Chapter 69: Courses

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Courses

As Principal Rupert Vale stepped smoothly off the raised platform, the ambient pressure weighing down upon the amphitheater lifted in an instant, allowing hundreds of gasping freshmen to finally draw full, unrestricted breaths.

The colossal auditorium erupted into an immediate flurry of chattering murmurs, shifting boots, and rustling fabric as students began gathering their folios and filing out toward the aisle stairwells.

*BZZZZ-CHIME.*

Simultaneously, a unified chime resonated through the vast hall as every examinee’s smartband flared to life with an urgent, glowing crimson directive:

[ACADEMIC DECLARATION: INSTRUCTION PROTOCOL]

Curriculum cycles commence this evening at 17:00.

All matriculated students must formally register:

- ONE (1) Primary Major

- THREE (3) Minor Electives

Notice: The undergraduate curriculum spans a mandatory Seven Year institutional tenure.

Primary Majors are permanently locked upon submission and cannot be altered. Choose with utmost care.

Jim let out a low, appreciative whistle, squinting down at his wrist terminal. "Well, do we have to lock this in right this second?"

"Seems like it," Edward replied, his slender fingers already flicking briskly across his holographic interface. "No point dragging our feet when the Academy gives an order."

Eric opened the departmental declaration module on his slate. Without a single second of hesitation, he scrolled straight past the popular combat-auxiliary tracks and locked in his primary declaration: *Monster Evolution Research*.

The interface flashed a steady emerald green, sealing the core requirement before expanding into the secondary selection tree:

SELECT THREE (3) MINOR ELECTIVES:

- Beast Anatomy & Structural Biology

- Beast Nutrition

- Mana Cooking

- Topography & Cartography

- Ancient Literature

- Theory of Mana and Elements

- Beast Battle Tactics

- Martial Arts & Weapon Mastery

- Alchemical Chemistry

- Rune Crafting

[View Extended Electives...]

"Woah, that’s a massive selection," Eric muttered under his breath, methodically analyzing the roster.

With seven full years ahead of him within the capital’s premier institution, these minor electives would lay the crucial groundwork for his personal survival, combat independence, and long-term resource generation.

*Martial Arts & Weapon Mastery* is non-negotiable, Eric calculated instantly, tapping the selection without pause.

*No matter how refined my beast research becomes, a tamer who cannot defend themselves in an unmapped rift is merely living on borrowed time. I need institutional access to high-tier footwork codices and advanced blade forms to continuously elevate my swordsmanship.*

For his second choice, he bypassed standard Theory of Mana and Elements and basic Alchemical Chemistry, settling his finger firmly upon *Rune Crafting*.

It was a notoriously intricate, demanding branch of arcane mechanics, but high-ranking runic artificers who could carve dimensional matrices, anchor spatial arrays, and weave equipment enchantments were revered throughout Auremont, and commanded astronomical commission retainers.

For his final minor, he selected *Beast Anatomy & Structural Biology*.

*A purely tactical choice,* Eric grinned quietly to himself.

*With the Myriad Beast Encyclopedia feeding my consciousness the precise skeletal layouts, organ weak points, and muscle conduits of every beast in existence, Beast Anatomy is a guaranteed high-grade GPA cushion. I need those academic merit points flowing in early to get more Cultivation materials and manuals.*

With three definitive taps, he confirmed his portfolio:

*PING.*

[SUBMISSION CONFIRMED]

Student: Eric

Primary Major: Monster Evolution Research

Minor Electives:

Martial Arts & Weapon Mastery

Rune Crafting

Beast Anatomy & Structural Biology

Directive: Report to Research Building 1 (RB-1) according to your evening schedule.

Eric exhaled a long breath, rolling his shoulders as he looked over at the trio beside him. "All locked in on your ends?"

"Done and confirmed," Edward said with a brisk nod. "Took Healing as my Major. For minors, I locked in Martial Arts, Beast Battle Tactics, and Mana Cooking. Specialized culinary preparation is essential for brewing nutrient-rich restorative meals for critical patients."

"As we told you yesterday, we’re locking into Beast Nurturing," Jim chimed in, gesturing between himself and his sister. "We both picked Martial Arts to ensure we don’t lag behind in the field, but Jenna took Beast Nutrition and Beast Anatomy, while I went with Theory of Mana and Elements alongside Alchemical Chemistry. We can cover each other’s research blind spots."

"Looks like our foundation is set," Eric smiled, rising from his chair. "Let’s head back toward Dorm 17 for a bit to rest up before the evening lecture bells."

As the four freshmen stepped through the grand bronze double doors into the sunlit marble portico, a tall figure in a tailored charcoal-gray overcoat crossed their direct path.

Long raven-black hair swayed gracefully in the morning mountain breeze, catching the radiant sunlight alongside piercing, liquid ruby eyes.

Eric halted mid-step, his cognitive processing momentarily short-circuiting as he instinctively blurted out, "A-ah! Hi! How are you—good morning!"

Alena Blackthorn paused, her composed, aristocratic gaze turning toward him. The porcelain contours of her face softened into a gentle, elegant smile.

"Good morning, Eric. And a very good morning to your companions as well. I am doing quite well, thank you. How are you holding up after the intake?"

"Ah, I’m doing great!" Eric managed, clearing his throat with a quick cough to steady his vocal cords. "What major did you end up declaring for your track?"

"I chose Alchemy as my primary major," Alena replied smoothly, tucking a slender leather folio under her arm. "And for my three minors, I selected Ancient Literature, Topography & Cartography, and Beast Anatomy & Structural Biology."

"Oh, that’s awesome!" Eric’s dark eyes brightened with genuine enthusiasm. "I actually picked Beast Anatomy as one of my minors too. Guess I’ll see you in the lecture hall, then."

"Is that so?" Alena’s smile deepened slightly with quiet, intrigued interest. "I look forward to having you as a study partner, Eric. I will see you there."

Offering a polite, graceful nod toward Jim, Jenna, and Edward, she turned and continued down the broad marble staircase, her charcoal coat flaring slightly with the breeze as she melded into the pedestrian flow.

The instant she was safely out of earshot, a dramatic, rasping sound shattered the morning silence.

"Ahem."

Edward let out a painfully loud, theatrical fake cough, rolling his eyes dramatically toward the clouds.

Before Eric could even turn around, Jim draped a heavy, muscular arm over Eric’s shoulders from behind, leaning in with a massive, shit-eating grin.

"So... who’s the high-born ice beauty, loverboy?"

Eric almost choked on his own tongue, violently shoving Jim’s arm off his shoulder. "Loverboy?! Shut your face! It’s nothing like that at all! She’s literally just my dorm neighbor!"

"Oh, please!" Jenna clasped her hands together against her cheek, her eyes sparkling with theatrical melodrama. "A rough-and-tumble hunter from the distant borderlands and the mysterious high-noble beauty next door, the classic neighbor-to-lovers saga! It’s practically written in the stars!"

A scalding crimson wave rushed from Eric’s collar straight to the tips of his ears, setting his entire face ablaze.

"I’m going back to the room," Eric sputtered, spinning on his heel and bolting down the cobblestone pathway at full sprint. "Stay here and drown in your own ridiculous nonsense!"

Behind him, Jim, Jenna, and even the usually stoic Edward doubled over, their roaring laughter echoing across the sunlit courtyard.