The days passed more quickly than Kael expected.
Training in the mornings.
Helping around the house in the afternoons.
Reading in the evenings.
Without realizing it…
Nearly three weeks had slipped by.
— The morning of Registration Day arrived beneath clear blue skies.
The entire Draven household was awake before sunrise.
Mostly because Noah had decided sleeping was no longer necessary.
“I’M READY!” Marcus looked up from his breakfast.
“For what?” “I don’t know.” Noah shrugged.
“But everyone else is awake.” Lyra rubbed her eyes.
“You woke everyone.” “I helped.” “You absolutely did not.” — Kael finished adjusting the simple black jacket he had bought for the Academy.
It wasn’t the official uniform.
Students would receive those today.
Still…
It was cleaner than anything he had owned in his previous life.
Ethan Cole rarely had the luxury of buying clothes simply because they looked nice.
Elara walked over and straightened his collar.
“There.” Kael looked down.
“I could have done that.” “I know.” She smiled.
“But mothers are allowed.” He had learned there was no arguing against that statement.
— After breakfast, Marcus picked up a small leather pouch.
“This is yours.” Kael accepted it.
Inside were several silver and copper coins.
He looked up.
“I already have enough.” “You have enough for today.” Marcus closed Kael’s hand around the pouch.
“This isn’t spending money.” “It’s emergency money.” Kael immediately understood.
“In case something happens.” Marcus nodded.
“Never leave home completely unprepared.” Kael slipped the pouch into his pocket.
“I’ll be careful.” “I know.” — The streets of New Haven were more crowded than Kael had ever seen them.
Teenagers from every district filled the roads alongside their families.
Some wore expensive noble clothing.
Others arrived in plain travel attire.
Despite their differences…
Everyone wore the same expression.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
Hope.
Large banners stretched across the streets.
WELCOME, FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS Mechanical birds flew overhead carrying colorful ribbons between buildings.
Street musicians filled the air with lively melodies.
For many families…
Today was almost as important as Awakening Day itself.
— The Academy stood on the northern hill overlooking New Haven.
Kael had seen it from a distance countless times.
Standing before it…
Was something entirely different.
The stone walls stretched hundreds of meters in both directions.
Elegant towers rose into the sky.
Glass windows reflected the morning sunlight like polished crystal.
Behind the walls…
Ancient trees towered over beautifully maintained gardens.
A massive silver gate stood open.
Above it, carved into white stone, were six words.
Strength Exists To Protect, Never Rule.
Kael stopped walking.
Marcus noticed.
“Good motto.” Kael nodded slowly.
“It is.” — Beyond the gate stretched a broad avenue lined with statues.
Each depicted a Beastifier from different eras.
Some wore armor.
Some robes.
Some carried enormous weapons.
Others held nothing at all.
Below every statue rested a single engraved sentence.
First Protector of the Eastern Kingdoms Founder of Modern Beast Medicine Explorer of the Endless Sea Guardian of the First Eternal Darkness Kael frowned.
Not a single inscription mentioned how powerful they had been.
Only what they had accomplished.
Interesting.
— Noah tugged on Kael’s sleeve.
“Big Brother.” “What?” “I’m going here someday.” Kael looked down.
“You have eleven years.” “I’ll wait.” “You’ll try.” “I’ll definitely try.” Marcus laughed.
“That’s the spirit.” — Registration had been organized with surprising efficiency.
Long tables stood beneath white canopies across the Academy courtyard.
Signs floated several feet above each station.
A–D E–H I–M And so on.
Kael joined the line beneath D.
Within minutes, he reached the front.
A smiling Academy clerk adjusted her glasses.
“Name?” “Kael Draven.” She searched through several documents before smiling.
“There you are.” She placed three items on the table.
A silver student badge.
Several printed schedules.
And a folded black package.
“Your uniform.” Kael picked it up carefully.
The material felt remarkably smooth.
“Please proceed to Hall Three for measurements and orientation.” “Thank you.” — As he turned away— “Kael!” Rex.
Of course.
The large boy somehow appeared carrying enough paperwork to build a small house.
“I got lost.” Kael looked around.
“The signs are floating above the tables.” “I know.” “I still got lost.” Kael accepted that explanation far more quickly than he probably should have.
— Aria soon joined them.
She carried her neatly folded uniform with obvious care.
“Good morning.” “Morning.” Rex grinned.
“I found another friend.” “You found us.” “Exactly.” — A familiar voice interrupted them.
“I assume this is becoming a habit.” Adrian approached with his usual composed expression.
Only today…
He wore a simple smile.
Small.
But genuine.
“You three again.” Rex folded his arms proudly.
“We’re efficient.” Adrian looked toward Kael.
“You received the Royal Division badge?” Kael glanced down.
A small silver wolf had been engraved beneath his student number.
“So did you.” Adrian nodded.
“As expected.” Rex checked his own.
“I got one too!” Aria smiled.
“So did I.” The four exchanged brief looks.
Without anyone saying it aloud…
They realized something.
They would be classmates.
— A cheerful voice suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
“Attention, first-year students!” Everyone turned.
An elderly professor stood atop a small platform.
Despite his age, his voice carried effortlessly across the enormous courtyard.
“My name is Professor Edwin Hale.” “I’ll be handling today’s orientation.” He smiled warmly.
“First…” “Welcome to New Haven Beast Academy.” Polite applause filled the courtyard.
“You have all awakened Beast Souls.” “You have all taken your first steps.” “But remember…” He paused.
“Awakening is not an achievement.” “It is an opportunity.” Silence spread naturally.
“You are not here because you are powerful.” “You are here because someone believes you can become powerful.” Kael quietly memorized those words.
— Professor Hale continued.
“Today’s schedule is simple.” “Collect your uniforms.” “Receive your identification.” “Tour the Academy.” “And finally…” A smile spread across his face.
“You will meet your instructors.” A murmur swept through the students.
Everyone seemed excited.
Everyone…
Except Adrian.
Kael noticed.
“You’ve heard something.” Adrian sighed.
“My older brother attended here.” “And?” “He said the instructors enjoy making first impressions.” Rex grinned.
“That sounds fun.” Adrian looked at him.
“No.” “It doesn’t.” — The massive Academy bell rang.
Its deep tone echoed across the campus.
Students instinctively became quiet.
Professor Hale raised one hand.
“Royal Division students.” “This way.” Nearly two hundred students separated from the crowd.
Kael walked beside Adrian, Aria, and Rex as they followed the professor toward one of the largest buildings on campus.
Towering white pillars framed the entrance.
Large silver doors slowly opened.
Cool air drifted out.
Beyond them waited a vast circular hall unlike anything Kael had ever seen.
Hundreds of seats surrounded a polished arena at the center.
No desks.
No classrooms.
Only open space.
Rex looked around in amazement.
“…This is a classroom?” Adrian smiled faintly.
“I don’t think so.” Kael remained silent.
For the first time…
It truly felt like he had entered a place designed to create Beastifiers.
Not students.
Warriors.
As the last of the Royal Division students entered the hall, the enormous silver doors closed behind them with a deep, echoing thud.
The orientation…
Had officially begun.
«End of Chapter 13» CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Amey_Pagare_1898 sorry for rewriting the chapter 8 to 13 the pase of the story was too fast for my taste soo I have to rewrite the chapter but I will promise this will not happen again