Of Course

Everyone was still surprised with how Darenn interacted with the Catoblepas! He just raised both of his hands up in the air, all of them already bending their heads down to acknowledge his presence!

As the Catoblepas appeared tame around them, Aranea blinked her eyes a few times, already approaching Darenn excitedly like a kid.

"You could talk to them!?"

"I can."

"Wow! How are they your friends?"

"Love animals."

"You love animals?"

"Magnificent creatures."

"Aren't you scared?"

"No. Why?"

"Because they're gigantic! One stomp of their foot, you'd die!"

Darenn let out a chuckle. He shook his head, patting his Summoner's head as if she was a child.

"You're funny."

Seeing how they were both interacting again, Zann couldn't help but scoff, putting both of his hands behind his head as he approached the two, reminding them of what they did to the Catoblepas before they arrived in the cave.

"Sorry to burst your bubble big guy, but our ordeal was to slay a Catoblepas. We may have killed one of your friends."

Hearing this, Darenn coldly turned his body to face Zann. With his condescending look on the Fire Familiar, Zann felt a bit intimidated, but he still stood his ground, not wanting the familiar before him to notice.

"What?"

"No choice."

"Huh?"

Darenn then looked at Aranea, then gave his answer to further make Zann understand what he meant.

"Aranea's ordeal."

With that, Aranea sighed as he pouted at Darenn, feeling bad that they killed one of his friends.

"I'm sorry, Darenn. If only you became my familiar earlier, this would not have happened," she said and apologized, Darenn, smiling as he patted her head once more.

"It's okay."

"Oh, but…" Elenea cocked her head to the side, "The ordeal said slay… so maybe we could not have avoided it otherwise," she mumbled, Darenn and Aranea, sighing as they regretfully nodded at her to agree.

"By the way, professor," Leonel said, Professor Grisham looking at him. "With Darenn already aboard, will he become a student of the academy?"

"Yes! The same rule applies!"

Zann furrowed his brows, "Where will he be staying?"

"That's not gonna be a problem," Aranea chimed in, "Darenn will live with us. He will share a room with Leonel."

Hearing this, Leonel widened his eyes.

"W-with me?"

"What's wrong?" Aranea furrowed her brows, putting both of her hands on her waist. "Don't you want to share a room with Darenn?"

"N-no!" Leonel shook his head, "That's not what I meant… it's just that I feel that this is sudden," he mumbled, but it was enough for everyone to hear.

Hearing this, Darenn walked towards Leonel, extending his hand as if to introduce himself to him.

"Darenn. Leonel."

Leonel blinked his eyes a few times. He hesitantly and shyly reached his hand towards him, shaking Darenn's hand at the same time as Leonel quite saw Darenn as a cave man.

'Well… he indeed came from a cave,' he thought, Leonel stifling his laugh as Darenn mistook it as a smile towards him, making Darenn smile back at him.

"You. Friend."

"Oh!"

Leonel did not expect him saying that. He just nodded, now genuinely smiling at him.

"Yes. Friends."

Aranea and Elenea smiled as they watched the two have an unexpected bond forming, Zann, almost cringing.

"If you're already friends with Leonel, how about me?" Zann asked, Darenn, turning his head to look at the Fire Familiar as he looked at him with cold, piercing eyes.

"You. Acquaintance."

Aranea laughed out loud, Leonel and Elenea stifling their laugh as Zann's face started becoming red from embarrassment.

"Why?"

"Felt it."

The three continued to laugh, their laughter infectious as Professor Grisham started to laugh as well. Zann narrowed his eyes at the professor who took him under his wing, feeling betrayed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry," Professor Grisham apologized, "At least you're not considered as an enemy."

With Professor Grisham teasing Zann, now Darenn couldn't help but laugh with everyone. Zann just rolled his eyes at everyone, crossing both of his arms in front of his chest.

"Oh, by the way, Darenn," Aranea trailed off, everyone's attention on the new familiar as the Summoner asked him a question. "What is your element? May we know?"

"Ah, finally," Zann exclaimed, "She has asked the most important question."

Ignoring the Fire Familiar, Darenn answered her question, validating the assumption of Zann and Leonel.

"Earth element."

"Oh, wow!" Aranea's eyes twinkled, "I would like to see your element someday!"

Darenn smiled at Aranea as he nodded at her. Zann then did not hesitate to ask Darenn a question, not caring if Darenn is acting quite hostile towards him.

"What weapons do you use?"

Darenn did not say a single word to answer Zann. Instead, he walked towards in him big strides, giving him a series of punches and kicks, making Zann widen his eyes as he instantly went on a defensive stance.

Darenn's eyes seemed to not blink!

With his balled fists, he continued to attack Zann head on, the Fire Familiar's eyebrows creasing together as he suddenly felt sweat trickle down his back.

He gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath as he did not understand why Darenn suddenly went on the offensive.

"Damn! What is your problem?"

Darenn then stopped in his tracks, surprising Zann with his sudden stop in attacks. He fell on his butt, Darenn looking down on him as he finally answered his question after showing him how he attacks.

"Nothing. Fists."

Watching what happened between them, the twins, Leonel, and Professor Grisham, widened their eyes in astonishment. With Darenn's answer, he was pertaining that he used no weapons other than his fists!

With his attacks a while ago, they could also see that he was also a good fighter with no weapons used. As for Aranea, her eyes were twinkling like stars as a thought suddenly passed through her mind, Darenn's eyes widening as he did not expect his Summoner's enthusiasm.

"Hey, can we spar!? I want you to teach me a thing or two! Please, please!"

Darenn then smiled at Aranea. He nodded as he patted her head, giving her his answer as he appreciated the excitement in her voice.

"Of course."