Chapter 17: Grand Novabeast Academy
Grand Novabeast Academy was the first academy dedicated to studying how to raise baby beasts and how to harness Beast Essence as a form of combat power within beastmen.
The academy wasn’t affiliated with any kingdom, nor was it intimidated by the influence of the ruling kingdoms.
Usually shortened to Grand Academy, it had eight branches spread across the continent’s eight kingdoms, each known as a Tower.
Zephyria Kingdom was home to the Avian Tower, while Argenor Kingdom, the feline-based kingdom, housed the Feline Tower.
Every student was automatically assigned to the Tower that matched their Beast Gene.
But, that didn’t mean they would spend all six years in the same Tower.
Either they would be expelled for various reasons, or they would advance and transfer to Nova City. Only the very best students qualified for that opportunity.
In Nova City, students with all kinds of Beast Genes could meet one another. If they became Resonance Partners, their baby beasts would undoubtedly be even stronger.
Nova City itself was the first floating city on the continent.
Even now, no kingdom had managed to build another floating city. It wasn’t because their beastmen lacked strength or resources.
The technology required to create a floating city had vanished along with Grand Academy’s founder hundreds of years ago.
Shani didn’t spend much time thinking about whether she would ever make it to Nova City.
What she wanted was to become strong and earn enough money that the Ashbournes could never push her around again.
After the headmaster’s rather dull speech, the academy held a showcase featuring upperclassmen and their baby beasts.
Shani’s eyes sparkled as fluffy baby beasts of every color performed on stage alongside their parents.
The reaction from the girl beside her couldn’t have been more different.
"Shani... I’m scared..." Kiran whispered, clutching Shani’s arm.
"Baby beasts aren’t wild creatures. They’re incredibly gentle. They don’t even have the ability to attack," Shani explained.
Kiran knew that. She just wasn’t used to seeing furry baby beasts.
’Then Kiran probably isn’t from a canine-based or ursine-based kingdom,’ Shani guessed.
After the freshman orientation ended, the students were dismissed according to their assigned classes, preventing crowds from forming at the auditorium entrance or the elevators.
"Class One, please follow the staff member at the door!" someone on stage announced.
Kiran stood up, but when she noticed Shani remained seated, her expression fell.
"Shani... I’m really shy. What if I can’t make any friends in my class?"
Shani stared at her in disbelief. ’Shy? I haven’t seen even a hint of that...’
Still, she smiled encouragingly. "You’re kind and fun to be around. I’m sure you’ll make lots of friends."
Seeing that nearly everyone in Class One had already gathered by the door, Kiran reluctantly left her seat.
She looked back at Shani several times before disappearing from sight. Shani could only laugh awkwardly.
Unfortunately, her gaze also caught Vivianne standing nearby with her arms crossed and an utterly bored expression.
Shani immediately looked away.
’Sorry, Kiran. I can’t watch you leave. If I keep looking over there and see Vivianne again, I won’t be able to hide my expression.’
After Class One left, Class Two followed, then Class Three, Class Four, and finally Class Five.
Class Five was the last to leave.
Shani guessed the classes had been divided according to Beast Energy Rank.
After exiting the elevator, they arrived on the fifth floor.
They passed several classrooms labeled with other class numbers before stopping in front of the door marked Class 5.
Inside were twenty desks. Their design immediately caught Shani’s attention.
’Those look just like the tables used for Artificial Eggs.’
Since every desk had a name tag, Shani took the seat assigned to her in the very back row.
The other students chatted with one another as if they had known each other for years. Shani felt completely alone.
’No wonder Kiran didn’t want us to end up in different classes. It looks like everyone else already knew each other before coming here.’
A few moments later, a young woman entered the classroom. She wore a neatly tailored black outfit, and her red hair was carefully styled.
Yet her bright, cheerful smile completely betrayed her disciplined appearance.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Iris Cinder. You can call me Instructor Iris or Instructor Cinder. I’ll be your main instructor."
"If you have any problems with your courses, you can always come to me. And if you run into any problems around the academy, you’re welcome to talk to me about those too."
Seeing that Iris didn’t look much older than Nevie, Shani guessed she had only recently been promoted from Instructor Assistant.
She still had the enthusiasm and compassion of someone new to teaching.
The other students seemed to reach the same conclusion. Without any hesitation, they bombarded her with questions.
"Instructor, how old are you?"
"What’s your Beast Gene? What Beast Gene does your baby beast have?"
"How many baby beasts do you have? What ranks are they?"
"Instructor, are you from one of the Top Ten Prestigious Families?"
"Instructor... do you have a boyfriend?"
The last question made the entire classroom burst into laughter. Shani frowned as she looked at the group of spoiled brats.
At the front of the room, Iris wasn’t flustered at all. She simply smiled warmly and answered the questions one by one.
"I’m a Fire Lynx beastman. I’m currently A-Rank. My oldest baby beast is also a Fire Lynx, and it’s A-Rank as well."
She didn’t answer every question, but that single response was enough to quiet the classroom.
Watching her classmates’ reactions, Shani grew curious about the Fire Lynx Beast Gene.
The only Lynx gene she had heard of before was the Frost Lynx, a Rare-grade Beast Gene currently possessed by one of Argenor Kingdom’s Top Ten Prestigious Families.
She immediately opened the panel built into her desk. Besides displaying Artificial Egg data, it could also access the academy’s digital textbooks.
She opened Beasthyology, tapped the search bar, and typed in Fire Lynx.
’A Rare-grade gene... And it’s the strongest Beast Gene among all Lynx variants?!’
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