Stephanie is gifted with the ability to speak with animals. She sees this gift as a curse, but never did she know that just by the visit of her Uncle Ramsey and Cousin Dorothy would she all the more learn to appreciate this wonderful gift. . .
View MoreMy name's Stephanie and I can communicate with animals. Nobody knows about this, not yet, at least. I was only seven years old when I realised this “curse”, so I hid it down to this day.
Four months ago, I turned sixteen. At the moment, I'm seated in my bathtub covered breast-length in lathered soap. My brown, curly hair skedaddles above the surface of the bathwater around me. I relaxed, even though I knew I needed to be fast so that I could get dressed and be downstairs right in time. Yesterday, I was told I'd be going to live with my Uncle Ramsey the great. Yeah, I actually think he's wonderful, despite never having to meet him before. Although, mum and dad claimed that he spent a month with us when I was newly born. Uncle Ramsey lived in a far, far away land. Like those types you see in fairytale stories. He has a daughter who — I was told — was just three years older than me. That makes her nineteen. Aside these, there's nothing more I can say about my uncle and cousin. Knock, knock! I raised my head and looked at the door. There were slight knocks from it. “Who's there?” I asked. My Nanny Florentine's voice replied firmly, as always. “Miss Stephanie, your parents need you downstairs as soon as possible. They're here.” The way Nanny said the latter part made is clear who the “they” referred to; my uncle and cousin. I tried to hide any trace of excitement in my voice and replied calmly, “I'd be out in a minute.” “Very well,” said she, walking away with a pitapat sound from her feet. I concluded from my bath as quickly as possible, dried myself quickly with a towel, and made for my bedroom where I'd already selected two gowns I'd still not gotten myself to make a choice over. The one on the left was a green gown my Auntie Daisy gave me last summer, while the one on the right was my favorite gown. It was pink and very glamorous. As I contemplated, I heard a familiar voice from my window. “What's it with humans and clothes? You look far much beautiful the way you are!” I looked down at my naked body, admiring myself and curtseying to the speaker. It was Roy the bird. He's been my boredom killer ever since we became friends, a year ago. “Oh, thank you my dear Roy, but you see, we feel shamed without these clothes. It is just the way you should feel without your magnificent feathers,” I explained. “Ooh, that's horrible! I can't bare to think about it — living without these!” he whistled, placing a wing against his forehead, downheartedly. “That's right,” I nodded. “It would be just as horrible for anyone to see me without these clothing over my body.” “Oh well, oh well!” whistled Roy, comprehending my words. He paced to and fro the window frame before finally saying: “Are you really going to go away?” Ignoring his question, I asked, “Which d'you think is best: this pink gown or this green one?” He looked at his own feathers before saying, “Oh well, what is more beautiful than a green pair of wings? I'd say that that green gown would do a far more beautiful thing on you!” I rolled my eyes. “Far more beautiful thing on you!” I mimicked. He didn't take notice of what I'd said but kept on and on talking about how his beautiful wings attracted two sparrows to himself, just this week alone. It got to a point (while I wore the green gown) that I couldn't help but laugh at Roy's exaggerations. Done with tugging on the long, stressful gown, I begged him for his aid in helping me drag the zip up as it was behind my back and my hands could not reach it. He did help me with the zip, and he did so as quickly and smoothly as a breath of fresh air. “Comb,” I said, opening my right hand. Roy got it swiftly and dropped it meticulously in my palm. “Thank you.” I heard the pitapat footsteps again. It was Nanny Florentine who came to my doorstep to once again remind me to make haste downstairs. After she left, I exhaled slowly. “I will miss you when I'm gone for the holidays,” I told Roy. I could see he was downcasted. “You know, I could come with you.” I gave it a moment of thought but, of course, could not bring myself to oppose his words. Like I said, I had this curse that makes me understand animals. Why I have it is still a mystery yet to be unraveled. I can't tell Dad about it too, he may send me away or something, and the other kids in the neighborhood would call me a jerk or a witch or something. Nah-ah, ain't happening. I opened the door and walked downstairs, my fingers caressing the somewhat cold rail. My face was brightened by a wonderful smile I'd been practicing since yesterday. As I spiralled down the staircase, I struggled hard not to throw my eyes over the floor and scan around for my uncle and cousin. My chest was disturbed inside. I could feel my heart beating against it like harmer against wood. Then a thought crossed my mind. What if my cousin's mean like those ones I've read about in several books? Then my vacation wouldn't be such a “glamour”, wouldn't it? Just simultaneously to the split-second thought came a wonderful, well-pitched voice from a smiley face and an open arm. “Oh, my dear Cousin Stephanie! Oh, look Dad, she's so beautiful!” My face flushed red, hysterically, and I was moved to watery eyes, slowly accepting the brace and hugging her tightly. I guess she is nothing near mean, then. . . She had a light perfume on that made her smell like a beautiful flower in its bloom. Drawing in the air, I exhaled, satisfied. “My, Cousin Dorothy, is this you?” I asked, wanting to be sure I wasn't giving myself false hopes. “You bet I am! Ay, you've got Aunt Sarah's nose there!” she said, stealing a glance at my mum who was smiling ear-to-ear. “You look so, so, beautiful, Dorothy. I'm glad to finally be meeting you.” After those words, I curtseyed casually, now feeling more at ease. I turned around to look at my Uncle Ramsey, Dorothy's father. He was a man of my father's build. He carried such a heavy resemblance with him that one could mistake them for twins. You see, Uncle Ramsey is my Dad's immediate senior brother out of six male and no female from their parents; my grandparents. He was first while my dad, second. I curtseyed, respectfully. “Oh dear niece, you look no differently from my daughter. You both make a wonderful pair. Such beauties!” he began saying. I can't remember the rest of the things he said, however, I was wondering how the lass beside me could be compared to me in matter of resemblance... I mean, I can't see any resemblance. My hair was a curly, dark brown with a touch of brownish gold strands here and there, while hers was a pure blonde, yellow-coloured hair. I had milia (face spots) all over my visage while hers were smooth as a baby's. How did we in the slightest way look alike? Plus, she's an inch or two taller than me. I only smiled and curtseyed in reply. There was a butler standing very professionally not too far from him, wearing a black and white attire like all butlers do. He nodded a quick greeting to me, at which I acknowledged. “So, Stephanie, as your parents must have already informed you, we'd not be sparing the slightest moment more, but would have to leave immediately with you. “Where we live, you see, is very far and it would be impossible to reach there in two days' time if we don't leave now.” I stared at my uncle in disbelief. Two days? Is that not all the more reason you should gasp some air and rest your rumps?! I looked at Mum and Dad and saw their nods of approval, then I made a quick smile to cover the astonished look I earlier had on my face. Uncle Ramsey turned to my parents and thanked them for all the gifts they'd arranged for them. He was truly grateful — I could tell this from his voice and the way he carefully selected his words. In no time, we were before two rich-looking carriages, the best I've ever seen so far. The butler sat beside the horseman in front of one carriage, while the other one had just a single horseman waiting for his command. We were asked to enter the latter, while my uncle entered the one with the butler. Gidiya! The horses began to run at full speed. From within, I waved at Mum and Dad and saw they were teary-eyed. If not for the fact that I was going with my Uncle Ramsey, I'd have thought I'd just been sold out.‘Let's see who'll embarrass who?’ The man's face suddenly turned sour. “Are you challenging my judgement, young lady?” I gave a curtsey then said, “I'm very sure I can recognise this beast. It's a rare specie, so you people could most likely have mistaken it for the Copper-winged Eagle, right?” “This... so you know it's a Copper-winged Eagel?” he asked. “I know it's NOT a Copper-winged Eagel due to the visible characteristics of this bird. According to ‘Ancient Savage Beasts, Volume II,’ on the 26th shelve, on the first row of the 2-star Book Collection Vault, the 465th chapter, paragraph three, makes mention that the Copper-winged Eagle is widely known for its extremely sharp wings, and soft, or you can say ‘blunt’, claws. Yet, what I see before me is a very normal russet-coloured winged bed, and extremely sharp claws. Just by looking a
Indeed, in four hours' time, I was able to finish “reading” all three thousand books in the library. In fact, I'd actually used three hours and thirty minutes, while the remaining half an hour was used in digesting my newfound knowledge. “Ah,” I sighed gently, breathing out turbid gas from my lungs. I was seated cross-legged with my arms balance before my chest. If it hadn't been for the United Heavens cultivation method, I doubt I'd have had the energy to last this long. My eyes were crimson and unstable, I had to concentrate all my energy on recuperating. The cultivation method really worked wonders. At least, I'd regained half of my true essence reservoir that had been completely exhausted. Just as I walked towards the door, I met an angry faced girl. I immediately realised it was the girl I'd totally forgotten about when I turned every nook and cranny, touching all the books I could find. “You...”
The Beast Guild was entirely different from how the Beast Hall was. In the Beast Hall, there was only two floor levels. Inside these floors were the different halls with their different purposes. The Book Collection Vault there just contained hard-to-find practical knowledge books. However, the Beast Guild was different. The Beast Guild of the Junior Academy of the Gifted had six floors, and each floor covered everything according to the beast tamers' respective ranks. The first floor had its Main Hall, 1-star Book Collection Vault, Book Tamers' Examination Hall and Hall of Will. The same went with the second floor. In the second floor, there was little to no difference with the first floor. Only that this floor was in line with the 2-star rank. In the past, I'd already visited the first floor and acquired knowledge on beast taming of the 1-star level from every single book there. After my earlier epiphany, I was quite co
Opening my eyes, streaks of insight flashed through my eyes as quickly as it came. It was proof of making a breakthrough in my comprehensive knowledge. I had long expected to see everyone gathered around me, so I wasn't as surprised as I was in the past. My eyes locked with Roy's and I couldn't help but take a step backwards to view this buddy of mine properly. “Your wings...” Though I was surprised, I quickly was able to link the event that'd just happened with the blood essence mutation I'd seen in my spiritual consciousness. “Brilliant!” I heard someone's voice ring into my ear drums. It was Madman Fei's. I smiled at him and couldn't help but bow in reverence, and muttered “thank you”. If it wasn't for those strong thought-provoking words, none of these could have happened. “Hahaha! You're really an elite! Why do I feel you're not a teacher here?” sa
Everyone watched on with heated expressions and clenched fists. With what I was seeing around me, if not for this man's dominative aura and his beast mount, he'd definitely have been given a good round of pummeling. “It is true that from the very prime of your youths, you'd all been thought the orthodox way of beast taming, which is quite mild and cute.” Madman Fei rolled his eyes after saying the last word. He then snickered, and continued, “However, for a true man, we know that there are at times certain circumstances when being mild and... cute, could lead one to one's grave. Take the beast in question, anyway.” Everyone's eyes shifted to the beast by his side. “Bloody Fangs Panther are prideful beasts, and are well acknowledged for this. Due to their pride, it's next to impossible to tame them without proving yourself. They're just like women, in a way.” Some of the men began to giggle wh
‘Yawn!’ I stretched myself, letting out a large yawn, widening my mouth enough to swallow our room. So far, so good, this was the best sleep I'd had. Even the so called unconsciousness was actually not blissful. I'd been training in the Way of Disguise under the tutelage of my Old Ancestor. Firstly, I was made to learn how to disguise my aura, since my bloodline Gift granted me a pure and flexible true essence. I learnt how to perfectly imitate someone else's. If I willed it, I could even make people see me as a Divine realm expert! Secondly, I learnt shape-shifting. This one was very much tortuous! Using his true essence as a guide, I had to go through series of pains as he reworked on my bones to strengthen it, and also to make them much flexible than a normal human's. With this type of body, I could even be a perfect fit for gymnastics, back in my homeworld. My joy knew no boundary! With my ability, I could perfectly el
“Armed robbers!” They were holding long, sharp swords, and gave off very frightening killing intent from their body. Their faces were masked, and a quick headcount told us they numbered fifteen in total. Just when I thought all my classmates would hide quickly beneath the tables, I heard a snicker. Zhangkong said with a bone-piercing smile. “What a coincidence! You're fifteen, we're fifteen too! You're bullying, we bullied some humongous savage beasts some days ago and need to really practice on humans.” Of course, the robbers were immediately attracted to us, since Zhangkong's voice was made loud just enough for everyone to hear, through the use of true essence. “He's right!” Since Zhangkong had already started it, who was I to back down. And by the way, we really hadn't faced real people to test our combat improvement. After all, who'd want to give himself off for a beating. Thus, wouldn't it be a on
Soon, a nice fragrance streamed into our nostrils. “Ah, there it is,” Zhangkong pointed, with a glee in his eyes. Everyone reserved their comments, smiling widely as we strolled into a large restaurant that was big enough to roof fifty people. On the outside of the restaurant was a plaque carrying the following words: “Fu Family's Noodle Restaurant.” Zhangkong swerved through to the front desk where there was a man strolling leisurely and giving orders to the workers, casually. “Uncle Fu!” The old man turned his bulky body to reveal a slightly surprised expression, followed by a very pleased declaration. “Ah, so it's Young Master Zhangkong!” The two embraced one another, leaving everyone in a daze. ‘Young Master Zhangkong? Just what was the family background of this lad?’ It was obvious everyone shared the same questions, but decided against asking a
“She's awake!” an eerie voice was heard over my head, followed by some hurried footsteps. I tried to open my eyes slowly, which worked out effortlessly. “Stand aside.” A masculine spoke, causing my heart to race. It was all too familiar. It was from the last person I saw before I lost consciousness. I quickly raised my eyes to behold the white-robed man. “Teacher Haggz!” His cold eyes stared at me for a moment before he nodded. Then his brows suddenly furrowed as though he was in thoughts. “Stephanie!” the eerie voice came once more. It was none other than Lingxi, and following closely behind her was, on both sides, Jessica and Xueyi. Then there was Blackie, Jaded, Zhangkong, Mingming, Xuan'er, Ruby, Xianxian, Zhaohu, Toby, Tang and, lastly, Chang. My whole classmates! “You guys...” I was startled. Casting my eyes about, I realised I was back in
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