26 March, 5120
''I wonder if my rank has increased?''
''Damn…my heart is beating fast.''
''It's not only you feeling nervous.''
''What's your Beastmaster rank?''
''Last time I checked, it was D-rank, but I'm an F-rank.''
The first year students were gathered in the Beast Association Center of the Western Beast Academy. Most of them had tensed shoulders. Others rubbed their sweaty palms on their uniforms as they fidgeted on their seats.
Today was an important day. A Saturday, where no student had class, was the day of their Beastryl Assessment. A moment which would publicly establish the true hierarchy of their year.
Who were the strongest among them?
Who were the weakest among?
Every student wanted to know. Rumors may have spread about someone or another, but they wanted verify these rumors with their own eyes through the Beastryl Assessment.
The Western Beast Academy wasn't only a place for cultivating Beastmasters to support the Empire, but also a place for connections. Among them were future top Guildmasters and top official Beastmasters of War beasts. Even future top Healers were among them.
Everyone wanted to align with the strongest for personal benefits, and this Beastryl Assessment was the perfect way for them to know who to follow, and who to avoid.
Should I be here?
Among the nervous students was an indifferent Amina seated with no one by her side.
Like other students, she had received the date, time and location for the Beastryl Assessment. However, was she meant to be here? She, who had no Beasts to be called a Beastmaster?
Amina wasn't the only one with that thoughts. Some students were also surprised to see her. Normally, they would have expressed their contempt, but their nervousness outweighed their disdain for the Infamous Beastless Young miss.
''The Instructors are here!'' The chatters quickly subsided as Amina and the students saw the heads of different departments approaching them with some other unfamiliar faces.
''Welcome to the Beastryl Assessment, Students.'' Instructor Noctalis began once they stood before them with the other strangers. ''The academy is very delighted to host this important event, not only to uncover the hidden talents, but to also inspire each of you to become the best version of yourselves. Many of our legendary heroes began just like you, as weak Beastmasters, and yet emerged victoriously as one of the Empire's strongest.''
He paused, his gaze lingering on students fidgeting nervously before continuing. ''Do not be discourage by what you witness today, but let this Beastryl Assessment serve as a drive to push harder and one day emerge as one of the Empire's legendary heroes.''
His gentle yet encouraging words dispersed some tension among the students, allowing them to breath evenly.
''With that, let the Beastryl Assessment begin.''
The students applauded at the end of his speech, with some of them even clapping even harder for the motivational words. When the applause ended, Instructor Noctalis gestured to the strange faces with them.
''Please also welcome some distinguished staffs from the Empire's Beast Association Center, who cleared their busy schedule to attend your Beastryl Assessment.''
The students once again clapped their hands, this time for the strangers revealed to be ones responsible for their Beastryl Assessment.
''Thank you for your kind words, Instructor Noctalis.'' said the leading stranger after the applause. A woman, dressed in black two-piece suit with her bob-styled hair, her posture confident and a polite smile lingering on her lips.
''Good morning, students. I am Miss Sterne and will be leading today's agenda. Step forward once you hear your name to take the Beastryl Assessment, Thank you.'' She explained briefly. The woman, Miss Sterne, nodded stiffly at the man on her side before she turned around with the other staffs.
Amina watched as they went ahead while the man remained and activated his Beastcom. The Instructors on the side took their seats at the empty front row.
''Margot Duvail.''
''Y-Yes!'' A female student from the middle rows raised her hand, stuttering in a loud voice.
''Who's she?''
''What department?''
''She's from the Beast History and Culture department.''
''Is he starting from that department?''
Amid the talks of Margot Duvail, Amina watched as the student shyly stepped out of her row and strode forward to the staff-in-charge of calling students' names.
The man said something to her, and she nodded cautiously before walking ahead to the other staffs at the control center.
Amina couldn't see much of what was going on between Margot Duvail and the staffs since she was seated at the back rows. However, a few seconds later, three blue holographic screens popped up in the air, wide and visible enough for everyone to see in the Beast Association Center.
The left screen was a holographic image of Margot Duvail's body. At each corner of the screen were four small holographic boxes with data referencing to the body.
The right screen was a holographic image of Margot Duvail's Beast; a Common beast with its own small boxes.
The middle screen was a holographic image of Margot Duvail's Beastmaster ranking information.
Name: Margot Duvail
Age: 16 years
Beast: Musca (Common beast)
Beast class: E-Class
Beastmaster rank: E
Beastryl level: 75%
Beast attribute: Mono (Rot)
''She's an E-Rank Beastmaster.''
''Her Beastryl level is 75%. She's a very low F-Rank.''
''Her Beast is a Common beast though.''
''Her Beast attribute is Rot.''
''Rot is useful regardless of her low rank. She can work under the Mutant Sanitation Unit at the Beast Association Center.''
''Still, its impressive she got into Western Beast Academy with that attribute.''
''Even with a Common beast, she can easily find a stable job as a graduate of the Western Beast Academy.''
Amina picked up some discussions about Margot Duvail while reading the Beastmaster ranking information on the three holographic screens.
That's a housefly…She studied the shape of Beast on the holographic screen, and understood why Rot was Margot Duvail's Beast attribute.
So Housefly's a common beast. Amina thought, recalling some information about Beasts in Animyth.
They were classified into four types.
The popular Beasts known as War beasts.
The second popular known as Guide beasts.
The third type known as Common beasts, which are mostly controlled by low rank Beastmasters. Like Margot Duvail's E-Class Musca.
And the last type. The least yet another most popular type of Beasts, just like the War beasts.
The Mutant beasts.
And these Beasts have always been an enemy of the entire Animyth.
''Rick Yuva.''
As Margot Duvail completed her Beastryl assessment and returned to her seat, another student's name was called up to the control center.
''Yes!''
I guess my name won't be called anytime soon.
Amina watched as another student stood up from his seat. And true to her thoughts, her turn did not come quickly. One name after another echoed in the Beast Association Center, and before she realized it, four hours flew by.
To pass away time, most students opened their Beastcoms to keep busy. However, they couldn't play games or scout the BeastNet recklessly with the Instructors near them, looking very much wide awake and sharp. Who knows if an Instructor would suddenly call them out?
And so, the students settled for pending academic tasks like their assignments or scrolling the academy forum for some interesting news. Other students tried to fight back the drowsiness creeping on them. Another set chatted quietly among themselves.
Among the students, Amina was among the ones scrolling through their Beastcoms.
''Darius Vale.''
That name…
Hearing a familiar name, she shifted her gaze from the floating screen.
Sure enough, when the student stood up, her gaze caught his figure and Amina remembered him as one of the students who had cheated during the assessment test.
''Hey, they finally called someone from the Beastology department.'' A student, two rows ahead, nudged his two sleepy friends awake.
Finally….
Amina closed off her Beastcom and now fully paid attention to the names being called up to the control center.
The staff-in-charge of names took turns in calling names from each department. All students from seven departments have been called asides the Beastology department and Beast Combat department.
''Hux sterling…''
''Yes!''
''Jack Ines….''
''Y-Yes!''
Exactly as four hours ago, one name was called the other while Amina calmly waited for her own.
''Claudia Varkas.''
''Yes!'' A female student stood up and Amina recognized her as one of students, who had always mocked and harassed her at the department.
Most students had eventually lost interest, seeing her indifference to their mockery, but Claudia was different. No matter how many times Amina ignored her mocking words or deliberate bumps, Claudia never stopped, as though she desperately wanted a reaction.
Amina watched Claudia moving ahead, and a few seconds after, her Beastmaster ranking information showed on the three screens.
Name: Claudia Varkas
Age: 16 years
Beast: Crocuta (War beast)
Beast class: A-Class
Beastmaster rank: B+
Beastryl level: 650%
Beast attribute: Dual (Laugh of Malice, Bonecrush)