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A young cat-kin girl with vibrant orange hair and bright yellow eyes stood in front of the mirror in her modest room. She could hardly believe her reflection. "It's so beautiful!" Narza exclaimed, her heart swelling with excitement.
She couldn't stop admiring herself because it was her first school uniform. "Oh yes, the skirt! Definitely!" she mused aloud, twirling slightly to see how it swayed.
She wore a black skirt, a crisp white shirt, and a matching tie. Over the shirt, she donned a black blazer and vest. Knee-length socks hugged her legs, and polished Mary Jane shoes completed the ensemble.
Of course, there were options—instead of a skirt, she could also wear pants or shorts, whichever she found more comfortable. Instead of a tie, she could choose a ribbon or bow tie. She even selected an orange vest to match her eyes and hair color—everything felt right.
Like everyone else from the orphanages attending the new school, she had received three high-quality sets. Astonishingly, they were blood-bound—a concept she only knew from legendary items. 'That's crazy!' she thought, still marveling at the idea of owning something like this.
According to rumors, Alexander had pestered the estate's tailor, Talin, to take on a highly talented new retainer as an apprentice. Their first task was to enchant the uniforms, making them blood-bound artifacts.
It meant anyone other than the rightful owner would become cursed if they tried to wear them. She had to prick her finger and drop a bit of blood on each piece, a somewhat arduous process, but she understood why when she wore them. 'They are perfect!' She couldn't help but be in awe.
The uniform had numerous effects. It would adjust its size accordingly, regulate temperature, enhance her concentration and stamina, provide resistance against simple attacks, and likely offer more benefits she hadn't discovered yet.
'No wonder it's blood-bound,' she thought. From conversations she'd overheard, such uniforms were only available in schools for the wealthiest nobles. Without the blood-bound enchantment, she knew someone might try to steal it—even kill her for it—it was too valuable to ignore.
But there was another little detail she was incredibly proud of, "So silvery..." Narza whispered, gently touching the small silver brooch pinned to her blazer. It depicted a cute bunny holding a little book with the number "1" engraved on it.
Unfortunately, a familiar voice suddenly interrupted her hour-long self-admiration. "Naza! Are you done?!" came the sharp call from downstairs. It was the matron, her voice somewhat distressed as she was about to accompany them on the first school day.
"Yeah! No need to scream!" Naza called back, clicking her tongue in mild annoyance. She grabbed her school satchel—also provided to them—and headed for the door. It was a spatial item, incredibly light and blood-bound as well.
'It's so much but not exactly free,' she mused. The education and everything else provided had a price. Once they completed their schooling, they were expected to pay a minimal portion of their future wages and other wealth they received back to the Helping Paw perpetually. '—one percent doesn't sound like much, though,' she thought.
Naza had signed a mana contract that spanned over a hundred pages. The social worker visiting them explained everything in detail to ensure she knew what she was doing.
'As if someone would say no,' She chuckled, not understanding all the fuss—no one hesitated to sign it. After all they had done for her, she would have been willing to pay half her future earnings until she died.
For the first time in her life, she wasn't hungry. She didn't have to sleep on a hard floor, fight with vermin over scraps, steal, or do anything else desperate just to get by. Instead, she could learn and play like the kittens of nobility—seeing a massive level increase.
It made sense to pay even ten percent of their future earnings. They were getting the chance to acquire knowledge and skills for which they would otherwise have to sign much harsher contracts. Here, they would just pay back a pittance—a small tax—for such a privilege. Everyone saw it more like a donation than anything else so others like themselves wouldn't have to suffer such hardships.
"Hmm, I am cute~♪" With a final satisfied glance in the mirror, she hurried out of her room, bounding down the stairs to find her friends already waiting at the entrance, chatting excitedly.
One of the girls teased a boy, "Why are you wearing a skirt? Isn't that for girls?"
"Why? It suits me better than you, that's for sure," retorted the boy wearing the skirt.
"Don't you... never mind, you were always weird," the girl mumbled, rolling her eyes.
Naza joined them, grinning at their banter. The uniforms were adaptable; some students had modified theirs to accommodate wings or thick tails, like the mer-kin.
The boy wearing the skirt was a peacock-kin. His feathered tail was enormous, and it wouldn't fit through the pant hole in the back. As such, he wore leggings and a skirt with a larger opening to accommodate his tail—usually designed for females whose tails were fluffier and larger. 'Honestly, he looks cute in it,' she thought, imagining if he could also wear other girl's clothing.
Just then, their matron emerged from her room, dressed in formal clothes. She waved them toward the door. "Now! What are you all standing around for? Let's go!"
Leaving the orphanage, they began the walk toward the new school. Their care mother seemed unsure of the route, but as they turned the corner, it became clear they wouldn't get lost.
"So many people!" someone exclaimed.
Narza murmured under her breath, "I guess the school is big?"
"How big? I saw the construction site, but we couldn't peek inside," another chimed in.
Dozens of students converged toward the same destination, all wearing similar uniforms. Some, however, had a fox holding the number "2" on their brooch instead of a bunny with a "1."
"Does anyone have a fox on their brooch?" Naza asked, curious about what it meant.
"Yeah, I do—" a dog-kin boy replied, tapping his pin. "—What about it?"
"Do you know what the difference is?"
Before their discussion could continue, their matron spoke up, sometimes pausing to greet others she knew along the way. "The symbols represent different school types—" she explained. "—The bunny with a '1' is for first-year students without any legacy. The fox with a '2' is for those with a legacy, also first years. And an elephant represents those who went through their first mating season but are still younger than thirty."
"I... see..." Narza tilted her head in confusion. "—Why do you know this?"
Their matron flushed slightly, embarrassed. "I should have told you, but I forgot with all the lessons I took on youth care," she laughed nervously, "—it just slipped my mind. Whoops!"
They all sighed and groaned in mock annoyance but couldn't help laughing. "Let's hope it gets explained when we get there," someone joked.
After another twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at the school—and everyone lost their breath.
"Is this a palace?!" one of the girls gasped.
"Five enormous buildings... I can't believe it," another whispered.
When they saw the school, they were all astounded. They had expected a modest building with a few classrooms, but a magnificent complex stood before them. Some of the kittens even began to cry.
'Incredible,' Naza thought, tears welling in her eyes. Learning was already a privilege, and being able to do it in such a grand place was beyond their wildest dreams.
She subconsciously adjusted her uniform, her eyes glued to the buildings. Their matron clapped her hands to get their attention. "All right!" she called out. "—See those statues? Bunny, fox, elephant! Depending on the brooch you have, you'll go to the specific building where the statues stand close to. I have some other matters to attend to, okay? If you have any problems, ask them." She pointed to the dozens of servants and guards milling about. "—They will help you, and if I'm needed, they'll call me. But first, some ground rules!"
Everyone turned their attention to her, listening intently.
"First! No stealing or thievery of any sort! Report something to the school staff immediately if it is lost or stolen. Don't let yourselves be bullied, and don't do anything foolish! Got it? No violence, no theft, no destruction! Don't let such a chance slip away. Understood? Now, go!"
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Naza gulped, feeling both nervous and excited. She looked toward the statues, trying to identify where she was supposed to go. 'So... colorful?' she thought.
She approached the large, vibrant stone statue to the far left of the plaza. It was slightly abstract and comical but clearly depicted a giant demon monster attempting to eat a bunny. The small kit held up a book, and as the demon bit down, it shattered some of its teeth. The bunny stood there smugly, an arrogant smirk on its face.
She glanced at the building associated with the bunny statue, and her eyes widened in awe. She gently touched the brooch she wore, caressing it.
The structure stood majestically to the left of the campus, resembling more of a grand mansion or a palace than what she imagined was a school. Its exterior was crafted from finely polished stones that shimmered in hues of pink and orange, giving the entire edifice a warm, inviting glow as the sunlight caressed its surfaces.
The architectural design was both elegant and whimsical—a fairytale come to life. Multiple sections of the building branched out gracefully, each crowned with steep, triangular roofs tiled with iridescent shingles that reflected a spectrum of colors—pinks, golds, and subtle blues—depending on how the light struck them.
Tall, arched windows lined the facade, each fitted with intricate stained glass depicting vibrant images of mythical creatures and delicate floral patterns, all kittenish and playful, rendered in rich blues, reds, and greens. When the sunlight filtered through, it cast a kaleidoscope of colors onto the pathways below, creating an ever-changing mosaic that danced with the sun's movement.
Surrounding the main structure were meticulously maintained gardens bursting with exotic flowers and lush greenery. Blossom-laden trees swayed gently in the breeze—far from the hostile nature of the Wolfsteeth, usually seen.
Stone pathways meandered through the gardens, leading to several smaller buildings nestled among the foliage. These additional structures were simpler but mirrored the main building's aesthetic.
Beyond the gardens, she could glimpse open courtyards filled with statues and fountains. The soft sound of trickling water mingled with the distant laughter of other students who were just as captivated by their new surroundings.
Further away were fields with grandstands. Around them, banners and flags fluttered overhead. The largest depicted the Leonandra sigil of a wolf biting into the neck of a demon, followed by a paw inside a heart, and then the students' emblems—one had the same symbol as the one on her brooch.
The entire scene felt surreal to Naza, like stepping into a fairy tale. The building's enchanting architecture, vibrant colors, and harmonious blend of nature and artistry left her both excited and humbled. She could hardly believe that this magnificent place would be her school—a place where she would learn, grow, and perhaps discover wonders beyond her imagination.
At the building's entrance, a grand staircase made of white marble led up to enormous double doors carved from colorful wood, accentuating the beautiful structure. The doors were embellished with golden handles shaped like entwined vines and leaves, and above them hung an elaborate archway inscribed with an inspirational quote in elegant calligraphy, 'Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world — N.M.'
'That's—' Naza was speechless, her excitement overwhelming, '—I...'
Her happiness was quickly interrupted by the snarky comments of some other students, "I can't believe Alexander built such a magnificent school for some commoners and, no less... orphans," one scoffed, followed by annoying laughter.
'Who—' Her eyes opened wide, and her mind filled with wrath; she wanted to rip whoever it was apart. Turning toward the voices, Naza saw a group of students, mainly leopard, and jaguar-kin, flanked by two cat-kin maids who were evidently not from the Leonandra household. 'Are those Rosé and Orchid kittens?' she wondered.
From her history lessons, she knew about the structure of Moorgrel and that there were nobles from neighboring territories. Still, their nobility had no influence here and was even less accepted.
"Look at that! Aren't those night-elves and fire-djinns? Who are those red things and those with yellow skin? Are they even allowed to be here?!" the girl continued, her tone demeaning.
Naza looked curiously at what they commented on, noticing a sizable group of non-beast-kin students. 'This is surprising—' she thought, gulping. She then spotted a familiar figure leading them. '—Isn't that the thug rabbit?'
With his gangster-like attitude, the rabbit-kin had visited their orphanage once, nearly giving their matron a heart attack. He was smoking and talking to the nervous group. 'They... are even more anxious than me,' she observed.
They appeared to want to run away, but with the nobles' comments, they became the number one topic. Even though nobody dared speak aloud since Alexander probably allowed them to be there, they still whispered between themselves.
Naza wanted to walk over and greet them because she was curious about them and wanted to show that they could be friends, also calming their nerves, but she immediately stopped herself—turning away from them.
'It's not your problem; concentrate on yourself!' She reprimanded herself inwardly. Usually, she was very forthcoming, but this wasn't the market or any alley in Wolfsteeth—it was an opportunity she might lose if she made a mistake.
'Stupid Naza!' This was her only chance, and she had to focus on her studies above all else and try to appeal to her teachers as much as possible.
Were these tough years to come, maybe filled with frustration and loneliness? It didn't matter for her—Naza wanted to learn and grow, becoming something more than her fate initially determined.
Taking a deep breath, Naza walked inside. Maids and butlers directed the flow of students. However, everyone's attention quickly shifted to a heated discussion between the noble students and a guard, suddenly halting the procession.
"Do you even know who I am?! My name is Belia L. Rosé!" the girl exclaimed authoritatively. "—I am a noble, you bag of disposable muscles! How dare you not allow my servants to come inside!"
The guard scratched his head, clearly unimpressed by her title. "No servants or guards allowed inside, lil' Belle. That's Mr. Alexander's rule."
Belia's face turned beet red, but before she could explode in anger, a boy touched her shoulder, calming her down. "Henry L. Orchid," he introduced himself smoothly. "—We understand and apologize for the disturbance." His voice was pleasant, but Naza sensed an unsettling undertone.
Henry turned to Belia. "Please calm down, okay, darling?" She sighed, dismissing the servants with a wave. She walked inside, her nose held high. He followed her, attempting to cheer her up.
Naza raised an eyebrow, puzzled by their attitude and how they spoke to each other. 'Are they engaged? Well...' She ignored them, returning her attention to the entrance. 'Wow, even the inside is magnificent!'
As Naza walked further into the building, she felt like she was entering a world woven from dreams and stories. The foyer opened into a vast hall with high ceilings adorned with intricate frescoes similar to the exterior—playful scenes of mythical creatures frolicking among clouds and stars sprawled across the ceiling. The vibrant colors shifted to more tranquil scenes representing love, friendship, and family, each imbued with a genuine sense of calm.
'This is so beautiful,' she thought. She wasn't the only one in awe. All around her, students murmured and gasped, captivated by the splendor.
As she took some steps, she noticed that the sound was weirdly sharp—looking down, the polished marble floor beneath her feet was inlaid with swirling patterns of precious stones, forming a mosaic depicting a sprawling sea. The mosaic came to life as students walked over it, showing tiny ships sailing across it. At the same time, sea monsters playfully emerged, eating those, eliciting gasps and delighted laughter from those who noticed the scenes.
To either side of the foyer, grand staircases with ornate golden railings spiraled upwards, their balustrades carved with motifs of vines, flowers, and tiny woodland creatures peeking out from the foliage. The steps seemed to ripple like gentle waves underfoot, a subtle enchantment that made the ascent feel like walking on air.
Guided by gentle currents of air carrying a pleasant scent she'd never experienced before but instantly loved, Naza felt like a princess. 'I can't believe it,' she thought, her joy overflowing.
She followed the flow of students toward a set of arched doorways ahead. Each doorway was framed by pillars sculpted to resemble towering trees, their branches arching overhead to form a natural canopy.
She entered a wide corridor lined with classrooms as she passed through the archway. The walls and ceiling were adorned with historical scenes—events painted playfully and whimsically, with descriptive text seamlessly blending into the artwork.
Along the way, Naza noticed alcoves filled with plush seating—cozy and inviting. Each nook was decorated uniquely: one resembled a forest clearing with soft moss-like cushions and the gentle sound of rustling leaves; another mimicked a seaside cove, complete with the distant sound of waves and the scent of salt in the air. Some mer-kin students couldn't tear their eyes away and had to be gently nudged forward to keep the crowd moving.
Subtle cues guided her toward the auditorium—a trail of luminescent butterflies fluttered just ahead, leading the way. She followed them down a gently curving hallway that opened up into a magnificent auditorium.
The auditorium itself was breathtaking. Rows of seats crafted from fine mahogany were upholstered in deep emerald velvet, inviting and comfortable. The seating was arranged in a semi-circular amphitheater style, ensuring every student had an excellent view of the stage. The stage was framed by grand curtains of royal blue, embroidered with silver and gold threads depicting scenes of academic pursuit—scholars poring over ancient texts, alchemists crafting potions, and astronomers mapping the stars.
Naza found a seat and sank into it, the plush cushion molding to her form. She looked around, noticing the delighted expressions of her peers as they took in their surroundings. Whispers of amazement and excitement filled the air.
On the auditorium's walls, tall stained-glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, each depicting a different virtue—wisdom, courage, compassion, and integrity—following the same theme as before of playfully depicted mythical creatures. The sunlight streaming through painted the room in vibrant hues, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.
Despite its grandeur, the space exuded a warm and approachable aura, making all the students point at certain points and exclaim their findings. Subtle touches—a carved wooden fox peeking out from behind a curtain, a cluster of blossoms inexplicably blooming along the edge of the stage, and many more—added a playful charm that made the room feel more like a welcoming sanctuary than an intimidating space.
For Naza, the school felt more like a palace from a fairy tale, where she would play around with dragons and phoenixes, dance with Fenrir, and drink tea with Huxia—like an exhilarating adventure—where every corner held the promise of a new discovery.
'I want to learn,' She couldn't wait, and as she listened to her surroundings, others neither, being in love with the school, some unable to stop crying.
As Naza settled in, she couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and excitement towards a certain person, one she spotted how he walked onto the stage with many others. "Alexander..." she whispered, almost blushing.
He was speaking loudly to someone she couldn't quite identify. Breaking them out of their daydreams, she heard Alexander's frustrated voice, remembering the rumors about how he usually talked, "Yeah, sure! Like, I fucking care! How did you get even the allowance from Mom?!"