Chương 140: Classes 3

"So, tell me, Damion, what do you want to do?" Mage Teft asked.

"I want to explore the entire world," Damion said quickly.

"Even Red Zones and Black Zones?" Mage Teft questioned.

"It will take a while before I am strong enough, but yes. One day I will go even into the Black Zones. I want to see everything. Discover places that no one has seen before."

"Even as a child you were quite curious. I suppose it is fitting for you to have such a goal. Well, your homework for tonight is to come up with a plan on how you will achieve your goal. Now get to your next class. Professor Martin does not forgive tardiness." A few minutes later Damion walked into Professor Martin's class books in hand. Since this class was one with other students, Elicia remained outside in hallway with the attendants of the other elite students.

Most of these attendants were graduates from previous years or retainers sent by noble families to look after their young mages in their first term at Silver Spire Magic Academy. This was lucky for Elicia since it meant none of these attendants recognized her from last term or as the granddaughter of the Headmaster. Damion took a seat in the front row of class while the last few students filtered in and took their seats.

Professor Martin looked over the class, his eyes lingering on Damion longer than on any of the other students. When he finally spoke, Damion felt his excitement grow.

"I am Professor Jonah Martin and I will be your instructor this term for Beastology 1 - Ferocious Beasts. Next term you will also be joining me for Beastology 2 - Demonic Beasts. Once you have completed my courses you will have a great deal of knowledge about Ferocious Beasts and Demonic Beasts, but do not let that knowledge go to your heads. Each year the high Rankers who tirelessly patrol the Red Zones report new species of Ferocious Beasts and Demonic Beasts.

So, remember, no matter how much you think you know, there is always more to discover.

"Now, who can tell me what makes a beast a Ferocious Beast?" After posing his question Professor Martin looked around the class at the raised hands before calling on a student in the back.

"A Ferocious Beast is a beast that is very aggressive and has a taste for human flesh." The young man's answer caused a few chuckles around the classroom as well as murmurs from some students about the young man being a foolish lowborn that doesn't know anything.

"Silence," Professor Martin said sharply, putting an end to the whispers.

"Perhaps you can tell us, Mage Wells."

"A Ferocious Beast is a beast that has magic in its blood and that magic allows it to use abilities that are similar to spells." Damion answered, reciting almost word for word what Mage Teft had once told him.

"Very good. Ferocious Beasts are stronger and faster than any normal beast, but the key is that they have magic in their blood. Think of them as the knights of the beast kingdom while Demonic Beasts are the mages. The magic they carry allows them that additional strength and speed. The magic blood of a Ferocious Beast carries magic through their body just like each of your magic cores do for you. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"That flow of magic helps you to grow. And just like you, Ferocious Beasts can increase in Rank. Growing even stronger with each increase in Rank. Can someone tell me what sets Ferocious Beasts apart from us?"

"We can learn and cast spells, while Ferocious Beasts can only use their innate powers," a student to Damion's right said.

"Yes, that is correct. What is another way we are different?" Professor Martin asked. After a few moments of silence the professor continued on.

"Humans are able to intentionally increase our powers, while Ferocious Beasts, like all animals, live according to their instincts and grow slowly. So, how is it that there are so many high Rank Ferocious Beasts?

"If there are a lot of high Rank Ferocious Beasts doesn't that mean they grow faster than people? I mean, aren't most animals full grown within six months to a year. Wouldn't that mean their Rank is increased at an increased rate too?"

"Did your magic power stop growing when you had your last growth spurt Mage Hill?" Professor Martin asked back to the student.

"No."

"Then why would you think physical growth and magical growth are the same thing?"

"Animals grow up faster physically, so I thought…"

"Yes, you thought that applied to magic as well. Magic can increase the growth rate of muscle and other physical features, but that is magic enhancing the growth of physical traits, not physical traits enhancing magic growth. A normal animal matures at the same rate as a similar Ferocious Beast. So, why are there so many high Rank Ferocious Beasts?"

"Because they are born at a high Rank," Damion said finally. It was clear Professor Martin wanted someone to answer and was not going to move on until someone got the answer right. Damion just hoped his guess was correct.

"Exactly. Take 5 points for your answer. Ferocious Beasts are born with magic in their blood and that gives them quite a bit of magic power. As they grow up their magic increases naturally, just like yours does, but many of the high Rank Ferocious Beasts are born at C or even B Rank. Some species are actually born at A Rank." All the students in the class let out a collective gasp. If a Ferocious Beast was born at A Rank, then there was a good chance when it grew up it would be S Rank.

Humans it seemed really got the short end of the stick, if humans could be born at B Rank or even C Rank then reaching S Rank was a lot more achievable.

"How is nature so unfair to humans? Why can't we be born at a high rank?" Mage Hill complained loudly, bringing another bout of laughter from the rest of the class.

"Who are we to argue with the nature of the world? Keep in mind that hard work can overcome our natural deficiencies. You should also remember we humans can learn magic seals, create artifacts to increase our defensive and offensive capabilities. Is that fair to the Ferocious Beasts? Be careful when asking for fairness."

"Yeah, but if we could have just a little bit of a better start, we could reach high Ranks without so much time and effort."

"Time and effort are the only things that matter. Take Mage Wells here. Before he could even cast a single spell he had more magic power than the rest of you in this room combined. Most of you are only F Rank and you'll probably only be E Rank when you graduate, but he is already C Rank." Every head in the room turned to Damion as he sat stone still in his seat. These were all first term students like him, but unlike him, they were all either 15 years old or turning 15 this year, while he was 18.

Most of the students could recognize he looked older than they did, but only the students from noble families knew about Damion's situation. Although that was about to change.

"He's older than us, so it's a bad comparison. Once I reach his age I'll be stronger than him," Mage Hill declared.

"Mage Wells, when did you reach E Rank?" Professor Martin asked.

"A couple of months after I got my adventurer license."

"And when was that?"

"Shortly after my fifteenth birthday."

"Hard work can help you overcome any limitations you might have," Professor Martin said loudly before anyone in the class could object to Damion's claim.

"Mage Wells' record, like all licensed adventurer's, is available to be viewed at any terminal connected to the Adventurer Association. Now, let us move on to the most common types of Ferocious Beasts."