“The dining hall?” Rex’s eyes practically shone.
Mira laughed.
“I had a feeling that would get your attention.” “It absolutely did.” The group followed her down a gently sloping stone path lined with flowering trees.
The afternoon breeze carried the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat.
Rex stopped walking.
“…Do you smell that?” Adrian sighed.
“Unfortunately.” “I’m not imagining it?” “No.” “I love this school.” — The Academy Dining Hall was larger than some buildings in the city.
Tall glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, allowing sunlight to flood the interior.
Long wooden tables filled the hall, arranged neatly with wide aisles between them.
Instead of a single serving counter, several circular stations occupied the center of the room.
Each specialized in different meals.
Fresh bread.
Roasted meats.
Seafood.
Vegetables.
Desserts.
Even drinks were separated into their own section.
Hundreds of students moved through the hall without it feeling crowded.
“It looks like a marketplace,” Kael observed.
“It was designed that way,” Mira replied.
“The Academy believes students shouldn’t rush meals.” “Some of the best friendships here begin over lunch.” — Rex was no longer listening.
He had already wandered toward a display of roasted meat.
Mira called after him.
“Don’t eat yet!” Rex froze.
“…You noticed.” “I’ve guided first-years for three years.” “I’ve seen worse.” He reluctantly returned.
“That’s disappointing.” — Near one of the windows, several older students sat laughing together.
One table held students wearing silver badges.
Another wore golden badges.
Kael noticed the difference.
“What do the badge colors mean?” Mira smiled.
“Excellent question.” She pointed discreetly.
“Silver is First Year.” “Blue is Second Year.” “Crimson is Third Year.” “And gold is Fourth Year.” Rex blinked.
“So you can tell someone’s year immediately.” “Exactly.” “It makes asking for directions much easier.” — As they continued walking, a cheerful voice interrupted them.
“Mira!” A young man waved from a nearby table.
He wore a blue badge and carried an enormous stack of books under one arm.
“You finally escaped orientation?” “Barely.” She smiled.
“I’m giving the Royal Division tour.” His eyes shifted toward the group.
“First-years?” Everyone nodded.
“Welcome.” He grinned.
“Enjoy today.” “Next week your instructors will convince you sleeping is optional.” Several nearby students laughed knowingly.
— “He’s joking…” Rex looked around.
“…Right?” No one answered immediately.
Rex’s smile slowly faded.
“Oh no.” — Leaving the dining hall behind, Mira guided them toward a quieter section of the campus.
The pathways became shaded beneath towering ancient trees.
Birdsong replaced the bustling conversations from the central courtyard.
“This is one of my favorite places.” Ahead stood a wide circular garden surrounding a crystal-clear pond.
White stone benches rested beneath flowering trees.
Students sat reading quietly.
Others simply watched colorful fish swim beneath the surface.
“No training?” Kael asked.
Mira shook her head.
“Everyone needs somewhere peaceful.” “The Academy encourages balance.” “If you only train…” She looked toward the pond.
“You eventually stop growing.” Aria nodded thoughtfully.
“My grandfather says something similar.” — A gentle breeze disturbed the surface of the water.
Tiny silver fish leaped briefly into the air before disappearing again.
Noah would have loved this place.
The thought came naturally.
Kael realized he had started comparing beautiful places to whether his family would enjoy them.
Without realizing it…
They had become part of how he viewed the world.
— The Queen quietly observed.
“You belong here.” Kael didn’t answer immediately.
“…Maybe.” D-Rex gave a low rumble.
“You have territory.” “I have a school.” “Same difference.” Kael chose not to argue.
— Mira eventually stopped before another building.
Unlike the elegant classrooms…
This one looked practical.
Solid gray stone.
Simple architecture.
Few decorations.
Above the entrance hung a bronze sign.
Mission Office Rex immediately became interested again.
“Mission?” Mira nodded.
“Students don’t spend every day inside classrooms.” “Beginning in your second semester, you’ll receive supervised assignments.” Aria tilted her head.
“What kind?” “Herb collection.” “Monster observation.” “Escort missions.” “Supply deliveries.” “Later…” She smiled.
“Monster extermination.” Rex looked ready to start immediately.
Adrian, meanwhile, appeared more interested in the noticeboard outside.
Dozens of completed mission reports had been pinned neatly beneath glass.
Kael stepped closer.
Each report contained something unexpected.
Not only the mission.
But mistakes.
One read: Mission Success Objective Completed Recommendation: Improve communication between teammates.
Another stated: Objective Failed Civilian Casualties: None Evaluation: Correct decision.
Retreat prevented unnecessary losses.
Kael stared at that report for several moments.
Failure…
Had still earned praise.
Interesting.
— “You noticed.” Mira stood beside him.
“The Academy doesn’t judge results alone.” She pointed toward the report.
“They judge decisions.” “If retreat saves lives…” “Retreat.” Those words settled deeply within Kael.
Earth had glorified sacrifice.
Marcus had taught responsibility.
The Academy seemed to teach something else.
Wisdom.
— The afternoon sun had begun its slow descent when Mira gathered the group once more.
“That concludes the official tour.” Rex looked surprised.
“Already?” “The campus is much larger than what you’ve seen today.” “You’ll discover the rest yourselves.” She smiled warmly.
“I think that’s more fun.” — As the students began leaving in different directions, Professor Hale approached from across the courtyard.
He carried several folders beneath one arm.
“There you are.” Mira bowed politely.
“Professor.” He nodded before turning toward the four students.
“I hope today’s tour answered some questions.” “It did,” Aria replied.
“It created more,” Adrian admitted.
Professor Hale laughed.
“Good.” “A school without questions isn’t worth attending.” He handed each of them a sealed envelope.
“Your class schedules.” “Don’t lose them.” Rex immediately opened his.
“…Can I lose it after reading it?” “No.” “Understood.” — Kael unfolded his carefully.
Royal Division — First Year Morning – Beastification Theory – Combat Fundamentals Afternoon – Physical Conditioning – Monster Ecology Weekly – Field Survival – Team Strategy – History of the Kingdom – Applied Beast Sciences At the bottom was one final note.
Instructor Assignment: Pending Kael frowned.
“No instructor?” Professor Hale smiled mysteriously.
“Some surprises are worth waiting for.” — The Academy bell rang again.
Students slowly began leaving the campus with their families.
As Kael walked beside Marcus and the others toward the main gate, he glanced back one last time.
The towering buildings glowed softly beneath the afternoon sun.
Only this morning…
The Academy had seemed impossibly large.
Now…
It felt familiar.
Not home.
Not yet.
But somewhere he wanted to return.
Marcus noticed him looking back.
“Nervous?” “A little.” “Excited?” “…More than I expected.” Marcus smiled.
“Good.” “The best journeys usually begin that way.” Kael nodded quietly.
Next week…
He would return.
Not as a visitor.
But as a student of New Haven Beast Academy.
And although he didn’t know it yet…
The lessons waiting behind those gates would challenge far more than his strength.
They would challenge the person he was becoming.
«End of Chapter 16»