Chapter 52: Study of Magical Beasts (1)

Chapter 52: Study of Magical Beasts (1)Professor Lea Gilligan had on a shirt that was snug to her body but afforded enough room for her large breasts even if they were still laid bare enough to showcase an ample amount of cleavage. Past her shirt, she had on about two belts with large buckles and a couple of utility pouches strapped on. Considering the existence of storage items, it felt like the pouches weren’t really needed for storage and she was going for a specific look. Whatever that look was, it definitely worked. The belts held up a sleek pair of black pants that showed off the shape of her thighs and the round arch of her ass. She wore knee-high boots that gave her about an additional two inches in height, but ultimately, they seemed to be more about functionality than fashion. They looked best for hikes and traversing the terrain of a forest, as taller heels might not allow. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to show off her incredible arms, which were a perfect balance of strength and grace. Her hands were encased in fingerless gloves, which added to the look she was going for. Her hair was long and fell to her shoulders in thick and disorderly locks like she never really had the time to attempt straightening it. Her face was beautiful and bore a resemblance to someone the entire class had met twice already if you count Orientation. It was another teacher at the Academy who also shared Lea Gilligan’s last name. With that in mind, a couple of hands instantly shot up. "Questions already?" Professor Gilligan let out but she didn’t look all that surprised as she pointed at a boy who Caius knew was named Marcus Arognite. "Yes?" Lea Gilligan asked with a piercing look in her feline blue eyes. "Did you say ’Gilligan’ Professor?" Marcus asked. "Yes, I did." "Are you perhaps related to Professor Anne Gilligan?" Marcus asked already dreading the answer. "Yes, I am," Lea said, "She’s my Mom." "Oh," Marcus said in a small voice and seemed to shrink a bit. It seemed the experience of being shamed by Anne Gilligan during Magi History class yesterday was still very fresh on his mind. "Oh, you poor thing," Lea said and she sounded genuinely compassionate, "Mom shamed you, didn’t she?" Marcus gave a small nod. Lea sighed. "Yes, she can be like that. But rest assured I’m not like her. Here you have nothing to worry about. Failure is only a part of the learning process. We’ll get over any hump by just keeping a positive attitude and keeping at it." She sounded so chirpy as she gave that speech that Marcus truly brightened up and smiled at her. Caius’ lips just pulled up at the corners as he smiled in knowing amusement. Now that Lea Gilligan had admitted to her relationship with Professor Anne Gilligan, everyone began to take note of the similarities in their appearances. There was the chest size that everyone already felt she must have inherited from her mother who was still beating her out by a few cup sizes. Lea’s eyes were feline-blue unlike her mother’s black and her hair was not as cared-for as her mother’s was. Besides that though, her face was almost an exact copy. The major difference was that Lea’s face was obviously younger and also, she had a wildness about her that did not quite match the composed and professional air that her mother had given off for most of her lecture yesterday. "Now, Magical Beasts," Professor Lea said and clapped her hands together, the motion doing wonders to her breasts, "I’ve spent years of my life in study of them. Not to brag but long before I began to lecture at Lochxen, I traveled the world, discovering the undiscovered and adding to the already ample Adventurer’s Guild Bestiary. It’s how I still spend the holiday season. So trust me when I tell you this (gestures at the field and specifically at the Forest a few feet away) is how you’ll learn. The Curriculum would have you sitting in your classroom reading about Magical beasts but I say, screw that. Nay, Fuck that! You can’t learn if you can’t even bring yourself this close to their habitat. You learn by interacting with them which is what we will be doing. Every week, it’ll be a different beast. You’ll learn about their feeding habits, their preferred habitats, their elemental affinities—if they have any—and how to survive if you were about to face off against them." "Just survival, Professor?" Caius suddenly asked out loud, "What about Taming?" It wasn’t that he didn’t already know the answer to that question. It just never hurts to be engaging in a class being taught by a Professor you find attractive. It surprised him though when Professor Lea Gilligan gave him a look. It looked amused in a way he wasn’t sure how to take. "Depends on what you mean by taming. Do you mean domestication or do you mean forging a contract between Man and Beast?" Caius was so taken aback by that look she was giving him that he stammered a bit. "T—The second one." Domestication was only possible with some beasts and it wasn’t a strong enough connection to truly claim to have acquired the loyalty of a Beast. If there was anything worth knowing, it was about actual ’Taming’. Lea placed a finger to her chin and looked to mull it over a bit before she answered, "’Taming’ is a very specific talent. Like many unique elements that you lot possess because of the families you belong to, it’s also not something everyone can do. You either have the yielding heart to accommodate a contract or you don’t." "Oh you mean it’s a specific talent like Summoning, Professor?" Aylin Khione asked in a sweet voice for probably the first time she had chosen to engage so vocally in class. Professor Lea Gilligan shrugged. "I suppose you could say that. But Summoning is an even more niche practice. And a potentially more dangerous one. It deals with reaching into the ’Otherworld’ to contract unseen spirits and forces that are alien to ours. ’Taming’ is more concrete. It deals with creatures you can see. Creatures you can have spent time studying. You know exactly what you’re getting if you’re trying to tame. With ’Summoning’, it can be less precise and you never know what you’re gonna get." "Can you tame, Professor?" Aylin asked. It was like she could detect the bias in Lea’s voice as she discussed Taming and Summoning. "I dabble," Lea Gilligan said. ’Damn understatement,’ Caius thought, smiling to himself. When Lea Gilligan compared ’Taming’ to unique elements exclusive to families, she meant it. Her family—on her father’s side—had spent centuries perfecting Taming techniques. They went so far as to undergo blood experiments meant to make them kin to Magical Beasts. It was why her eyes had a feline look to them. Her talent in Taming was far greater than just being a ’dabble’. "Does that answer your question?" Lea suddenly asked and her eyes were back on Caius like she was letting him know she hadn’t forgotten it was his question that led to this tangent. There was still that look in her eyes that Caius didn’t understand but he managed to keep a far more level tone as he said. "Yes, it does, Professor." "Good. The Beast of the day is rated Three ’Stars’ on the Adventurer’s Guild Bestiary which means it’s just right for you lot. Something light to start with." As she was speaking, Lea Gilligan touched one of the pouches on one of her belts and it expanded so she could reach both her hands in and pull out a cage. Proving the pouches were not just meant for a look but had a function. Storage items couldn’t hold living creatures but the pouches—which had been enchanted to increase their holding capacity just like storage items—could. Once the cage was out, the pouch collapsed to its regular size again as Lea held out the cage and the class saw something stirring inside. It had reddish-orange skin and spines running down its back and along its tail. Professor Gilligan’s face took on a cooing look as she said, "Isn’t it beautiful? Behold the Fire-cracking Lizard. Your task for the day."