Chapter 49: Meet Bai Ling

Arthur took his time.

He stared at the massive white tiger for several moments, deep in thought.

The Celestial Frostfang Tiger stared back at him.

Arthur rubbed his chin.

"...Hmm."

Lyra waited patiently.

Several cadets nearby also watched curiously.

What exactly was Arthur going to name such a rare and majestic Spirit Beast?

After thinking for a couple more moments—

Arthur suddenly smiled.

"I’ve got it."

Lyra leaned forward slightly.

Arthur placed his hand on the tiger’s massive head and gently rubbed its soft white fur.

"Your name is Bai Ling."

Silence.

The tiger blinked.

Arthur continued rubbing its head.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

Prrrrrrrrr.

The massive Celestial Frostfang Tiger began purring again.

Arthur smiled.

"I’ll take that as a yes."

The tiger pressed its enormous head against his hand.

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

"...He likes the name."

Then suddenly—

The tiger’s massive body began glowing.

"What?"

Arthur pulled his hand back.

Particles of white light slowly began separating from the creature’s body.

The enormous tiger dissolved.

Its body transformed into countless glowing particles.

The cadets nearby immediately stared.

"What’s happening?"

"Did the Spirit Beast disappear?!"

The particles of light swirled through the air.

Then—

Whoosh!

They rushed directly toward Arthur.

Arthur instinctively raised his arm.

The countless particles entered his body.

A strange sensation immediately spread throughout him.

Then—

〘SPIRITUAL BOND SUCCESSFULLY FORMED.〙

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

Another notification appeared.

〘CONGRATULATIONS!〙

〘YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED AN EXOTIC COMBAT SPIRIT BEAST.〙

〘SPIRIT BEAST: CELESTIAL FROSTFANG TIGER〙

〘NAME: BAI LING〙

Arthur stared at the notification.

...So that’s how it works?

Lyra suddenly smiled brightly.

"Good."

Arthur turned toward her.

Lyra looked relieved.

"The bond formed successfully."

She clasped her hands together.

"And it happened incredibly quickly."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Quickly?"

Lyra nodded.

"Spirit Beasts don’t always immediately accept a bond with someone."

Her eyes moved toward the place where Bai Ling had disappeared.

"But Bai Ling didn’t hesitate at all."

She looked back toward Arthur with a warm smile.

"He must really like you."

Arthur blinked.

Then he glanced down at his hand.

"...I guess he does."

Lyra’s smile widened.

She was genuinely glad.

Arthur had liked the gift.

And Bai Ling had accepted him.

Everything had worked out perfectly.

Lyra quietly let out a breath of relief.

...Thank goodness.

Suddenly, Florian spoke up.

"Not to be a third wheel and all between you two..."

She paused.

"...but you know, Arthur, it’s incredibly rude not to introduce your cute new friend here."

As she spoke, Florian turned her gaze toward the white-haired, crimson-eyed cadet sitting at the same table.

Arthur followed her gaze.

It was his roommate.

Arthur paused.

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well, I’m..."

"He and I aren’t that close."

The cadet suddenly spoke.

He had just finished the contents of his bowl and calmly placed the empty bowl on the table.

Arthur slowly turned toward him.

He didn’t seem particularly interested in the conversation.

"The name is Kladirex."

He glanced briefly toward Florian.

"I’m his roommate."

He then looked toward Arthur.

"I was hoping I’d pick up a thing or two from someone who managed to become the top cadet of my batch."

His expression remained completely emotionless.

"But so far..."

He stood up.

"...it has been a rather disappointing experience."

Arthur’s eyebrow twitched.

"...Excuse me?"

Kladirex ignored him.

He picked up his tray.

"If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading to the training facility."

He turned around.

But before he could take another step—

Florian suddenly stood up.

She reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Would you maybe wait for a moment?"

Kladirex stopped.

Arthur stared.

Lyra stared.

Florian’s fingers were trembling slightly.

There was also a faint blush across her cheeks.

Arthur’s eyes slowly widened.

...No.

He looked at his sister.

...Don’t tell me.

His expression became increasingly horrified.

...Is my sister into the cold and mysterious type?

Florian swallowed nervously.

She looked up at Kladirex.

"Can we exchange Cadet IDs?"

Kladirex looked down at her.

Florian quickly continued.

"It would be nice to keep in touch."

She smiled awkwardly.

"And, you know..."

Her blush deepened.

"...I’d like to get to know you."

Silence.

Kladirex stared at her.

His expression didn’t change.

Then—

"I’m sorry, Florian."

Florian blinked.

Kladirex calmly continued.

"But I’m not interested in romance."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

Lyra’s mouth slowly opened.

Kladirex wasn’t finished.

"And even if I was..."

He looked at Florian from head to toe.

"...I doubt you’d be my type."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Arthur and Lyra stared at him.

Florian froze.

Her hand slowly released Kladirex’s.

Arthur’s face went completely blank.

Lyra looked equally dumbfounded.

For several seconds—

Nobody said anything.

Then Arthur and Lyra looked at each other.

Their eyes met.

They didn’t need to say a word.

He didn’t just...

He did.

He actually did.

Arthur slowly looked back toward Kladirex.

...This guy really just rejected my sister to her face.

And somehow—

He did it with the emotional intensity of someone declining an extra side dish.

Lyra covered her mouth.

Her shoulders began trembling.

Arthur could already tell she was struggling not to laugh.

Florian, meanwhile, stood completely still.

Her face was bright red.

Kladirex calmly adjusted his uniform.

"Now, if you’ll excuse me."

He turned around.

"I have training."

And with that—

He simply walked away.

Arthur watched him leave.

Then he slowly turned toward his sister.

Florian remained frozen in place.

Arthur opened his mouth.

"Florian—"

"Don’t."

She immediately interrupted him.

Arthur closed his mouth.

Lyra finally couldn’t hold it anymore.

"Pfft—"

Florian turned toward her.

"Don’t you dare laugh!"

Lyra immediately covered her mouth.

"I-I’m sorry!"

Arthur looked away.

He was trying very hard not to laugh himself.

...This Academy is going to be interesting.

...

It had been two days since then.

During these last few days, the cadets weren’t required to participate in any academic activities.

The Academy had deliberately given them some breathing room.

Those who wanted to train were free to visit the training facilities and push themselves as hard as they wished.

For everyone else, these days were meant to allow them to become accustomed to their new living arrangements, explore the Academy grounds, and, most importantly, recover.

Especially those who had suffered serious injuries during the entrance assessments.

The Academy’s medical technology had repaired their bodies, but that didn’t mean their bodies had immediately returned to their peak condition.

After all—

Soon enough, they would be thrown into the merciless meat grinder that was the Academy’s curriculum.

Arthur walked down one of the Academy’s enormous corridors.

The polished metallic floor reflected the bright overhead lights as cadets passed by in both directions.

Some wore standard Academy uniforms.

Others were already dressed in training gear.

A few carried weapons.

Arthur paid little attention to them.

His focus was on the red holographic window projected directly in front of his vision.

It was connected to his Neural Link.

He was currently exchanging messages with Lyra.

〘LYRA: Young Master Arthur, have you eaten yet?〙

Arthur chuckled.

...What a classic opening line.

〘ARTHUR: Yes.〙

A reply appeared almost immediately.

〘LYRA: Are you sure?〙

Arthur stopped walking.

〘ARTHUR: Why wouldn’t I be?〙

〘LYRA: Because you have a habit of forgetting to eat when you’re focused on something.〙

Arthur stared at the message.

"...Do I?"

Another message appeared.

〘LYRA: Yes, you barely touched your food back then in the cafeteria.〙

Arthur scratched the back of his head.

〘ARTHUR: I don’t think that’s true.〙

〘LYRA: It is.〙

〘ARTHUR: ...〙

〘ARTHUR: Anyway, what are you doing?〙

〘LYRA: Florian and I are heading to our Construct Practice Class.〙

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

〘ARTHUR: Construct Practice?〙

〘LYRA: Yes. It’s one of the practical courses we’ll be taking once regular classes begin.〙

〘LYRA: We’re just getting familiar with the facilities beforehand.〙

Arthur nodded slightly.

That made sense.

Unlike civilian schools, the Imperial Academy didn’t waste space on unnecessary amenities.

Every part of the enormous complex served a purpose.

Training grounds.

Combat arenas.

Weapons laboratories.

Simulation chambers.

Medical facilities.

Research departments.

Military vehicle hangars.

Construct training fields.

Everything existed to turn cadets into better soldiers, officers, and commanders.

Even the few recreational facilities available were secondary to the Academy’s primary purpose.

War.

Another message appeared.

〘LYRA: What about you, Young Master Arthur?〙

Arthur glanced at the time displayed through his Neural Link.

〘ARTHUR: I’m heading to my Riki Handler class.〙

Lyra’s response came almost immediately.

〘LYRA: Riki Handler Class?〙

〘ARTHUR: Yeah.〙

〘ARTHUR: I figured I should head over early and familiarize myself with the facility before class begin.〙

〘LYRA: That sounds like a good idea.〙

Arthur continued walking.

His eyes briefly moved toward the corridor ahead.

〘ARTHUR: Besides, I still haven’t gotten used to the Academy yet.〙

〘LYRA: Neither have I.〙

〘LYRA: It’s much larger than I expected. Even with the navigation feature in our nural links, it feels like I could get lost if I got distracted for even a moment.〙

Arthur glanced around.

He couldn’t disagree.

The Academy was practically a city-sized military fortress.

And he’d only seen a fraction of it so far.

〘LYRA: Anyway, we should probably go.〙

〘LYRA: Florian is already complaining that we’re going to be late.〙

Arthur smiled faintly.

〘ARTHUR: Then don’t keep her waiting.〙

〘LYRA: Understood.〙

A final message appeared.

〘LYRA: Good luck with your Riki Handler class, Young Master Arthur.〙

Arthur shook his head with a faint smile.

〘ARTHUR: You too.〙

The holographic window disappeared.

Arthur slipped his hands into his pockets and continued down the corridor.

His destination was one of the Academy’s Riki facilities.