Chapter 14: Arrival in Aurelis
Shani and Nevie returned to the apartment after dinner at the restaurant.
In her room, Shani checked her packed belongings one last time before going to bed.
The next morning, Nevie drove Shani to Lunarion Central Terminal. Aster was already waiting there.
"I hope I pass the Instructor Assistant exam so we can meet again during academy events, Shani." Nevie hugged her.
Meanwhile, Aster wanted to hug Shani too, but hesitated. Instead, he simply patted her shoulder.
"I’ll catch up with you soon. Don’t worry about me here. Just take care of yourself over there."
Shani nodded while holding back her tears.
After the brief farewell, Shani boarded the aerobus. At exactly eight o’clock, the aerobus bound for Aurelis Central Terminal departed.
The distance between Zephyria Kingdom and Argenor Kingdom was considerable. Even by aerobus, the fastest form of public transportation, the journey still took ten hours.
Shani spent most of the trip either sleeping or observing the people around her. She gradually began hearing a different language.
Every kingdom had its own native language, but there was also one official language taught in every educational institution.
It was called Nova Language, the official language of Grand Novabeast Academy and one that had been created by the academy’s founder.
Back in Galesend and Aurelis, Shani had spoken Avian Language. Now, aboard the aerobus, she could hear several passengers speaking Feline Language.
Fortunately, Shani understood Feline. She had learned it after living in Ashbourne Manor.
No one had taught her. She had learned it on her own while being confined inside the mansion.
After the aerobus landed in Aurelis, she noticed that almost everyone spoke Feline, although announcements and signs were still written in Nova Language.
Unlike Aurelis, no one was waiting to welcome her here. There was no Cole. No Nevie. No Thorne. She had to stay vigilant.
After booking a hotel room for one night at the cost of 150 Credits, Shani headed there while pulling the suitcase that contained Aster’s vault preservation pod.
Along the way, she couldn’t stop grumbling inwardly.
After the nightmare she’d experienced at the cheap inn in Anemone City, she was no longer willing to be overly frugal.
She was perfectly happy to pay 100 Credits for a decent room.
Besides, she now had the 10,000 Credits Cole had given her.
Nevie had also transferred the remaining 1,500 Credits from the money Cole had provided for Shani’s uniform and learning materials.
The shocking part was that there wasn’t a single hotel room available for 100 Credits. The cheapest one she could find cost 150.
Shani carefully checked reviews and room photos before making her choice. Eventually, she found a hotel with excellent reviews for 150 Credits.
She had no idea whether it would end up like the inn in Anemone City, but at least she had done her best to choose wisely.
The previous night, she had also finished reading the academy’s e-book about raising baby beasts.
Just as Cole had said, there was far more involved than simply feeding them.
For that reason, Shani decided to leave the entire 10,000 Credits untouched until she found her Resonance Partner and activated her Cashback System.
Before long, she arrived at the hotel.
It wasn’t a four-star or five-star establishment, but it certainly wasn’t a scam hotel either. It was worlds apart from the inn in Anemone.
"I have a reservation under the name Rowan," Shani said, still a little awkward as she looked around the lobby, which was far more luxurious than the building’s exterior suggested.
"Your room is on the fourth floor, Miss Rowan. Here’s your key." Even the receptionist’s service was remarkably professional.
Shani immediately took the elevator upstairs. She wanted nothing more than to rest.
The hotel was clean, elegant, and surprisingly quiet. The only people she saw in the hallways were hotel employees.
She couldn’t help finding it strange.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she passed two employees whispering to each other.
"Won’t this hotel go bankrupt if it always has so few guests?"
"Shh... That’s none of our business. Besides, this hotel was built as the Prince’s residence."
Shani’s ears perked up at the suspicious remark, but she had already walked too far away to hear the rest of their conversation.
She had reached her room.
The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by a soft bed covered with fresh, fragrant white sheets.
Beside it stood a large window overlooking the beautiful night skyline.
Shani immediately threw herself onto the bed. It felt as though she could finally breathe again.
After washing up, she fell asleep almost instantly.
...
The next morning, Shani woke up feeling completely refreshed.
The bed here was even more comfortable than the one in Nevie’s apartment.
Unfortunately, she had only booked the room for one night.
After taking a shower and eating the same simple breakfast of bread and milk, she packed her belongings.
She then ordered a driverless taxi through a ride-hailing app and headed straight for Feline Tower.
The new semester would officially begin in one week.
Normally, new students were only allowed to move into the dormitory two days before the semester started.
However, according to Cole, Shani had been granted a special exception. She had no idea why.
The distance from the terminal district to Feline Tower was considerable, and the fare wasn’t cheap either. Eighty-five Credits.
She could have taken the city’s hovertrain for much less, but she hadn’t learned the routes yet. Also, she had to register first. With both a suitcase and a backpack, she didn’t want to invite scammers or, worse, robbers.
Before long, a massive gate surrounded by towering walls came into view. Behind the walls stood three enormous towers.
Unlike Avian Tower, which consisted of a single towering structure where all activities took place inside, Feline Tower occupied a vast campus with three buildings arranged in a triangular formation across the grounds.
The taxi came to a stop before the grand entrance.
"Magnificent..." Shani murmured without realizing she’d spoken aloud.
...