Chapter 4 Beastward Academy

Valerie's POV

A smirk curled at the corner of my lips as I saw the shocked look on Prince Aldric's face. His attack was smooth, neat and sneaky, eighty percent of the girls didn't even see the mana streak but I easily dispelled it, he frowned deeply, a deep killing intent oozed from him.

“Who are you?” He asked, arrogantly.

I sealed my lips tightly, glaring at him. Lily rushed forward and courtesied, putting on an air of grace and she tugged at my dress, indirectly asking me to back down.

“Your highness. Please forgive my sister and pay no attention to her. She spends all her days lying around and does not have any manners.” Lily intervened, sweetly.

Sure enough, her sugarcoated words caught the Prince's attention and he guffawed before squarely facing her.

“You seem sensible, what's your name?” Prince Aldric asked, kindly and I felt sick to my stomach.

“Lily Blackburn, your highness and this is my sister; Valerie Blackburn.” Lily replied, the pretentious smile still glued to her face.

“You're Lily Blackburn?” Prince Aldric asked, fascination evident in his eyes.

“Yes, your highness.” Lily answered.

Their interaction disgusted me and I snorted.

“Where do we retire to rest? I'm hungry.” I announced with a loud voice.

This attracted loud gasps from the other girls and even the palace maids. I was breaking every rule of mannerism but I didn't care about their opinions, my goal is not to impress a bunch of fools.

“Sister Valerie, lower your voice. I know you're crude and used to been vulgar but this is the palace and everyone will laugh at you.” Lily said, softly and she held my hand, her eyes holding a warmth that makes it easy to fool others.

I snatched my hand away from hers. “Don't patronize me Lily.”

She stumbled a few steps backwards and acted as if I had pushed her, Prince Aldric was swift and he caught her, helping her keep her stance. She bowed her head and gasped like it was an honor to have him touch her.

“Your highness. I apologize for this.”

My expression went sour from seeing all these and Prince Aldric shot me a death glare as he helped Lily stand straight. I could see his spiritual senses trying into her core and a smile curled on his lips seeing she was at the peak mortal level.

A palace maid stepped forward. “This way Miss Valerie, I'll take you to your room where you'll rest and await the King's summon.”

I acknowledged her with a nod and left without saying another word. She led me to a comfortable room and I was pleased with the fact that I could rest there and meditate in peace.

“Bring me some meat and wine.” I requested.

She was shocked by my request; women do not openly drink wine but I didn't care. I sat on the ground, legs crossed and began to meditate. Earlier; I almost lost my cool and reveal my true powers, I need to keep my emotions in check to avoid trouble, especially Prince Aldric.

I was still eating when the maid announced that the King requested an audience with all participants and I was forced to take a drumstick with me because I was famished. The other girls were present, poised and dignified as usual and I spotted Lily in their midst, she shone with a unique grace and stood out among the rest, even her silk dress was one of a kind.

“You all know what you're here for. You've been selected among hundreds others to participate in a contest at the prestigious Beastward academy to determine who among you is worthy of being the future queen of Aurelia and wife to my son; Prince Aldric. You will all be conveyed by designated royal carriages to the academy and there, you'll begin the contest. May the best participant win. Remember to bring honor to your family and household.” King Kornelius announced in a deep timbre voice that commanded respect.

Every word of his was infused with mana and it compelled us all to not only listen but stay still. “Is my royal decree so boring that you decided to entertain yourself with a drumstick?” King Kornelius asked, pointing at me.

All heads were turned towards my direction as I dug my teeth into the meat, tearing off of a chunk. I swallowed hard, I had no idea he paid me any attention. Lily rushed forward, seizing the opportunity to be the good daughter.

“Your highness!” Lily cried, falling to her knees and (knowtowing). “Your highness please have mercy on my sister, she has no core hence she is fragile and needs to eat for sustenance, she doesn't know about palace rules or how to behave. Please do not punish her, punish me instead for not keeping her from been disrespectful.”

‘Poor girl, her sister has no manners.’

‘She's even pleading on her behalf.’

‘I'd die of shame if it were me.’

‘No wonder she disrespected the Prince.’

‘She has no core? What bad luck.’

I snickered at the whispers. Lily was calculating, under the guise of helping me, she revealed that I have no core hence openly revealing that I'm powerless, her insistence of being punished instead of me projected her as the sensible and kindhearted sister, pathetic.

“What family do you come from?” King Kornelius asked.

“From the Blackburn family, I am Lily Blackburn.” Lily replied, her voice shaky as if she were afraid.

The King pointed at me. “And you?”

“Valerie.” I replied briefly, chewing the meat loudly.

The King shook his head as if disgusted at me and motioned for Lily to rise. “The Blackburn family is blessed to have a sensible daughter like you. I have high hopes for you concerning this contest Lily.”

Lily smiled widely and courtesied severally. “Thank you your highness.”

The whole facade didn't impress me one bit as I've seen through it already. Lily would be arrogant than ever now that the King himself has publicly endorsed her. Bored, I released my spiritual senses and tried to see the King's cultivation level. I found it hard to pry into his core as an energy kept blocking off my spiritual senses.

“Whoever is trying to pry into my core, I commend you for the courage. Save the energy for the contest.” King Kornelius suddenly announced and it caught me off guard.

Murmurs erupted from the girls and we were dismissed. I went back to my room, wondering if he knew it was me. I decided to worry about it and later.

By dawn the next day, a royal carriage designated for Lily and I conveyed us to the Beastward academy. During the journey, Lily tried to speak to me.

“Sister, do you know that Prince Aldric offered for me to ride with him in his carriage?” Lily informed mea, subtly boasting.

“Great.” I replied, uninterested.

“Even the King himself had someone deliver ten dresses made of golden silk to my room, as a blessing from him.” She continued.

Lily was bragging, shamelessly flaunting how she's been favored by others just to spite me and I was used to it. Ten years with her was hell enough.

“The other girls, they are not on my level, I am more powerful than they are and I am very confident that I will win this contest and bring honor to our family.” Lily continued.

“That's so impressive.” I replied, mockingly and she was too self absorbed to notice.

“I know you feel bad for being with a core but don't worry, once I become queen I'll ensure you get married to a nice duke or wealthy man so you can spend your days eating and wasting away.” She offered with a malicious smile.

I moved a bit away from her. “We're alone, you can stop pretending to be nice.”

She tried to speak but I shut my eyes and leaned back. “We have a long journey ahead of us. I would prefer you don't disturb my sleep.”

She muttered some insults then stuck to beautifying her face while I mediated and got into my spiritual space, trying to refine an artifact I got from Mother's treasure chest hidden in my secret training chambers.

Lily woke me up when we arrived at the Beastward academy as she couldn't hold back her excitement.

“Wake up, we're here!” Lily exclaimed.

I grudgingly alighted from the carriage and looked around to see a huge iron gate with the word ‘Beastward Academy’ etched on it. The gates opened on it's own and I could feel fresh mana course through the channels in my body. It was rejuvenating and all the pressure from refining was gone in an instant, I marveled at the raw power moving freely in the air.

Trolls towering about six feet tall, wearing neat uniforms and well groomed walked towards us and carried our luggage. “Follow us, we'll take you to your chambers.” They urged us, politely.

My chamber was bigger than the room at the palace and had a private suite, a personal training area and a little room with a pool which I suspect to be a recovery pool. It had a faint glow of spiritual energy and I began to inspect the training area first.

A voice boomed in the air. “All contestants report to the Azure Arena right now. Your designated troll will show you the way.”

I put away my luggage and followed the troll to the Azure Arena; a magnificent structure carved from ancient Azure stone. It was surrounded by pillars that gleam with a blue shimmer which looks almost alive, mana pulsing through countless runes etched into every surface.

The arena was enormous and large enough to host thousands of spectators, the layout made it evident that it was a battleground.

An old man in a black long robe and a thick white beard with hair that fell effortlessly on his shoulders stepped into the middle of the Arena and banged his staff on the ground sending ripples of mana spiraling around, commanding silence.

“I am Malacar Ashborne, headmaster and Principal of Beastward academy. I will be guiding you on the contest and will choose the winner based on your performances. You're welcome to Beastward academy. You all are already assigned a troll that will be your personal servant, do not abuse your trolls. Today, you will begin the contest by choosing your spiritual beasts and in three months you will present them for evaluation.” The old man revealed, I recognized his voice as the one that boomed in the air, instructing us to come to the arena.

‘Wow! Spiritual beasts!’

‘I heard they're not only rare but expensive too.’

‘The Beastward academy truly lives up to it's name.’

‘We are thirty in number, they have that amount of spiritual beasts?’

‘They're so generous.’

‘I'll choose the most powerful one.’

I nearly laughed at the ignorance of the girls. Spiritual beasts are animals with spiritual reawakening and have gained spiritual transformation. It is rarely only because their natural habitat can only be ventured into by someone with a high cultivation level.

“The beasts will chose their masters and bind with them. You will be provided with spiritual materials and artifacts to feed your beast and nurture them. There will be treasure quests to hunt for high grade spiritual materials to help you and your beast become powerful and ultimately the most powerful duo at the final stage who defeats all other will be the winner and future queen of Aurelia. May the gods grant you all the strength. Now, let the selection round begin.” Headmaster Ashborne announced and tapped his staff on the ground three times.

The ground shook and with a great rumble, a portion opened and a platform ascended from beneath, revealing cages of thirty spiritual beasts. They were still hatchlings and looks like baby animals but the energy coming from them varied.

Spiritual beasts are divided into three; Low tier grade, high tier grade and finally, heavenly Dao grade. It all depends on their strength and bloodline.

My spiritual senses scattered, paying into the core of the beasts to see which one would be useful to me. Some of the beasts had already begun to bind themselves to their masters.

There were bear cubs, wolf, three horned lion, striped tiger, unicorn, winged stallion and other mythical beasts. My eyes landed on a obsidian dragon that lay lazily in it's cage. It carried faint traces of a golden dragon bloodline and would be powerful, it chose me but before I could get a chance to touch it, Lily swooped in.

“Sister, you're just human and can't take proper care of this dragon. It has a powerful bloodline and would be hard to feed and control. How about I bond with it to avoid you getting hurt while you bond with that serpent?” Lily drawled, pointing at a dejected serpent covered with injuries and peeled scales while she grabbed the dragon and began to conjure her magic seal on it.

“What!”