''Amina Blackthorne?''
''That Rumored Young miss of the Blackthorne family?"
''The daughter of Guildmaster Blackthorne?''
''She does look like his daughter.''
''I heard the Blackthorne family had recently found their lost Young miss.''
''Does that mean she will become the future Guildmaster of the Lumos Guild?''
''Pfftt…future Guildmaster? I heard she doesn't have a Beast.''
''She doesn't have a Beast? Is she truly the child of Guildmaster Blackthorne?''
''Can someone like her become a Guildmaster?''
''How is she a student of the academy without a Beast?''
''Is she what is called Beastless?''
''…..'' Amina calmly listened the murmurs coming from behind her. She felt the weight of countless stares from the students, and even from the uniformed figures observing her through the glass partition of the checkpoint.
I guessed this would happen.
In a world where being a Beastmaster meant everything, someone like Amina Blackthorne was bound to attract scrutinizing gazes. The Crown Prince had already given her a glimpse of how she would be perceieved as someone without a Beast.
Nevertheless, Amina didn't cower away from the attention. Without much reaction, she silently passed through the door and entered the Western Beast Academy.
''Is that her? The Rumored Young miss of the Blackthorne family?''
''You heard her name, didn't you?''
''Are the rumors true?''
''Who knows if the Blackthorne family had found the wrong child?''
''Shh! How can you say something like that when she's here?!''
''What? She can't harm any student here without a Beast. She's like the weakest in the entire academy.''
Amina ignored more judging murmurs on this side of the checkpoint and followed some students already moving ahead. As she walked past the gazes, her eyes observed the towering buildings up ahead, each of them glowing with neon-blue light. Their three peaks pierced through the clouds and the central one bore emblem of the Western Beast Empire.
This is the Western Beast Academy.
Amina could already feel its prestige just from the large building alone.
''Welcome to the Western Beast Academy, new students and future heroes of our Empire.'' A hologram of an elderly man; his face lined with wrinkles and a long beard, hovered in the air. Amina listened to him recounting the history of the Western Beast Academy, as well as its achievements of raising powerful Beastmasters to support the Empire.
He must be the Headmaster.
She momentarily stared at the elderly man with a sense of familiarity, having seen his photos multiple times while scrolling through the BeastNet.
Soon enough, Amina passed under the hologram of the Headmaster and followed the crowd inside the towering buildings.
''Welcome to the Western Beast Academy, new students and future heroes of the Empire.'' At the same time, the hologram of the headmaster replayed once more.
''Woah.''
''It's bigger than I imagined.''
Unlike the students gasping and murmuring excitedly, Amina quietly took in the Academy's grand interior as they walked further inside. The sight of robots was already normal for her, though she hadn't encountered other types of robots like the small ones here moving around in the air.
She also encountered different holograms of people suspended in the air on her way with the other students. One of the holograms was the headmaster. Another was the current Emperor, and other faces she did not recognize.
Amina even walked past one of the villainess's father. She merely glanced at the fifteen-foot hologram, meeting his intense gaze before looking away.
She overheard some students recognizing the other holograms as previous Emperors and some legendary Beastmasters of the Western Beast Empire.
Amina and the students marched down the wide hallways, their footsteps echoing off the polished floors, until they joined other students already seated in a hall and murmuring among themselves.
''Look! That's the Young master from the Pantheris family.''
''I heard he graduated as one of the top students from the Pantheris preparatory academy.''
''And there's the Young miss from the Astryx family too. She graduated as one of the top students from the Astryx preparatory academy.''
''I wonder…if we can be friends with them?''
''I doubt it. They're in a completely different league as graduates from the top preparatory academies.''
As Amina made her way up towards the vacant seats, she listened to all sorts of murmurs about certain students, as well as murmurs about herself.
''She's the one.''
''The Beastless Young miss from the Blackthorne family.''
''I heard the Guildmaster Blackthorne had recently found his daughter. I didn't think she wouldn't be a Beastmaster.''
''I heard she was found from a small orphanage.''
''Perhaps something must have happened to her Beast before she was found?''
''I heard the level of her Beastryl was 0%''
''0%?! She's probably lower than an F-Rank Beastmaster.''
''How is she a student of the academy anyway?''
''Who knows….privilged families sure have it easy for them. Her father must have pulled some strings for her.''
''So unfair…''
Ignoring their contemptous words, Amina paused at an empty row and sat down on the first seat. When she looked ahead, she made eye contact with some students, who flinched and quickly avoided her gaze.
''…..''
There were also some other students, who threw taunting smirks her way as they held her gaze confidently, but Amina regarded them with complete indifference.
As more students continued to fill in the hall, Amina noticed how the students skipped the row that she occupied. Both the row in front of and behind her remained completely empty. The students, instead, targeted the rows farther away from hers.
Amina could tell that she was being isolated, even as the glances her way increased from the students.
A moment later, a large screen suddenly lit up at stage, drawing the attention of the students in the hall.
Amina saw the familiar figure of the headmaster on the screen, and observed how the hall grew quiet at the sight of him.
''Congratulations on taking your first step as offical Beastmasters, new students. I am the Headmaster of this academy, Rulven Testudo and I welcome you all to the Western Beast Academy. Here you will face challenges that will test your courage, intellect and strength of your spirit. Some of you will find friendship and others will find rivals. But remember, the path of a Beastmaster is never easy and greatness is never given, but earned. Treat your Beasts with respect for they are not mere tools but the extensions of your will. Learn to understand them, communicate and grow with them. The lessons you learn here, the trials you endure and the choices you make will determine whether you become a beacon of light that guides our Empire or a shadow that will be forgotten. Thank you all for making it this far, and I wish you success in your journey, young Beastmasters.''
Applause rang out across the hall after the headmaster's speech. Amina had also followed suit as the large screen switched to the emblem of the Western Beast Academy.
''Look! The instructors are stepping on the stage!''
Below the screen, nine instructors stood in a single line, each of them exuding authority and presence that immediately drew the attention from the screen.
Amina noticed most students gulping and flinching at the sight of the instructors. Yet, that did nothing to hide their awe and admiration.
''Instructor Virelia looks as beautiful as always.''
''She's the reason I picked the Beast combat department.''
Among the nine instructors, the middle one with piercing amber eyes and hair, recieved the most attention from the students.
Even Amina had seen her on the BeastNet.
Instructor Virelia, the first female S-Rank Beastmaster of an S-Class Warbeast in the Western Beast Empire.
''Welcome, new students of our prestigious academy. I am the head of Beast Ethics and Laws department, Soren Noctalis.'' The oldest-looking of the instructors started, his voice amplifying through the sleek microphone on his ear. ''The Western Beast Academy is home to nine distinct departments, each devoted to training students to the pinnacle of Beastmasters. We are the nine heads of each department and are honored to welcome you as our students.''
''Before our academy robots guide you to your designated dormitories, be aware that every student of the academy must strictly adhere to the rules. The academy is a place of equality and impartiality. Your pride or family name has no meaning here. You may have been recognized as Beastmasters in your cities and hometowns, but within these walls, you have yet to earn official recongition from the Empire. Any student who violates our rules will face immediate expulsion and will be permanently barred from becoming an official Beastmaster.''
gulp
Some students visibly gulped at the instructor's stern warning. Becoming an official Beastmaster was the dream of many. It was hard to believe the academy stopping them from achieving their dreams.
''May I ask a question, instructor Noctalis?'' A student raised their hand.
''Yes, student.'' The instructor agreed with his benevolent smile.
''If the academy is truly a place of equality and impartiality, can you explain why there is an anomaly among us?'' The student calmly asked.