As Aster was about to speak, the space next to him suddenly shrank. Junie had shuffled over so fast and so close that her shoulder almost brushed his.
"Whoa!" Aster gasped, flinching and jumping back slightly on the grass.
"Oh! I-I'm so sorry!" Junie squeaked immediately, her face instantly turning a bright, burning crimson. She threw her hands up apologetically, waving them frantically in the air. "I didn't mean to scare you!"
Aster's heart was hammering against his ribs, and not just from the jump scare. Back in his old world, he had been a total recluse. He practically had zero experience talking to girls, let alone having a cute, energetic one pop right into his personal bubble.
Junie nervously glanced at the rest of the squad, who were watching with amused grins, before she leaned in just a tiny bit closer. She twiddled her fingers, her voice dropping into a shy, breathless whisper.
"A-Aster... d-do you know what... Sir Sylas's type is?!!!" she blurted out, her eyes wide with desperate, blushing curiosity.
Aster froze. The words echoed in his brain, completely short-circuiting his thoughts. He stared at Junie, his mouth slightly open, utterly stunned to speak.
Across the circle, Finn let out a sudden, loud snort, trying and failing to choke back a laugh, while Kael just shook his head with a broad, knowing smirk. Aster sat there, holding his new sword and bow, completely lost for words.
Finn completely lost his battle with his own laughter, bursting out into a loud, booming chuckle that echoed across the courtyard.
"You're still obsessed with Sylas, huh?!" Finn wheezed, pointing a finger at Junie while his eyes crinkled with pure amusement. "Man, the guy looks like he drinks coffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and sleeps for about twenty minutes a week. What is it with you?"
"F-Finn! Shut up!" Junie squealed, her face turning an even deeper shade of bright, tomato red. She grabbed a nearby patch of loose grass and desperately hurled it in his direction, though it just drifted harmlessly through the air. "It's called appreciation for a senior! Appreciation!"
Eva let out a quiet, elegant sigh, though a faint, knowing smirk graced her lips, while her brother Elio just shook his head with his usual calm, silent amusement.
Kael leaned back on his hands, chuckling warmly at the chaotic scene. He looked over at Aster, who was still sitting there looking completely paralyzed by the sudden question.
"Don't worry, Aster," Kael said, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "You don't have to answer that. Junie's had a massive, tragic crush on Sylas since the day she joined the vanguard. We've all just learned to live with the sudden interrogation whenever his name comes up."
Kael chuckled as the teasing finally died down, and he turned his full attention back to Aster. The playful smirk vanished, replaced by the attentive, encouraging look of a true leader.
"Alright, alright, let's leave poor Sylas out of this for now," Kael said, leaning forward. "Back to business, Aster. What about you? What kind of weapon are we working with, and what's your spirit animal?"
Aster felt a nervous sweat break out on the back of his neck. He looked down at the practice sword resting on his lap and the bow slung across his back. He swallowed hard, trying to find the words.
"Well..." Aster started gently, rubbing the back of his neck. "To be honest... I don't really know what my true weapon is yet."
Eva raised an eyebrow slightly, her calm eyes showing a flicker of curiosity, while Finn tilted his head.
"You don't know?" Kael repeated, not judging, just genuinely curious.
"Yeah," Aster admitted, looking a bit embarrassed. "Because... well, my animal doesn't really listen to me right now. It's a bit stubborn, so I haven't been able to summon my actual weapon yet. That's why Sylas helped me get these ordinary ones for now."
The courtyard grew quiet for a second as the squad processed this. For most summoners, bonding with their beast was the very first step.
Instead of looking disappointed, Elio gave a slow, understanding nod from his spot on the grass, his calm demeanor instantly making Aster feel less insecure.
"A stubborn one, huh?" Kael said, a thoughtful smile returning to his face. "Hey, don't sweat it. Some of the most powerful spirit animals out there have the biggest attitudes. It just means you've got a fighter on your hands. What kind of animal is it anyway?"
Aster felt a heavy wave of relief wash over his shoulders. Seeing that they weren't judging him or looking down on him made the knot in his stomach finally loosen up.
"An eagle," Aster said, his voice a bit more confident this time. "It's an eagle."
"An eagle! Oh, that is so cool!" Junie clapped her hands together, her blush completely forgotten as her eyes lit up with excitement again. "Flying types are amazing for scouting!"
"An eagle is a proud creature," Eva added, nodding approvingly with her usual calm demeanor. "They possess incredible vision and independence. It is no wonder it is stubborn; eagles do not bow their heads easily. You will have to earn its respect, Aster."
Elio nodded slowly in agreement with his sister, his grounded presence keeping the mood steady and encouraging.
Finn grinned, leaning back on his hands. "Man, a bird of prey? That's awesome. Much better than a stubborn mule or something. Just think of the aerial advantage we'll have once you two finally play nice!"
Kael's smile grew wide and proud, and he reached over to give Aster a supportive slap on the back. "An eagle is a legendary partner for a vanguard squad, Aster. Don't worry about the weapon yet. We've got plenty of time to help you train, and we'll figure out how to tame that bird of yours together. Welcome to the team, officially."
Aster looked at Kael, his curiosity piqued by how encouraging and confident the leader was. If an eagle was considered a great partner, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of creature a strong leader like Kael commanded.
"What about you, Kael?" Aster asked, leaning in slightly. "What is your spirit animal?"
Kael smiled, a calm and proud glint appearing in his blue eyes. Instead of just answering, he extended his right arm forward and closed his eyes for a brief second. A faint, shimmering green light began to pulse gently along his forearm.
From the light, a sleek and magnificent snake began to materialize, coiling smoothly around Kael's arm.
Its scales were a striking pattern of deep emerald and gold, glistening under the afternoon sun. It possessed a regal, ancient grace, and its intelligent eyes locked onto Aster with a calm, curious gaze rather than a menacing one. It rested its head right on the back of Kael's hand, flicking its tongue out once.
"A serpent," Kael said with a proud smile, gently running a finger down the smooth scales of its head. "Don't worry, he's friendly with allies. In battle, he acts as my eyes in the blind spots, helping me sense vibrations and lock down the frontline. Snakes are patient, precise, and always strike when the timing is perfect—which is exactly how I handle our strategy."