Chapter 25 #4
“For domini, we have eight core disciplines. Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, history, philosophy, and linguistics. Once pups get their baby fangs around three, they emerge from the nest for the first time and begin socializing. That lasts until they’re around eight.
Then, after that, formal education begins in the basics of all the core disciplines.
They get small neural imprints that only take two or three days to recover from, they do physical training, socializing, things like that.
If they haven’t finished their modules by the time their first hormone surge of adolescence begins, they have to stop.
Neural imprints are very unreliable during the hormone and growth surges as they reach adulthood.
After they’re done with that, though, around twenty-two cycles of age, they choose where they want to go in life.
Either one of the six professions or keeping their clan name and serving their clan. ”
“How does the academy work?” Holly asked, leaning in, interested.
“Every domini gets a basic education, those that want to become scholars train here. Most scholars pick one or two of the eight core disciplines to master. However, to be a ranked scholar, you have to master all of them. I think there are something like two thousand ranked scholars on Turv right now? Once you become ranked, you can test your way up the rankings up to rank seven. Rank seven is the only one who can challenge rank six. And you have to be rank six to challenge any of the first five ranks.”
“Everything on this planet is a competition,” Holly muttered as Hattie laughed.
“Of course,” Ryna said, passionate fire lighting her up from within again. “Competition determines who is the best and only the best should be number one. And it’s going to be me! I don’t care how long I have to study, I’m going to beat Romival!”
“Study?” Hattie tilted her head curiously. “Can’t you just get a neural imprint?”
“Of course, I could!” Ryna slammed her fist onto the table. “But Romival didn't! And since he didn't, I won’t either! I’m going to beat him on natural skill alone!”
Holly and Hattie, who had both reeled back in their seats at her loud declaration, laughed a bit awkwardly.
“Well, they do say confidence is key,” Holly said, grinning.
Ryna’s eyes sharpened on her. “Who says that? Humans? What does the phrase mean?”
Holly opened her mouth to answer, but Hattie cut her off. “I believe our trade was education for education. So, shall I?”
Ryna grinned, gesturing eagerly for her to continue.
Holly didn't say anything. She logged into the archive to look up more about the education system here on Turv as she let Hattie explain theirs to Ryna. That way, Ryna got what she wanted, but Holly didn't feel like she was cheating on Romival.
Ryna was pressing Hattie for more information on the concept of private versus public education – they didn't have a separation here on Turv – when the door to their pod suddenly swung open.
“Vaska!”
Holly and Hattie cried out in fear as Ryna sent a withering look towards Valorii who had just succeeded in scaring them. Behind her, predictably, Brava was cackling like a madwoman.
“You see the humans’ faces?” She asked, nudging Valorii with her elbow. “You got them again!”
“They actually screamed,” she agreed, stepping into the pod. “Hello, humans. So interesting to see you around here again.”
“Valorii, don’t you have work to do?” Ryna asked, frowning as Brava stepped in as well, closing the door behind them.
“I heard the humans were back, so I had to come see.” Valorii sent a particularly vicious smile towards Holly. “Wanted to see if it’s true what they say. Has First Scholar really taken you as a loviri, yellow?”
“Yellow?” Hattie repeated, confused.
Holly ducked her head, not saying anything. Just waiting for them to get bored and go away.
Valorii sat down right beside her at the table; Brava next to her. Valorii wasted no time in looking at Holly’s screen and laughing.
“You’re researching our education system? You’re definitely not smart enough to be a scholar, yellow. I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time even trying.”
“Valorii, we’re busy,” Ryna said, giving her a dull look.
“I’m happy to help.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be preparing the graduate tests for your region today? You know those are due tomorrow, don’t you?”
“I’ve got it under control,” Valorii promised, playing with Holly’s hair. “I just wanted to come say hi to my friend first. Right, Brava?”
“I swear, Valorii, if I have to hunt you down tomorrow-”
“Did you see that Romival brought her to the Festival?” Brava cut Ryna off, asking like it was a big secret.
“I did!” Valorii gasped, pulling Holly’s hair, tugging her head to the side.
“Did you have fun? I mean, everyone is talking about how you practically fucked him while dancing, then dragged him off to a dark corner to finish the job. I didn't realize humans were so promiscuous. It’s practically shameful how uninhibited you are.”
“What are you doing?” Hattie asked, leaning forward, eyes narrowed at the way that Valorii kept pulling Holly’s hair.
Just ignore them, Holly wanted to shout at her. Bullies just wanted a reaction. Don’t give it to them and they’ll eventually get bored.
Valorii certainly had no issues ignoring Hattie. “Yellow – you don’t mind me calling you that, right? What human tricks did you use to catch Romival’s attention? I really must know. Is it just the tightness of your cunt, or is there something I’m not seeing?”
Ryna was giving Holly an odd, almost expectant look now. Hattie’s eyes were narrowed as anger flashed bright and hot. Holly just desperately wanted this moment to be over.
“Come on, yellow, answer the question.” Valorii laughed as she shook Holly, nearly upsetting her from the chair altogether.
Holly just tried to make herself smaller. Why wouldn’t Valorii just leave her alone? What had she done that earned her attention?
“Hey,” Hattie called to her, voice dull and annoyed. “What are you two even doing here? Can you leave? This is a private meeting.”
Valorii fixed her with a hard glare. “Silence, human. I’m not talking to you.”
“I fail to see how that matters,” she snapped back before Valorii could return her attention to Holly, earning a sneer from Brava as well.
But it only lasted for a second before Brava gave her a bright grin. “Wait. I know you.”
Hattie frowned, confused, but Brava was already continuing before she could ask, grinning wickedly at Valorii.
“This is the human that First Warrior rejected because of her size.”
Holly and Hattie both stilled. How had she even heard about that? That wasn’t something that any of them had talked about. How did things like this keep getting out of the palace?
Their reactions were blood in the water and both females gave them toothy, shark-like smiles.
“Oh, that’s her,” Valorii laughed.
“What are you two doing?” Ryna frowned, not looking at Valorii and Brava, but instead at Holly and Hattie. Like they were the ones confusing her.
“I see it,” Valorii nodded, reaching behind Holly to poke Hattie. “Look at her. She’s so-”
Holly didn’t even realize she had moved until she had already caught Valorii’s wrist, keeping her extruded claw from denting or poking Hattie’s skin.
The entire room froze. Valorii and Holly looked equally surprised at her movement.
Valorii yanked her hand free. Holly let her go without a fight.
“You dare touch me, human?” She asked, snarling.
“Go away,” Holly said, her heart pounding fearfully in her chest. But she angled her body so that she was very deliberately putting herself between Valorii and Hattie.
Valorii laughed. “You’re so cute. Pretending to be all fierce. Like a pup baring their milk teeth.”
“Get out,” Holly said, more firmly this time.
Valorii chuckled. “Or what? What are you going to do to me? With that soft, weak little body of yours? You can’t do anything. I could just…”
She pulled back her hand, claws bared, like she was about to strike Holly’s face.
Hattie made a sound of distress. Holly’s brows furrowed in determination. Valorii snarled at her defiance while Brava growled.
Her hand came down-
Then just as quickly stopped, her wrist was caught again. This time by Ryna. She squeezed, her claws digging into the soft skin right at the juncture of her palm and wrist. Valorii made a soft sound of distress, trying and failing to pull free.
“You dishonor yourself, Valorii,” Ryna snarled, fangs fully bared. “You dare to attempt to attack someone so much weaker than you?”
“She’s the one who-”
“She told you to leave. She told you that you weren’t welcome here.
She did not challenge you nor did she raise her claws to you.
” Ryna yanked, flattening Valorii down against the table, bringing her other claws to her exposed neck.
“If you are truly determined to fight her for this, I will gladly stand in for her guardian. Or maybe you would prefer she calls on her actual guardian? Shall we summon vi Dominani here so he can fight you for her?”
Valorii whimpered. She actually whimpered, struggling against Ryna’s hold as Brava tried and failed to speak up for her friend.
“The honored Vora Vakara has told you that you are not welcome around her,” Ryna continued, pricking her claws against Valorii’s throat. “So, begone from her presence. Or I will hold you accountable for your dishonorable actions myself.”
Ryna released Valorii, who very nearly fell off the table in her rush to get away. She and Brava tripped over themselves to exit the pod only to find that the clear, blue tinted walls had not done a single thing to hide what was going on inside.
And unlike last time, Holly had actually stood up for herself. She had made it clear that she didn’t want Valorii there. That gave the others reason to stand with her. And when Valorii dishonored herself by nearly striking a weaker person without cause, she shamed herself.