MTLNOVEL Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Lila Vermise
Lila Vermise was the kind of person who turned heads wherever she went. It wasn't just her striking silver hair that shimmered like moonlight or her piercing green eyes that seemed to look straight through people—it was the way she carried herself. Confident, elegant, untouchable.
She wasn't just any student at Beast Dominion Academy; she was *the* student. The academy's top performer, the one who excelled in every field, the one whose name commanded respect and envy in equal measure.
And she deserved it.
Lila had worked tirelessly to reach the top. She wasn't like the other students, who coasted on talent or relied on connections to get by. Every achievement, every accolade, every victory—she had earned them through sheer determination and relentless hard work.
At **Level 10**, she was already considered an advanced Beast Tamer, a rank that most students could only dream of achieving. Her bond with her mythical beast, the **Celestial Sky Serpent**, was proof of her unmatched skill.
But as she stood in the training arena, watching her serpent glide gracefully through the air, her mind wandered—not to her next battle or her next challenge, but to a certain boy in her class.
Kai Anther.
---
The training arena was a sprawling open space, built to accommodate the largest and most powerful beasts in the academy. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the stone floor as the faint hum of magical wards filled the air.
Lila stood in the center of the arena, her arms crossed as her **Celestial Sky Serpent**, *Aetheris*, coiled through the air above her. The serpent's shimmering scales glowed faintly, a cascade of silver and blue that seemed to ripple like water. Its sleek, serpentine body moved with an elegance that bordered on hypnotic, its golden eyes locked onto its tamer as it awaited her next command.
"Good," Lila said, her voice calm but authoritative. "Now, let's work on your precision. Spiral Strike, target the blue marker."
With a low, melodic hiss, Aetheris obeyed, its body twisting into a tight spiral as it descended at incredible speed. The serpent struck the glowing blue marker on the far side of the arena with pinpoint accuracy, its impact sending a shockwave rippling through the air.
Lila nodded in approval. "Perfect as always."
Aetheris let out a soft trill, its massive body coiling back into the air. Its bond with Lila was evident in its movements—every strike, every maneuver, every motion was a testament to their shared understanding and trust.
But even as she focused on her training, Lila's thoughts drifted back to the classroom, to the boy who had somehow managed to irritate her without even trying.
---
#### **Lila Vermise – Status**
**Name**: Lila Vermise
**Title**: Beast Tamer (Advance)
**Level**: 10
**Beast Class**: Mythical Class
---
#### **Tamed Beast**
**Name**: Celestial Sky Serpent (Aetheris)
- A mythical beast renowned for its grace and power. Aetheris is as beautiful as it is deadly, its mastery of aerial combat unmatched among the academy's creatures.
- **Skills**:
- **Spiral Strike** – A devastating dive attack that combines speed and precision.
- **Celestial Glow** – Emits a blinding light that disorients enemies and boosts the morale of allies.
- **Sky Wrath** – Unleashes a powerful bolt of energy from its maw, capable of piercing through even the strongest defenses.
---
Lila's thoughts lingered on Kai's answer during Professor Reeve's lecture.
"Swarm tactics," she muttered to herself, her tone laced with both irritation and intrigue.
It wasn't that his answer had been wrong—on the contrary, it had been surprisingly insightful. But what bothered her was the confidence with which he delivered it, as if he'd already proven himself, as if he belonged in the same league as her.
And then there was the fact that he'd beaten Victor in the underground tournament. Victor wasn't just strong—he was ruthless, a powerhouse who had crushed his way through the competition without breaking a sweat.
But Kai had defeated him.
With *insects*.
The idea was almost laughable, and yet, Lila couldn't deny the facts. Somehow, that boy with his ants and moths and wasps had managed to outsmart and overpower one of the academy's top allumi.
Her grip on the arena railing tightened as her mind replayed the moment in class when Professor Reeve had called on Kai. The way he'd stood there, calm and unbothered, answering with a smirk that seemed to say, *I know what I'm doing.*
"Who does he think he is?" she muttered, her green eyes narrowing.
Aetheris let out a low trill, descending to coil around her protectively. The serpent's golden eyes studied her intently, as if sensing her frustration.
Lila let out a sigh, reaching up to stroke the serpent's shimmering scales. "I'm fine, Aetheris. Just… distracted."
---
As the sun dipped lower, casting the arena in a warm orange glow, Lila turned her attention back to her training.
"Kai Anther," she said softly, the name lingering on her lips.
She didn't understand him, and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. What made him different? What gave him the confidence to stand in a room full of his betters and act as if he belonged?
Lila didn't like mysteries, and Kai was quickly becoming one she couldn't ignore.
"Alright, Aetheris," she said, her voice firm once more. "We're done for today. Let's head back."
The serpent let out a soft hiss of agreement, its body coiling gracefully as it followed her out of the arena.
Lila's mind, however, was far from settled.
If Kai thought he could rise to her level, if he thought he could challenge the academy's hierarchy with his ridiculous insects, then he was in for a rude awakening.
Lila Vermise didn't lose.
And if Kai Anther wanted to prove himself, he'd have to do it on her terms.
(Mark_ozi: I guess Lila was also present at the underground arena)