When the colossal oak doors were gently pushed open, their deep golden knockers let out a faint creak.
Revealed before them was a vast hall spanning hundreds of square meters. The air within was cool and damp, as though they had stepped into an entirely different world.
All manner of bizarre flora crept along the walls in vibrant green profusion. Luminous magic lamps hung among the tangled vines, casting a soft, dim glow into every corner of the chamber.
Lanqi and Zestira peered into the depths of the room. True to the discipline of Magical Beast Husbandry, quite a few magical beasts could indeed be seen.
Along one side of the classroom stood stacks of sealed jars, implements, and ingredients, alongside mounds of licorice, herbs, and flowering leaves.
Farther in, magical beasts of every shape and form rested quietly at the far end of the room, unrestrained by cages or chains. Some possessed sleek, noble, and elegant coats; others boasted fiery plumage whose unfurled wings resembled dancing flames; some were armored in thick scales, while others bore sharp horns and vicious claws.
Even Zestira, having attended courses here, could not name all of these creatures at once.
The sole human in the classroom was an elderly teacher with a full head of white hair.
He stood in the center of the room, hunched over, murmuring affectionately to a magical beast with eyes of ice-blue.
The old teacher gently stroked the creature, his gaze brimming with profound tenderness.
Though these magical beasts all appeared ferocious and perilous, under the old man's loving care, they seemed remarkably docile and affectionate.
By the doorway, Zestira's footing grew slightly unsteady.
Beholding those colossal, perilous creatures in the distance, her heart flooded with dread and apprehension.
To a tier 2 like her, virtually every beast present appeared to be tier 2 or higher.
Shrinking into herself as if seeking a corner to hide, she retreated behind Lanqi.
Though she had always regarded her teacher as someone rather weak in combat, he was invariably so calm and steady whenever a crucial moment arrived, making her instinctively rely on him as a dependable pillar of support.
"Oh? Students this early?"
The teacher noticed the pair from afar.
Squinting, the old man sounded both pleased and somewhat surprised that two young students were willing to step into a field forgotten by most.
He gently set down the small magical beast in his hands.
Fully understanding the old man's gesture, the beast leapt lightly to the floor and trotted quietly into a nearby corner.
"Welcome, children."
The old teacher ambled toward them, his voice aged and slow, yet as warm as a late-autumn sun.
His demeanor seemed to bring Zestira some comfort.
She gently unclenched her tight fists and tilted her head up slightly.
Though a trace of fear lingered in her eyes, seeing that the instructor in this room was a kindly old gentleman finally put her heart somewhat at ease.
An elder capable of treating magical beasts with such tenderness possessed a mindset tranquil as an ancient well, having long since seen through the ways of the world.
One who nurtured even beasts so meticulously would naturally harbor no malice toward the modern demon race.
"Greetings, sir. We would like to undertake the Magical Beast Husbandry evaluation shortly," Lanqi greeted the old instructor with a respectful bow, and Zestira quickly shook off her daze to follow suit.
"This is a Difficulty 3 evaluation. You did check that carefully, didn't you? This noble miss should still be a preparatory student. That said, as her retainer, you can complete the evaluation on her behalf."
The old man looked the two over, easily discerning their status from their attire.
"Indeed, we are aware," Lanqi confirmed.
Although both of them completing the evaluation would yield double the credit reward, the privilege of noble students permitted retainers to complete certain subject evaluations directly in their stead.
Seeing this, the old man nodded. He pondered for a moment; even without checking the time, he knew roughly what hour it was, with several minutes remaining before the evaluation officially commenced.
"This evaluation requires no force of arms. If you are ready now, I can explain the rules to you ahead of time," the old man said, looking at the pair.
On every Monthly Evaluation Day, hardly any students ever came to this classroom to be evaluated, especially during the first exam block.
One might as well consider these two the only participants.
"We would be delighted to hear them."
Lanqi spoke almost as Zestira's representative.
Nor did Zestira mind entrusting the matter entirely to her teacher.
"All you need do is head to the back, find a child you fancy, earn its approval, play with it, and feed it. Finally, complete my test prompt before class ends—which essentially requires you to have those children willingly cooperate with you to accomplish a few tasks."
The old man's words carried a light air, the rules simple and clear.
For a beast tamer, this was a vital skill. It was simply that the profession had fallen out of favor nowadays; formidable giant magical beasts had nearly gone extinct, and they were far less portable and controllable than summons conjured through magic cards.
Yet in the old man's eyes, magical beasts were not meant solely for combat. They could keep one company like family; they were all very clever.
Before long, however, Zestira's gaze wandered among the perilous, unfamiliar creatures, her face betraying deep unease.
It sounded simple enough, but actually forging a good relationship with a mighty magical beast in such a short window was practically impossible to approach—and fraught with extreme danger!
At that moment, the beasts appeared to sense her tension and dread. Their eyes turned sharp and wary. Mana ripples of warning began churning around several of them, low growls rumbling in their chests like echoes from an abyss.
Zestira suddenly felt as though she were standing upon a prairie on the verge of erupting in flames, every thumping heartbeat intensifying the mutually hostile, perilous atmosphere.
"Do not be afraid, Zestira."
Lanqi's voice was low and steady, like the placid surface of an unruffled lake.
In the eye of this brewing tempest, Lanqi's expression did not waver in the slightest. He maintained that serene, warm smile, his eyes filled with understanding and acceptance, as though he could see straight through to the tenderness and loneliness concealed behind those creatures.
Without an ounce of wariness, he walked directly toward the ferocious, mighty beasts.
The old teacher had felt a twinge of concern and wanted to remind Lanqi to mind his safety, but seeing the young man's current bearing, his slowly raised hand froze, and the words died on his tongue.
The evaluation had not officially started yet.
However, interacting with the magical beasts outside of class was by no means forbidden.
Besides, he was always lenient with students willing to enter this room for an evaluation and hoped they would pass. So long as there was no danger to their safety, he had no objection to letting a student approach the beasts.
Chapter 286