Emily Thompson looked embarrassed, but at least he was surrounded by so many fellow students.

“It’s fine if you don’t succeed. Just head back to the village early—someone has to take the cows and sheep out to pasture. If they don’t eat enough, they won’t get fat, and if they’re not fat, they can’t produce milk. Without milk, those little lambs and calves won’t survive the winter.” The herdsman continued loudly.

A wave of low laughter rippled through the crowd, especially from a few female students from the academy who were about to take the brachiosaurus ferry across the lake. They covered their mouths but couldn’t hide their amusement.

The young man called Emily Thompson wished he could just dive into the lake. He impatiently waved off the herdsman who had come to see him off: “I know, I know, Uncle Clark, please just go back.”

“Remember to share that bag of smoked venison with your classmates. You’re new here, so you need to build good relationships with your classmates and teachers. That way, you won’t get bullied so easily.”

“Uncle, please, just go home, I’m begging you.”

“Oh right, I almost forgot the medicinal wine. Here, here, if you get hurt, rub this on your wounds—it heals fast.”

At last, the enthusiastic and attentive herdsman was persuaded to leave.

If he hadn’t left, the new student called Emily Thompson might really have thrown himself into the lake.

“You three are pretty late enrolling. By the time you get to the Dragon Storage Hall, you’ll probably only be able to pick from the leftover hatchlings. Even if the journey is long, you should have set out earlier.” Gatekeeper said to Emily Thompson, Ryan Carter, and another aloof young man.

“You guys are new students too?” Emily Thompson asked in surprise, sizing up Ryan Carter and the aloof young man.

The aloof young man didn’t respond at all. It was clear he had no interest in interacting with someone like Emily Thompson, who came from some poor, remote village.

Emily Thompson tried to start a conversation, but the other ignored him, making things a bit awkward.

Then his gaze fell on Ryan Carter, and his face immediately showed astonishment.

As a cowherd, Emily Thompson was already quite shabby, and his self-esteem had just taken a hit from the laughter of his classmates. Yet he hadn’t expected to see someone who looked even more down-and-out than himself—and he was a student at the Dragon Taming Academy too?

If Gatekeeper hadn’t said anything, Emily Thompson would have thought this guy was a kitchen hand at the academy.

“You’re a student too?” Emily Thompson asked.

“Yes, Ryan Carter.” Ryan Carter gave a polite bow, showing friendliness and approachability.

“Oh.” Emily Thompson replied perfunctorily, but didn’t return the gesture.

Sure enough, after learning that Ryan Carter was also a new student, the others started laughing again.

Seeing the reactions around him, Ryan Carter didn’t seem as uncomfortable as Emily Thompson had been earlier. He remained calm and composed.

In the world, having a thick skin is a rare and valuable skill.

The lake breeze was refreshing as the brachiosaurus slowly carried ten people, inching closer to the island in the lake, heading toward the dreamlike hall so many longed for—the Dragon Taming Academy.

……

At the bridgehead, after selling several pounds of ripe peaches, the girl finally had some free time. Suddenly, she remembered something and turned to look at the tightly closed tung wood gate.

Surprise quickly spread across her face.

“Thrown into the lake?”

“How pitiful.” the girl muttered to herself.

……

Dragon Storage Hall

Every new student, whether or not they already had a hatchling, would get a chance to choose a dragon.

Although people valued the art of dragon identification, picking a dragon from among thousands of ordinary hatchlings was like searching for a needle in a haystack. More often than not, it was just a gamble!

Ryan Carter, Emily Thompson, and the aloof young man were brought to the Dragon Storage Hall, where the number of hatchlings and eggs was as overwhelming as pebbles in a river.

“Go ahead and choose. Once you’ve picked, register with the old gentleman in the hall and get your mark. The hatchling will then be yours.” Gatekeeper was very responsible, escorting them all the way here and giving clear instructions before leaving.

Emily Thompson looked a bit excited and quickly walked into the hatchling nests, staring at a group of blue bird spirits still in their swaddling clothes, seemingly trying to identify their species.

Ryan Carter also strolled along the path, observing at a leisurely pace.

There were so many types: bird spirits, river spirits, beast spirits, ancient spirits, poisonous fiends, stone demons, and quite a few sub-dragons, pseudo-dragons, and hybrid dragon hatchlings that clearly had dragon blood. Though not yet true dragons, they already showed impressive physiques and extraordinary dragon traits!

“Heh, you’re taking this pretty seriously. Didn’t you know anything about the Dragon Taming Academy before enrolling? Out of the thousands of hatchlings here, there might not even be a single true dragon. Letting you pick here is just to give you a bit of hope as dragon tamers.” At this moment, the aloof young man finally spoke.

Ryan Carter and Emily Thompson both looked at him.

So he’s not mute after all.

Ryan Carter nodded to himself and asked, “We really don’t know much. Why don’t you tell us?”

“Just grab one at random, don’t waste time. Instead of picking through this trash, you’d be better off spending your effort raising your own hatchling.” the aloof young man said.

Emily Thompson gave an awkward smile.

It was true—the free hatchlings from the academy were never going to be anything special. If they were, everyone who entered the Dragon Taming Academy would become a dragon herder, and there wouldn’t be so many people stuck at the threshold.