Chapter 116: Test Result

Sonny joined them, sliding into his usual spot next to Noella, with Eric sitting directly across from him this time.

While chewing his food, Sonny’s eyes remained glued to the forums and group chats, determined to be the first to catch the results.

"It’s out!" he squealed excitedly.

All five people at the table turned to look at Sonny in unison. Without waiting to be asked, he eagerly searched for his friends’ names.

"Noella is still rank one overall." No one was surprised by this.

"Jeryon is rank two." This came as no surprise either.

"Kiran, you made the top ten!" While expected, it didn’t lessen the radiant grin spreading across Kiran’s face.

"Eric is still in the top 20. I’m still at 30."

So far, nothing had changed. The rankings also reflected their class assignments, meaning none of them were being moved.

"Shani..." Sonny scrolled rapidly past his own placement, barely glancing at the names below 60 and heading straight for the lower ranks.

"Wait, why isn’t Shani’s name here..." Sonny muttered, zooming in on the holographic screen floating before him.

"Try looking around rank 30 or 40," Noella interjected calmly.

Everyone turned to look at her in unison, caught completely off guard. She explained nonchalantly, "Didn’t Shani already rank up to B-Rank?"

Sonny slapped his forehead as realization finally set in. He quickly scrolled back up, scanning carefully from rank 20 downward.

After a few moments, his eyes lit up as he spotted Shani’s name sitting right at rank 40!

"Shani, we’re in the same class!" he cheered enthusiastically.

"I actually made it into Class 2?" Shani was caught between surprise and sheer delight.

She retrieved her student badge and scanned it with her smartwatch to take a closer look at her updated student profile:

[Name: Shani Rowan

Age: 17 years old

Hometown: Galesend, Zephyria Kingdom

Beast Energy Rank: B-Rank (1581)

Beast Gene: Night Panther (Elite Grade)

Tower: Feline Tower

Classroom: 1-2 (First Year, Class 2)

Partner: Jeryon of Argenor (1-1)

Baby Beast: Nyx (B-Rank Night Panther)

Same-Grade Rank: 40

Same-Tower Rank: Not Ranked

Academy Rank: Not Ranked

Dorm Room: Panther Building, 8th Floor, Room 30]

Her rank, class, partner, and baby beast had all been officially updated. Aster’s name was not listed yet, as he had not been formally registered as her second partner.

Rowena had mentioned that she would inform Iris, the head instructor for Class 2, but Shani still needed to meet Iris in person to complete the paperwork since the academy held no existing records for Aster.

Transferring to a new class meant Shani would need to explain her circumstances to her new head instructor in detail.

On top of that, she had to request a special long-term pass allowing her to return late to campus for her resonance sessions with Aster.

Without proper authorization, she wouldn’t be able to freely leave and enter the academy grounds on weekdays.

She felt a minor pang of regret for procrastinating on the paperwork. While she trusted Iris would understand, she was unfamiliar with this new instructor.

Would she end up getting an earful first?

As Shani pondered the fresh wave of administrative headaches coming with her new class, Sonny chimed in excitedly,

"Shani, I’ll introduce you to my friends in Class 2! They’ve all been dying to meet you."

Shani was snapped out of her thoughts. She offered Sonny a smile and nodded. As long as his friends were genuinely willing to be friendly, she had no objections.

"Hold on a second..." Kiran patted Shani’s shoulder, her face suddenly shifting to a look of sheer horror. "Wasn’t Vivienne transferred to Class 2 as well?!"

Everyone froze on the spot as that crucial detail registered. The cheerful mood evaporated instantly, replaced by palpable tension.

"Shan, my friends and I won’t let her mess with you," Sonny declared with absolute conviction.

"You have to tell me if anything happens, okay?" Kiran squeezed Shani’s hand, filled with concern.

Noella and Jeryon nodded reassuringly at Shani, silently promising that they would always have her back.

Shani managed a gentle smile and nodded. "She won’t make a scene in class."

Despite her reassuring words, Shani harbored her own doubts, knowing how towering Vivienne’s pride was.

Ever since her recent setback, Vivienne had gone out of her way to avoid Shani and her inner circle.

But now that she could no longer avoid them, seeing how bright and lively Shani was alongside her friends would undoubtedly wound Vivienne’s fragile ego, and perhaps push her toward extreme measures.

’I just hope it doesn’t come to that,’ Shani thought quietly to herself.

"Was anyone expelled?" Shani asked, steering the conversation away.

Sonny shook his head. "Not in this evaluation, but the passing standard for the next one will be even higher."

Shani was already accustomed to the fast-paced, packed rhythm of their classes, so the difficulty didn’t overwhelm her.

The real challenge was her increasingly crammed schedule. She could barely catch her breath.

Her friends continued discussing their scores and rankings. Noella still held top rank across every subject except practical essence combat and energy rank, where Jeryon claimed first place.

Shani’s weakest point remained practical combat.

She still couldn’t wrap her head around why Elias was pushing her to compete in the combat division of the Tower Competition, especially when there were non-combat divisions available.

Shani turned to Jeryon. "Did Instructor Theron tell you to see him after dinner too?" she asked, remembering the old man.

Jeryon nodded, a complex shadow flickering in his gaze.

Shani failed to notice, simply resuming her meal while chatting with the others.

After dinner, Shani and Jeryon headed toward the Tiger Building.

Shani wasn’t in her training gear since she still needed to meet her main instructor before practicing. She was only here because Elias had ordered her to report to him first.

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by Elias’s piercing glare.

"Hey! What on earth is with your ranks?!"

Shani and Jeryon halted reflexively right in front of the freshly closed door. Neither dared to take another step closer, well aware they were about to be chewed out.

"Hmph! What’s the point of having a high energy rank if you can’t even memorize basic classroom theory!" Elias barked, narrowing his eyes at Jeryon.

Jeryon offered no reaction, his stoic face completely unreadable.

Elias then turned his sights on Shani. "And you! Why are your combat grades so abysmal? If Damon weren’t your instructor, you would’ve failed this class long ago!"

"I have institutional immunity against academic expulsion," Shani murmured under her breath.

Muffled as her voice was, it couldn’t escape Elias’s razor-sharp hearing. His eyes widened in outrage. "Are you proud of that?!"

Shani raised her head, about to nod instinctively, before catching herself and slowly lowering her head in awkward.

’I am proud,’ she answered silently. She wasn’t proud of the immunity granted by the Headmaster, but she was certainly proud of getting under Elias’s skin.

For some reason, her rebellious side flared up whenever she dealt with this old instructor.

Beside her, Jeryon noticed her subtle reaction and fought hard to suppress the twitching smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"You two!" Elias snapped, stomping his foot in frustration. There was no doubt about it, the two of them were taking genuine delight in defying him!

Elias took a deep breath to regain his composure, attempting to speak with the dignity expected of an instructor. "Improve your grades next month!"

Jeryon and Shani nodded like docile kittens, showing no trace of the rebellious students they had been a moment ago.

Elias clutched his chest, struggling to keep his temper in check at their blatant act.

"Get out of here and grab your baby beast. I want to check its temperament." Elias waved his hand dismissively, wanting them out of his sight.

Jeryon and Shani happily excused themselves and headed back to the Panther Building.

Shani burst out laughing, thoroughly satisfied with having infuriated Elias. Jeryon smiled, taking in her joyous expression.

But then, his smile gradually faded as he recalled what Elias had revealed to him yesterday.

"Shan," he called out softly.

Shani stopped laughing and turned to him with a questioning look.

Jeryon cleared his throat before asking in as neutral a tone as he could muster, "May I know who your second resonance partner is?"

Thump.

Being consumed by the test and the ranking results had completely distracted her. She had genuinely forgotten that she needed to tell Jeryon as soon as possible.

Shani fell silent, a heavy wave of guilt settling over her.

Although a resonance partner had no obligation to consult or seek permission regarding subsequent partners once an egg was hatched, her dynamic with Jeryon was different. Up until now, Jeryon believed she was his sole partner.

Taking a steadying breath, Shani answered clearly, "He’s my childhood friend who manages my business now. His name is Aster Myrazel."

Jeryon’s brows furrowed. He had suspected as much, but hearing it directly still crushed his heart.

"You shouldn’t throw away your baby beast slots so recklessly."

...