Spirit Taming

Chapter 109: Just A Lecture

"I come to check on my new students, and I find that they are extorting money for a beasts growth plan before they even have a business license, the proper backing of a professor, or even their lab organized." Doc walked in as if he had been hiding behind the door listening to everything. "I am proud. It's just like when I attended my own academy as a teenager."

The older student pretended not to hear anything as he took the paper with the growth outline for the mercury imp. He was not in any mood to talk. All he wanted was to rush to the auction house and buy up whatever materials he could that he indeed. From there he would head to the mission hall.

"It's all part of starting a business. If we do not have positive reviews then we have nothing but hopes to bet on. We need facts. Isa was showing more greed than Clark expected. It was a hard line for him to remember in the future.

There was nothing that told Clark that Isa would betray him. However, knowing that she possessed greed that her family must also possess was important. It would influence the plans he made that added her to them. Plans that might make or break his rise to defeat the Mourne family.

Meanwhile, Clark was very impressed with Maria. The higher education she received was coming in to amazing use. She was able to take what Clark said and form it in to easy to understand sentences. They could be followed by even the simplest person to raise their beast to a much higher level.

"So, do you want to see where I keep my records? I have officially spoken to your mentor. We came to an agreement. You are both mine and his student now. Along with you two. You are my students as well.

I have emblems for you. I may not have the same kind of power, but I have my own importance within this city." Doc gave off an air of superiority that Clark didn't expect. It was like he had just won a large battle.

"Wait…mentor!?" Maria was shocked. How could she get a mentor so easily?

"Yes yes. Mentor. I will give you what I can. I watched and I saw the three parts of this puzzle coming together. Most of the students that come here fight against each other. Spread lies and deceit.

I like that the three have come together to form a better plan. To walk a path I used to walk when I was a student years ago. Come on with me now."

Doc led them to his lab next door. Clark was still curious about how Doc had convinced Alexander to let him take half of what Clark could do. He was sure that Alexander would keep ahold of Clark with iron grips.

"Here are three shelves of basic beast growth plans, and one shelf of theoretical findings that Nova academy has published since I started to teach here. I can allow you to read them or you can come to the next class with me where we are speaking about star city wilderness areas" The three saw the value in the shelves of books, but they could be read at any time.

"I would rather see beasts from those wilderness areas and hear about them." Clark made the solid decision. He had to hear a lecture that might not happen for some time. He would read the books afterwards.

"Good choice. It's even better because we will be going to Star City for a few days soon. It's one of the few cities that ours has peace with. They have a unique beast that lives there that gave them their city name. It should be an interesting trip. I haven't made it in a few years." Doc walked out of the lab.

They followed Doc, they had only been in his lab for a moment to see what shelves he wanted them to read from. Isa saw the value and knew that everything they could learn from those shelves added value to the business and future they worked toward. Maria, on the other hand, saw a chance to beat Clark. He couldn't read every single book. She could though.

She could take her training time and use some of it to memorize all that she could.

"Quiet down and sit in your chairs. We didn't have so many chairs and small desks carved just for you to pretend you don't have to take notes on those desks with your parchment and pens!" Doc was a little harsher than usual but it worked like a charm.

The room had students from all years. The research building did not discriminate by the year of learning a student had. It was just extremely rare that a first year would even join them. That was how Maria, Isa, and Clark were the only three first years in the entire research building.

"These are three more of your fellow students. They are new so show them a warm welcome." Doc moved to his podium while the three sat down. Clark already heard the whispers from the students he had beaten in their game earlier. They were true to their words and followed the contract they made.

They had talked Clark up and mentioned how he had unfounded skill in beast analysis along with egg identification.

There was a sweet smile blooming on Isa's face. Clark swore that he could see the wheels turning in her mind. The merchant related skills she would use to lure every single student in the room for an analysis. It would be a lot of work, but Clark saw every student as another number toward him having the bestiary skill.

"Clark, there are two members of the Cain family here…" Maria pointed out two glaring boys. They were nothing special to look at but their hate for Marai and Clark was clear. They had remembered the young master of the Cain family having trouble with Clark and how Maria was an outcast. They wouldn't be letting the two of them free.

"Doc, will we be walking the trails to Star city?" Clark asked the question. It would depend on the answer how he prepared.

"Of course we are. How else will we find materials and even a few beasts to take with us? It's a new economy for us. That city has beasts, materials, and most importantly Ideas that we don't have here. Remember, the kingdom of Aerial is large. There are many cities within it all fighting to stay the strongest.

The more we learn the stronger our Sun city becomes."

The map that Clark recalled when this was mentioned was one that everyone had learned at some point. He could recall that the kingdom of Aerial was extremely large. It took up an entire known continent. Not that it was mapped out very well.

The many cities that spanned the kingdom of Aerial were always competing, this meant that the closest cities often formed alliances. Currently, Star city and Clark's home, Sun city, are allied with one another. Their peoples shared resources through trade and even had joint beast tamer academy events. Clark was sure he would have good encounters while there.

"Star city!? Perfect!" One of the girls in the front row of chairs seemed ecstatic. Clark, Maria, and Isa just looked at her curiously until Isa recalled who it was.