The silver doors closed with a deep, resonant thud.
The sound echoed throughout the enormous hall before fading into silence.
Nearly two hundred students stood shoulder to shoulder, their conversations gradually dying away as they took in their surroundings.
The room was unlike any classroom Kael had imagined.
Instead of rows of desks, a circular arena occupied the center.
The floor was polished white stone, marked with countless faint scratches that hinted at years of training.
Tiered seating rose around the arena in gentle steps.
Above, a glass dome allowed sunlight to pour into the hall, bathing everything in a soft silver glow.
Rex slowly turned in a circle.
“…This place is enormous.” “It is,” Aria agreed.
Adrian folded his arms.
“This is the Royal Training Hall.” “You’ve been here before?” Kael asked.
“My brother graduated three years ago.” Rex looked impressed.
“So you already know everything.” Adrian looked at him.
“No.” “My brother refused to answer most of my questions.” “…Why?” “He said I’d enjoy discovering it myself.” Rex nodded thoughtfully.
“…That’s annoying.” “It was.” — Professor Edwin Hale walked toward the center of the arena.
Despite his age, every step was steady.
There was no rush.
No unnecessary movement.
Yet somehow…
Everyone’s attention naturally followed him.
“When people hear the words ‘Royal Division,'” he began, “they imagine power.” His voice carried effortlessly throughout the hall.
“They imagine prodigies.” “Future generals.” “Heroes.” He smiled.
“They’re only partially correct.” The students remained silent.
“The Royal Division exists for one purpose.” He slowly looked around the room.
“To cultivate responsibility.” Kael noticed several students exchanging confused glances.
Professor Hale continued.
“A powerful Beastifier who lacks responsibility is more dangerous than any monster.” Nobody laughed.
The statement didn’t sound exaggerated.
It sounded like experience.
— He raised one hand.
The arena floor suddenly glowed.
Thin silver lines spread across the stone before forming dozens of circles.
Some students instinctively stepped backward.
“It’s only a demonstration.” Professor Hale chuckled.
“No need to panic.” The glowing circles faded after a few moments.
“Every training room within this Academy contains defensive formations.” “If someone loses control during Beastification…” He tapped the floor gently with his cane.
“The Academy survives.” Several nervous students visibly relaxed.
Rex leaned toward Kael.
“That makes me feel better.” Kael nodded.
“It should.” — “The Royal Division consists of one hundred ninety-six students.” Professor Hale continued.
“Not all of you will graduate together.” The hall became noticeably quieter.
“Some will transfer.” “Some will withdraw.” “Some will decide this path isn’t for them.” He paused.
“And that’s perfectly acceptable.” Several students looked surprised.
“This Academy is not interested in forcing people to become Beastifiers.” “We are interested in helping each of you discover the kind of person you wish to become.” Kael quietly appreciated those words.
— A student near the front raised his hand.
“Professor?” “Yes?” “How are classes divided?” “A good question.” Professor Hale smiled.
“You’ll all study together during your first year.” “No separate noble classes.” “No commoner classes.” “No Rank-based classrooms.” A murmur spread across the hall.
One noble-looking student frowned.
“But…
wouldn’t stronger Beast Souls learn faster?” Professor Hale looked directly at him.
“Perhaps.” “Perhaps not.” Then he smiled.
“I’ve seen Ordinary-ranked students outperform Legendary-ranked students.” The hall became completely silent.
Kael noticed Adrian listening very carefully.
— Professor Hale continued.
“Ranks measure potential.” “They do not measure determination.” “They do not measure discipline.” “And they certainly do not measure character.” The old professor’s eyes swept across the students.
“If Rank alone decided greatness…” He gestured toward the statues outside.
“Every hero in our history would have been Legendary.” “They weren’t.” — Rex quietly whispered, “I like him.” “So do I,” Aria admitted.
Even Adrian nodded once.
Kael simply listened.
The professor’s philosophy reminded him of Marcus.
Power existed to serve.
Not to define.
— The large doors opened once more.
Three instructors entered the hall.
Every conversation immediately stopped.
The first was a broad-shouldered man with short silver hair.
His dark uniform bore countless small scars.
He looked more like a soldier than a teacher.
The second was a graceful woman wearing emerald robes.
Several small crystal devices floated lazily around her shoulders.
The third…
Was Headmaster Orion Graves.
The old man entered without ceremony.
Simple gray robes.
Wooden cane.
Calm eyes.
Nothing about him suggested authority.
Yet the moment he stepped into the hall…
Every instructor straightened instinctively.
Respect.
Not obligation.
— Professor Hale smiled.
“Our first instructor.” He gestured toward the silver-haired man.
“Combat Instructor Gareth Thorn.” A brief round of applause echoed through the hall.
Gareth nodded once.
That was apparently enough greeting for him.
“Our second instructor.” “Theory Instructor Selene Mire.” The woman offered a warm smile.
“We’ll spend plenty of time together.” Her voice immediately eased some of the students’ nerves.
“And finally…” Professor Hale stepped aside.
“Our Headmaster.” “Orion Graves.” The applause this time lasted much longer.
Headmaster Graves waited patiently until the hall became quiet again.
Then he spoke.
“Welcome.” Just one word.
Yet somehow…
It carried throughout the enormous chamber.
— “I’ve watched thousands of students enter this Academy.” Graves slowly looked around the room.
“Some arrived believing they were destined for greatness.” His eyes settled briefly on a confident-looking noble student.
“They usually learned humility.” A few students laughed.
“Others believed they weren’t worthy of standing here.” His gaze shifted toward several visibly nervous students.
“They usually surprised themselves.” Kael found himself listening more intently than before.
— “The Academy will teach you many things.” “How to fight.” “How to survive.” “How to lead.” He paused.
“But the greatest lesson…” “…cannot be taught.” The silence deepened.
“You must discover it yourselves.” — The Headmaster began walking slowly around the arena.
Eventually…
He stopped only a few steps away from Kael.
Not directly in front of him.
Not obviously.
Just…
Nearby.
For the briefest moment…
Their eyes met.
Graves smiled politely.
Nothing more.
Then he continued walking.
Kael remained expressionless.
Inside his soul, however— The Queen observed quietly.
He notices everything.
“I know.” But unlike before…
There was no sense of danger.
Only curiosity.
Exactly as it should be.
— Professor Hale clapped his hands once.
“Now then.” “The serious speeches are finished.” A collective sigh of relief spread through the students.
Several even laughed.
“The rest of today will be considerably more enjoyable.” Rex grinned.
“I knew it.” Professor Hale pointed toward six large doors surrounding the arena.
“You’ll now tour the Academy in small groups.” “You’ll visit your dormitories.” “The library.” “The training grounds.” “The Beast Research Center.” “And finally…” He smiled.
“…the dining hall.” Rex immediately raised his fist.
“Now we’re talking.” Laughter rippled through the hall.
Even Gareth Thorn’s expression softened ever so slightly.
Professor Hale looked down at a clipboard.
“Groups have already been assigned.” He began reading names.
“Group One…” Kael listened quietly.
A few moments later— “Kael Draven.” “Adrian Vale.” “Aria Everwood.” “Rex Calder.” The four exchanged amused looks.
Rex scratched the back of his head.
“…Are they just keeping us together now?” Aria smiled.
“It certainly seems that way.” Adrian sighed with exaggerated resignation.
“I suppose I should become accustomed to this.” Kael found himself smiling.
Perhaps…
He already was.
«End of Chapter 14»