Teaching Beast Hospital?
Amina did not expect to hear that from him. Why did Professor Ateles want her at the Teaching Beast Hospital? Hadn't he called her about her low scores?
In the assessment test, she had scored four points out of twenty points, which was higher than her expectations. However, her score was among the lowest scores. Amina had assumed Professor Ateles wanted to talk about the assessment test, but she did not expect it to be about the Teaching Beast Hospital.
How did the Teaching Beast Hospital relate to her?
Unfortunately, Professor Ateles did not speak more after that. And true to his words, he took her to the Teaching Beast Hospital near the Beast Medicine department after they left the Instructors general office.
Somethings don't change.
As Amina neared and even stepped inside the Teaching Beast Hospital, her nose was hit with the familiar and sharp antiseptic scent that reminded her of hospitals in her previous life. With the new world and advanced technology, she did not expect to smell this scent again. It seemed hospitals were the same no matter which world.
''Good afternoon, Professor Ateles.'' In front of her, Professor Ateles was greeted by many in white laboratory coat with them throwing curious glances her way.
Amina also found different Beasts on her way; some on stretchers, some wrapped in thick bandages, and others breathing weakly. Even at the entrance, she had seen Beastmasters standing with their sickly Beasts.
The Teaching Beast Hospital appeared no different from a regular human hospital with the white walls and antiseptic scent, except the Beasts were now the patients and not humans.
As Amina did some comparisons, Professor Ateles led her down the corridors and stopped before an office. He raised his wrist and scanned his Beastcom against the access terminal.
''Identity verified.'' The usual mechanical voice sounded. ''Welcome back, Professor Ateles.''
His office?
The thought appeared in Amina's mind as the doors slid open and she followed him inside. Before her eyes were stacks of papers and books cluttered nearly every surface piled on the desks. Some crammed on the shelves and others leaning dangerously against one another as though they might collapse at any moment.
''Sit over there, and answer the questions on that paper.'' He said, gesturing to the stool by the L-shaped desk. Without waiting for her answer, he made his way to his own desk.
Amina did as she was told and walked around the back of his chair toward the L-shaped desk. As she passed, her eyes lingered briefly on some petri dishes piled up together and a microscope. Reaching the stool, she picked up the sheet of paper.
Her eyes scanned the ten questions, and she began reading them in her mind.
Explain how an S-Class Pantheris War beast react to stress. Discuss one physical and behavioural signs each.
Highlight how A-Class Hippopotamus War beasts care for their young after birth.
Discuss the psychological consequences of prolonged interaction between Beasts and Beastmasters.
An A-Class…
How do C-Rank Beastmasters...
Some questions were behavioural questions of Beasts. Others were psychological questions of Beastmasters and their Beasts.
Give the classification of....
Questions were also asked on the classification of Beasts.
''I'm waiting.''
Amina looked up and met Professor Ateles's heavy gaze. Although he appeared to be waiting patiently for her, his eyes seemed to be saying otherwise.
How do Panthers react to stress? Amina wondered for a moment before something instantly came up in her mind, and then she began to narrate her response.
''The S-Class Pantheris War beast....'' Her words flowed out smoothly...so smoothly that she suddenly wondered if her words were actually correct. From the biological features to the taxonomy of the Beast, Amina made sure to answer the questions just as she had answered questions during the assessment test.
Unexpectedly, Professor Ateles hadn't interrupted her. In fact, he appeared to be listening so intently that she felt perhaps part of her responses might not be entirely incorrect. She had even scored higher than her expectations in her assessment test, which proved that her zoology knowledge and experience as a zookeeper were not entirely useless.
Before Amina knew it, she moved to another question and then another until she was done. Professor Ateles held her gaze for a moment, his eyes peering deep through hers as though trying to read her.
''You really do possess ancient knowledge of Beasts.'' He muttered, though his words were still audible Amina on his side.
Ancient knowledge of Beasts?
His words made Amina slightly lost.
What is that?
''A small orphanage isn't capable of providing proper education. That means you must have been educated at the Blackthorne family.'' Professor Ateles contemplated aloud, his words more to himself than her. ''Then again, it's only been a few months since you left the orphanage, and all ancient knowledge of Beasts belong to the Institute....''
''....''
Amina could only remain silent, still wondering what was going on with Professor Ateles.
''I can't say you're naturally talented because talent is an insult to the ancient knowledge of Beasts.'' He went on, his eyes still fixated on Amina as though trying to peel the layers of her skin and uncover what laid beneath.
''Professor...what do you mean by ancient knowledge of Beasts?'' She finally asked him
Professor Ateles paused his words and held her gaze in silence.
''You don't know?'' He questioned after a moment.
''No, professor.''
''…Given your family background, I suppose your question is understandable.'' Professor Ateles thought aloud.
''Are you aware of how our world, Animyth, came to be?''
''Yes, professor.'' Amina replied.
''Animyth used to be called earth or rather, what we currently know as ancient earth.'' He explained. ''Back then, Beasts were known as animals. To understand them, some of our ancestors, humans, conducted lots of research, and from that, they developed what we, Beastmasters, now know call ancient knowledge of Beasts.''
''The Linnaean classification system and biological features you spoke of and wrote in your assessment test belong to that body of knowledge.'' He continued, his gaze narrowing slightly. ''You are the first student, or rather first person to use the ancient knowledge of Beasts from the academy. Hardly anyone asides researchers from the Beast Research Institute make use of the ancient knowledge of Beasts. It isn't something that can be easily accessed on the BeastNet.''
That's why he called for me.
Amina didn't expect her zoology knowledge to be referred as the ancient knowledge of Beasts. And according to the professor's words, such knowledge apparently belonged to the Beast Research Institute. That meant it was stored there and could only be accessed by the researchers.
He must be wondering how I got to know. Amina realized that she had made a terrible mistake. Her plan was never to stand out by acting too differently from the villainess. However, she had done something the villainess would never have done.
To Professor Ateles, it must seem entirely strange that someone from the orphanage got to know rare knowledge that could not be accessed on the BeastNet. Her first mistake was to assume that biological knowledge was still the same just because Beasts had once been animals. If she had known, she would have rather failed the assessment test completely than expose herself.
What should I do? Amina pondered how she should explain herself in a way that wouldn't seem suspicious.
''I won't ask how you came across ancient knowledge of Beasts, but I want to offer you the position of a research assistant under my supervision.'' However, she did not expect Professor Ateles to offer her a position.