, it happening everywhere," she repeated as she saw the small monsters fighting everywhere.

''Which training facility are you going to?" I asked as the Crystal Web had branches in all of the important cities in the country.

Usually, they first send their recruits to the facilities for training.

''Mayfield, I will spend one year there." She said as a tinge of expectation could be seen on her face when she said the city's name.

Mayfield is a class 6 city that is very close to the capital, she is basically halfway into the capital, where the most powerful people in the country reside.

''What are you going to do." She asked, with her eyes filled with worry.

I had not joined any organization or government. With Ashlyn, many think, my future is bleak.

''I am going to Carrol City," I lied, she nodded as if understanding my intentions, Carrol city is the biggest Class 5 city in the country and one of the most popular cities amongst the lower-level adventurers.

I lied to my friends and parents about my destination because the city I've picked is one of the most dangerous cities in the republic, it is the...

Note: I changed the name of the organization From Crystal Knights to Crystal Webs. You might the earlier name in future chapters, until I update it.