April 7, 5120 (Thursday)
''Look, that's her...''
''Isn't she that infamous first year, the Beastless Young miss of the Blackthorne family?''
''Yes. She's also that Professor Ateles's research assistant.''
''Really? I thought that rumor was fake.''
''I heard Professor Ateles personally confirmed the rumors.''
''That Professor Ateles?''
Looking as calm as always, Amina strode out of the department amid the gazes of others. A single-strap bag now rested on her shoulder; one that Orion had sent to her after she requested for a bag to carry her books.
When she made eye contact with some passing students, they either flinched or avoided her gaze. It was different from the usual hostile gazes and unfriendly words.
All because of one Instructor.
Professor Ateles.
True to their agreement, a rumor spread about her being his research assistant the next day after she accepted his offer. How he had circulated the rumor, Amina had no idea.
At the beginning, no student had believed the rumor and claimed it was false.
Who would believe that someone like Professor Ateles would take a student like the Beastless Young miss as his research assistant?
Hardly anyone. It sounded simply absurd.
Many students had dismissed the rumor; certain it would fade. Some even speculated that the Beastless Young miss had fabricated the rumor herself, and Professor Ateles would be definitely displeased with her for using his name.
Contrary to their assumptions, the rumor persisted till the Instructors eventually caught a wind of it. When they heard the rumor, the Instructors dismissed it as fake. Who among them wasn't aware of Professor Ateles' impossible standard for students? He was a notorious Instructor who barely even acknowledged the most talented students. There's no way he would take the weakest student in the entire academy under him.
Still, there were Instructors who couldn't help but inform Professor Ateles and wanted to joke about the rumor. But, who would have expected the stern Professor Ateles to confirm the rumor?! Not only that, he had even stated that the Beastless Young miss surpassed all students he had taught in the academy!
Students eventually found out about Professor's Ateles confirmation and statement. Now, everyone in the entire Beastology department were aware that Professor Ateles had taken the Beastless Young miss under his wing.
Thanks to that, Amina was now avoided by students like a plague, unlike the time she had been mocked and sneered at. Even Claudia and her friends had kept their distance and only glared at her from afar.
I need to ask Professor Ateles some questions once he arrives at the office. The center of the rumors mentally noted on her way to the Teaching Beast Hospital. Her schedule as a research assistant wasn't demanding as she had assumed at first.
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays were her work days. Since her classes ended by 2pm on the first two days, she had to be at the Teaching Beast Hospital by 3:00pm and close at 6pm. On Saturdays, her work started by 8am and closed by 3pm.
Her only duty was to assist Professor Ateles in the laboratory as her position indicated. Though, she had yet to enter his laboratory and had only been studying in his office.
No one also bothered her in the Teaching Beast Hospital. Unlike the Beastology department, no one glanced her way. Though there were some glances here and there, they only lasted for a moment. After all, the Teaching Beast Hospital was still a hospital. There was not a single time for other things asides treating patients.
Just like now, there were no murmurs or stares on her way to Professor Ateles's office.
I should do some assignments first was Amina's thought as she reached the office and stepped inside after showing her Beastcom to the access terminal. As a research assistant, she had full access to his office since she had registered her Beastcom on the database of the office's access terminal.
Amina was working on her assignment when the doors slid open. She turned away from her floating screen and notebook, expecting to see Professor Ateles entering the office. Instead, she saw a stranger in white laboratory coat; a Beast medical student.
How did he enter? She wondered as the student met her gaze. Had Professor Ateles also given access to his office to others?
''You must be the research assistant. Follow me.'' His voice was curt, edged with impatience.
''...I'll have to ask Professor Ateles.'' Amina did not agree to follow him. Professor Ateles had told her not to assist anyone without his permission.
The student's thin lips turned down at her words.
''He has given the permission and sent you a message.'' He said sharply. ''Haven't you checked your Beastcom?'' Frustration was evident in his voice as he angrily turned away from Amina.
''I don't have time to waste on you when I have Beasts to attend to.'' He stepped out of the office.
He sent a message? Amina went on to check her messages and found an unread message. The sender was indeed Professor Ateles.
A student named Finn will come to my office. Follow him and learn well.
Reading that, Amina quickly followed up with a simple reply 'Yes Professor' and closed her Beastcom. She then stepped out of the office, and luckily, the Beast Medical student, Finn hadn't left yet.
''Senior Finn?'' Still, Amina called out just to be certain he was the one in Professor Ateles's message.
Finn snorted at her words before walking away. Amina quietly followed behind, not minding his dismissiveness.
As he led her down the busy corridors, Amina noticed the urgency in his steps and tried to catch up with him as fast she could. Eventually, they arrived at a ward and the doors automatically slid open without their Beastcoms.
''Hold the War beast down!''
''Where's the sedative?!''
Chaos was what welcomed them first.
The sight of disheveled Beast medical students struggling to restrain a bleeding cheetah was a sight to behold for Amina. The cheetah snarled and lashed out at each student, refusing to subdued and sedated to sleep. The injured War beast bared its razor sharp teeth and struck its claws at any student nearing their fingers on its body.
This was a first sight for Amina who hadn't seen chaos inside the Teaching Beast Hospital since her first day as a research assistant.
''Where is the Beastmaster?!''
''It's Instructor Nine!''
''Him?! Shit!"
''Finn!'' One of the students spotted them and shouted urgently ''Quick! Come inside before the War beast tries to escape!''
Amina quickly followed Finn inside the ward, and the doors slid close behind them. Then, all of a sudden, the cheetah snapped its feral gaze towards their way, but for some reason, Amina felt the cheetah's gaze was aimed at her way. As if agreeing to that fleeting feeling, the War beast tore free from the students with its agile body and headed straight for Amina in a blur of motion.
''Watch out!'' Someone screamed, but it was too late as the cheetah slammed into Amina, knocking her body against the hard metal door.
BANG!
And with a loud bang.