27 March, 5120 (Sunday-Wednesday)
BREAKING NEWS: Has Anima finally listened to our prayers? The Saintess appeared as a student of the Western Beast Academy!
BREAKING NEWS: Empire Doomed or Blessed?: Saintess Awakens after Centuries!
BREAKING NEWS: The Temple of Anima's reaction to the Saintess being a student of the Western Beast Academy!
BREAKING NEWS: Will the Saintess continue her studies at the Western Beast Academy?
BREAKING NEWS: Other Empires' reactions to the emergence of the first Saintess after centuries!
It's exactly like the novel.
In the library, Amina was scrolling through the countless news articles on the BeastNet all about the female lead as the New Saintess of Beasts. She had read the scene depicting the amount of attention the female lead had gotten as the Saintess in the novel. But it felt different, experiencing the scenario with her own eyes.
After the female lead was found to have Divine Stigma yesterday, not much attention was paid to other students during their own Beastryl Assessment, which was to be expected.
Their engagement should be in a few days.
A few days after the news of the female lead being the Saintess of Beasts, the imperial family would announce the engagement between the Crown Prince and the female lead, according to the novel. Amina remembered reading how the Crown Prince finally succeeded in convincing his father, the Emperor, to drop his engagement with the villainess, and got engaged with the female lead.
There was even a press conference scene concerning the engagement. The scene also depicted how the Crown Prince and the female lead felt relieved that they wouldn't have to hide their love from the public anymore.
...It's late.
Amina saw the time below the floating screen and closed off her Beastcom. She had decided to take a small break few minutes ago and remembered the female lead, leading her to check the BeastNet.
I should get lunch.
Perhaps agreeing to her thoughts, Amina felt a faint rumble in her stomach. She had been in the library after having breakfast and the time was close to 4:00pm.
I should ask If I can borrow this book.
Amina stood up and cleared the table from the textbooks she had taken from the shelves. On her way to the librarian's desk, she carried her notebook and the textbook she wanted to borrow.
''Can I borrow this textbook?'' She asked the librarian, who was reading a book.
The librarian looked up at her for a moment before nodding. She then pointed to the access terminal anchored at the edge of the desk.
''Scan your Beastcom there.''
''Yes.'' Amina did as she was told, and raised her Beastcom to the access terminal. A soft beam of neon blue light swept across her Beastcom before the usual mechanical voice.
''Identity verified. Processing borrowing request…''
A floating keyboard and a screen appeared before Amina's gaze.
Title:
From the single word on the screen, she understood that what she meant to do, and set down her books on the edge of the librarian desk.
The Nature of Beasts: Classification and Behavior. She typed the title of the textbook and pressed the enter key, according to the instructions on the floating screen.
''Access granted.'' The same mechanical voice sounded after the pressed the enter key. ''Student Amina Blackthorne is now permitted to borrow The Nature of Beasts: Classification and Behaviour.''
The floating screen and keyboard disappeared after the process was done and Amina took her books before leaving the library. She sensed the librarian's glances on her way out, but paid no mind to the woman. It's obvious the latter must have heard of her name and infamous reputation.
What should I eat?
Amina wondered as she stepped out of the library after scanning her Beastcom by the door. She met students on her way to the Veneris-1-dormitory, but unlike before, there were no murmurs about her.
''Do you think the Saintess has to study at the temple?''
''I heard the academy wants to keep as a student. She is an A-Rank Beastmaster of a Warbeast, which is rare among female Beastmasters.''
''I also heard about that. Apparently, Instructor Virelia is doing everything in her power to keep the Saintess here.''
Now, their attention revolved around the female lead.
I should find some peace now. Amina thought as she walked past the students. The female lead being the female lead was the center of attention in the Western Beast Academy. Now, no one would bother to remember her; the villainess, exactly like in the novel.
The villainess was finally gone and the female lead's happily-ever-after was about to begin.
This was Amina's assumption until the Beast Behaviour and Psychology class.
''Student Amina Blackthorne.''
''Yes?''
''See me at the Instructors general office.'' Unexpectedly, the Instructor told her to see him at his office before leaving the lecture hall.
''What did she do?''
''Who knows…perhaps it was her score?''
''There are others who scored low on the assessment test, but he did not call for them.'' In an instant, all eyes turned her way.
''Someone must have complained to her rich daddy that she scored low on the assessment test.''
''Well, what do you expect from a rich young miss, Claudia?''
''Pfftt…I also wish I was a young miss so I can complain to my rich daddy.''
Amina ignored the usual taunts from Claudia and her friends, and stood up from the seat. She felt her thought of finding peace a few days ago was a bit naïve. Just because the other students weren't paying attention to her because of the female lead did not mean it was the same inside the Beastology department.
Claudia and her friends hadn't stopped harassing her.
I wanted to return this book before the library closes. Amina packed up her notebook and the textbook she had borrowed from the library in her arms.
I should get a bag was her thought as stepped out from her front row seat and headed out of the lecture hall, only feel a hand pushing her from behind.
The push was unexpected and Amina couldn't hold herself not to fall down.
''Oh my, didn't see you there.'' Claudia looked down at her with surprised expression, but other students could tell that she was faking it. ''Were you leaving already?''
As always, Amina ignored Claudia and her friends and reached out for her books on the floor. However, before her fingers could reach one of them, a black shoe suddenly descended on her notebook, slowly twisting against the pages.
''Look at that, she doesn't react no matter what anyone does to her.'' She heard Claudia's voice and the snickers from her friends.
''Yeah, like a robot.''
''Exactly. Our rich young miss should use her rich daddy for better purposes like checking what kind of service she can give as a robot?''
''Claudia's right. She definitely needs to know.''
The sight of the Beastless Young miss on the floor and Claudia and friends laughing at her made some spectating students slightly uncomfortable. Although they disliked the Beastless Young miss for entering the academy through the backdoor, their displeasure didn't warrant to this much harassment or rather bullying.
However, no student was brave enough to stop Claudia and friends. Claudia was the strongest Beastmaster of their year in the Beastology department. No student was strong enough to go against her and incur her wrath. Even being friends with the Beastless Young miss was tempting because of her powerful family background, no one was still brave enough to stand up against Claudia.
Who knows how she might bully them for interacting with the Beastless Young miss? They have to look after themselves, after all.
''Let's go. Our rich Young miss still has to meet the Instructor.'' Claudia mocked before stepping out of the lecture hall with her friends. Amina remained where she was, still on the ground for a moment. She could feel the glances from other students as they passed by her, yet no one offered to help her from the floor.
…I should hurry
She reached out for her books and calmly stood up from the floor as though nothing had happened to her. Amina then strode out of the lecture hall, but not before hearing some murmurs behind her.
''Does she really not feel anything?''
''Who knows…if I were in her place, I'd be too humiliated to stand. I would have cried right there.''
''But don't you think Claudia's going too far?''
''What if the Beastless Young miss tells her dad? Doesn't that mean Claudia's life as a Beastmaster is over?''
''….''
Should I react?
Amina contemplated briefly.
In her university days, she had mimicked others to fit in and not stand out too much. She had to do this to complete her degree with group assignments and project on the line. However, the education system was different here. She didn't have to complete a project under supervision to graduate.
Besides that, she had become someone who would stand out no matter what because of her family background. The villainess's personality was also similar to hers. Since it was that way, Amina had assumed there was not need trying to fit in among others.
This was her assumption until today that her lack of reaction seemed strange in the eyes of others. Unlike other students who eventually ignored her after seeing no reaction, Claudia and her friends were still persistent.
No…there's no point. After some thoughts, Amina decided not to react. Amina Blackthorne was not someone who reacted to anything, and so, she would not break out of character…or rather try to mimic once again.
Should I deal with her then? She wondered if she should deal with Claudia and her friends or continue to ignore them. Amina couldn't deny how distracting the group has been in her academy life. Her notebook had to suffer for her actions.
While in thoughts, Amina reached the Instructors general office and stepped inside after raising her Beastcom to the access terminal. Since the school hours have passed, the office was nearly empty, leaving a few Instructors behind their desks.
''You're here.'' She found Professor Ateles at his desk space and strode towards him.
''We'll be going to the Teaching Beast Hospital.'' He told her once she reached his side.