Professor Veyne, ever professional, wrote a single word across the board:
[Beast Codex]
"Beast Codex, as the name implies, showcases the statistics of your summoned being. The Codex can only be accessed once the bond between you and your beast reaches at least a 30% bond value."
Yuna blinked.
…Wait.
So there was an easier method to train summoned beasts this entire time? And Professor Veyne knew—knew—and still told her to guide her classmates beast training without this beast codex thingy?
Only now did a sinking suspicion take root.
He had been teasing her.
If it wasn't teasing… then he simply enjoyed tormenting her. Honestly, Yuna leaned toward the latter.
She stared intently at him, trying to bore holes through his mask. Unfortunately, with the mask covering his face, she couldn't see his expression at all, which only frustrated her more.
Stareeee…
Professor Veyne clearly felt the intense stare, but acted as though he noticed nothing. His conscience pricked—barely. Far too lightly to matter.
"When your bond reaches 30%, your summoning circle will turn orange instead of red," he continued, tone smooth. "Red, orange, yellow, green—this is the order that represents how deep your bond is. Once your bond value is sufficient, you may access the Beast Codex by saying the word 'Soben,' either verbally or mentally. Your beast's abilities, level, and growth will all be recorded there, allowing you to plan out their training."
The students perked up immediately. The Codex was essentially the key to understanding the very creatures they will relied on in the future. A lifelong companion.
The Heart Class eagerly activated their summoning circles. To no one's surprise, all of them had already passed the threshold—one even reaching yellow-tier bond value.
And the only one with a yellow-tier bond?
Yuna.
"Ah…" Yuna smiled bitterly.
Happy… but also very, very bitter.
Her deep bond was wonderful, but why did it have to make her stand out again? Even worse, her classmates reacted as though this level of absurdity was simply normal for her.
Sighing, she quietly whispered, "Soben," and a vintage, parchment-like panel materialized in front of her.
Professor Veyne continued his lecture.
"Summoned beasts are ranked by star levels. The more stars, the stronger the beast. Although lower-ranked beasts can grow into higher ranks, most creatures possess innate star marks—for example, a hatchling dragon is already classified as a legendary beast even without having real 'strength' yet."
Yuna glanced down at her Codex.
And froze.
_____________________________
Name: Achlys (Krdlstdusottl)
Star Rank: 1????
Ability Name: Death
[Whisper of Death (10/100), Death Inducement (5/100), Necrotic Touch (5/100)]
"Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it."
____________________________
She stared.
Then stared some more.
Something seems strange about her Beast Codex. So, what's with the question mark? You know what, she is not going to question this at the moment.
Professor Veyne droned on.
"There will be one or two innate skills. Additional skills may be learned depending on the Ability Type. Apart from your own abilities, you must also invest in developing your summoned being. Let them master their existing skills rather than hoarding useless ones."
Yuna rubbed her face.
Her own skills were enough trouble… now she had to manage this?
Well. She already took care of a class. What was one more burden?
She could do it… probably.
All around her, excited voices filled the room as students read their Codexes.
"Oh! So your name is Illys!"
"Ills! Ills!"
"Mine is Orix!"
"Or! Or!"
"My beast starts at three stars!"
"Mine is four stars but only one innate skill!"
Professor Veyne continued calmly, unbothered by the noise.
"Star ranks cap at five, though rare individuals can surpass that limit. As for skills, it's best to refine what you have before learning more. Redundant skills should be discarded."
Yuna quietly flipped back to her Codex.
Death Inducement, Whisper of Death, Necrotic Touch…
Those names alone made her uneasy.
Necrotic Touch—did that mean instant decay?
Whisper of Death—how did that even function?
Death Inducement—could it actually kill?
Terrifying.
She needed to test them.
After class, she carried Achlys over to the academy pond. Many students raised fish here—she'd added some herself. Surely testing on one or two wouldn't hurt?
She fished out three.
"Achlys, use Necrotic Touch."
Achlys tilted its head, eyes filled with disdain, but obeyed.
Its feathers glowed faintly green. The moment it brushed the fish, the creature began to decay—literally decay. Its body rotted even as it thrashed, until it stilled. A foul smell spread.
Yuna immediately burned it.
So… Necrotic Touch was definitely powerful. But on awakeners? Probably much less effective unless fully mastered.
Next, Death Inducement.
Life force rapidly drained from the fish—replaced by a strange, heavy energy. Death energy.
And yet, the fish didn't die.
It moved, hollow and empty, filled with nothing but death energy.
Then—
Achlys controlled it.
Yuna froze.
So Achlys could control anything it induced death into?
No.
She shook her head. Only weak-willed or unconscious beings could be controlled. Anything with a true consciousness would resist.
Still… frightening.
Finally—Whisper of Death.
As soon as Achlys activated it, the effect hit her directly.
Achlys' moist black eyes turned white.
A black film coated Yuna, withdrawing into her skin. Her arms darkened to the elbow, her legs the same.
She rushed to the pond—
Her reflection stared back.
Her eyes were pure white.
She looked like an actual ghost.
And worse—
She could see… things.
Flickering shapes.
Drifting forms.
Ghosts.
Yuna inhaled sharply, breath ice cold.
"Achlys! Deactivate! Deactivate!!"
The skill faded. The ghosts vanished.
Yuna slumped, wiping cold sweat from her brow.
This skill…
This skill did not exist.
Nope.
Never happened.
She was never here. She didn't see things!
With absolute determination, she shoved Whisper of Death to the farthest corner of her mind.
And sealed it there.
Her summoned being's ability was… quite perverse. And overwhelmingly powerful, if developed well.
Yuna had very mixed feelings about it.
After all, its Ability Name was literally Death. In the context of all the novels she'd read, that was the kind of thing only overpowered final bosses or protagonists had.
Yuna was honestly scared of her beast's potential.
Not just because it was powerful—too powerful—but because it was easy for people to lose themselves in such power. To get drunk on the fact that they could toy with life and death. Yuna knew that kind of temptation well from fiction alone.
Well… she was a bit paranoid. A chronic overthinker. Haha… sigh.
She bit her lip. Fear or not, she couldn't just refuse to let her beast develop properly. She couldn't deprive him of strength just because she was afraid.
For now, she would develop his skills. But she wouldn't let him fight unless absolutely necessary.
"So you're here, Yuna."
Austin.
Yuna turned to see him approaching, his summoned beast padding along beside him. The white tiger nudged her affectionately the moment it reached her, big body pressing close as though greeting a long-lost friend.
Slight annoyance crept up as Austin always approach her every class break. Still, she was used to the annoyance.
"What's the star rank of your beast?" Yuna asked, fingers automatically slipping into the tiger's thick fur.
"Five star."
"How many skills does it have?"
"Four."
As expected of a protagonist.
"How many in your class have such high ranks?" she asked curiously. Maybe the protagonist class was built differently from hers.
Austin shook his head. "I can't say yet. Not all of them have reached the threshold."
"Huh?" Yuna blinked. "How? It's been months since summoning. Shouldn't they have reached the threshold already?"
"Bonds aren't easily strengthened."
"…Huh."
"How about your class?" Austin asked. He took her hand naturally, guiding her to sit on the grass with him as though it were the most normal thing. He played with her fingers absentmindedly while she talked about her class all crossing the threshold... Maybe even complained a bit about Professor Veyne teasing her.
He wasn't interested in her class at all. He just liked taking up her time—being alone with her.
Halfway through speaking, Yuna stiffened at the sudden cool, wet sensation around her finger.
Austin had placed her finger in his mouth.
He sucked lightly.
"You taste good," he murmured.
Sheer disgust flashed across Yuna's face. She tried to yank her hand away, but Austin didn't let go.
Her face reddened—not with embarrassment but pure anger.
"AUSTIN!"
"Yuna…" Austin breathed her name softly, eyes half-lidded, his handsome face taking on a dreamy, almost indecent charm. "I like you very much… very, very much… Yuna, can we date?"
To bind her to him, to ensnare her completely, Austin had decided to become unscrupulous. To seduce her. His obsession ran much deeper than any simple "boy likes girl," but he'd settle for this step first.
Teenagers were susceptible to manipulation. The first person who confessed often left the deepest mark.
And Austin did not care in the slightest whether he destroyed their friendship.
He didn't love her, anyway.
But with this confession… he could finally start showing his possessiveness openly.