Seventeen stood in the middle of the training ground behind the dorm building. He held two daggers and his eyes were closed.
A soft wind rustled the trees around the compound and the sounds of magia beasts occasionally came from within the Lost Woods. He spread a thin layer of magia over the entire area and waited
'Any moment now.', he thought.
Suddenly, he felt a shift in the magia to his left. And then another more significant change to his right followed by another behind him. "Trying to confuse me?", he smiled as he felt shifts in magia all around him.
"Unfortunately.", he raised his daggers and stopped an attack from his left, "My senses are sharper.", he opened his eyes and grinned at Ruth.
She quickly recovered and unleashed quick attacks with her ice-coated daggers. Seventeen parried each attack and ignited his daggers. Golden red flames flared and surrounded his daggers.
Ruth dodged his following strike and jumped back.
{Ice Code: Spike Bloom}
Huge ice spikes emerged from where she stood and went for Seventeen. He moved to dodge them but the spikes seemed to follow him until he used Pheonix Cloak and vaporized them.
Seventeen's feet barely hit the ground when he suddenly leaned back as a powerful kick blew back the newly formed cloud of steam, about an inch from his face.
He whistled, "That was close. Not bad ice queen."
Ruth straightened herself and smiled, "You too. It looks like you've completely recovered." Seventeen nodded, "Yup. I did tell you it will be fast."
A week has passed since he fought Vicaris and just like Prime said, his body has completely recovered.
Currently, he and Ruth were sparring in preparation for the Grand Battle Festival. Seventeen glanced at the dorm building, "They were really tired yesterday. I believe no one is awake right now."
Ruth chuckled, "Well, it is not called the Three Weeks of Hell for nothing."
Both of them were dressed for training. Seventeen wore a black sweatshirt, black pants, and brown boots while Ruth was dressed in a black sleeveless top, brown pants, and black boots. Her auburn hair was tied back by a white bandanna.
She sat down to rest. Sparring with Seventeen is tiring. "This is the first time I am participating in the Battle Festival. I believe you've taken part in the tournaments. How is it?", He asked.
Ruth thought back to her times as a participant in the tournaments, "I have taken part in the Festival ever since I became a student in the Academy.", she winced, "I've never made it past the quarter-finals."
"Ah.", Seventeen sat down opposite her, "Was it because of your curse?"
She nodded, "Yup. But also because the real tournament begins when you reach that stage in the tournament. That's when the true powerhouses emerge."
"Some Squad Captains and powerful adventurers also participate in the tournament.", she shuddered, "It's just a battle between monsters from then on."
Ruth smiled at Seventeen, "I bet a new monster will be emerging from the shadows this year."
He chuckled, "You flatter me, ice queen."
They heard a familiar cry and glanced up. Selene circled above them, she was clutching a small letter in her claws. Seventeen held out his arm and the falcon landed on it.
"Looks like you have a message for me.", he stroked the Moon Falcon as he opened the letter.
"Interesting.", he said as he read the short message. He passed it to Ruth and took out a piece of bacon from his storage ring to feed Selene.
"This is out of the blue.", she remarked and looked at Seventeen with a confused expression, "We're getting a transfer student?"
He nodded, "Looks like it. The Headmaster wants to talk to us.", he stood up. Selene took off his hand and he dusted the grass off his pants, "Let's freshen up and go."
Ruth nodded and got up. She looked at the dorm, "What about their training?"
Seventeen smiled, "Let them rest. We will continue in the afternoon."
She shrugged, "Alright then. Let me take a quick shower.", she stretched. He nodded, "Very well. I will join you soon."
"WHAT?", Ruth whipped her head at Seventeen, her face bright red. He rolled his eyes, "I'll join you at the dorm entrance. Jeez, ice queen."
"Oh.", she calmed down but was still flustered. She turned around and marched towards the dorm.
Seventeen shook his head, "Women think up crazy things.", he sighed.
(Well. You could've structured your sentences a bit differently.)
'Don't talk like you're the smoothest talker out there. I know how bad you were with women.'
(Why do you have to sound so mean?)
He shrugged and proceed to the dorm, "The day's barely started and it's already interesting.", he remarked.
Half an hour later, the two of them stood in front of the Headmaster's office. They heard voices of conversation from inside and looked at each other.
Is the Headmaster talking to the transfer student now?
Ruth knocked on the door but instead of the Headmaster a female voice spoke, "Come in."
Seventeen froze. The voice was calm and gentle but he felt power and authority behind it. He felt something else too. The voice was familiar.
"Surely, there's no way.", he whispered, trying to convince himself. Ruth looked at him in confusion but she followed him into the office room.
Zephyrus sat behind his desk, looking slightly nervous. Relaxing on the couch was Vanessa Dracule, the Vampire Queen.
She looked a bit older than the time he saw her and she looked gorgeous. Her long platinum hair spilled over her shoulders and she was dressed in the Academy's uniform. Her eyes twinkled as she smiled, "Hello Seventeen."
"No way. You are the transfer student?", Seventeen asked in disbelief. He looked at Zephyrus who shook his head helplessly.
"I did say that we will meet again in the future.", Vanessa reminded him, her grey eyes gazing into his. He shuddered at the intensity of those eyes.
Ruth was still confused and she looked from Zephyrus to Vanessa and then to Seventeen. She couldn't get a hold of the situation but she knows one thing.
The girl reclining on the couch is not an average warlock. For her to make Zephyrus, a Cardinal and Seventeen nervous, she must be really powerful.
She suddenly remembered the conversation she had with Seventeen about his recent battle. Someone had visited him after defeating the Dragon Knight.
Her mouth went dry and when she looked at the girl, chills ran down her spine, "Hold up. Are you the mythical Vampire of the Purple Rose?"
Vanessa looked at her and every cell in Ruth was screaming to stay far away from this girl.
She smiled, "Yes I am. I believe Seventeen has told you about me?"
Ruth nodded and glanced at Seventeen. He was still looking at Vanessa, "What is the meaning of this Queen Vanessa?", he asked calmly.
She chuckled, "Just call me Lady Vanessa or Vanessa since I will be your student from now on and yes, I am joining Cardinal Academy as a student of Special Class A.
Seventeen found it hard to believe those words, "Why do you need to attend the academy? You have 3000 years' worth of knowledge already."
"Well, you're right. But an old friend of mine suggested that I take a shot at academy life.", Vanessa leaned back, "I've never had the chance to go to an academy since I was confined to the royal palace and had a personal tutor."
She smiled bitterly, "I was what you call a prodigy so everyone had high expectations for me. I would often look at the students attending the academy in my city and I was envious."
"After the war and getting cursed, I went back to the empty palace and rested for a long time. The thought of attending an academy never came back to my mind"
Vanessa sighed, "To be honest, nothing really interesting happened in Arken in the last 3000 years. That is until you came.", she looked at Seventeen. He was surprised, "Me?"
She nodded, "Yep. Your appearance is having a major effect on the world. I'm not the only one who is interested in you."
"I don't if I should be glad or nervous about that news.", Seventeen said. "Make up your mind.", Vanessa smiled, "So my friend suggested that I attend Cardinal Academy. Also, there is another reason why I am here."
"You know that magia changes over time, right?"
Seventeen, Ruth and Zephyrus nodded, "That's true.", the latter confirmed it.
"It has been 3000 years and some of my techniques are a bit outdated. They are still very effective but I would also like to learn new ways to use magia. You don't have to worry, I am an excellent student. So will you teach me?", she asked.
Seventeen looked at Ruth and rubbed his head, "Judging by your age and knowledge, you should be the one teaching me."
"How about this? You teach me the current methods and I can provide you with ancient knowledge which we can refine with our current understanding of magia.", Vanessa offered.
Seventeen thought about it, "Well. I am okay with having you as my student.", he glanced at Ruth who just shrugged, "This will be a new experience."
"What about you, Headmaster?", he asked Zephyrus who just smiled. "If you are willing to teach her, then I am okay with it. Lady Vanessa has a lot of knowledge and experience. She will be a huge help."
Seventeen nodded and looked at Vanessa, she was looking expectantly at him. "Um. There is a problem.", he said.
She arched her eyebrows, "What is it?"
Seventeen shrugged, "Well, you are a CAT-5 being. There will be a lot of inconveniences that will follow if you become a student."
Vanessa smiled, "Oh I know about that. I have made precautions for that.", she held up her arms. Glowing runes appeared, encircling her arms, five sets around each arm.
Ruth's eyes widened, "Are those what I think they are?"
Vanessa nodded, "Indeed. These Primordial Seals limit my power so I can only use 10 percent."
"The Primordial Seal is the strongest sealing enchantment in existence and you have ten around your arms. Just what are you?". Seventeen asked in disbelief.
"That's rich coming from you.", the Vampire Queen grinned, revealing her fangs, "Let's just say. I am a rather talented vampire.", she said mysteriously and her eyes glowed.
The temperature suddenly dropped and the three of them shuddered. Seventeen was sure he had turned off his thermal sensors but he still felt it.
"Anyway. Thanks for taking me as a student of Cardinal Academy. Please treat me like the others although I wouldn't complain if I became a favorite.", she said cheerfully, and the temperature was back to normal.
"Actually we're not taking any classes right now. The students are getting prepared for the Grand Battle Festival.", Ruth informed her.
"Oh. I wonder if I should participate?", Vanessa said.
"Absolutely not!", Zephyrus exclaimed. She giggled, "I am just joking Headmaster."
He sighed, "So. I believe you have something to tell Ruth?"
Vanessa stopped laughing, "Ah yes. Are you sure about it?"
Zephyrus nodded, "It's best if you sort it out early."
She nodded and stood up from the couch. She walked and stood in front of Ruth who took a step back. "What is it?", she asked a little nervous.
"You have his eyes.", Vanessa remarked with a sad smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Your ancestor. Kryos, one of the first Homunculi created by Eravon Lock."
Ruth was shocked, "You knew him?"
Vanessa nodded, "Of course. I am a witness to his creation.", she gazed into Ruth's eyes.
"And I am the one who brought his demise."