"Affinities are simple," A bodacious woman in a long, white cotton blouse stood before a podium in the room, facing her oddly attentive listeners.
The apprentices had their eyes focused on her, especially the young men. I don't blame them, since her hourglass body is distracting, especially in a classroom setting.
"Master Lucy, how many affinities are there?" someone from the back row asked. I couldn't see who, since Bella put me in one of her chest pockets.
While other Beastblades are on top of their tables, behind their backs, or on the floor, I'm in my mistress's pocket.
Mistress? Should I really call this young girl my mistress? That Howlan guy really influenced me.
"There are an infinite number of affinities in existence. Everything you see is an affinity." Master Lucy said. Upon further observation, she appears to have a real stern look. Her long, white hair is tied into a bun, her lips are crimson, and her cheeks are powdered. One could mistake her for a goddess.
"Mine is yarn," an apprentice just beside Bella said, she sounded disappointed, "My Beastblade is the String Winged Lamoid." There were faint giggles after the class heard what she said.
Master Lucy came over to comfort the apprentice beside Bella, "Stella," she said, "Beastblades are unique. Each beast within your blade has its own unique affinity.".
Sniff
When she approached, she smelled of lavender. I don't even have a nose. I could smell her all day.
"While we don't rank or grade affinities, we officially classify them by group." Master Lucy continued her lecture. She walked back to the front of the class.
Come back!
"They are not ranked by power, but there are mundane, common, uncommon, rare, elite, mythical, and so on. These affinity identifications are used solely for classification and record-keeping, since new affinities are added every day. The rarity of an affinity does not affect the Beastblade's strength!"
"Then what for?" from the front, Alexios raised his hand, "If an affinity's rarity doesn't matter, then why are we recording them?"
"Good question," Master Lucy said, "It's because every affinity has its strength and weakness. For example, an elemental affinity like fire can easily defeat a mundane affinity like paper, but both will have no match against a mythical affinity like, let's say, the void!"
"So, it is ranked. The mythical beats the common and mundane,"
"No, sometimes the mundane can beat a mythical,"
The class was awed and amazed by the information they heard. I was so enamored with all the learning I could get that I didn't realize Bella was taking notes.
Good for her! I bet she's going to ask her a question very soon—
"Master Lucy!" Bella raised her hand and stood up stiffly, "Are affinities connected to our Beastblade's abilities?"
"Yes," Master Lucy answered, "Although our Beastblade's abilities are not within our control, you can expect that when the time comes for your blade to choose, it will be related to the Beastblade's affinity."
Choose? I can choose which abilities I want. How does that work?
"Thank you!" Bella bowed and went back to her seat. She jotted down what she just heard.
"While we are on the topic, let's move on to our next lesson," Master Lucy nodded, "A Beastblade can have its passive ability, a power that is not listed on your divine property. This passive ability came from the affinity naturally!"
The apprentices came to life, their attention not on their master's curvaceous body but on their Beastblades. They began tinkering and waving their weapons just to see if the passive ability Master Lucy was talking about would show up.
What's the passive ability?
"Unfortunately, you won't be able to see it like that, apprentices," Master Lucy chuckled. She bent down on the podium, and she took a box made of wood. The box is a quarter of her size. It was chained and locked. Oddly, the box is shaking violently, and a faint chirp snarl comes from inside.
What the hell is inside that box?
There were exaggerated sighs of disappointment coming from the apprentices. Even Bella was saddened, she was already holding me by the hilt. No one is even paying attention to the box.
I was also excited to see my passive ability! But am I the one seeing that weird box?
"Master Lucy, what's in the box?" Bella asked after finally noticing it.
"Right now, your Beastblades are considered dead or hungry. Think of it like an airship: it needs fuel. Those blades are beasts, living souls that need feeding. In other words, they need killing!"
Master Lucy inserted a key and twisted it, unlocking the lock before releasing the box from its chains. Then the box's cover popped off, and it flew somewhere on the back. It probably hit someone.
"For your Beastblade's passive ability to charge, you need to feed it a soul!"
From the box, a large, fuzzy wasp came buzzing out. It was as big as the box itself. It had six sets of wings flapping rapidly all over the room. The apprentices scream in horror. Its sharp mandibles have pointy fangs, and its mouthpart is unnaturally gaping, drooling for its meal. Its big, black eyes reflected every apprentice it passed by.
But the worst part of this humongous insect is the curved stinger attached to its body. It appeared to be steel and rugged. It resembles a dagger with a thick blade, but on its pointy end, a gooey fluid drips every second.
When the goo landed on the floor, it hissed loudly and dried up quickly. But it leaves a dark, burned mark.
"Don't worry, children, we have an antidote for that! Your first activity for your Affinities class: kill the waspling and harvest its soul for your Beastblade!"
Waspling?!
The apprentices ran all over the room. Some tried to escape through the door, but it was locked. Master Lucy's eyes were wide, and she was smirking like crazy. She had her arms up, embracing the chaos. I could hear her exasperated breathing.
Bella went under her table, but she wasn't scared. She held me close, her eyes looking for the flying monster. She is ready to take it down, and I knew I had to be as well.
Heh! Come get some insect, we'll crush you!