Other than Karua, there were two more things Ray feared in life.
Before his first class at ten o'clock, he went up to the second floor of Black Dragon House's castle. Taking out the silver key, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
It was a small square room for one person, not very spacious. The walls were plain plaster, with a small attached bathroom, a tiny window for light, no balcony. The bed was hard. The only furniture was a desk for homework and an old wardrobe with a cracked mirror.
He carefully carried out the belongings of the previous senior and placed them outside, just like the other first-years were doing. The hallway was in chaos as everyone bustled about moving things.
Ray summoned four blue slimes to help clear out dust and trash from corners. In no time the room looked clean enough to live in. Spreading his arms wide, he flopped down on the hard bed, smiling at the ceiling. At last, he had made it here.
Step by small step, but he had finally reached this place. All those years of exhausting work had paid off.
"We've got to study hard and earn lots of money, so we can take care of you, Geed. If I could be like Professor Witzany someday, that'd be amazing, hahaha." Smiling to himself, he slipped into his magic bag.
Vwooosh—
Blinding light filled the pocket dimension. Bare feet touched green grass. Ray shaded his eyes against the magical sun above. Clouds floated across a beautiful sky conjured by magic.
Most magic bags weren't this large. Ordinary people could store maybe thirty beasts at most. But Ray had splurged on the top model—a ridiculous luxury.
Simulating sunlight, wind, and weather was expensive. The wider the space, the more costly, and caring for beasts became more demanding.
Ray walked through his lush farm-like space, waving happily to his beasts. Behind the wide meadow loomed a tall volcano for fire beasts. To the right lay a vast lake and waterfall for aquatic beasts. To the left stretched dense forests and caves for insects and others.
His bag was perfect. Beasts frolicked in the meadow: a pair of Ironhoof Giraffes nuzzling each other, a flock of fat Bojo birds running in circles, ten three-horned bulls butting heads, Shadowprowler kittens following their "big brother" Rogue, while Geed was surrounded by a dozen tiny Fluffies.
High above, the phoenix and the white diamond dragon were bickering.
"Hey, Nixie! I told you not to breathe fire at Mond!"
The phoenix screeched in complaint before flying off toward the volcano.
The little dragon swooped down affectionately, pressing his smooth chin and belly against Ray's head, licking him adorably.
"Geez, you're way too clingy," Ray laughed, rubbing Mond's chin, while Rogue came trotting with his kittens to rub against Ray's legs.
Geed bounded toward him, leaping straight into his chest, knocking him over. The tiny Fluffies copied their senior, piling onto him.
All of them buried him under warm, fluffy bodies.
"Arghh—I can't breathe! Geed! Rogue! Mond! Enough, I'm ticklish, hahaha!" Ray wrestled with them before playfully teasing back—burying his face in Geed's belly, ruffling Rogue's fur, scratching Mond's chin until they purred and cooed in bliss.
After playing, he went to the massive wooden feeding machine. Pouring in over fifty kilos of food, he let the beasts come feed themselves.
But the moment Ulga the Ancient Orca gulped down a single batch meant for the fish, it was gone.
"You eat too much, Ulga! My salary hasn't even come in yet!" Ray cried.
The food meant to last a month was gone in one bite.
"This is bad. I need money fast. Nixie hasn't molted feathers yet, and Mond's not grown enough to shed diamonds. Damn, forget it—I'll think later. Time for class." Ruffling his hair in frustration, Ray left the bag.
…
The wooden doors opened into a hall-sized classroom. Sunlight poured through open windows, brightening the polished brown wooden room.
Over thirty rows of desks and chairs were lined up neatly, enough for over two hundred students. A huge magic blackboard, as big as a cinema screen, dominated the front.
At ten o'clock, in the mild warmth, students in blue, red, and black robes filed in through the central aisle. They chose their seats, slid out chairs, dropped books, and chattered.
An elderly professor with gray hair and a cane stood, hand on hip, waiting impatiently. As usual, Black Dragon House students took the back rows, Unicorns took the front, Phoenixes sat in the middle.
Ray and Jason sat in the very back. Aria almost joined them but soon carried her books up front, too eager to learn.
"Pfft, that white-haired girl ditched us," Jason grumbled, chin in hand.
"Wanna move to the front too, Jason?" Ray asked.
"Are you crazy, Ray? Learn from my genius. How could we sneak snacks or chat if we sat up front? Besides, she's a nerd. Let her sit there. We can copy her homework later."
"Wow, you're shameless," Ray sighed.
"Hahaha, no need to flatter me," Jason smirked, flicking his hair.
"Ah, Mister Ray… I'm late… may I sit here?" Karua loomed, books and coffee in hand, hunched and shadowy.
Ray jumped so hard he nearly dropped his book. "Jason, switch seats with me, now!"
"No way. This seat's perfect—by the window, at the back. Look, I'll show you." Jason leaned on his hand, gazing dramatically out the window like some storybook hero. "See? Coolest spot."
Ray paled as Karua slid into the seat, sipping coffee, opening his book… which concealed a gleaming knife inside, flashing in the sunlight.
Swallowing hard, Ray begged, "Jason, please switch! I'll sit with Aria otherwise!"
"Tch, you're hopeless." Reluctantly Jason gave in.
Now Ray sat at the window seat, Karua's dark gaze fixed on him the whole time.
"All right, quiet down," the professor snapped, rapping her cane. The room fell silent.
"I am Professor Cornelia Field. According to your syllabus, today we begin with the basics of magical beasts. Who can tell me what that means?"
Aria raised her hand instantly.
"Yes?"
She recited the syllabus flawlessly—first lesson: origins and legends of magical beasts; second: their habitats; third: common species; fourth… on and on. No one but her cared to memorize it.
Professor Cornelia's stern eyes lit up as if she'd found a diamond among muck.
"Ten points for you, Miss Falerian. Five points to Black Dragon House." She applauded. The rest clapped half-heartedly.
"Ugh, show-off."
"She hasn't changed. Always hungry for attention."
"She's sitting alone. No wonder, with that arrogant attitude."
Ray muttered, "Jason, maybe I should sit with Aria instead…" but Jason was already snoring on his desk. Ray stayed put, too scared of Karua to move alone.
Professor Cornelia lectured: "Learning the origins and legends of beasts will help you understand which species to raise or fight with. For example, it is said phoenixes were among the first beings born alongside dragons. Their wings can revive others. Their tears can wash away curses…"
Half the Black Dragon students were asleep. Ray tried to take notes, but Karua's stare made it nearly impossible to concentrate.
Under his desk, Karua sipped coffee with one hand and clenched his knife with the other, whispering to himself:
"Heh heh… patience… patience… To get Phoenix's tears, I must isolate him and force it to appear. If I kill him now, I won't get them…"
…
Lunch break, cafeteria.
"What's wrong, Ray? You look pale. Did Karua hurt you?" Aria asked, watching him stare gloomily at his hamburger.
He bit into it with tears welling.
Jason frowned. "What the hell? That cheap burger moved you that much?"
Ray sniffled. "Ulga ate all of my month's food in one gulp. I'm broke! That's scarier than Karua! I don't want to starve again!"
Aria tilted her head. "What about Phoenix's feathers?"
"Not for another week. I'll be stuck eating scraps again." He buried his face on the table.
[You have received 30,000 G]
"Huh!?" Ray blinked.
"Just a loan. Pay me back later," Aria said flatly.
Jason tossed him a pouch too. [You have received 20,000 G]
"What? I didn't even ask!?" Ray stammered, but his hands had already pocketed it. "Aren't you afraid I'll cheat you?"
Jason sneered. "You? Cheat? Please."
Aria chuckled softly. "You have a phoenix. You'll pay us back eventually. Besides, you're too much of a fool to cheat."
Ray blushed angrily. "Was that a compliment or an insult!?"
"Take it as you will." She twirled her fork and ate spaghetti.
Ray sulked, but finally said, "Fine… thanks. I'll repay you next week." Then suddenly, he remembered.
"Wait! We haven't collected our reward from Professor Witzany yet—the Fruit of Evolution! It'll help beasts grow faster. If Mond eats it, he'll mature and produce diamonds! I'll pay you back right away!"
He dashed off before they could stop him.
Aria and Jason just sighed. "He's going to trip."
"He will," Aria agreed.
Ray sprinted up the stairs toward the headmaster's office. But as he turned the corner—
Thud!
"Ow!"
A foot stuck out, tripping him. He fell face-first. A silver blade pressed coldly against his neck.
A chilling whisper brushed his ear.
"Heh heh heh… Mister Ray… it's time. Time for you to die…"
…