"Today's the day," I muttered under my breath. I was dressed in my usual bland outfit, a plain, single-color shirt, orange today, and worn-out sweatpants.
This was the day final-year high school students officially began their journey as monster tamers.
Just a month ago, I was in my mid-twenties, stuck in that familiar rut, wondering what I wanted to do with my life. Then, out of nowhere, I transmigrated into this world. It was a strange twist of fate, but a welcome one.
Becoming a monster tamer was a childhood dream when I was a naive kid full of wild imagination and big dreams.
The world of Filorria was unique, though not in the way most people imagine when they think of a fantasy world.
Roughly a hundred times the size of Earth, it was home to ten major races, each intrinsically tied to the art of beast taming.
Humans were just one of them. And with every race carrying its sense of superiority, the competition was fierce, relentless, and even. Pride, power, and prestige ruled here.
Coming from a mundane world, I used to daydream about having supernatural powers, of stepping beyond the ordinary to explore the mysteries of an unknown world.
And now, like the person whose body I inherited, I carried that same dream to rise and become a successful monster tamer.
"It's time to go," I said, whispering to myself.
Already dressed and ready, I stepped out and headed toward the school. Out on the streets, monsters moved calmly beside their tamers. It was still a breathtaking sight after a month in this world.
I lived in Lycan City, named after one of the country's founding figures. Fittingly, its signature monster was the werewolf.
"Good morning," a classmate greeted me warmly as I entered the classroom.
It was her, the most popular girl in class. She was beautiful, kind, and effortlessly charming, and everyone liked her.
I gave her a silent nod and made my way to my seat. Anyone else might have scolded me for being so cold, but she didn't seem to mind.
Before I transmigrated, the person who inhabited this body was little more than a hollow shell, someone who lived purely in survival mode. A puppet without drive, except for becoming a monster tamer, he was without connection, just existing.
He had barely any personality, and because of that, he kept himself isolated from everyone around him.
With graduation right around the corner, reinventing myself felt like a waste of energy. I wasn't precisely antisocial, but I wasn't the type to force friendships I knew wouldn't last after graduation.
My classmates had long since gotten used to how I was, so no one made a big deal about it anymore.
Time passed quietly. The room began to fill, and class was nearly in session. Everyone was excited for the first time in a while and wanted the class to start immediately.
"Students, I know you're all excited, but please settle down," our teacher said as he entered the classroom, smiling even as he tried to rein us in.
Perched on his shoulder was his partner, a small, squirrel-like creature with bright eyes and a twitching tail.
It wasn't just the students who were excited for today's event. Even the teacher could hardly hide his anticipation.
"Our school has already secured an appointment with the Monster Summoning Center," the teacher announced. "After lunch, we'll get ready and head over together."
He paused, and then his expression shifted to something more serious. The buzz of excitement in the room quickly died down.
"Before we go, I need to make a few things clear," he continued. "You'll be representing the school, so I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Understood?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, clearly recognizing the weight behind his words.
Not that anyone was dumb enough to mess around. The Summoning Center wasn't just some random facility. It was the place that determined which monster suited you best. Acting out could get your summoning rights revoked entirely. Anyone with half a brain knew better. Seeing us nod with understanding, the teacher gave a satisfied nod of his own.
"Since today's the day you'll all visit the Summoning Center, we'll be starting class with a lesson about it."
He looked around the room.
"Can anyone tell me why, instead of hatching your own monster, we rely on the Summoning Center to receive our first companion?"
It was an easy question, something even a child could answer. That's how important it was.
"For monster tamers, the most crucial factor is compatibility," Amber replied confidently.
"The Summoning Center uses a special method to summon monsters that are perfectly suited to us, based on that compatibility."
"Excellent answer, Amber," the teacher said with a nod. "Now, let's take it a step further. Why is compatibility so important for us monster tamers?"
His eyes scanned the room.
"Someone other than Amber, go ahead."
"That's easy," the class nerd said, adjusting his glasses with a shake of his head. "The difference between perfect compatibility and even 99% is huge. It's a total game changer."
"For us tamers, the most efficient and reliable way to grow stronger is by strengthening our monsters. Once we meet a certain standard, we can contract a second one. But here's the thing. If you have perfect compatibility, you get a 10% rebate of your monster's strength directly added to yourself."
He paused to let that sink in.
"If it's anything less, the rebate drops significantly. Without a perfect match, you're basically falling behind in the race."
"And beyond raw strength," he continued, "a perfectly compatible monster responds to its tamer without the need for verbal commands. Your thoughts and emotions sync up. That level of connection eliminates miscommunication and makes them the ideal partner, something no other method can replicate."
"To add another point on why the Summoning Center is so important," the teacher continued, "newcomers can only form contracts with monsters in their newborn stage. Anything more advanced, and the shock to the soul would be too much, and your body simply wouldn't survive it."
He let the weight of that statement settle before going on.
"Since it's impossible to determine compatibility while a monster is still in its egg, finding one with perfect compatibility before it hatches is practically impossible. By the time it's out of reach, so is your chance at a perfect bond."
"Even finding a monster with 90% compatibility is considered difficult," the teacher said. "Anything lower can actually be dangerous."
"It's speculated that contracting with a monster below 90% compatibility might alter your core, meaning your personality. But what is confirmed is that it puts strain on your soul, leading to symptoms like disorientation or a constant sense of heaviness in your body."
Despite most of us already knowing this, the entire class remained focused. Everyone was invested, hanging on the teacher's words.
Soon enough, lunchtime arrived. Most of the listening students had rushed out of class to get to the cafeteria.
Before I transmigrated, I'd never even cooked a meal for myself. But thanks to the memories I inherited, I somehow gained the ability to cook without much effort.
Living alone without family, financial support, or anyone to rely on was difficult. Survival meant figuring things out fast, whether I liked it or not.
Life had been harsh for this body. And what made it even more tragic was how numb he had become, barely able to feel anything at all. That hollow emptiness made it sadder than it had to be… especially since I took over just a month before he could chase his dream.
"Indigo," a voice called out.
It was Amber, the same girl who'd greeted me earlier. She approached as I quietly ate my lunch.
Now that I think about it, both of our names were colors. Fitting, in a way. The body I now inhabited was nothing like the one I used to have. Even my name had changed.
In another life, maybe in one of those childhood games I used to play, names like ours would've made us rivals by default.
"Do you need something from me?" I asked, curious about what she wanted.
"I do," she said, smiling so brightly it almost hurt to look at her presence overflowing with life, a stark contrast to the numbness I'd grown used to.
"I've been asking everyone in class… What kind of monster are you hoping for?"
I paused, caught a little off guard by the question.
It was common knowledge that monsters you despised would never appear at the Summoning Center. Compatibility mattered too much. If you couldn't even tolerate a monster's presence, there was no chance the bond would form. It just wouldn't work.
"Something strong and easy to look at," I replied simply.
I wasn't trying to be vague. I was just practical. I didn't need anything flashy or legendary. That was more than enough as long as my partner looked good and could hold their own in a fight.