The alarm went off at 5:30 AM.
I dragged myself out of bed, every muscle in my body protesting. Yesterday's training session with Bessie had been more intense than I'd realized. My legs felt like jelly, and my arms ached from practicing the combat techniques I'd learned from the manual.
"Moo?" Bessie raised her head from her cushion, looking surprisingly alert for this ungodly hour.
"Morning, girl. Ready for your first day of Academy?"
She stood and stretched, her metallic horns gleaming in the early morning light filtering through the windows. Even after a full night's sleep, I still wasn't used to her new form. She looked powerful, dangerous even. Nothing like the harmless dairy cow from two days ago.
Sebastian had laid out the Academy uniform the night before—a sharp black blazer with silver trim, white shirt, black slacks, and the Academy's crest embroidered on the breast pocket. Simple but elegant.
I got dressed, grabbed my bag, and headed down to breakfast with Bessie following behind.
The dining room was absurdly large for one person—a long mahogany table that could seat twenty, crystal chandeliers, and windows overlooking the estate gardens. Sebastian had prepared a spread that could feed a small army.
"Good morning, Young Master. I've prepared a balanced meal to support your training regimen. And for Miss Bessie, premium creature feed enhanced with mineral supplements for her new evolutionary stage."
Bessie's eyes lit up at the sight of her bowl—a mixture that smelled surprisingly appetizing even to me.
As I ate, I checked the system interface.
[NEW QUEST: First Day of Classes]
Objective: Attend all scheduled classes without incident
Bonus Objective: Make a positive impression on at least one instructor
Reward: +200 SP, Skill Book: Study Efficiency
Bonus Reward: +100 SP, Random Class-Related Item
My schedule appeared in another window:
Monday Schedule:
8:00 AM - Creature Biology (Professor Helena Ward)
10:00 AM - Basic Combat Training (Instructor Marcus Steel)
1:00 PM - Taming Theory (Professor Richard Cross)
3:00 PM - Free Training Period
Three classes, plus free time. Not terrible.
I finished breakfast and made my way to the main Academy campus. The morning air was crisp, and the artificial island was already buzzing with activity. Students rushed between buildings, creatures of all types accompanying them.
The Biology lecture hall was massive—amphitheater-style seating for at least three hundred students. I arrived early and claimed a seat in the middle section. Not front row where I'd be too visible, not back row where I'd look like I didn't care.
Bessie settled beside my seat, drawing curious glances from other early arrivals.
Students filed in gradually. I recognized some faces from yesterday's ceremony—Marcus Belmont and his Thunder Cub, the girl with the lightning hawk, a nervous-looking kid with an earth mole.
Then Kai Vermillion entered.
The protagonist looked around uncertainly, his slime bouncing beside him in a specialized carrying case. His eyes swept the room and landed on me for a brief moment. I nodded politely and returned to reviewing my notes.
No antagonism. No confrontation. Just a normal classmate interaction.
Kai seemed surprised but nodded back before finding a seat several rows down.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Plot Deviation Maintained: No hostile interaction with protagonist
Reputation adjustment in progress...
More students arrived. And then, just as the clock struck 8:00, she walked in.
Seraphina Nocturne.
The room's temperature seemed to drop. Conversations died mid-sentence. Her Fenrir padded beside her, ice crystals forming in its wake on the floor.
She scanned the lecture hall with those analytical ice-blue eyes, and for the briefest moment, they locked with mine. No expression. No acknowledgment. She simply turned and took a seat in the front row—alone, of course.
The doors sealed with a soft hiss, and Professor Helena Ward materialized at the podium in a flash of green light.
She was a tall woman in her thirties with wild green hair and eyes that sparkled with barely contained enthusiasm. Her creature—a massive emerald serpent—coiled around the podium like a living sculpture.
"Good morning, future tamers!" Her voice boomed through the hall. "Welcome to Creature Biology, where you'll learn the fundamental truth that will make or break your careers: your creature is not a tool. It's not a weapon. It's a living being with its own biology, psychology, and potential."
She waved her hand, and holographic displays appeared throughout the room, showing detailed anatomical diagrams of various creatures.
"Today, we'll start with the basics: understanding your creature's physical composition, dietary needs, and growth patterns. Because if you can't keep your partner healthy, you'll never unlock their true potential."
The lecture was fascinating. Professor Ward didn't just recite facts—she told stories. How she'd saved her serpent from the brink of death by understanding its unique venom cycle. How a student's dragon had nearly died because they'd fed it the wrong minerals.
I took notes furiously, absorbing everything. This was information the original Ren had never bothered learning.
"Now," Professor Ward continued, "let's discuss evolution. Many of you have creatures that will evolve multiple times throughout their lives. But evolution isn't just about getting stronger—it's about compatibility."
She gestured, and a new hologram appeared showing an evolution tree.
"Every creature has multiple possible evolution paths. The path they take depends on three factors: their natural affinity, their environment, and their bond with you. A fire salamander raised in a volcanic region by a tamer who specializes in destruction magic will evolve very differently from one raised in a city by a tamer who values precision."
My mind raced. This aligned with what the system had shown me—Bessie's multiple evolution paths.
"Your homework," Professor Ward announced, "is to research your creature's species and identify at least three possible evolution paths. Be prepared to explain the requirements for each path in our next class."
The lecture ended, and students began filing out.
"Mr. Ashford." Professor Ward's voice stopped me at the door. "A moment, please."
I approached the podium while other students left. Bessie stood at attention beside me.
Professor Ward studied Bessie with professional interest. "An Iron Horn Bull. Excellent evolution choice for a combat-oriented path. But tell me—how did a Common Dairy Cow reach D-rank so quickly? Most evolutions from F to D take months of training."
"Dedicated training and proper resources," I replied carefully. "And a strong bond."
"Hmm." She circled Bessie, examining her horns, her stance, her muscle structure. "Your synchronization score yesterday was 89. That's not just 'strong bond' territory. That's exceptional. Either you're a natural prodigy, or you know something about taming that most first-years don't."
I met her gaze steadily. "Maybe both, Professor."
She laughed—a genuine, delighted sound. "I like you, Ashford. You're different from what the rumors suggested. Keep up this attitude, and you'll go far." She handed me a small crystal. "A gift. Feed this to your creature once a week. It'll optimize her mineral absorption and support healthy growth."
[BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: Make a positive impression on at least one instructor]
Rewards obtained!
"Thank you, Professor."
Next was Combat Training.
The training grounds were outdoor arenas with reinforced barriers to contain creature abilities. Instructor Marcus Steel—a grizzled man in his fifties with scars crisscrossing his arms—stood at the center with his creature, a massive steel-plated rhinoceros.
"Listen up!" His voice cracked like a whip. "This isn't theory class. This is where you learn to fight. Half of you will wash out of this Academy not because you're weak, but because you can't handle real combat."
He pointed at random students. "You. You. You. And you. First sparring group. Non-lethal matches. Show me what your creatures can do."
I wasn't called in the first group, so I watched carefully.
The matches were brutal. A wind hawk vs. a stone golem. A fire fox vs. a water serpent. The students directed their creatures, but it was clear most had no real combat experience. Their commands were hesitant, their strategies basic.
Then Kai Vermillion was called up.
His opponent was a student with a C-rank Shadow Cat—fast, aggressive, and two full ranks above Kai's slime.
"This'll be over in seconds," someone muttered behind me.
The match began.
The Shadow Cat lunged, claws extended. But Kai's slime didn't dodge—it absorbed the impact, engulfing the cat's paw. The cat yowled and tried to pull back, but the slime held firm.
"Acid Spray!" Kai commanded.
The slime released a burst of corrosive liquid. The Shadow Cat screeched and retreated, its fur smoking.
The match ended with Kai's victory.
The training ground went silent. Then Instructor Steel laughed—loud and approving.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! Using your creature's unique properties instead of just trading blows. Vermillion, good work."
Kai returned to the sidelines, looking embarrassed by the attention.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Protagonist Event Witnessed: First Combat Victory
Note: Plot is progressing with variations. Stay alert.
More matches followed. Then finally—
"Ashford! You're up. Your opponent will be Belmont."
Marcus Belmont stepped forward with his Thunder Cub, a smug expression on his face. "Let's see if that synchronization score was a fluke, Ashford."
I walked to the arena with Bessie.
"Standard rules," Instructor Steel announced. "First creature unable to continue loses. Begin!"
"Thunder Cub, Lightning Bolt!"
The cub unleashed a crackling bolt of electricity. Fast. Powerful.
"Harden!" I commanded.
Bessie's hide turned metallic just as the lightning struck. The electricity dispersed harmlessly across her iron-hard skin.
Marcus's confident expression faltered. "Again! Rapid-fire!"
Three more bolts. All deflected.
"Bessie, Iron Charge!"
She lowered her horns and accelerated like a freight train. The Thunder Cub tried to dodge, but Bessie was faster than her bulk suggested. She caught the cub with her shoulder, sending it tumbling.
"Power Stomp!"
Bessie's hoof slammed into the ground. The shockwave knocked the Thunder Cub off its feet.
"Match over!" Instructor Steel called. "Winner: Ashford!"
Marcus stared in disbelief. His C-rank Thunder Cub had just lost to what everyone thought was a worthless cow two days ago.
I recalled Bessie and nodded to Marcus. "Good match."
He didn't respond, just stormed off the field.
[COMBAT VICTORY ACHIEVED]
+50 SP
New Skill Unlocked: Basic Battle Strategy (Lv.1)
As I returned to the sidelines, I caught Seraphina watching me from across the training ground. Our eyes met briefly.
Then she looked away, but I could've sworn I saw the slightest hint of approval in her expression.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Taming Theory was dry but informative. The free training period let me work with Bessie on refining her new skills.
By the time I returned to the estate that evening, I was exhausted but satisfied.
[QUEST COMPLETE: First Day of Classes]
All Rewards Obtained
Total SP: 1,450
I collapsed onto my bed, Bessie settling beside me with a contented moo.