In Animyth, Beasts were known to ignore anyone other than their Beastmasters. The only exceptions were their Beastmaster's close friends and families, though even this did not apply to all Beasts.
Beasts were prideful and arrogant creatures to the core. Among them, War beasts possessed even greater pride and arrogance in their strengths and abilities than any other Beasts. They despised the weak, even their Beastmasters, if weak, were no exceptions.
That was why the students of the Veneris-1-dormitory were shocked to see a War beast, an Instructor's War beast no less, acting friendly with the Beastless Young miss of the Blackthorne family. After all, she was the weakest in the entire academy.
''Interesting…'' Instructor Skrit's eyes flashed at the sight of her War beast willingly staying on another's shoulder. Her War beast was not one to perch on someone's shoulder asides hers, unless given a command from herself.
She must be the rumored Young miss from the Blackthorne family. Instructor Skrit was sensitive to the murmurs and hostile but confused glances towards the student her War beast unexpectedly approached on its own accord. She had also noticed the visible gap between the students and the rumored Young miss.
As a Beastmaster and dormitory head, she could tell what was going on at first glance. It was nothing more than the normal hierarchy among Beastmasters.
Strong to the Strong
Weak to the Weak
Instructor Skrit had never been bothered about the students isolating another student to enforce their own hierarchy. As long as neither sides violated the rules openly and brought trouble to her or the dormitory, she was even okay with the students secretly bullying the Beastless Young miss.
In Animyth, strength is what truly mattered to stand at the top. The Western Beast Academy was no different. Family names and reputation were completely useless in the face of raw power.
Including that of the reputed and fearsome Blackthorne family.
If the Beastless Young miss from the Blackthorne family could not overcome this stage of her life despite her handicap, then she had no right to attend the Western Beast Academy to become a Beastmaster.
This was the Instructor Skrit's true opinion.
''You there, come forward.'' Instructor Skrit gestured for the rumored Young miss to step ahead of the other students.
Seems the academy will be a bit interesting this year. Her smile deepened as she watched the students making way for the rumored Young miss.
She looks just like her father.
The Lumos Guildmaster of the Blackthorne family was a very famous man in the Western Beast Empire that even someone like her had paid attention a few times. She had heard some rumors about their long lost Young miss not being a Beastmaster.
Why did you approach her? Instructor Skrit narrowed her eyes slightly at her War beast rubbing its furry head on another and acting a bit too comfortable for her liking.
It was a very strange sight.
Her War beast was like any other War beast; prideful and arrogant to the core, and despised the weak.
Even she had taken time to gain its trust as a Beastmaster, yet the same War beast had willingly approached the Beastless Young miss at first sight?
Quite unbelievable if anyone had told her, but she was here experiencing that unbelievable scenario.
''She must have done something to offend the Instructor.''
''Right. The War beast had likely sensed something.''
''Is she going to get punished?''
Instructor Skrit sneered inwardly at the murmurs from the students.
Ignorant spoilt brats.
As Beastmasters, these students should have been suspiscious that a War beast willingly approaching another asides its Beastmaster was clearly strange, yet they seemed to be convinced that the Beastless Young miss had offended her somehow.
Instructor Skrit didn't bother to educate the students on their mistakes as Beastmasters. After all, the departments were responsible for educating the students, not her, a mere dormitory head. She was very satisifed with her life as an idle official Beastmaster and the good pay. The only reason she had called for the Beastless Young miss was to satisfy her own curiosity. After all, her own War beast was the core of the matter.
''Name?''
''Amina Blackthorne, Instructor.'' Amina replied the Instructor watching her with visible interest.
''Ah…You're that Young miss of the Blackthorne family.''
''Yes.''
''It seems my War beast has taken a liking to you.'' The Instructor sent a deep glance at the War beast on her shoulder. ''What's your secret, Student?''
Secret?
Amina blanked out slightly and was also confused about this War beast….or rather… garbage rat on her shoulder.
Yes, a garbage rat.
The War beast was exactly like the rats living in garbage from her previous life.
''War beasts don't just approach anyone without a reason.'' added Instructor Skrit.
''…..''
Well, she would also like to know why the War beast on her shoulder had approached her. The novel hadn't written any scene about a War beast approaching the villainess. Then again, she couldn't fully depend on a novel that was mostly from the female lead's point of view.
Why did you come to me? Amina wondered, meeting the beady eyes of the War beast once more. She hadn't done anything to attract its attention. Today was also her first day at the Western Beast Academy and her first time of meeting the Instructor Skrit, and her War beast.
''…..''
Not much of a talker, are you…
Seeing no sign of the Beastless Young miss replying her question, Instructor Skrit decided to end her little interrogation for now. It wasn't as if she expected an answer right away. Everyone had a secret or two of their own.
The Beastless Young miss whom many thought as a waste and weak probably had her own secret.
I guess I have to pay a little attention for now. Instructor Skrit had never bothered to waste her energy on the students of her dormitory, but what could she do now? The Beastless Young miss had successfully caught her attention.
You must do well to entertain me, dear Young miss. A faint smirk tugged at her lips before she snapped her fingers.
''Come here.'' She called for her War beast, but the little thing dared to ignore her command, and even snuggled up more to the Beastless Young miss.
Ha…
As a Beastmaster, it was humiliating to watch your Beast acting intimate with a stranger. Instructor Skrit could feel her temper rising at the sight, but she also reminded herself that they were not alone, but in the presence of other students.
''Come. here.'' She repeated, albeit in a hard tone.
Squeak!
Her War beast replied her with a firm 'no.'
This damn beast! Instructor Skrit was on the verge on losing her anger on her War beast. This wasn't the first time the little thing had tested her patience and embarassed her.
''Your Beastmaster wants you to come.'' Amina said, sensing the tense atmosphere between the Instructor and her War beast. The students around them were also getting affected as they sent careful glances.
Squeak.
Amina watched the War beast dropping its furry body on her shoulder as it let out a low squeak. Though she couldn't understand what the squeak meant, she could tell the War beast was reluctant to leave her.
''I'm in Room number 200. You can visit me there if you want.''
Squeak! The War beast immediately sprang back to life and rubbed its furry body on her cheek before it bounced back to Instructor Skrit's shoulder.
''Well, aren't you cunning one?'' The Instructor murmured as the War beast snuggled up against her cheek before she met Amina's gaze.
''Thank you, Student.''
''Yes, Instructor.'' Amina replied, sensing more curiosity from the Instructor. Fortunately, no questions came for her, and Instructor Skrit bid her farewell after a few words to the students.
Once she left, the academy robot took over, and showed them their individual rooms. The Veneris-1-dormitory had its own fleets of academy robots, directing students along the corridors of each floor.
Amina was the last student the academy robot guided to her room. As they approached the door, she noticed her room number engraved neatly on the top surface of door.
''Room number 200, Student Amina Blackthorne.'' The academy robot called out. ''Please scan your Beastcom to access your assigned room.''
Amina followed the instruction and raised her Beastcom over the access terminal by the door.
''Identity verified.'' Another mechanical voice sounded from the access terminal. ''Room number 200, access granted to Student Amina Blackthorne.''
The door instantly slid open before her.
''Welcome to Veneris-1-dormitory, Student Amina Blackthorne.''