Riruru flinched at Jenny’s words. She didn’t fully understand what Jenny meant, but her last words stung a little for some reason.
She hid back inside Skyler’s jacket, finding the new place too noisy. She preferred quiet places where she could stay with the warm creature she had been following. But she blinked when she heard Skyler speak.
"Riruru isn’t weak. She is already so strong. Who knows, with time, she could very well become the strongest beast in Eldoria?"
Jenny’s footsteps halted for a second, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. Was her brother taking the side of a beast?
But when she looked back at him, she saw only distraction in his eyes as he scanned the surroundings. It was almost as if what he just said was an automatic response, a reflex to defend someone he held dear.
’Did I make a mistake?’
She was confused, but then chuckled.
"Strongest in Eldoria? That’s quite a big goal, brother. How about you focus on the Human Continent first? Regardless, Riruru needs an official ’Beast ID’ to register her as a tamed beast in the government database. That way, you can show the ID to protect her if anyone mistakes her for a threat."
Skyler, who was about to declare he never set small goals, caught the words ’Beast ID’ she mentioned and his interest piqued.
"Oh, I haven’t heard about this. Where can I get one? From the ID registration centers?"
"The beast tamer department at the academy has those, get one from there."
He nodded, adding this matter to the top of his list of important things he needed to do at the Starlight Academy. Well, it wasn’t like he had anything planned for the academy yet, except that he would work hard.
Charles watched them talk. He felt like they were arguing, even though they didn’t seem angry. But he just ignored it, thinking maybe that’s how all siblings talked to each other.
As the trio reached Malor City and entered the outskirts, marked by a digital billboard flashing advertisements, Skyler suddenly scooted closer to his dear sister, his blue eyes gleaming with a very familiar glint.
Charles, sensing a shift in Skyler’s demeanor, instinctively took a step back. He was wary of being drawn into whatever scheme his shameless friend was plotting. Skyler’s next words proved him right, and he was the one who felt mortified for him.
"Sis, can I borrow some of your star coins? Now that we’re in a big city, I’m likely to find things that would help my growth, like skills and spells... It’s better if I buy them myself instead of always disturbing you."
Jenny nodded. She didn’t think much of it and transferred about fifty thousand star coins to him through her phone.
Charles, watching this unfold, was bewildered. He could only stare at Skyler, who lowered his head and flashed an evil smirk, hidden from his sister’s view.
Jenny was oblivious, but Charles knew.
Both he and Skyler had received a hefty sum of star coins from Johnson, who had sold all the herbs they had discovered in the crystal thanks to Riruru. Yet, this jerk was extorting more money from his own sister!
Before he could warn the unsuspecting lady who had just lost so many star coins to his cunning brother, Skyler wrapped his arm around him, a smile plastered on his face.
"Come on, my dear friend. What are you waiting for? My kind older sister even gave us a generous sum..."
He lowered his voice.
"Remember, if I suffer, you suffer too. So, silence is the best policy."
Charles clamped his lips shut at the last words. Right, how did he forget that if Skyler suffered, he would have to suffer alongside him due to the weird logic this bastard had created that friends suffer together.
He could only wish Jenny wouldn’t find out about this. They moved through Malor City looking for an empty parking space where Jenny could take out her flying car.
Even in the bustling place, Skyler was checking every good shop he saw. He even dragged Charles with him to make sure he became an accomplice completely. Yet, his face fell after visiting a few shops.
Jenny, who had deliberately lowered her pace so the two young men with her could enjoy as much as possible since once they entered the academy they would not be able to, noticed her brother’s disheartened face.
"What happened?"
Skyler let out a huff as he looked at the crowd of humans walking on the street around them, his frustration palpable.
"There are so many shops here, and I thought at least one of them would have something good. But all I found were beast parts, devices, and tech components. Not a single skill or spell displayed for sale. Is it really true that only the academies and the government have access to those?"
Jenny hummed at his words, an amused glint in her eyes. She knew he was hoping to buy spells and skills with the star coins he borrowed from her, and she was aware they weren’t available in the city. She could have stopped him from looking around, but she wanted him to discover it himself.
"You already know the answer, so why are you asking? Those resources are precious, and it’s dangerous to let just anyone have them. It’s for public safety, and besides, the Dark Lights always steal them for evil. That’s why they are only available to capable Lights who protect people. Don’t worry, you will learn skills and spells at the academy."
Skyler let out an ’oh’ and nodded, still a bit aggrieved. He had even extorted star coins from his sister, yet it was no use, it seems.
"Then let’s continue. There’s no need to check the stores anymore."
He started walking forward, which is why he failed to hear Jenny’s next words.
"Well, even if you bought a spell, you wouldn’t be able to learn how to use it, because their language is very difficult."
She muttered under her breath and shook her head. With no prior knowledge, it would take Skyler at least a year to learn even the basics of spells available. Her brother had missed a lot, unlike all those people who joined the academies at the age of 16.
Now that Skyler was done checking the stores in the surrounding buildings, they easily found an empty parking area, and Jenny pulled out her car.
Skyler noticed that the clear sky above Malor City had more crystals than Nowan City. He hummed as the flying car he sat in with the others raced above the city toward a majestic structure at the other end.
His fingers twitched to touch the crystals, and it took all his power to restrain himself from reaching out from the car window to touch them. Fortunately, Riruru distracted him enough for him to ignore the crystals.
Half an hour later, they could finally see the famous Starlight Academy. Riruru would have too, but she had fallen asleep.
Skyler marveled at the majestic pillars and buildings he could see inside the academy. From this height, it seemed to stretch out endlessly, rivaling a small city in its size.
The academy was a marvel of modern architecture, sleek and gleaming with glass and steel. Unlike the city, where there were no signs of trees, half of the academy was actually filled by them, creating a striking contrast of nature and technology.
"It’s Huge...!"
Skyler exclaimed faintly, noticing how no flying vehicles or people were able to enter the academy by flying over the walls. Or maybe they just didn’t dare to?
The Academy before him was like a big fortress, a small, modern city unto itself.
Three grand Gates, each wide enough for countless people to pass, stood open on different sides of the academy, guarded by vigilant guards in crisp, formal uniforms. A constant stream of students, clad in their distinctive purple uniforms, flowed in and out, interspersed with a scattering of individuals in casual clothes.
Jenny’s car came to a halt in front of one of the academy gates, which faced Malor City directly, before she lowered her car toward the parking area on one side of the gate.
At first, no one even glanced at the car. However, when she stepped out, a wave of murmurs erupted in the air as the students in the surroundings began to point at her.
Skyler and Charles came out of the car behind her, startled at the number of people that had started gathering around them.
Jenny frowned and raised her voice.
"Please let us pass."
Her voice was enough to make the students part for her and the people behind her. They could only watch and murmur about who the two young men were with one of the most famous beauties of their academy.
Skyler groaned under his breath.
"You are famous, sister."
"I know."
He clicked his tongue at her response and could only follow as she led him and Charles inside the Academy through the gate. Even the guards recognized her and smiled at her.