The term beast in common usage often conveys connotations of savagery or ferocity. However, in ancient Elvish, the word carries more positive meanings, symbolizing health, vitality, instinctive grace, and swiftness.
The Beast of Radiant Midsummer is akin to a lively, beautiful, and graceful presence darting through the summer forest, embodying vitality and vibrancy.
As Schneil explained this to Hestia, he led her into the center of the grassy clearing. Only then did Hestia notice that the grass was dotted with rabbits. Distracted by the music and dancing earlier, she had entirely overlooked them.
The rabbits scattered as Schneil approached. They were ordinary animals, timid by nature, drawn earlier by the elf girl’s dance.
“Professor Schneil!” Several students greeted him warmly, their curious gazes shifting to Hestia, the unfamiliar student at his side.
Hestia’s gray hair and black crystal-like eyes exuded a quiet elegance. While not as dazzling as the elf girl who had been dancing, her presence held a serene beauty.
“Brigitte,” Schneil called to the elf girl, who was now sitting beside a deer, stroking its back. The deer appeared entirely at ease, enjoying her touch.
“I’m here,” Brigitte replied, springing lightly to her feet and bounding over to Schneil with the grace of a fawn.
“This is Brigitte, a third-year student from Swallow Garden. Though she looks young, she’s actually quite mature for her kind.”
“Professor Schneil, stop teasing me about my age!” Brigitte pouted, though her playful demeanor showed she wasn’t truly upset.
Hestia took a moment to study her. Brigitte stood about 150 centimeters tall—hardly even a “young lady” among elves, likely still in her juvenile stage. Yet, despite her youthful appearance, she might very well be older than Professor Schneil.
“Hello, I’m Hestia, a first-year student,” Hestia said, bowing politely before straightening up.
“What a courteous fellow~! Hello, I’m Brigitte, but you can call me Rigi,” the elf replied. Despite her petite stature, Brigitte radiated warmth and energy, like a little sun.
Brigitte’s strength was at Nature Sequence 5, and she was on the brink of advancing to Sequence 6. Her aura was stable, with magical energy practically spilling from her, exuding a comforting warmth.
After introductions, Schneil and Hestia sat on the grass, watching Brigitte interact with the animals. Occasionally, she would leap nimbly onto a branch or hop across a stream, her dress fluttering as she gathered fruits from the other side. She carried them back in her skirt to share with the animals.
Under her influence, even the ordinary animals seemed to acquire a faint golden magical glow, hinting at the possibility of evolving into magical creatures.
The gap between ordinary and magical animals is vast. Only one in hundreds or thousands might ascend naturally. Most magical animals encountered today have been selectively bred, adapted from a young age to thrive in magical environments, unlike their wild counterparts, whose chances of advancement are slim.
Watching Brigitte, Hestia’s mind wandered. The elf girl likely possessed a unique talent: the ability to awaken latent sensitivity to magic within the bloodlines of ordinary animals, gradually acclimating them to mana until they became magical. It was no wonder she had become a legend within the academy. A gift like hers would be rated at least “Perfect.” If she further honed it, it might even achieve a “Legendary” rating.
That afternoon, Hestia found herself under the shade of a great tree, assisting Brigitte. She occasionally fed grass to the animals or smoothed their fur. The peaceful, leisurely hours slipped by, and before she realized it, two hours had passed.
“All right, that’s enough for today,” Brigitte said as the forest began to warm. She sprang to her feet, waved at the animals, and shook her dispersal hand drum, signaling them to return to their natural habitats. The clearing gradually quieted down.
Saying goodbye to Brigitte, Schneil continued walking toward the forest cabin with Hestia.
“Have you gotten used to living here these past two days?”
“I have, but I feel there’s still a lot to learn, like how to go up and down the Skylark Tower.”
“Haha, that’s true. Once school starts, the teachers will teach you the relevant spell formulas.” He walked ahead, and on both sides of the tree-lined path were numerous fruit trees. Small animals hopped around, picking and eating the fruit.
“We’re here.”
Schneil stopped, and Hestia saw towering trees standing in the forest, each with a trunk over twenty meters wide. Beneath the trees were staircases, and their trunks had windows and doors, with some students coming and going.
“This is another dormitory within the academy. How about coming in for a bit?”
Hestia naturally agreed, and the two climbed the stairs attached to the trees, entering one of them. At the base was a spacious common room where many students were chatting or relaxing. The interior of the treehouse was cool and comfortable, unlike the heat outside.
“These trees are special magical species that can automatically adjust the temperature, making them very comfortable to live in,” Schneil explained briefly.
“If you like, Hestia, you can apply for a transfer in your second year. Every student can apply to change dormitories at the end of the school year.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Regarding the scenery and features of the school, I assume you’ve gotten a sense of them over the past couple of days.”
“Today, I’ll give you a brief overview of the customized training plan the academy has designed for you.” He adjusted his glasses, his expression turning slightly more serious.
“Because your time at the academy might be irregular, common theory classes can be learned through videos, reading, or immersive viewing. However, for specialized practical classes, you’ll still need to attend in person.”
“As for the Songstress training…” He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“You’ll have a special teacher. Her situation is somewhat unique; she isn’t a living person but exists in a ghostly form. I hope that doesn’t surprise you.”
“In the early stages, it’s best to perform only among animals and avoid exposing this talent in front of other students. The academy will also keep your presence confidential and handle it discreetly.”
“In situations involving disputes, competitions, or battles, if circumstances allow, try to let the magical animals you’ve trained take the lead instead of acting directly yourself.”
“During your time at Edess Academy, you’ll have more opportunities to step into the spotlight and gain significant exposure. The aspects displayed at the two academies need to be distinct and non-overlapping.”
“From this perspective, it might seem like we’re at a disadvantage, but the Swallow Garden Academy doesn’t care much about rankings.”
“By the way, tomorrow is the official registration day for new students. You can also retrieve the indigo serpent you selected earlier at the Serpent Garden and start learning techniques for nurturing and training it.”
“A month after the semester starts, during the Autumn Wind Festival, there will be a warm-up match for new students. This involves having your ‘partners’ face off against each other to showcase the progress made over the past month. After your matches, the upperclassmen will compete, and those battles are always exceptionally exciting.”
“Winning rankings in the warm-up match will earn academy rewards. You can choose to exchange it for various valuable items, including some rare magical animal cubs. You should give it your best shot, Hestia.”
“I understand.” Hestia nodded, a sense of anticipation rising within her.
From her previous battles and experiences, she realized how limited her knowledge of spell formulas was. Coming from a small middle school, the resources and secrets she had access to were quite limited. Now that she was at the Swallow Garden Academy, there was so much to learn and absorb.